John Wemmie, MD, PhD Assistant Professor University of Iowa Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry 500 EMRB Iowa City IA 52242 PHONE: 319 335 6540 FAX: 319 335 7623 john-wemmie@uiowa.edu

My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.    Using genetic manipulation in mice, we recently found that the Acid Sensing Ion Channel, ASIC1 contributes to synaptic plasticity.   Mice lacking this channel had abnormal long-term potentiation in the hippocampus and impaired learning and memory.

Our current goals are to determine how these channels affect synaptic function, to better understand the behavioral impact of these channels, and to explore their potential for use in treating memory related disorders.

Publications

Wemmie J, Askwith C, Lamani E, Cassell M, Freeman J, Welsh M: ASIC1 is Localized in Brain Regions with High Synaptic Density and Contributes to Fear Conditioning.   J. Neurosci, in press

Wemmie J, Chen J, Askwith C, Hruska-Jageman A, Price M, Nolan B, Yoder P, Lamani E, Hoshi T, Freeman J, Welsh M: The Acid-Activated Ion Channel ASIC Contributes to Synaptic Plasticity, Leaning, and Memory.   Neuron (34):463-477 2002.

Benson C, Xie J, Wemmie J, Price M, Henss J, Welsh M, Snyder P: Heteromultimers of DEG/EnaC subunits form H+-gated channels in mouse sensory neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.   2002 Feb 19;99(4)2338-43.

Hruska-Hageman A, Wemmie J, Price M, Welsh M.   Interaction of the synaptic protein PICK1 (protein interacting with C kinase 1) with the non-voltage gated sodium channels BNC1 (brain Na+channel 1) and ASIC (acid-sensing ion channel).   Biochem . J. 2002 Feb 1;361(Pt 3):443-50.

Wemmie J, Moye-Rowley WS: Mutational analysis of saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP-binding cassette transporter protein Ycflp. Molecular Microbiol 25(4):683-694, 1997.

Wemmie J, Steggerda S, Moye-Rowley WS: The saccharomyces cerevisiae AP-1 protein discriminates between oxidative stress elicited by oxidants H202 and diamide. J Biol Chem 272:7908-7914, 1997.

Wemmie J, Szczypka M, Thiele D, Moye-Rowley S: Cadmium tolerance mediated by the yeast AP-1 protein requires the presence of an ABC transporter protein-encoding gene, YCF1. J Biol Chem 269 51:32592-32597, 1994.

Szczypka M, Wemmie J, Moye-Rowley S, Thiele DJ: A yeast metal resistance protein similar to human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and multidrug resistance-associated protein. J Biol Chem 269 36:22853-22857, 1994.

Wemmie J, Wu A, Harshman KD, Parker CS, Moye-Rowley WS: Transcriptional activation mediated by the yeast AP-1 protein is required for normal cadmium tolerance. J Biol Chem 269 20:14690-14697, 1994.

Wu A, Wemmie J, Edgington N, Goebl M, Guevara J, Moye-Rowley WS: Yeast bZip proteins mediate pleiotropic drug and metal resistance. J Biol Chem 268 25:18850-18858, 1993.

Treadway JL, Morrison BD, Wemmie J, Frias I, O'Hare T, Pilch PF, Pessin JE: The endogenous functional turkey erythrocyte and rat liver insulin receptor is an alpa 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex. Biochem J 271:99-105, 1990.

Feltz SM, Swanson ML, Wemmie J, Pessin JE: Functional properties of an isolated alpha beta heterodimeric human placenta IGF-1 receptor complex. Biochem 27:3234, 1988.

Dr. Wemmie's Research Team: Matthew Coryell, Patricia Westmoreland, Perry DePhilips, Ejvis Lamani