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Antentor O. Hinton Jr., PhD

Antentor O. Hinton Jr., PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Dept. of Internal Medicine

Training Mentor:  E. Dale Abel MD, PhD 

Email: antentor-hinton@uiowa.edu

Research Project

Mechanisms for insulin-dependent regulation of skeletal muscle mitochondria by OPA1.

Diabetes affects 29.1 million people in the United States. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been linked to a reduction in the function of mitochondria. Mitochondria are central to insulin action in skeletal muscle. We reported that insulin increased mitochondrial fusion and oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle in part by increasing a protein called, Optic atrophy 1 (OPA1). However, we do not know if insulin also increases OPA1 oligomers.  OPA1 oligomerization improves the efficiency of the electron transport chain and activity of ATP synthase. Oligomerization of OPA1 is independent of its capability to promote mitochondrial fusion. Mutations in OPA1, which lack the GTPase domain, maintain oligomerization, which is sufficient to increase the efficiency of liver mitochondria after short-term nutrient deprivation.

Thus, my current project is to understand if insulin signaling increases OPA1 oligomerization and whether this mechanism contributes to OPA1-dependent activation of mitochondrial function following insulin stimulation

Training Activities

  • Scientific Meetings/Invited Speaker Talks: 

Keynote Speaker, The 2017-18 Annual Conference for IINSPIRE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Coralville, Iowa (February 2-3), 2018, Trials and Tribulations of Graduate School: How do you make an Impact

Discussion Panel Speaker, The 2017-18 Annual Conference for IINSPIRE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Coralville, Iowa (February 2-3, 2018), You are Defined By “GRIT” and In Depth Look at How GRIT Can Get You What You Want 

Discussion Panel Speaker, Baylor College of Medicine, AGSD Black History Month Panel

Invited Speaker Talks at Duke University (2017),  Baylor College of Medicine (2017, 2018),  Gettysburg College (PA) (2018),  Xavier University of Louisiana (2018),  Fisk University (2017),  North Carolina A & T (2017),  and Winston-Salem State University (Various Research Topics and Career Development Talks, 2016 2017), The University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas and St. Croix (2018),  and The University of Hawaii-Hilo (2019).

Poster Presenter

Health Sciences Research Week, Iowa City, IA (2017)

Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center Symposium, Iowa City, IA (2017)

Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center research Day, Iowa City, IA (2018, 2017)

Mitochondrial Biology in Heart and Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria, Keystone Symposium, Keystone, Colorado ( Jan 2019)

Mitochondria in Health and Disease, Gordon Conference (March 2019)

Oral Presenter

The 2018-19 Annual Conference for IINSPIRE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (Feb 2019) Ames, Iowa (February 1-2, 2019), What’s In It for Me- Being A Scientist?

The 2018-19 Annual Conference for IINSPIRE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (Feb 2019) 

University of Hawaii- Hilo MARC U* STAR (SHARP Scholars) Seminar Series (Feb 2019)

Health Sciences Research Week, Iowa City, IA (May 2019)

Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) conference – Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP, June 25, 2019)

Winston- Salem State University MARC and RISE Seminar Series (September 24-27, 2019)

University of Texas- El Paso Student Seminar Series (September 27- October 1, 2019)

Iowa Microscopy Symposium (October 2, 2019)

Washington University- St. Louis Student Seminar Series (October 9, 2019) 

Harris-Stowe State University Student Seminar Series (October 10, 2019)

Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) 20th Health Careers Education Awareness Conference (EAC) (October 15, 2019)

MAHEC/ University of North Carolina Asheville Seminar Series (October 16-20, 2019) 

Institute on Teaching and Mentoring (October 24-27, 2019)

SACNAS Inclusion in STEM Track Out in STEM: Creating a Space for LGBTQ+ Inclusion (October 31 - November 2, 2019)

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Biennial STEM Awardees Conference 2019 (Discussion Panel) 

NIDDK’s Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMHRI) Midwest Regional Workshop (November 14-15, 2019)

University of Puerto Rico- Ponce RISE Student Seminar Series (November 2019) Ponce Health Science University RISE Student Seminar Series (November 2019)

American Society of Cell Biology MAC Transitions Academy Sessions- Academy - Senior Graduate Student Session (Discussion Panel) (December 2019)

Weill Cornell Initiative to Maximize Student Development Lecture Series (February 10, 2020) 

Vanderbilt University Discovery Science Emerging Scholars Lecture (March 2020)

Meharry Medical College Discovery Science Emerging Scholars Lecture (March 2020)

