Joshua P. Gray, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Science Department, Chemistry Section
U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Professor Gray earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1998) and a Ph.D. in Pathobiology (2003) from Pennsylvania State University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he did research on the oxidative stress and toxicology of redox cycling chemicals such as the toxic herbicide paraquat. In 2006, he joined the faculty of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University in the Pharmacology & Toxicology department, where his research program focused on designing medical countermeasures against chemical warfare agents including the vesicant sulfur mustard. Dr. Gray joined the USCGA in 2008.

Dr. Gray maintains an active research lab that investigates the mechanism of action of vesicants that may act as potential chemical weapons. He is an active member of the UNDNJ-Rutgers University CounterACT Center of Excellence, a research group focused on the development of drugs to treat mustard gas exposure. He also studies the mechanism of insulin secretion from beta cells, and is an Adjunct Assistant Scientist at the Biocurrents Research Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA.

Cadet research is an important part of Dr. Gray’s research program. Cadet scientists are encouraged to perform research and participate in national and regional meetings. In 2010, one of Prof Gray’s students who is now an Ensign in the USCGA, Patrick Collins won a Society of Toxicology Undergraduate Travel Award to attend the annual meeting in 2010 for his research entitled, “Plasma membrane-bound oxidoreductases are an immediate target of nitrogen mustard in pulmonary epithelial cells.” Cadet research projects are available to study mechanisms of sulfur mustard toxicity and mechanisms of insulin secretion from beta cells.

In addition to teaching Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prof Gray also volunteers with the Cadet Band.

Education:
Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 1998
Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. Pathobiology, 2003

Courses Taught:
General Chemistry
Biochemistry (beginning Fall 2009)

Selected Publications:
Gray, J. P., V. Mishin, D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Inhibition of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase by the model sulfur mustard vesicant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2010. epub ahead of print.

Gray, J. P.,and E. Heart. Usurping the mitochondrial supremacy: extramitochondrial sources of reactive oxygen intermediates and their role in beta cell metabolism and insulin secretion. Toxicol Mech Methods 20 (4): 167-174. [abstract]

Wang, Y., J. P. Gray, V. Mishin, D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Distinct roles of cytochrome P450 reductase in mitomycin c redox cycling and cytotoxicity. Mol Cancer Ther. 2010. epub ahead of print. [abstract]

Vetrano, A. M., D. L. Laskin, F. Archer, K. Syed, J. P. Gray, J. D. Laskin, N. Nwebube, and B. Weinberger. Inflammatory effects of phthalates in neonatal neutrophils. Pediatr Res. 2010. epub ahead of print. [abstract]

Jan, Y. H., D. E. Heck, J. P. Gray, H. Zheng, R. P. Casillas, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Selective targeting of selenocysteine in thioredoxin reductase by the half mustard 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide in lung epithelial cells. Chem Res Toxicol. 2010. epub ahead of print. [abstract]

Mishin, V., J. P. Gray, D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Application of the Amplex red/horseradish peroxidase assay to measure hydrogen peroxide generation by recombinant microsomal enzymes. Free Radic Biol Med. 48 (11): 1485-1491. 2010. [abstract]

Gardner, C. R., J. P. Gray, L. B. Joseph, J. Cervelli, N. Bremer, Y. Kim, V. Mishin, J. D. Laskin, and D. L. Laskin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 245 (1): 36-46. 2010. [abstract]

Shakarjian, M. P., D. E. Heck, J. P. Gray, P. J. Sinko, M. K. Gordon, R. P. Casillas, N. D. Heindel, D. R. Gerecke, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Mechanisms mediating the vesicant actions of sulfur mustard after cutaneous exposure. Toxicol Sci 114(1): 5-19. 2009. [abstract]

Peyot, M. L., J. P. Gray, J. Lamontagne, P. J. Smith, G. G. Holz, S. R. Madiraju, M. Prentki, and E. Heart. Glucagon-like peptide-1 induced signaling and insulin secretino do not drive fuel and energy metabolism in primary rodent pancreatic beta cells. PLoS One 4(7): e6221. 2009. [abstract]

Gerecke, D. R., J. P. Gray, M. P. Shakarjian, and R. P. Casillas. Dermal Toxicity of Sulfur Mustard. Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents. R. C. Gupta. New York, Elsevier: 611-632. 2009.

Heart, E., G. W. Cline, L. P. Collins, R. L. Pongratz, J. P. Gray, and P. J. Smith. Role for malic enzyme, pyruvate carboyxlation and mitochondrial malate import in the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Am J Physiol Endicrinol Metab 296(6): E1354-E1362. 2009. [abstract]

Black, A. T., J. P. Gray, M. P. Shakarjian, D. L. Laskin, D. E. Heck, and J. D. Laskin. Increased oxidative stress and antioxidant expression in mouse keratinocytes following exposure to paraquat. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 231(3): 384-392. 2008. [abstract]

Black, A. T., J. P. Gray, M. P. Shakarjian, V. Mishin, D. L. Laskin, D. E. Heck, and J. D. Laskin. UVB light upregulates prostaglandin synthases and prostaglandin receptors in mouse keratinocytes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 232(1): 14-24. 2008. [abstract]

Wang, Y., J. P. Gray, V. Mishin, D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, and J. D. Laskin. Role of cytochrome P450 reductase in nitrofurantoin-induced redox cycling and cytotoxicity. Free Radic Biol Med 44 (6): 1169-1179. 2008. [abstract]

Black, A. T., J. P. Gray, M. P. Shakarjian, D. L. Laskin, D. E. Heck, and J. D. Laskin. Distinct effects of ultraviolet B light on antioxidant expression in undifferentiated and differentiated mouse keratinocytes. Carcinogenesis 29 (1): 219-225. 2007. [abstract]

Gray, J. P., Heck, D. E., Mishin, V., Smith, P. J., Hong, J. Y., Thiruchelvam, M., Cory-Slechta, D. A., Laskin, D. L., and Laskin, J. D. Paraquat increases cyanide-insensitive respiration in murine lung epithelial cells by activating an NAD(P)H:Paraquat Oxidoreductase: Identification of the enzyme as thioredoxin reductase. J Biol Chem 282 (11): 7939-7949. 2007. [abstract]

Hofmann, P. A., M. Israel, Y. Koseki, J. Laskin, J. Gray, A. Janik, T. W. Sweatman, L. Lothstein. N-Benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 198): A non-cardiotoxic anthracycline that is cardioprotective through PKC-eta activation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 323 (2): 658-664. 2007. [abstract]

Professional Memberships:
Society of Toxicology
American College of Toxicology
Corporation Member of the Marine Biological Laboratory
American Association for Cancer Research
Inflammation Research Association
Boston-Ithaca Islet Club (a diabetes focus group)