Edward L. Stuenkel, Ph.D. ~Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1983 7807 Med. Sci. II (734) 763-4477 esterm@umich.edu

Current Research:

Membrane trafficking and fusion is vital for the growth and division of cells, for establishing and maintaining spatial organization of biochemical events and, in the nervous system, is a fundamental requirement of neurotransmitter release and information transfer. Our central research focus is to understand the molecular mechanism of vesicle-mediated fusion events in neurons and neuroendocrine cells that operate in physiological and pathophysiological circumstances to regulate synaptic transmission and neurohormone release. Specific interests include: 1) understanding the electrophysiological attributes of synapses (particularly of presynaptic element, e.g. channels – types and activity and receptor-mediated regulation, action potential invasion, AP patterning)), 2) understanding the functional role of SNARE and SNARE interacting proteins in the exocytotic release of chemical messengers, 3) understanding calcium dynamics/regulation at nerve endings and its relationship to electrical activity and regulated exocytosis, and, 4) understanding the role of small GTP binding proteins of Rho family in membrane trafficking, peripheral actin reorganization and coordination of events essential to maintenance of regulated secretion. Multiple experimental approaches are applied in the research. Biochemical and molecular approaches are used to identify and characterize protein interactions and regulatory pathways. Functional characterization employs electrophysiological, optical, and immunochemical approaches in neuronal and neuroendocrine preparations as well as appropriate cell lines.

Representative Publications:

Li, Q-W., Ho, C.S., Marinescu, V., Bhatti, H., Bokoch, G., Ernst, S.A., Holz, R.W. and E. L. Stuenkel. 2003 Facilitation of Ca2+-dependent exocytosis by Rac1-GTPase in bovine chromaffin cells. J. Physiol. 550.2:431-445.

Li, Q and E.L. Stuenkel. 2004. Calcium Negatively Modulates Calmodulin Interaction with IQGAP1. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 317:787-795.

Gladycheva, S.E., C. S. Ho, Y.Y.F. Lee and E. L. Stuenkel. 2004. Munc13 alters syntaxin1A modulation of N-type calcium channels in HEK293 cells. J. Physiol. 558:857

Liu J., S.A. Ernst, S.E. Gladycheva, Y.F. Lee, S. I. Lentz, C.S. Ho, Q. Li and E.L. Stuenkel. 2005. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer reports properties of syntaxin1A interaction with Munc18-1 in vivo. J. Biol. Chem., In Press


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