Science Links People Selected Recent Publications Biophysical Society People Science Links Meng-chin Lin, PhD Allan Mock Jui-Yi (Ray) Hsieh Fadi (Pete) Issa, PhD (Abstract) Complete Publication List with Abstracts Natali Minassian Current Lab Members Former Lab Members © 2009 Diane M. Papazian Webdesigner: Diane M. Papazian

American Association for the Advancement of Science Ensembl ZFIN (Zebrafish Model Organism Database) PubMed Society for Neuroscience NIH NINDS NIGMS NIMH

Education: 1973-1977 B.S. (Chemistry), with high distinction University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 1977-1983 Ph.D. (Biological Chemistry) Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Professional Positions: 1983-1989 Postdoctoral Fellow Laboratory of Lily and Yuh Nung Jan University of California, San Francisco 1989-1994 Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology UCLA School of Medicine 1994-2000 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology 1999-2005 Executive Vice Chair, Department of Physiology UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine 2000-now Professor, Department of Physiology Honors: Fellow of the Biophysical Society, 2009 H. W. Magoun Distinguished Lecturer, UCLA Brain Research Institute, 2008 Contributing Member, Faculty of 1000, 2004-2007 Councilor, Biophysical Society, 2004-2006 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1999 Grass Foundation Traveling Scientist, Society for Neuroscience, 1997 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, 1991-1995 Klingenstein Fellow in the Neurosciences, 1989-1992

Diane M Papazian PhD Diane M Papazian PhD

Chih-Yung Tang, National Taiwan University Seema Tiwari-Woodruff, UCLA Lucia Santacruz-Toloza, Duke University Christine Schulteis, Immusol Will Silverman, University of Miami Muriel Lainé, University of Chicago John Bannister, University of Tennessee Chris Mazzochi Jessica Richardson, UC Davis School of Law Myong-chul Koag Mike Myers Raj Khanna, Indiana University Naomi Nagaya, University of Michigan Yu Huang, Chinese University of Hong Kong Scott John, UCLA Max Shao, UCLA Raj Khanna, Indiana University Naomi Nagaya, University of Michigan Yu Huang, Chinese University of Hong Kong Scott John, UCLA Max Shao, UCLA

Electrical activity underlies most aspects of brain function Electrical activity underlies most aspects of brain function. Our research focuses on the voltage-gated ion channels that confer electrical excitability on neurons and the consequences of changes in channel activity for neuronal firing, circuit function, behavior, and neuronal viability during development and aging. Work in our lab spans many levels of analysis, from the molecular to the behavioral. We are studying how voltage controls the activity of K+ channels, how changes in channel function or expression affect the firing patterns of neurons and the emergent properties of neuronal circuits, and how altering neuronal excitability affects behavior. We are also investigating the relationship between excitability and neuronal survival at different stages of life. We use a wide variety of experimental approaches to address these issues, including electrophysiology, imaging, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and behavioral analysis. In the past few years, we have adopted the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as our main model system for integrative analysis. We also use Xenopus oocytes to investigate channel function and primary cultures of rodent neurons to explore the relationship between channel activity and neuronal function and viability. We are always looking for bright, hard-working individuals who want to work in a collaborative environment focusing on mechanistic, quantitative approaches to key questions in neuroscience. Electrical activity underlies most aspects of brain function. Our research focuses on the voltage-gated ion channels that confer electrical excitability on neurons and the consequences of changes in channel activity for neuronal firing, circuit function, behavior, and neuronal viability during development and aging. Work in our lab spans many levels of analysis, from the molecular to the behavioral. We are studying how voltage controls the activity of K+ channels, how changes in channel function or expression affect the firing patterns of neurons and the emergent properties of neuronal circuits, and how altering neuronal excitability affects behavior. We are also investigating the relationship between excitability and neuronal survival at different stages of life. We use a wide variety of experimental approaches to address these issues, including electrophysiology, imaging, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and behavioral analysis. In the past few years, we have adopted the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as our main model system for integrative analysis. We also use Xenopus oocytes to investigate channel function and primary cultures of rodent neurons to explore the relationship between channel activity and neuronal function and viability. We are always looking for bright, hard-working individuals who want to work in a collaborative environment focusing on mechanistic, quantitative approaches to key questions in neuroscience.

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Gating of voltage-dependent K+ channels (more . . .) We are investigating the mechanism of voltage-dependent activation in K+ channels. K+ channels are tetramers with a central K+-selective pore and 4 voltage sensor domains, one per subunit. Upon membrane depolarization, the voltage sensor domains undergo conformational changes that result in pore opening. Our current goals are to identify experimental constraints that make it possible to model the structure of the closed channel and to determine the pathway taken by the S4 segment, the main moving element in the voltage sensor, during activation.