Edwin S. Levitan, Ph.D.
Professor, Pharmacology & Chemical Biology- Ph.D. Brandeis University (1986)
- Office: E1351 Biomedical Science Tower
- Telephone:412-648-9486
- Fax:412-648-1945
- E-mail: levitan@server.pharm.pitt.edu
- Website: http://www.pharmacology.us/Faculty.aspx?FacultyID=65
Neurosecretion and channel expression.
Research Summary:
Research in the Levitan laboratory is aimed at understanding how excitability and neurosecretion are controlled. One set of studies is focused on regulation of channel expression. For example, we are studying how antipsychotic drugs dampen dopamine neuron excitability by inducing K+ channel gene expression. The laboratory is also investigating control of neurosecretion with the use of green fluorescent protein imaging of synaptic boutons to determine how transmitter release depends on vesicle mobility and secretory apparatus proteins. Finally, we are integrating these two areas of research by studying trafficking of channels through the secretory pathway. Trainees in Dr. Levitan's laboratory have the opportunity to learn optical, electrophysiological and molecular techniques.
Selected Publications:
Levitan, E.S., Lanni, F. and Shakiryanova, D. In vivo imaging of vesicle motion and release at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Nat Protoc. 2(5): 1117-25, 2007.
Redman, P.T., He, K., Hartnett, K.A., Jefferson, B.S., Hu, L., Rosenberg, P.A., Levitan, E.S. and Aizenman, E. Apoptotic surge of potassium currents is mediated by p38 phosphorylation of Kv2.1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104(9): 3568-73, 2007. Epub 2007 Feb 20.
Singer-Lahat, D., Sheinin, A., Chikvashvili, D., Tsuk, S., Greitzer, D., Friedrich, R., Feinshreiber, L., Ashery, U., Benveniste, M., Levitan, E.S. and Lotan, I. K+ channel facilitation of exocytosis by dynamic interaction with syntaxin. J Neurosci. 27(7): 1651-8, 2007.
Shakiryanova, D., Klose, M.K., Zhou, Y., Gu, T., Deitcher, D.L., Atwood, H.L., Hewes, R.S., and Levitan, E.S. Presynaptic ryanodine receptor-activated calmodulin kinase II increases vesicle mobility and potentiates neuropeptide release. J. Neurosci. 27: 7799-7806, 2007.
Shakiryanova, D., Tully, A., and Levitan, E.S. Activity-dependent synaptic capture of transiting peptidergic vesicles. Nature Neuroscience 9: 896-900, 2006.
Pal, S., Takimoto, K., Aizenman, E., and Levitan, E.S. Apoptotic surface delivery of K+ channels. Cell Death and Diff. 13: 661-667, 2006.