  • Post Doc Publications

Jessica M. Ponce; Grace Coen; Kathryn M. Spitler; Nikola Dragisic; Ines Martins, Antentor Hinton, Jr., Margaret Mungai; Satya Murthy TadinadaHao Zhang, Gavin Y. OuditLong-Sheng Song; Na Li, Peter, Sicinski; Stefan Strack; E. Dale Abel; Colleen Mitchell; Duane D. Hall and Chad E. Grueter,“Stress-Induced Cyclin C Translocation Regulates Cardiac Mitochondrial Dynamics” J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Apr 7;9(7):e014366doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.014366. Epub 2020 Apr 4. PMID:32248761

Published Science Blog Post

Antentor Hinton, Jr. – Top 100 African American Scientist, Cell Mentor (Link: http://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/100-inspiring- black-scientists-in-america )

  • Ad HOC Scientific Journal Reviewer

Neuroscience

AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

  • Training of Student Research Scholars:

Medical Students

  1. Student Training (July 2017 to August 2017): Kanae Tani, a Medical Student from Kindai University. She was a participant in the Summer Research Exchange Program at the University of Iowa

  2. Student Training (July 2017 to August 2017): Yuki Mizumori, a Medical Student from Kindai University. He was a participant in the Summer Research Exchange Program at the University of Iowa​

Graduate Students (Part Time Training)

  1. Jeffrey R. White (Interdisciplinary Program)

  2. Shi Fang (Pharmacology Ph.D. Student)

Graduate (Mentor)

  1. Zachary Criss, Ph.D. student in the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program at Baylor College of Medicine. Award won: BRASS Scholar, HHMI Gilliam Fellowship 2nd place poster at TBMM conference (August 2013-present)

  2. Alex  Henderson,  University of Alabama-Birmingham,  Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences Award: Joint Annual Research Symposium (JARS) 1st Oral Presentation (undergrad at Tuskegee University, May 2014 present) (graduated with M.S.)

  3. Val Jordan, student in the Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Program at Baylor College of Medicine (graduated with Ph.D.)

  4. Doris Taylor, student in the Biochemistry Program at Baylor College of Medicine

  5. Briana Whitehead, student at Fisk University, Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program (graduated with M.S.) Starting Ph..D. (September 2017- present)

Graduate (Class, Tutoring, Qualifying Exam and Experimental Help)

  1. Phoebe Lewis, student in the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program at Baylor (graduated with Ph.D. 2018) 3rd place poster at BCM Graduate Symposium (August 2014-August 2015)

  2. Ian Eugene Copeland, student in the Human Molecular Genetics Program at Baylor College of Medicine (August 2015- May 2016)

  3. Asante Hatcher, student in the Neuroscience Program at Baylor College of Medicine, Award won: HHMI Gilliam Fellowship (August 2015- May 2016) graduated with Ph.D.

  4. Dany Roman, student in the Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Program at Baylor College of Medicine (August 2015- May 2016) graduated with Ph.D. 

  5. Wanderson Cabral De Rezende, student in the Pharmacology Program at Baylor College of Medicine, Award won: BRASS Scholar (August 2015- May 2016)

  6. Darius Devlin, student in the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program at Baylor College of Medicine (August 2015- May 2016) graduated with Ph.D.

  7. Secondra Holmes, student in the Pharmacology Program at Baylor College of Medicine (August 2015-May 2017) Sharon Idiga, student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program (Molecular Medicine) at the Graduate (Qualifying Exam Help):

  8. Jordan Fuqua, student in Physiology Program at the University of Iowa (October-November 2017)

Graduate (Grant Writing Help)

  1. Franklin Bright, student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program (Molecular Medicine) at the University of Iowa (May 2017-Sept 2017): SMDP Workshop & Internship. Graduated with Ph.D.

Post-bac Program

  1. Theo Busby, Baylor College of Medicine GREAT-post-bac Ph.D. program at University of Alabama- Birmingham (August 2013-Aug 2016)

Undergraduate Students

  1. Shamir Baldwin, Completed B.S. at WSSU, Completed Masters, Middle and High School Science Teacher (August 2012-August 2017)

  2. Joab  Odera, Completed B.S. at WSSU entered  Ph.D. program in Integrated Biosciences (INBS) at North Carolina Central University (Fall 2015) (August 2012 - present). Graduated with Ph.D.

