Edward Perez-Reyes Professor of Pharmacology University of Virginia

Calcium entry via voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels is a key event in neuronal firing, muscle contraction, gene expression, and secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones. Voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels are the site of action of a number of clinically relevant drugs, termed "calcium channel blockers."

The Perez-Reyes laboratory is focused on determining the molecular structure of voltage-gated calcium channels, then studying how their structure relates to the function and pharmacology of the channel. Early studies focused on the cloning and expression of the skeletal and cardiac muscle L-type channels. These studies established that the alpha1 subunit contains both the ion permeation pathway and is the receptor for most calcium channel blockers. These studies also elucidated the important role that auxiliary subunits play in the formation of active channels and drug receptors. A key contribution was the cloning of low voltage-activated T-type Ca²⁺ channels, which has opened the door to studies on their biophysics, localization, role in neuronal excitability, and pharmacology. This work combined a number of exciting techniques such as confocal microscopy, molecular cloning, and electrophysiological recordings of whole cell and single channel currents. We believe that up regulation of T-type channels may underlie many pathological states including thalamocortical dysrhythmias and epilepsy. To test this hypothesis we are examining how mutations in T-channel genes affects the channel activity and neuronal firing.

Movie showing distribution of wild-type channels (green)

or of mutant channels

Images of live cells were collected a Cooke Sensicam QE mounted on an Olympus BX61WI equipped with an Olympus spinning disk unit. Channel localization was visualized by measuring the green fluorescent signal from GFP fused to the N-terminus. Nuclei were labeled with Hoechst 33258. Plasma membranes were labeled with FM-4-64 (red).

Current lab members:

Iuliia Vitko, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, Biosketch

Alex Shcheglovitov, Postdoc, Biosketch

Joel Baumgart, Neuroscience Graduate Student, CV

Ima Arias, Visiting Grad student from Mexico’s UNAM

Deborah L. Perez-Reyes, Visiting Lecturer

For a list of scientific contributions see Ed’s Biosketch or Google Scholar: perez-reyes e

More information can be found at the Neuroscience Graduate Program.

Contact eperez@virginia.edu

UVa Home Page. | ITC Home Page | ITC Web Support

Last updated January 3, 2006
This page created and maintained by ebp8n@virginia.edu