Recent/Current
Research Funding

National Institutes
Health

Biogen-IDEC

Ono Pharmaceutical

Graduate Group Affiliations

Biochemistry, Molecular
Cellular and Developmental
Biology

Neuroscience

Research Interests

As neuroscience enters the post-genomic era, a major goal is the translation of genomic sequence information into a molecular understanding of the mechanisms of neuronal information processing and transfer. My laboratory’s research focuses on protein function, biochemical pathways and networks of protein-protein interactions regulating intra- and inter-cellular signaling in mammalian neurons. In particular, we are interested in dynamic regulation of voltage-sensitive ion channel abundance, localization and function through reversible protein phosphorylation. These proteins determine the intrinsic electrical properties of neurons and how these cells respond to external stimuli, integrate the encoded information and generate an appropriate response. Modern proteomic techniques have allowed for insights into protein networks, and post-translational modifications, that provide for both the generation and maintenance of complex cellular functions, but also their dynamic regulation that underlies functional plasticity. Our studies are aimed at a molecular understanding of how neuronal ion channels generate and maintain the fidelity of neuronal signaling, and how these processes can be dynamically regulated to generate neuronal plasticity. Such information is necessary for an increased understanding of not only the normal functional plasticity of neurons, but also in understanding of disease states where neuronal function is altered and effects of acute external insults such as ischemia and drugs of abuse, and represent a key step towards the development of therapeutics that can address these and other psychiatric and neurological disorders. Moreover, these studies are representative of approaches that would prove advantageous to studies on other neuronal signaling proteins. To better translate findings from genome-based studies, we have also established the UC Davis/NIH NeuroMab facility, to use information on proteins encoded in the human and other genomes to generate monoclonal antibodies for use in the research community.

Representative Publications

Khan, S., Perry, C., Tetreault, M., Henry, D., Trimmer, J. S., Zimmerman, A., and G. Matthews. (2010). A Novel Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channel Enriched in Synaptic Terminals of Isotocin Neurons in Zebrafish Brain and Pituitary. Neuroscience 165:79-89.

Kalashnikova, E., Lorca, R. A., Kaur, I., Barisone, G. A., Li, B., Ishimaru, T., Trimmer, J. S., Mohapatra, D. P., and E. Díaz. (2010). SynDIG1: An Activity-Regulated, AMPA-Receptor-Interacting Transmembrane Protein that Regulates Excitatory Synapse Development. Neuron 65:80-93.

Ogawa, Y., Oses-Prieto, J., Kim, M. Y., Horresh, I., Peles, E., Burlingame, A. L., Trimmer, J. S., Meijer, D., and M. N. Rasband. (2010). ADAM22, A Kv1 Channel Interacting Protein, Recruits MAGUKS to Juxtaparanodes of Myelinated Axons. J. Neurosci. 30:1038-1048.

Berendt, F. J., Park, K.-S., and J. S. Trimmer. (2010). Multi-site Phosphorylation of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel a Subunits from Rat Brain. J. Proteome Res. 9:1976-1984.

Cerda, O., and J. S. Trimmer. (2010). Analysis and Functional Implications of Phosphorylation of Neuronal Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels. Neurosci. Lett. 486: 60-67.

Cerda, O., Baek, J.-H., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). Mining Recent Brain Proteomic Databases for Ion Channel Phosphosite Nuggets. J. Gen. Physiol. 137: 3-16.

Vacher, H., Yang, J.-W., Cerda, O., Autillo-Touati, A., Dargent, B., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). CDK-Mediated Phosphorylation of the Kvβ2 Auxiliary Subunit Regulates Kv1 Channel Axonal Targeting. J. Cell Biol. 192: 813-824.

Mandikian, D., Cerda, O., Sack, J. T., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). A SUMO-Phospho Tag Team for Wrestling with Potassium Channel Gating. J. Gen. Physiol. 137:435-439.

Trimmer, J. S. (2011). How Native Cells Regulate Their Ion Channels. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 22:131.

Baek, J.-H., Cerda, O., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). Mass Spectrometry-Based Phosphoproteomics Reveals Multisite Phosphorylation on Mammalian Brain Voltage-Gated Sodium and Potassium Channels. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 22:153-159.

Cerda, O., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). Activity-Dependent Phosphorylation of Neuronal Kv2.1 Potassium Channels by CDK5. J. Biol. Chem. 286:28738-28748.

Vacher, H., and J. S. Trimmer. (2011). Diverse Roles for Auxiliary Subunits in Phosphorylation-Dependent Regulation of Mammalian Brain Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels. Pflugers Arch. 462:631-643.

Menegola, M., Clark, E., and J. S. Trimmer. (2012). The Importance of Immunohistochemical Analyses in Evaluating the Phenotype of Kv Channel Knockout Mice. Epilepsia 53 (suppl. 1): 142-149.

Manning, C. F., Bundros, A. M., and J. S. Trimmer. (2012). Benefits and Pitfalls of Secondary Antibodies: Why Choosing The Right Secondary is of Primary Importance. PLoS ONE 7: e38313.

Vacher, H., and J. S. Trimmer. (2012). Trafficking Mechanisms Underlying Neuronal Voltage-gated Ion Channel Localization at the Axon Initial Segment. Epilepsia 53 (suppl. 9): 21-31.

Recent/Current Teaching

NSC221, Cellular Neuroscience
NPB 107, Cell Signaling in Health and Disease

 

Teaching and Research Awards

• Established Investigatorship, American Heart Association
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator (MERIT) Award