Roy R. Hantgan, PhD

Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Email: rhantgan@wfubmc.edu

Education:

Juniata College, BS, 1968

Cornell University, PhD (Physical Chemistry), 1974

Research Interests:

My research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular interactions that stabilize an occlusive thrombus and devising biochemical interventions that can restore normal blood flow.

Current Research:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in our society, and the major culprit is a platelet-rich occlusive thrombus formed by the untimely activation of platelets and the clotting cascade. My research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular interactions that stabilize a thrombus and devising biochemical interventions that can restore normal blood flow. Integrin receptors that sprout from the platelet surface to capture fibrin strands like molecular Velcro are at the core of the problem. We meld biophysical chemistry and molecular biology to determine the structural changes that convert resting integrins into the hemostatically active receptors at a site of vascular injury. In parallel, we are evaluating the newest generation of anti-platelet drugs, integrin antagonists, to learn how to block integrin:fibrin adhesive interactions while minimizing the prothrombotic complications of these novel therapeutics.

Recent Publications:

Levi N, Hantgan RR, Lively MO, Carroll DL, Prasad GL. C60-Fullerenes: detection of intracellular photoluminescence and lack of cytotoxic effects. J Nanobiotechnology. 2006 Dec 14;4:14.

Hantgan RR, Stahle MC, Connor JH, Connor RF, Mousa SA. AlphaIIbbeta3 priming and clustering by orally active and intravenous integrin antagonists. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Mar;5(3):542-50. Epub 2006 Dec 13.

Liu W, Jawerth LM, Sparks EA, Falvo MR, Hantgan RR, Superfine R, Lord ST, Guthold M. Fibrin fibers have extraordinary extensibility and elasticity. Science. 2006 Aug 4;313(5787):634.

Hantgan RR, Stahle MC, Connor JH, Horita DA, Rocco M, McLane MA, Yakovlev S, Medved L. Integrin alphaIIbbeta3:ligand interactions are linked to binding-site remodeling. Protein Sci. 2006 Aug;15(8):1893-906.

Ledford AS, Weinberg RB, Cook VR, Hantgan RR, Shelness GS. Self-association and lipid binding properties of the lipoprotein initiating domain of apolipoprotein B. J Biol Chem. 2006 Mar 31;281(13):8871-6. Epub 2006 Jan 3.

Publications:
For a listing of additional publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine