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Research Interests:

Our laboratory is interested in cellular and molecular aspects of physiological regulatory mechanisms. Research emphasizes synaptic transmission and signaling mechanisms that involve calcium. Our studies span a range of technical approaches in the tradition of neuroscience. One line of research in the laboratory involves characterization of unique biological toxins that may be useful in elucidating new biological mechanisms. We have focused on a class of toxins that either suppress or prolong synaptic transmission. They act by affecting the function of calcium channels and perhaps by affecting other types of ion channels as well. We have shown that these toxins are small proteins that are palmitoylated on the hydroxyl side chain of a C-terminal amino acid. This unique proteolipid structure has special physical properties and we are intrigued by the similarity between the palmitoylated C-terminal of these toxins and the acylated C-terminal regions of biological regulatory proteins including small GTP binding proteins. Other interests include molecular studies, in collaboration with Robert F. Miller, of calcium channels in retina. We have also been involved in studies of ADP-ribosyl cyclases and hydrolases, enzymes that make and degrade cyclic ADP-ribose. Cyclic ADP-ribose is a key regulator of intracellular calcium levels that was discovered by a departmental colleague, Hon Cheung Lee.

Selected Publications

Munshi CB, Fryxell KB, Lee HC, Branton WD Large-scale production of human CD38 in yeast by fermentation. Methods Enzymol 1997;280:318-30

Bodi, J., H. Nishio, Y. Zhou, W.D. Branton, T. Kimura and S. Sakakibar Synthesis of an O-Palmitoylated 44-residue peptide amide (PLTXII) blocking presynaptic calcium channels in Drosophila. Peptide Res 1995;8(4):228-235

Branton, W.D., Y. Zhou, C.G. Fields and G.B. Fields Synthetic approaches for the structural characterization of a novel family of proteolipid spider toxins. In Peptides: Chemistry, Structure and Biology. 1995. Edited by P.T.P. Kaumaya and R.S. Hodges. Leiden, the Netherlands: Escom

Fryxell, K.B., K.J. O'Donoghue, R.M. Graeff, H.C. Lee and W.D. Branton
Functional expression of soluble forms of human CD38 in E. coli and pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 1995;6:329-336.