Holly Kordasiewicz (Brownrigg)

Ph.D. 2006

Thesis Title:

P/Q-type voltage gated calcium channels and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6

Current Position:

Associate Director
Isis Pharmaceuticals

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

State University of New York at Geneseo

Major Advisor(s):

Christopher Gomez

Research Description:

My current research focuses on voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) and their role in the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type six (SCA6). SCA6 is a dominantly inherited progressive ataxia, which leads to marked cerebellar atrophy and specifically Purkinje cell degeneration. SCA6 is caused by a mutation in the CACNA1A gene, which encodes the pore forming subunit (a1A) of the P/Q-type voltage gated calcium channel. We are currently exploring how the SCA6 mutation alters normal functioning of the a1A subunit and how this mutation can cause cell death as observed in SCA6.

Lab Rotations:

  • Christopher Gomez
  • Paul Mermelstein
  • Stanley Thayer

Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:

  • GCD 8213 Topics in Molecular Biology
  • GCD 8151 Advanced Cell Biology
  • BIOC 4332 Signal Transduction/Gene Expression
  • BIOC 4331 Structure/Catalyst/Metabolism

Graduate Level Minor:

  • Biochemistry

Conferences Attended:

  • Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting - Fall 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
    2004
  • Annual Cell Biology Meeting - Fall 2003

Committee Members:

  • Paul Mermelstein - Chair
  • Harry Orr
  • Paul Letourneau
  • Christopher Gomez - Advisor

Selected Publications:

  • Boulware MI, Kordasiewicz H, Mermelstein PG. Caveolin proteins are essential for distinct effects of membrane estrogen receptors in neurons. J Neurosci. 2007 Sep 12;27(37):9941-50.
  • Kordasiewicz HB, Gomez CM. Molecular pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. Neurotherapeutics. 2007;4(2):285-94.
  • Raike RS, Kordasiewicz HB, Thompson RM, Gomez CM. Dominant-negative suppression of Cav2.1 currents by alpha(1)2.1 truncations requires the conserved interaction domain for beta subunits. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007;34(2):168-77.
  • Kordasiewicz HB , Thompson RM, Clark HB, Gomez CM. C-termini of P/Q-type Ca2+ channel alpha1A subunits translocate to nuclei and promote polyglutamine-mediated toxicity. Hum Mol Genet. 2006;15(10):1587-99.

Home Town:

  • North Tonawanda, NY
Holly Kordasiewicz (Brownrigg)