Lab Location: Health Sciences Building Room J631

Current Lab Members

Academic Labs of Alumni

Group Meeting Schedule

Mitochondria and Metabolism Interest Group

Vision Group Schedule

Biochemistry Dept.

Harborview shuttle

SLU shuttle

Publications

PubMed

Library connect off campus

This site is being remodeled but it will remain open during construction.

Comments, questions or postdoc applications to jbhhh@uw.edu

(previous lab web site)

 

Images from our research:

mitochondria

(This EM image of a salamander photoreceptor was made by Ellen Townes-Anderson and Jianfeng Wang, UMDNJ Medical School)

Neuronal Energy Metabolism:

The viability and function of neurons rely on proper control of metabolic energy. Our primary aim now is to understand how metabolic energy is produced and distributed in photoreceptors. We are investigating the molecular mechansisms by which these neurons respond to the changing temporal and spatial energy demands of darkness and light.

Past Research:

  1. A G-protein (transducin) plays a central role in phototransduction.
  2. A phosphodiesterase that mediates phototransduction is regulated by an inhibitor subunit and transducin.
  3. Rods and cones use different proteins for phototransduction.
  4. Membrane guanylyl cyclases and calcium-sensitive regulatory proteins control cyclic GMP synthesis for phototransduction.
  5. Rhodopsin is phosphorylated differentially at specific sites in vivo.
  6. Zebrafish is a powerful genetic tool for vision research.

unresolved puzzles in the field of phototransduction:

  1. The physiological role of the Ca2+-binding protein, Recoverin.
  2. The biological significance of single photon response reproducibility.