Joel A. Black, Ph.D., Research Scientist
Research in our laboratory is directed towards understanding the mechanisms
that regulate and modulate the localization of ionic channels and pumps
within the plasmalemma of neurons and glial cells, as the non-random
distrubution
of these membrane proteins greatly influences the physiological properties
of these cells. Currently, the laboratory is focused on determining the
factors that govern the expression and spatial organization of
voltage-sensitive
sodium channels within astrocytes and Schwann cells, with the goal of
establishing
the molecular pathway(s) for the incorporation and stabilization of these
channels in specific membrane regions. The laboratory is also interested
in determining the relationship between astrocyte and Schwann cell processes
and the distribution of specific molecules within axonal membranes. These
studies utilize immuno-electron and indirect fluorescence microsopic
techniques with in vivo and in vitro tissues.
Black JA, Westenbroek R, Minturn JE, Ransom BR, Catterall WA and Waxman
SG. (1995). Isoform-specific expression of sodium channels in astrocytes
in vitro: immunocytochemical observations. Glia 14:133-144.
Zur KB, Oh Y, Waxman SG and Black JA. (1995). Differential up-regulation
of sodium channel alpha and beta1- subunit mRNAs in cultured embryonic DRG
neurons following exposure to NGF. Mol Brain Res 30:97-103.
Sontheimer H, Black JA and Waxman SG. (1996). Voltage-gated sodium channels
in glia: properties and possible functions. Trends Neurosci
19(8):325-330.
Black JA, Dib-Hajj S, McNabola K, Jeste S, Rizzo MA, Kocsis JD
and Waxman SG. Spinal sensory neurons express multiple sodum channel
alpha-subunit
mRNAs. Mol Brain Res (in press).