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.
|
 |
Staff:
Research Interests:
This Section investigates the fundamental cell biology and physiology of neurons, with emphasis on the function of intracellular domains that regulate calcium (Ca) signaling following from synaptic activity. An important goal is to characterize the interplay between intracellular organelles?mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum?and cytoplasmic Ca buffers that regulates the spatio-temporal properties of synaptic activity-evoked Ca signals under normal and pathological, e.g., excitotoxic, conditions. Studies focus on two complementary neurons?hippocampal pyramidal cells, especially their spines and dendrites, and sympathetic neurons. D Friel, R Leapman and L Pozzo-Miller are collaborators on these studies.
In addition to biologically driven projects, the Section is committed to the development of new technologies for quantitative and molecular electron microscopy when essential for advancing biological goals. An example of this philosophy is the NIH field-emission scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), a uniquely powerful instrument for: 1) characterizing, at the nanometer level, the molecular shape and organization of proteins and molecular assemblies; and 2) analyzing and mapping by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) the distribution of Ca and P at near-single-atom sensitivity. Application examples include a study that revealed how phosphorylation affects the organization and function of axonal neurofilaments, and an EELS study that mapped the transient intracellular Ca gradients evoked by Ca entry.
The Section is well equipped to support its biological and technical goals. Available instruments and techniques encompass sophisticated electron microscopy (cryofixation, x-ray microanalysis, STEM, EELS, EFTEM, cryomicroscopy) and light microscopy (laser scanning confocal, calcium imaging, microfluorometry). The Laboratory of Neurobiology offers supporting facilities.
|
Selected Recent Publications:
-
Pivovarova NB, Pozzo-Miller LD, Hongpaisan J, Andrews SB (2002) Correlated calcium uptake and release by mitochondria and ER of CA3 hippocampal dendrites following afferent synaptic stimulation, J Neurosci 22, 10653-10661. Full Text/Abstract
-
Hongpaisan J, Pivovarova NB, Colegrove SL, Leapman RD, Friel DD and Andrews SB (2001) 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.
-
Pozzo-Miller LD, Connor JA and Andrews SB (2000) Microheterogeneity of calcium signaling in dendrites, J Physiol (London) 525, 53-61.
-
Pivovarova, NB, Hongpaisan, J, Andrews, SB and Friel, DD (1999) Depolarization-induced mitochondrial calcium accumulation in sympathetic neurons: Spatial and temporal characteristics, J Neurosci 19, 6372-6384.
-
Leapman RD, Gallant PE, Reese TS and Andrews SB (1997) Phosphorylation and subunit organization of axonal neurofilaments by scanning transmission electron microscopy, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 7820-7824.
Contact Information:
Dr. S. Brian Andrews
Analytical Cell Biology Section
Laboratory of Neurobiology, NINDS
Building 36, Room 2A25
36 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-4062
Telephone: (301) 435-2796 (office), (301) 496-1296 (laboratory), (301) 480-1485 (fax)
Email: sba@helix.nih.gov
|
