Simon T. Alford , Ph.D.
Professor, Biological Sciences; Co-Director, Neuroscience Program
Integrative Systems, Cellular/Molecular
We are principally interested in mechanisms of short-term synaptic plasticity and the impact of that plasticity on function in the nervous system.
Selected references
- Yoon, E-J, Gerachshenko T, Spiegelberg BD, Alford S, & Hamm HE. Gbg regulates exocytosis by interfering with Ca2+-dependent binding of synaptotagmin to the SNARE complex. Molecular Pharmacology, 2007 Nov;72(5):1210-9.
- Schwartz EJ, Blackmer T, Gerachshenko T, Alford S. Presynaptic G-protein-coupled receptors regulate synaptic cleft glutamate via transient vesicle fusion. J Neurosci. 2007 May 30;27(22):5857-68.
- Photowala H, Blackmer T, Schwartz E, Hamm HE, Alford S. G protein bg-subunits activated by serotonin mediate presynaptic inhibition by regulating vesicle fusion properties. Proc. National Academy of Sciences USA , 2006;103:4281-4286.