Fiona McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | Roxburgh, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Education | University of Otago |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Awards | Fulbright scholarship |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
| Thesis |
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 | Scholia has a profile for Fiona J McDonald (Q57228435). |
Fiona Jean McDonald is a New Zealand physiologist, professor and head of the McDonald Lab and the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago. [1] [2]
McDonald was born in Roxburgh, New Zealand. [3] After graduating from St Hilda's Collegiate School in Dunedin she completed a BSc at the University of Otago. [3] She then studied at the University of Oxford for a DPhil for her thesis, "Studies on the role of FGF-4 in mouse development". [4] [5] In 2011 McDonald was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study the function of a protein named COMMD10 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. [3] [6] Returning to her position at Otago, she was promoted to full professor, with effect from 1 February 2020. [7]
In 2005, McDonald was awarded the Research Medal by the New Zealand Association of Scientists, for "her outstanding physiological research over the last 3 years". [8]
The collecting duct system of the kidney consists of a series of tubules and ducts that physically connect nephrons to a minor calyx or directly to the renal pelvis. The collecting duct system is the last part of nephron and participates in electrolyte and fluid balance through reabsorption and excretion, processes regulated by the hormones aldosterone and vasopressin.
In the physiology of the kidney, tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) is a feedback system inside the kidneys. Within each nephron, information from the renal tubules is signaled to the glomerulus. Tubuloglomerular feedback is one of several mechanisms the kidney uses to regulate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It involves the concept of purinergic signaling, in which an increased distal tubular sodium chloride concentration causes a basolateral release of adenosine from the macula densa cells. This initiates a cascade of events that ultimately brings GFR to an appropriate level.
11-Deoxycorticosterone (DOC), or simply deoxycorticosterone, also known as 21-hydroxyprogesterone, as well as desoxycortone (INN), deoxycortone, and cortexone, is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland that possesses mineralocorticoid activity and acts as a precursor to aldosterone. It is an active (Na+-retaining) mineralocorticoid. As its names indicate, 11-deoxycorticosterone can be understood as the 21-hydroxy-variant of progesterone or as the 11-deoxy-variant of corticosterone.
Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated gene 4-like (NEDD4L) or NEDD4-2 is an enzyme of the NEDD4 family. In human the protein is encoded by the NEDD4L gene. In mouse the protein is commonly known as NEDD4-2 and the gene Nedd4-2.
The SCNN1B gene encodes for the β subunit of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC in vertebrates. ENaC is assembled as a heterotrimer composed of three homologous subunits α, β, and γ or δ, β, and γ. The other ENAC subunits are encoded by SCNN1A, SCNN1G, and SCNN1D.
The SCNN1A gene encodes for the α subunit of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC in vertebrates. ENaC is assembled as a heterotrimer composed of three homologous subunits α, β, and γ or δ, β, and γ. The other ENAC subunits are encoded by SCNN1B, SCNN1G, and SCNN1D.
The SCNN1G gene encodes for the γ subunit of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC in vertebrates. ENaC is assembled as a heterotrimer composed of three homologous subunits α, β, and γ or δ, β, and γ. The other ENAC subunits are encoded by SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1D.
Serine/threonine protein kinase WNK4 also known as WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 4 or WNK4, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the WNK4 gene. Missense mutations cause a genetic form of pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2, also called Gordon syndrome.
Sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC5A6 gene.
The SCNN1D gene encodes for the δ (delta) subunit of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC in vertebrates. ENaC is assembled as a heterotrimer composed of three homologous subunits α, β, and γ or δ, β, and γ. The other ENAC subunits are encoded by SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1G.
Benzamil or benzyl amiloride is a potent blocker of the ENaC channel and also a sodium-calcium exchange blocker. It is a potent analog of amiloride, and is marketed as the hydrochloride salt. As amiloride, benzamil has been studied as a possible treatment for cystic fibrosis, although with disappointing results.
Phloretin is a dihydrochalcone, a type of natural phenol. It can be found in apple tree leaves and the Manchurian apricot.
Marion Frances Robinson was a New Zealand nutritionist and physiologist. She was professor of nutrition at the University of Otago, and is particularly noted for her investigation of the importance of selenium in the human diet.
Julia Anne Horsfield is a New Zealand biochemist and developmental geneticist. She is professor of pathology at the University of Otago and director of Genetics Otago and the Otago Zebrafish Facility.
Joanne Mary Baxter is a New Zealand Māori public health medicine physician and academic and affiliates with the iwi of Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha and Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō. She is a professor and director of Kōhatu, Centre for Hauora Māori, and co-director of the Māori Health Workforce Development Unit at the University of Otago. Baxter will take up the position of dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine on 1 July 2022, and will be the first Māori woman in the role.
Neil John Gemmell, is a New Zealand geneticist. His research areas cover evolutionary genetics and genomics, molecular ecology, and conservation biology. Originally from Lower Hutt, he obtained his PhD at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2008, Gemmell has been a professor at the University of Otago and since 2019 holds one of their seven Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chairs. Significant work includes the search of the Loch Ness Monster (2018) and the sequencing of the tuatara genome. In 2020, Gemmell received the Hutton Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Rhiannon Braund is a New Zealand academic and registered pharmacist. She is a professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago.
Patricia Ann Cragg is a New Zealand physiologist and full professor and former academic administrator at the University of Otago.
Anne Monique Nuyt is a Canadian paediatrician who is Professor of Neonatology and Canada Research Chair in Prematurity and Developmental Origins of Cardiovascular Health and Diseases at the Université de Montréal. Her research considers how perinatal oxidative stress can alter the structural development and function of the cardiovascular system.
Dianne Sika–Paotonu is a New Zealand immunologist, biomedical scientist and academic in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and Associate Dean (Pacific) at the University of Otago Wellington. She is of Tongan descent and is the first Pasifika biomedical scientist to receive the Cranwell Medal for science communication.
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