  3. Adriance Edington, undergraduate at Winston-Salem State University. Award won: Secured an Internship with Wake Forest (EICS), Summer 2017 (August 2014 – present) Starts PA school

  4. Ariel Edington, undergraduate at Western Carolina University, Award Won: Secured an Internship with Duke University (SROP) Summer 2017 (August 2015 – present)

  5. Thomas Fair, undergraduate at Winston-Salem State University. Award won: Secured a RISE Award and will matriculate into the Baylor College of Medicine Post-bac Program (Fall 2018) (August 2015 – present)

  6. Serif Bacevac, undergraduate at University of Iowa Award Won: Secured an 2017 LSAMP Scholar, Bright Scholar of Iowa and Advantage Iowa Scholar (November 2016 - graduated). B.S. and Medical Scribe

  7. Yahang Li, undergraduate at University of Iowa Award Won: Secured an ICRU fellowship at the University of Iowa for Summer Research (February 2017-present, graduated B.S., matriculated into Ph.D. program)

  8. Muhammad Aftab, undergraduate at University of Iowa (February 2017- December 2017 graduated B.S., Medical Assistant)

  9. Ariana Dewan, undergraduate at University of Iowa (May 2017-November 2017) graduated B.S., applying to MD/DO schools

  10. Stanley Marcus Jenkins, undergraduate at Fayetteville State University (August 2014 –present, graduated B.S., Accepted to MBA program)

  11. Margaret Mungai, undergraduate at University of Iowa Award Won: Secured an 2018 LSAMP Scholar Award, SHPEP scholar. Undergraduate Excellence in Research Award (Prestigious Undergraduate Award only 5 given to undergraduate population) 2020 Fulbright Awardee (August 2017 – present). 

  12. Leo “Jake” Kazma, undergraduate at University of Iowa Award Won: Secured an ICRU fellowship at the University of Iowa for Fall and Spring Research (May 2018-present) Accepted into University of Iowa's Dental School

  13. Elge “Tony” Stevens, undergraduate at Xavier University of Louisiana (July 2018-present). 2019 SHPEP Scholar and Summer Intern

  14. Benjamin Kirk, undergraduate at University of Iowa (August 2018-present)Secured an 2018-2019 LSAMP Scholar, Secured a 2019 IBA Scholar Award. Undergraduate Excellence in Research Award  (Prestigious Undergraduate Award only 5 given to undergraduate population) 

  15. Tiffany Dean, undergraduate at Winston-Salem State University (August 2018-present), Post bac Student at University of South Carolina Medical Center. Graduated B.S., Finished Post Bac, applying to Ph.D. 

  16. Jacob  Lam, undergraduate at University of Iowa (Jan 2019- present) Secured an ICRU fellowship for Summer Research

  17. Han Le, undergraduate at Nebraska Wesleyan University 2019 LSAMP Summer Intern (Summer 2019). 

  18. Innes Hicsasmaz, undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University (Summer 2019). Graduated B.S. 

  19. Ochain Okey, undergraduate at Luther College 2019 SHPEP Scholar and Summer Intern (Summer 2019)

  • Workshops:

    • Member of the African American Council at the University of Iowa

    • Diversity Training in the Workforce Workshop Series provided by the University of Iowa's Office of Cultural Affairs & Diversity Initiatives

  • Service/Committee Position Section: 

    • Member of the Advisory Committee For PREP@Iowa

Teaching Experience

  • Instructor/Postdoc Team Teaching with Dr. Abel:

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Fall 2016) 

Postdoc Teaching- ​URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Spring 2017)

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Fall 2017)

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Spring 2018) 

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Fall 2018)

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Spring 2019) 

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (240 hours, Fall 2019) 

Postdoc Teaching- URES: 3994 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (Spring 2020-in progress)

  • Instructor:

Visiting Instructor in Cell Biology (Volunteered), Winston- Salem State University, sponsored by Dr. Morris J. Clarke (clarkemj@wssu.edu)Taught Cell Biology, Human Biology of Disease, Introduction to Forensic Science, Ethics, and Honors Inquiry Based Seminar (40 hours, April 2016-Aug 2017)

Visiting Instructor in Neuroscience (Volunteered),Winston-Salem State University, sponsored by Dr. Azeez Aileru (ailerua@wssu.edu)-Taught Ethics and Neuroethics, and MARC U STAR Specific class on Graduate School Development (40 hours, Aug 2017-Jan 2017)

  • Guest Lecturer/Lecturer:

Lecturer, Cell and Molecular Biology Review Course Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, sponsored by Dr.Laurie Connor (lconnor@bcm.edu). (CHS. 12, 13, and 15) (40 hours, July 2012-July 2015)

Guest Lecturer, Molecular Biology of Cell, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX Cellular signaling, molecular methods, and hormones, sponsored by Dr. Laurie Connor (lconnor@bcm.edu) (13 hours, March 2014-March 2015)

