W. Clay Smith

W. Clay Smith, PhD

Professor

Department: MD-OPHTHALMOLOGY
Business Phone: (352) 273-8794
Business Email: wcsmith@ufl.edu

About W. Clay Smith

Dr. Smith received his BS and MS in entomology from the University of Florida in 1986, intrigued by visual function of insects. He continued this interest in graduate school at Yale University, studying retinoid metabolism in the visual process with Prof. Timothy Goldsmith, and earning his PhD in neurobiology in 1990. After a post-doctoral fellowship with Prof. Doug Kankel at Yale University studying Drosophila genetics, he moved to the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience for a post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. Barbara Battelle where he studied the molecular biology of the horseshoe crab eye. He joined UF’s Department of Ophthalmology in 1993, working with Dr. Paul Hargrave on the biochemistry of photortransduction, and then developing his own program on the molecular and cellular biology of photoreceptors. He serves as the Director of Research for the Department of Ophthalmology, Director of the Ocular Gene Therapy Core for production of AAV to treat blinding diseases, and as Director for the Center for Vision Research.

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2017-2019,2021-2024,2023-2024
GMS6070 Sensory and Motor Systems
2018
GMS7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2018
GMS7979 Advanced Research
2007,2011-2015,2015
GMS6709 Current Topics in Vision
2010-2012
GMS6791 Visual Neuroscience Journal Club
2010
IDH4917 Undergrad Research

Publications

Academic Articles
2022
A Modified Arrestin1 Increases Lactate Production in the Retina and Slows Retinal Degeneration
Human Gene Therapy. 33(13-14):695-707 [DOI] 10.1089/hum.2021.272. [PMID] 35081746.
2020
An arrestin-1 surface opposite of its interface with photoactivated rhodopsin engages with enolase-1.
The Journal of biological chemistry. 295(19):6498-6508 [DOI] 10.1074/jbc.RA120.013043. [PMID] 32238431.
2013
Activation of phospholipase C mimics the phase shifting effects of light on melatonin rhythms in retinal photoreceptors.
PloS one. 8(12) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0083378. [PMID] 24386190.
2013
Formation of lipofuscin-like material in the RPE Cell by different components of rod outer segments.
Experimental eye research. 112:57-67 [DOI] 10.1016/j.exer.2013.04.006. [PMID] 23603319.
2013
Influence of eye size and beam entry angle on dose to non-targeted tissues of the eye during stereotactic x-ray radiosurgery of AMD.
Physics in medicine and biology. 58(19):6887-96 [DOI] 10.1088/0031-9155/58/19/6887. [PMID] 24025704.
2013
Light-dependent phosphorylation of Bardet-Biedl syndrome 5 in photoreceptor cells modulates its interaction with arrestin1.
Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. 70(23):4603-16 [DOI] 10.1007/s00018-013-1403-4. [PMID] 23817741.
2011
Ab-externo AAV-mediated gene delivery to the suprachoroidal space using a 250 micron flexible microcatheter.
PloS one. 6(2) [DOI] 10.1371/journal.pone.0017140. [PMID] 21347253.
2010
Expression characteristics of dual-promoter lentiviral vectors targeting retinal photoreceptors and Müller cells.
Molecular vision. 16:916-34 [PMID] 20517486.
2008
Characterization of Intraocular Immunopathology Following Intracameral Inoculation With Alloantigen
Molecular Vision. 14:615-624
2006
Arrestin translocation in rod photoreceptors.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 572:455-64 [PMID] 17249609.
2004
The surface of visual arrestin that binds to rhodopsin.
Molecular vision. 10:392-8 [PMID] 15215746.
2001
Activation of arrestin: requirement of phosphorylation as the negative charge on residues in synthetic peptides from the carboxyl-terminal region of rhodopsin.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 42(7):1439-43 [PMID] 11381044.
2001
Immunocytochemical localization of opsin, visual arrestin, myosin III, and calmodulin in Limulus lateral eye retinular cells and ventral photoreceptors.
The Journal of comparative neurology. 435(2):211-25 [PMID] 11391642.
1999
Identification of regions of arrestin that bind to rhodopsin.
Biochemistry. 38(9):2752-61 [PMID] 10052946.
1999
Sulfhydryl reactivity demonstrates different conformational states for arrestin, arrestin activated by a synthetic phosphopeptide, and constitutively active arrestin.
Biochemistry. 38(19):6119-25 [PMID] 10320338.
1997
Short wavelength-sensitive opsins from the Saharan silver and carpenter ants.
Invertebrate neuroscience : IN. 3(1):49-56 [PMID] 9706701.

Grants

Aug 2024 – Nov 2024
Biological assay of sterilant bioactivity in tissue culture
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Jan 2024 ACTIVE
A modified arrestin1 to enhance glycolysis in photoreceptors as a therapeutic approach to slowing retinal degeneration
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Nov 2023 – Aug 2024
Michelson Task #5 Biological assay of sterilant bioactivity in tissue culture
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Sep 2022 ACTIVE
Research Training in Vision Science
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Apr 2022 – Mar 2023
Biological assay of sterilant bioactivity in tissue culture
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
SBT-100 Regulation of Cytokine Signaling and Autoimmunity
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: *SINGH BIOTECHNOLOGY
Apr 2021 – Dec 2023
Mitigation of Equine Recurrent Uveitis through topical suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-1 mimetic peptide
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: GRAYSON JOCKEY CLUB RES FOU
Nov 2020 – Jun 2021
Task Order #3 – Biological assay of sterilant bioactivity in tissue culture
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Sep 2020 – Sep 2021
Core Equipment for Assessment of Ocular Disease in Animal Models
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH OD
Jun 2020 – Nov 2020
Task Order #2 – Biological assay of sterilant bioactivity in tissue culture
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Sep 2019 – Mar 2021
Disease mechanisms of cone opsin mutants and treatment strategies
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Jul 2019 – Feb 2020
Task Order #1 – Sterilant Bioassay for Michelson Found Animals Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: MICHELSON FOUND ANIMALS FOUNDATION
Jun 2019 – Nov 2022
Enhancing Metabolism in Photoreceptors with a Modified Arrestin to Treat Retinal Degeneration
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: FOU FOR FIGHTING BLINDNESS
Mar 2016 – Feb 2022
Research Training in vision science
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Aug 2011 – Jul 2016
Vision Research Core
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-8794
Emails:
Business:
wcsmith@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100284
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
D4-32, DENTAL SCIENCES BUILDING
GAINESVILLE FL 32611