Christian Peters
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
- Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that are found in all excitable cells, and are the key regulators of the electrochemical signaling essential that forms a major component of intra- and intercellular communication. In neurons of the brain, channels gated by voltage or extracellular and intracellular ligands, among other stimuli, are responsible for receiving, combining, propagating and delivering information throughout the neural network. The expression, assembly, function and subcellular distribution of channels are tightly controlled and highly specific. Perturbation or malfunction at any of these levels of control can result in significant alteration to neuronal circuit activity and may culminate in major changes to brain function and in disease.
- In the Peters lab, we are especially interested in how the regulation and function of ion channels is disturbed to cause and maintain nicotine dependence. Nicotine is a potent agonist of the eponymous nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), a family of ligand-gated ion channels with widespread distribution throughout the central nervous system and in skeletal muscles. Nicotine can act as an activator, desensitizer and molecular chaperone of nAChR, and produces effects both acute and chronic on neurons where the target channels are expressed. nAChR regulate cellular signaling through both voltage- and calcium-dependent mechanisms. Aberrant signaling owing to the presence of nicotine can modify a wide range of cellular processes involving nAChR and other genes and proteins interacting or downstream of them, including other, calcium-dependent ion channels. Untangling how and where these changes act to ultimately produce the changes to behavior associated with nicotine dependence is a major focus of our research.
- Additional opportunities to work on projects related to ion channel function and regulation may also be available at the discretion of the Principal Investigator.
At a Glance
- Title Assistant Professor
- College College of Medicine at Chicago - Basic Sciences
- Department Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
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