Other School of Medicine Affiliations
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Program in Cellular Physiology

Degrees
B.A., Brandeis University, 1966
M.Phil., Yale University, 1969
Ph.D., Yale University, 1972

Honors
Research Career Development Award, 1981-1986
NSF Cell Physiology Advisory Panel 1985-88
Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania, 1990
Society of General Physiologists Council 1996-98
Editorial Board, Journal of General Physiology, 2001-present
President, Society of General Physiologists, 2003-04
NIH Study Section (MDCN-3), 2003-07

Professional Affiliations
Society of General Physiologists
Biophysical Society

Research Description
The research of this laboratory has focused on the physiology and biophysics of a voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel found in human T cells, Kv1.3. Thus far, we have shown that Kv1.3 plays at least two functional roles. First, it contributes to resting T-cell membrane potential, and second, it mediates volume regulation. Both of these functions are critical in mitogen-stimulated T-cell proliferation. Therefore, it is important to understand what is responsible for the potassium channel conductance in a T lymphocyte. There are two determinants: the biophysical properties of the channel and the ability of the channel to form and be expressed on the cell surface. In the first case, we study the mechanisms of activation, inactivation, and recovery of this channel. In the second case, we study the stepwise process by which Kv1.3 acquires its secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. These studies involve a combined use of several diverse techniques including electrophysiological techniques, in vitro translation and transcription methods and protein assays, as well as standard cloning and molecular biological methods.

Representative Publications
Lu, J., Robinson, J.M., Edwards, D. and Deutsch, C.: T1-T1 Interactions occur in the Endoplasmic Reticulum while nascent Kv peptides are still attached to ribosomes. Biochem. 40:10934-10946, 2001.

Lu, J. and Deutsch, C.: Pegylation: A method for assessing topological accessibilities in Kv1.3. Biochem. 40:13288-13301, 2001.

Kosolapov, A. and Deutsch, C.: Folding of the Voltage-gated K+ Channel T1 Recognition Domain. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 4305-4313, 2003.

Deutsch, C.: Potassium Channel Ontogeny. Ann. Rev Physiol. 64: 19-46, 2002.

Deutsch, C.: The Birth of a Channel. Neuron 40: 265-276, 2003.

Click here for a full list of publications
(searches the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.)