Section: Research

Postdoctoral Position Available

Ann Rittenhouse, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Physiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
   Program in Neuroscience

Calcium Channels and Neuronal Plasticity

My laboratory is interested in understanding the role that voltage-activated calcium channels play in neural plasticity. While plasticity of the brain at the level of complex human behavior is quite obvious, it is also apparent at the cellular level.

One initial site for plasticity occurs with the influx of calcium through voltage-activated calcium channels. Calcium influx serves a unique function of acting as a bridge between electrical and biochemical signaling in nerve cells. Variability in calcium channel kinetics and level and site of expression has profound effects on how much and where calcium enters a nerve cell. This in turn influences the strength of the synaptic contacts a nerve cell makes and on the underlying cellular and molecular processes that occur. Four potential levels of plasticity for neuronal calcium channels are being examined in this lab: Using whole cell and single channel patch clamp recording techniques we are asking 1) what are the underlying causes of the different endogenous patterns of activity observed in single channel currents and 2) how does channel behavior change when it is modulated by neurotransmitters and other cellular signals? Using molecular techniques, including Northern blot analysis and RNase protection assays we are trying to determine 3) what regulates the level of expression of the four protein subunits that make up different calcium channels and 4) do calcium channels switch subunits?

Office: S4-216
Phone: 508-856-3735
Fax: 508-856-5997
E-mail: Ann.Rittenhouse@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Signal Transduction, Synapses, Electrophysiology, Neural Plasticity, Ion Channels

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Postdoctoral Position Available A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Rittenhouse for additional details.