Section: Research

Postdoctoral Position Available

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Ronghua Zhuge, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Physiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
   Program in Neuroscience

Intracellular localized Ca²⁺ signaling

Opening of one or a few clustered ryanodine receptors in the membrane of sarcoplasmic reticulum produces highly localized Ca²⁺ transients so called "Ca²⁺ sparks".  These local Ca²⁺ signals are the elementary events of global changes in Ca²⁺ in striated muscles and neurons.  In smooth muscle Ca²⁺ sparks act in their own right to trigger a cluster of large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels and Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channels in the vicinity of release sites.  Activation of these two types of channels produces spontaneous transient outward currents and spontaneous transient inward currents, respectively, which are expected to regulate the activity of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels.  Hence, Ca²⁺ sparks appear to function as stabilizers of membrane potential and are likely to control the contractile state of smooth muscle.  With a combination of patch clamp and state-of-the-art high-resolution digital imaging microscope developed by Biomedical Imaging Group, we are characterizing the biophysical properties and molecular bases of Ca²⁺ sparks and studying molecular mechanisms on how Ca²⁺ sparks activate the K⁺ and Cl^- channels.  As both Ca²⁺ sparks and membrane currents are monitored in ms scale, it is possible for us to study molecular interaction in real time in a single living cell.

Office: Biotech II, Suite 114
Phone: 508-856-2449
E-mail: Ronghua.Zhuge@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Organisms - mouse, Electrophysiology, Imaging, Secretion

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Postdoctoral Position Available A Postdoctoral Position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. ZhuGe for additional details at ronghua.zhuge@umassmed.edu