D.P. Mohapatra, Ph.D. Ion Channel Modulations and Regulation of Cellular Plasticity Representative Publications: Click
here to see a list of additional publications Center and Program affiliations: Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience

Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (human biology )
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, 2003
E-mail: dp-mohapatra@uiowa.edu
Office: 2-252 BSB
Phone: (319) 335-6944
http://web.mac.com/dmohapatra/iWeb/Site%201/HOME.html
The intrinsic excitability of neurons as well as cardiac muscles in our body reflects the complex interplay between the inward and outward membrane conductances that underlie the unique electrical activity pattern in each of these cell types, and are governed by the expression, localization and activity of voltage-gated ion channels. In mammalian brain these processes are homeostatically regulated during development and aging, and in response to short- and long-term changes in neuronal activity in the face of sustained alterations in synaptic stimulations, which otherwise could drive the neuronal activity towards extreme excitation or quiescence. Altered expression and/or modulation of specific localization and function of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) and potassium (Kv) channels mainly mediate these homeostatic processes in response to altered neuronal activity, pathological and neuromodulatory stimuli, as well as sensory perceptions.
We are investigating the dynamic modulation of voltage-gated Kv channels in mammalian brain & sensory neurons as well as in cardiac muscles by diverse intracellular signaling pathways resulting from the activation of different types of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and their contribution to the regulation of cellular plasticity. We combine modern molecular/cell biological, biochemical, mass spectrometry-based proteomic, immunocyto-/histochemical, confocal imaging, and electrophysiological methods in mammalian cell cultures and in animal models to answer these questions. These studies will determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the intrinsic regulation of neuronal and cardiac muscle excitability and plasticity in several pathological conditions such as epilepsies, Parkinson’s disease, drug abuse, alcoholism, ischemic reperfusion injury, and chronic pain, as well as contributing towards the development of therapeutic interventions for these pathologies.