Guest Lecturer, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Q & A Discovery Session, " Life after the PhD for SROP students, sponsored by Mrs. Sproles (diana-sproles@uiowa.edu) (2 hours, June 2017)

Guest Lecturer , University of Iowa, Iowa City, The Do’s and Don’ts of Poster construction, sponsored by Mrs. Sproles (diana-sproles@uiowa.edu) (2 hours, July 2017)

Guest Lecturer, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Effective Abstract Construction (Round table style), sponsored by Mrs. Sproles (diana-sproles@uiowa.edu) (2 hours, July 2017)

Guest Lecturer , University of Iowa, Iowa City, The Do’s and Don’ts of Poster construction, sponsored by Mrs. Sproles (diana-sproles@uiowa.edu) (1 hour, July 2018)

  • Teacher Assistant:

Teacher Assistant for Biochemistry Laboratory, Winston-Salem State University, Position was sponsored by Dr. Jill Harp-Keith (harpj@wssu.edu). (70 hours, August 2009 –May2010)

Teacher Assistant for General Biology, Winston-Salem State University, Position was sponsored by Dr. Jill Harp-Keith (harpj@wssu.edu). (40 hours, January-March 2010)

Teacher Assistant for Organization of the Cell, Baylor College of Medicine, Position was sponsored by Dr. Rick Sifers (rsifers@bcm.edu) (350 hours, August 2013- September 2015)

Teacher Assistant for Director’s Course, Baylor College of Medicine, Position was sponsored by Dr. Frederick A. Pereira (fpereira@bcm.edu) (225 hours, May 2014-May 2015)

  • Tutoring:

Private Tutoring in General Biology (did not take), Cell Biology (B) and Cell Biology Lab (A),   Medical Physiology and Pharmacology (B), Botany (A), Zoology (A), Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (A), Genetics Lab (A), General Chemistry I (A) and II (A), General Physics I (A) and II (A), Developmental Biology Lab (A), for Winston-Salem State University Students’ in the Biology Department (Volunteer, 750 Hours, August 2008- May 2010)

Initiative to Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) tutor for Organization of the Cell (O.C.) and Molecular Methods Baylor College of Medicine, sponsored by Dr. Gayle Slaughter (gayles@bcm.edu) and Laurie Connor (lconnor@bcm.edu). (685 hours, August 2013- September 2015)

Initiative to Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) tutor for Neuroscience and Gene Regulation, Baylor College of Medicine, sponsored by Dr. Gayle Slaughter (gayles@bcm.edu) and Laurie Connor (lconnor@bcm.edu) (505 hours, January 2014-March 2016)

  • Awards:

2016 Winston-Salem State University’s Alumni Achiever Award for the Department of Natural and Physical Sciences

2016 University of Iowa AGEP Post-doctoral Fellow Program, CIC (Big  Ten Alliance) Professorial Advancement Initiative)

2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Postdoctoral Enrichment Program Award

2017 ​Most outstanding entry (Best Poster) for the Carver College of Medicine Health Sciences Research Week poster competition

Speaking Honorarium, Guest Speaker at Fisk University for Cool Science Café Lecture Series, November (2017)

Nominee for the 2018 Diversity Catalyst Award 

2018 Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates Distinguished Mentor Award 

2018  University of Iowa’s Center for Diversity & Enrichment's Distinguished Educator Award 

American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Faculty Research and Education Development (FRED) Mentoring Program (2019)

NSF-AGEP BIG 10 Academic Alliance Conference Travel Reimbursement (2019)

Mini-symposium Oral Presentation Award for the Carver College of Medicine Health Sciences Research Week (2019)

NIH Loan Repayment Program Grant (2019)

Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2019)

Speaking Honorarium, Guest Speaker at University of Hawaii- Hilo for the SHARP Lecture Series, (February 2019)

Metro Nashville Public Schools- Madison Middle School Featured Scientist of the Month for August, Nashville, TN (August 2019)

NIH/NIDDK Basic Science Research Award for an exemplary research presentation at the NMRI Mid-West Regional Workshop (Nov 2019)

EE Just Postgraduate Fellowship in Life Sciences (2020-2023, $470K, 157,750 per year)

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) IINSPIRE Excellence in Mentoring Award (February 2020) 

Speaking Honorarium, Vanderbilt University, Discovery Sciences Emerging Scholars Lecture Series (March 2020) 

Speaking Honorarium, Meharry Medical College Presidential Lecture Series (March 2020)

2020 Diversity Catalyst Award, University of Iowa (April 2020)