Analytical Cell Biology Section - Division of Intramural Research

 S. Brian  Andrews  Ph.D., Senior Investigator

Dr. Andrews received his B.S. from Providence College and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Subsequently, he was trained in Cell Biology as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University School of Medicine. He remained at Yale on the faculty of the Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology until 1983, during which time he developed an interest in ion transport and analytical electron microscopy. In 1983, he moved to NINDS to join Tom Reese's newly formed Laboratory of Neurobiology, rising to Section Chief in 1990. Dr. Andrews' research group is investigating calcium regulation of synaptic activity in neurons, a program for which analytical and structural microscopy continues to be important. The laboratory also maintains an active interest in emerging areas of biological electron microscopy, e.g., electron energy loss spectroscopy and cryoelectron microscopy.

Laboratory Staff

Christine Brantner, Ph.D. Research Associate  301-435- 2803
Jarin Hongpaisan, Ph.D. Adjunct Investigator  301-496- 1173
Diane Murphy, Ph.D.   301-496- 5680
Natalia Pivovarova, Ph.D. Staff Scientist  301-435- 2808

Research Interests

Among recent advances in the field of calcium (Ca2+) signaling is the realization that mitochondrial and ER Ca2+ transport play critical roles in shaping the spatiotemporal characteristics of activity-evoked free Ca2+ transients. This Section investigates the basic physiology of this type of signal modulation, which in neurons is important for several physiological and pathophysiological processes, including gene transcription, synaptic plasticity, excitotoxicity, and neurodegeneration. Current studies focus on the mechanisms by which mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake mediates excitotoxic injury and regulates activity-dependent neuronal plasticity.

Selected Recent Publications

Hongpaisan J, Winters, CA, Andrews SB
Strong calcium entry activates mitochondrial superoxide generation, up-regulating kinase signaling in hippocampal neurons - J Neurosci  24 10878-10887 2004

Pivovarova NB, Nguyen HV, Winters CA, Brantner, CA, Smith CL, Andrews SB
Excitotoxic calcium overload in a subpopulation of mitochondria triggers delayed death in hippocampal neurons - J Neurosci  24 5611-5622 2004

Hongpaisan J, Winters, CA, Andrews SB
Calcium-dependent mitochondrial superoxide modulates nuclear CREB phosphorylation in hippocampal neurons - Mol Cell Neurosci  24 1103-1115 2003

Pivovarova NB, Pozzo-Miller LD, Hongpaisan J, Andrews SB
Correlated calcium uptake and release by mitochondria and ER of CA3 hippocampal dendrites following afferent synaptic stimulation - J Neurosci  22 10653-10661 2002

Hongpaisan J, Pivovarova NB, Colegrove SL, Leapman RD, Friel DD, Andrews SB
Multiple modes of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in sympathetic neurons II: A [Ca2+]i- and location-dependent transition from ER Ca accumulation to net Ca release - J Gen Physiol   118 101-112 2001

Contact Information

Analytical Cell Biology Section Laboratory of Neurobiology, NINDS  Building 49, Room 3A62  49 Convent Drive Bethesda MD  20892-4477

Telephone: 301-435- 2796 (office), 301- 496-1296 (laboratory), 301-480- 1485 (fax), Email: sba@helix.nih.gov