Penny Moody-Corbett, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Medicine Professor Emeritus St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador pmoody@mun.ca
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Bio/Research
The objective of Dr. Moody-Corbett's research has been to understand the developmental acquisition of membrane ion channels in the post-synaptic membrane relative to the development of the synapse. These studies have taken advantage of a simple nerve- muscle culture system prepared from the frog ...
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Bio/Research
The objective of Dr. Moody-Corbett's research has been to understand the developmental acquisition of membrane ion channels in the post-synaptic membrane relative to the development of the synapse. These studies have taken advantage of a simple nerve- muscle culture system prepared from the frog Xenopus laevis. In this preparation it has been possible to examine the acquisition of potassium, sodium and calcium currents in the muscle cells relative to innervation and the acquisition of the receptors to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Dr. Moody-Corbett's results indicate that muscle cells are able to acquire all of the necessary elements for membrane excitation in the absence of innervation. However, innervation regulates the timing and spatial expression of the channels. Research from her lab, together with work from other labs, has indicated that the acetylcholine receptor channels and potassium channels are the first ion channels present in muscle membrane, appearing before the expression of sodium, calcium or chloride channels.
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Dr. Moody-Corbett's results indicate that muscle cells are able to acquire all of the necessary elements for membrane excitation in the absence of innervation. However, innervation regulates the timing and spatial expression of the channels. Research from her lab, together with work from other labs, has indicated that the acetylcholine receptor channels and potassium channels are the first ion channels present in muscle membrane, appearing before the expression of sodium, calcium or chloride channels.
Click to Shrink <<