
Nancy M. Dahms, PhD
Professor
Locations
- Biochemistry
BSB 307
Contact Information
Education
BS, Marquette University, 1980
Biography
Dr. Dahms received her Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University in 1980 and her Doctorate degree in Biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1986. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University School of Medicine from 1986-1989 where she isolated and characterized the cDNA clones for the receptors involved in targeting lysosomal enzymes to the lysosome. She joined the faculty of the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1989.
Research Experience
- Fabry Disease
- Glycoconjugates
- Lectins
- Lysosomal Storage Diseases
- Lysosomes
- Membrane Glycoproteins
- Membrane Proteins
- Organelles
- Quality control mechanisms in the secretory pathway
- Rat model of Fabry Disease
- Receptor, IGF Type 2
- Receptor, Mannose 6-phosphate
Leadership Positions
- Chair, Radiation Safety Committee 2000-2006
- Interim Chair, Department of Biochemistry 2009
- President Faculty Council 2006-2007
- Sr Vice President Faculty Council 2005-2006
- Vice President Faculty Council 2004-2005
- Vice-Chairman, Curriculum and Evaluation Committee 2001-2002
Research Interests
Lysosomes carry out catabolism critical to many processes, including the disposal of abnormal proteins, cell survival, antigen processing, and inactivation of pathogenic organisms. Receptors deliver hydrolytic enzymes to lysosomes to generate functional lysosomes. Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are caused by mutations in lysosomal proteins, mainly enzymes, that result in defective catabolism and substrate accumulation (‘storage’) of undegraded material within lysosomes, with lysosomal and cellular dysfunction leading to cell death and a shortened life span. As a group LSDs are among the most common genetic disorders in children, and their progressive and debilitating nature is due to their impact on multiple organ systems. Treatment is symptomatic for most LSDs, with only 11 out of the ~70 LSDs having FDA-approved therapies. Our goal is to define the molecular mechanism of receptor-mediated delivery of lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes, and thereby identify new strategies for the treatment of LSDs and other human diseases dependent upon lysosomal function.
Receptor Structural Biology & Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions
Two mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPR), the cation-independent (CI-MPR) and the cation-dependent MPR (CD-MPR), bind a unique carbohydrate determinant, mannose 6-phosphate (M6P), on lysosomal enzymes’ N-glycans to mediate their delivery to lysosomes. CI-MPR, with its large extracellular region comprised of 15 contiguous domains, is the primary receptor responsible for lysosomal enzyme trafficking and CI-MPR forms the basis of enzyme replacement therapy used in the treatment of several LSDs. We have defined the glycan binding properties of the MPRs using biochemical, structural, cellular, and in vivo approaches. Our collaborative studies with Drs. Jung-Ja Kim and Brian Volkman using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy have provided the first and only three-dimensional structures reported to date of the carbohydrate binding sites of the MPRs.
Pathogenesis of lysosomal storage diseases (Fabry disease)
We are investigating the mechanisms underlying the diverse clinical symptoms experienced by patients with LSDs. Fabry disease, the most common LSD, is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, α-galactosidase A, which leads to glycosphingolipid accumulation in many cell types. We generated a rat model of Fabry disease, the first non-mouse model. Unlike Fabry mouse models, we show that Fabry rats recapitulate ocular, hearing, kidney, heart, and pain phenotypes experienced by Fabry patients and can be used to study disease mechanisms and test therapies.
Regulation of cell growth, survival, and differentiation
We are interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell growth and differentiation. Our studies have focused on the role of growth factors (IGF2), proteases (plasminogen), and receptors (uPAR) in modulating cellular growth and differentiation of mammalian cells. The multifunctional CI-MPR (also known as IGF2R) also regulates the bioavailability of circulating IGF2 by targeting it to the lysosome, and in several animal models functions as a tumor suppressor of IGF2-dependent tumors. We have shown that the CI-MPR regulates fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation and is critical for pancreatic beta cell survival.
Publications
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(Olson LJ, Misra SK, Ishihara M, Battaile KP, Grant OC, Sood A, Woods RJ, Kim JP, Tiemeyer M, Ren G, Sharp JS, Dahms NM.) Commun Biol. 2020 Sep 09;3(1):498 PMID: 32908216 PMCID: PMC7481795 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85090384984 09/11/2020
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Progress in the understanding and treatment of Fabry disease.
(Miller JJ, Kanack AJ, Dahms NM.) Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2020 01;1864(1):129437 PMID: 31526868 PMCID: PMC6981246 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85073720962 09/19/2019
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Rats deficient in α-galactosidase A develop ocular manifestations of Fabry disease.
(Miller JJ, Aoki K, Reid CA, Tiemeyer M, Dahms NM, Kassem IS.) Sci Rep. 2019 06 28;9(1):9392 PMID: 31253878 PMCID: PMC6599056 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85068107461 06/30/2019
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(Miller JJ, Aoki K, Mascari CA, Beltrame AK, Sokumbi O, North PE, Tiemeyer M, Kriegel AJ, Dahms NM.) FASEB J. 2019 01;33(1):418-429 PMID: 29979634 PMCID: PMC6629127 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85059237456 07/07/2018
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(Baldwin AC, Naatz A, Bohnsack RN, Bartosiak JT, Oleson BJ, Hansen PA, Dahms NM, Corbett JA.) Mol Cell Biol. 2018 04 15;38(8) PMID: 29378831 PMCID: PMC5879465 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85044766344 01/31/2018
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Neuropathic pain in a Fabry disease rat model.
(Miller JJ, Aoki K, Moehring F, Murphy CA, O'Hara CL, Tiemeyer M, Stucky CL, Dahms NM.) JCI Insight. 2018 03 22;3(6) PMID: 29563343 PMCID: PMC5926911 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85058370681 03/23/2018
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(Olson LJ, Dahms NM.) Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1722:105-116 PMID: 29264801 PMCID: PMC6202031 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85038831305 12/22/2017
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(Olson LJ, Orsi R, Peterson FC, Parodi AJ, Kim JJ, D'Alessio C, Dahms NM.) Biochemistry. 2015 Jul 07;54(26):4097-111 PMID: 26062005 PMCID: PMC6202027 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84936769044 06/11/2015
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(Olson LJ, Jensen DR, Volkman BF, Kim JJ, Peterson FC, Gundry RL, Dahms NM.) Protein Expr Purif. 2015 Jul;111:91-7 PMID: 25863146 PMCID: PMC4417374 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84927727743 04/12/2015
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(Olson LJ, Castonguay AC, Lasanajak Y, Peterson FC, Cummings RD, Smith DF, Dahms NM.) Glycobiology. 2015 Jun;25(6):591-606 PMID: 25573276 PMCID: PMC4410830 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84930944628 01/13/2015
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(Dahms NM.) Biobetters: Protein Engineering to Approach the Curative. August 21, 2015:23-40 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84958641251 08/21/2015
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Glucosidase II and MRH-domain containing proteins in the secretory pathway.
(D'Alessio C, Dahms NM.) Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2015;16(1):31-48 PMID: 25692846 PMCID: PMC4411176 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84930936566 02/19/2015