Kathryn MedlerKathryn MedlerPhysiology of Neuronal Cell Signaling Pathways
Assistant Professor
PhD (1994-1998) Louisiana State University
Post-doctoral researcher (1998-1999) Louisiana State University
Post-doctoral researcher (1999-2003) Colorado State University
Assistant Professor, Special Track (2003-2004) Colorado State
University
Assistant Professor (2004-present) University at Buffalo
My lab studies the physiology of signal transduction pathways and the regulation of these pathways in neuronal systems. We focus on peripheral sensory systems, primarily the taste system. Chemical sensory systems, which are comprised of olfaction and taste, play important roles in feeding, territorial recognition and social interactions. The taste sensory system is used to determine whether potential food items will be ingested or rejected while the olfactory system is used in a multitude of behaviors such as kin recognition and mate selection. The taste system is extremely heterogeneous and is made up of multiple cell types that depend on multiple signaling pathways to detect stimuli. Some stimuli interact with receptors that initiate second messenger cascades, while others interact directly with ion channels to cause a cellular response. As characterization of these cellular mechanisms continues, we can begin understanding how the brain gathers information about its surroundings. The long term goal of the lab is to begin understanding how signaling mechanisms are regulated within taste cells and how this regulation impacts the generation of the stimulus signal to the brain. We use molecular and physiological techniques, including patch clamp analysis and calcium imaging to investigate how signaling mechanisms in taste cells function.
• Characterization of calcium buffering mechanisms in taste cells of mice
• Correlation of RGS expression with G-alpha subunits, specifically the taste specific G protein, gustducin
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Medler, K., and Kinnamon, S.C. (2004) Transduction channels in Taste Cells. In “Transduction Channels in Sensory Cells” Eds. Frings and Bradley.
Medler, K, Margolskee, R.F., and Kinnamon, S.C. (2003) Electrophysiological characterization of voltage-gated currents in defined taste cell types of mice. J. Neurosci. 23(7):2608-2617.
Medler, K and Gleason, E. (2002) Mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering regulates synaptic transmission between retinal amacrine cells. J. Neurophysiol. 87: 1426-1439.
Kreimborg, K., Lester, M., Medler, K and Gleason, E. (2001) Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors are expressed in the chicken retina and by cultured retinal amacrine cells. J. Neurochem. 77: 452-465.
Medler, K and Bruch, R. (1999) Protein kinase C b and g selectively phosphorylate odorant and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Chem. Senses 24: 295-299.
Medler, K Hansen, A. and Bruch, R. (1998) Odorant receptor gene expression in catfish taste tissue. NeuroReport 9(18): 4103-4107.
Medler, K, Tran, H., Parker, J., Caprio, J., and Bruch, R. (1998) Metabotropic glutamate receptor expression in olfactory receptor neurons from the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. J. Neurobiology 35: 94-104.
Bruch, R., Kang, J., Moore, M., and Medler, K (1997) Protein kinase C and receptor kinase gene expression in olfactory receptor neurons. J. Neurobiology 33: 387-394.
Bruch, R., Medler, K Tran, H., and Hamlin, J. (1997) G protein bg subunit genes expressed in olfactory receptor neurons. Chem. Senses 22: 587-592.
Bruch, R., and Medler,
K (1996) A regulator of G protein signaling in
olfactory receptor neurons. NeuroReport 7:2941-2944.
