1. 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

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

3. Education: 1973-1977 B.S. (Chemistry), with high distinction
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ph.D. (Biological Chemistry)
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Professional Positions: Postdoctoral Fellow
Laboratory of Lily and Yuh Nung Jan
University of California, San Francisco
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
UCLA School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology
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,
Councilor, Biophysical Society,
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1999
Grass Foundation Traveling Scientist, Society for Neuroscience, 1997
Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences,
Klingenstein Fellow in the Neurosciences,

4. Diane M Papazian PhD
Diane M Papazian PhD

5. 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

6. 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.

7. Projects E-mail: papazian@mednet.ucla.edu
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8. 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.