Peter A. V. Anderson
(Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, 1976)

Director of the Whitney Laboratory; Professor of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Neuroscience and Zoology

paa@whitney.ufl.edu

Structure and Function of Ion Channels

Research in our lab is focused on factors that control the excitability of cells. Much of our work has focused on ion channels; proteins that control the movement of sodium, calcium and potassium through cell membranes, thereby producing nerve spikes and other electrical events. Our specific approach to this broad field has been to take advantage of the information that can be gleaned from a structural and functional comparison of equivalent channels in mammals and in lower invertebrates, such as jellyfish.

Recently, this interest in cellular excitability directed us to study the factors responsible for regulating the excitability of one of the most complex and interesting of all animal cells: the sting cells of jellyfish and other members of the Phylum Cnidaria. A second project that builds on the theme of electrical excitability is to develop ways to tether ion channels onto transistor chips, with a view to using such devices as monitors of environmental toxins and other factors.

Current Projects

Cnidocytes or sting cells are exceedingly complex cells, perhaps the most complex cells of any animal. As such, they are likely to be energetically expensive for the animal to make, particularly since they can be used only once. Not surprisingly, the discharge or firing of these cells is tightly regulated so that they only discharge at the correct time. We are studying how these cells receive and process the chemosensory information that tells them the tentacle has made contact with potential prey. We do so by using a variety of electrophysiological, cell biological and molecular biological approaches.

The basic model that has emerged from these studies is that the tentacles contain chemosensory neurons that detect chemicals in the environment and convey that information to the cnidocytes by way of a network of cnidocyte-specific neurons. In a parallel study of these cells, we have developed methods to isolate all the genes from both mature and developing cnidocytes. Detailed examination of these gene libraries will give us a good picture of the variety of proteins that make up these cells and those that are involved in their discharge.

The second project, initiated during the year, seeks to develop ways to isolate ion channels, and attach them to transistors. We are focusing on the Maxi-K channel, a potassium-selective channel that has desirable properties for this type work. It is hardy, and well understood physiologically and pharmacologically. Most importantly, it has the highest conductance of any voltage-gated ion channels, thereby producing large, easily detected currents. This project, which is being carried out with collaborators in Gainesville and at the Max-Plank Institute for Polymer Chemistry in Mainz, Germany, promises to develop devices that can be used to rapidly and reliably detect toxins and other hazardous materials in water samples.

Personnel

Peter A. V. Anderson, Professor
Christelle Bouchard, Postdoctoral Associate
Christopher West, Post Doctoral Associate
Rebecca Price, Laboratory Technician

Selected Publications

Price, R. B. and Anderson, Peter A. V. (2006) Chemosensory pathways in the capitate tentacles of the hydroid Cladonema. Invert. Neuroscience,6, 23-32.

Bouchard, C., Price, R. B., Money penny, C. G., Thompson, L. F., Zillhardt, M., Stalheim, L. and Anderson, Peter A. V. (2006) Cloning and functional expression of voltage-gated ion channel subunits from cnidocytes of the Portuguese Man O’War, Physalia physalis. J. Exp. Biol. 209, 2979-2989.

Kohn, A.B., Roberts-Misterly, J.M., Anderson, P.A.V., Khan, N., and Greenberg, R.M. (2003). Specific residues in the Beta Interaction Domain of a schistosome Ca2+ channel [beta] subunit are key to its role in sensitivity to the antischistosomal drug praziquantel. Parasitology 127: 349-356.

Anderson, Peter A. V. (2004). Cnidarian Neurobiology: what does the future hold? Hydrobiologia, in press.
Anderson, Peter A. V., Roberts-Misterly, J. and Greenberg, R. M. (In press) The evolution of voltage-gated sodium channels: were algal toxins involved? Harmful Algae.

Kohn, A.B., Anderson, P.A.V., Roberts-Misterly, J.M., and Greenberg, R.M. (2002) Schistosome calcium channel ß subunits. Unusual modulatory effects and potential role in the action of the antischistosomal drug praziquantel. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 36873-36876.

Anderson, Peter A. V. and Greenberg, R.M. (2001). Phylogeny of Ion Channels: Clues to Structure and Function. Comp. Physiol. Biochem. 129B, 17-28.

Kohn, A.B., Lea, J.M., Roberts-Misterly, J.M., Anderson, P.A.V., and Greenberg, R.M. (2001). Structure of three high voltage-activated calcium channel alpha₁ subunits from Schistosoma mansoni. Parasitology 124: 489-497.

Kohn, A.B., Anderson, P.A.V., Roberts-Misterly, J.M., and Greenberg, R.M. (2001). Schistosome calcium channel ß subunits. Unusual modulatory effects and potential role in the action of the antischistosomal drug praziquantel. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 36873-36876.

Jeziorski, M.C., Greenberg, R.M. and Anderson, Peter A. V. (2000). The molecular biology of invertebrate voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels, J. exp. Biol., 203: 841-856

Jeziorski, M.C., Greenberg, R.M. and Anderson, Peter A. V. (1999). Cloning and expression of a jellyfish calcium channel beta subunit reveal functional conservation of the alpha₁ - beta interaction. Receptors and Channels, 6: 375-386.

White, G.B, Pfahnl, A., Haddock, S., Lamers, S., Greenberg, R.M. and Anderson, Peter A.V. (1998). Structure of a Putative Sodium Channel from the Sea Anemone Aiptasia pallida. Invert. Neurosci., 3: 317-326.

Jeziorski, M.C., Greenberg, R.M., Clark, K.S. and Anderson, Peter A. V. (1998). Cloning and functional expression of a voltage-gated calcium channel alpha₁ subunit from jellyfish. J. Biol. Chem., 273: 22792-22799.

Blair, K.L. and Anderson, Peter A.V. (1996). Physiology and pharmacology of turbellarian neuromuscular systems. Parasitology 113: S73-S82.

Blair, K.L. and Anderson, Peter A.V. (1994). Physiology and pharmacology of muscle cells isolated from the flatworm Bdelloura candida. Parasitology 109: 325-335.

Anderson, Peter A.V., Holman, M. A. and Greenberg, R.M. (1993). Deduced amino acid structure of a putative sodium channel from the scyphozoan jellyfish Cyanea capillata. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90: 7419-7423.

Blair, K.L. and Anderson, Peter A.V. (1993). Properties of voltage-activated ionic currents in cells from the brains of the triclad flatworm Bdelloura candida. J. exp. Biol. 185: 267-286.

Anderson, Peter A.V., A. Moosler and C.J.P. Grimmelikhuijzen (1992). The distribution of AnthoRF-amide-like immunoreactivity in scyphomedusae. Cell Tiss Res. 267: 67-74.

Holman, M. and Anderson, Peter A.V. (1991). Voltage-activated ionic currents in myoepithelial cells from the sea anemone Calliactis tricolor. J. exp. Biol. 161: 333-346.

Anderson, Peter A.V. (1990). Evolution of the First Nervous Systems, Peter A. V. Anderson (Ed.). Plenum Press, New York. 423p.

Anderson, Peter A.V. and M. C. McKay (1987). The electrophysiology of cnidocytes. J. exp. Biol. 133: 215-230.

Anderson, Peter A.V. (1987). Properties and pharmacology of a TTX-insensitive Na⁺ current in neurones of the jellyfish Cyanea capillata. J. exp. Biol. 133: 231-248.