Simon Levy, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics

PhD, Boston University
MA, University of Geneva
BS, École d'ingénieurs de Genève



Expertise on calcium signalling in nerve cells. In most nerve cells, transient increases in intracellular free calcium concentrations (Cai) are caused primarily by influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels. Second messengers like inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) or calcium also have the ability to increase Cai through release from intracellular stores, or gating of calcium channels.

The long-term goal of this laboratory is to investigate mechanisms by which second messengers modulate the excitability of nerve cells by controlling their membrane permeability. We have developed suitable technologies: i) to measure single-channel activities ii) to simultaneously measure changes in intracellular calcium and membrane currents; iii) to pressure-inject pharmacological agents to investigate putative pathways involved in neuronal excitability. The combination of these electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques have proven useful in gathering new and important information about nerve cell function.

There are four main projects:

1. Intracellular calcium regulation and detection in nerve cells. Effects of second messengers on internal calcium and membrane currents in nerve cells.
2. Role of calcium-induced calcium release in the excitability of the peptidergic neurons of Aplysia californica.
3. Role of calcium and Inositol Trisphosphate in phototransduction in Limulus photoreceptors.
4. Genetic Dissociation of phototransduction in Drosophila photoreceptors.

Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences






Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
1996 CALCIUM SIGNALING IN NERVE CELLS 5R01NS030672-03 1
1995 CALCIUM SIGNALING IN NERVE CELLS 5R01NS030672-02 1
1994 CALCIUM SIGNALING IN NERVE CELLS 1R01NS030672-01A1 1

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Kachoei BA, Knox RJ, Uthuza D, Levy S, Kaczmarek LK, Magoski NS. A store-operated Ca(2+) influx pathway in the bag cell neurons of Aplysia. J Neurophysiol. 2006 Nov; 96(5):2688-98. PMID: 16885525; PMCID: PMC2894935; DOI: 10.1152/jn.00118.2006;
     
  2. Agam K, von Campenhausen M, Levy S, Ben-Ami HC, Cook B, Kirschfeld K, Minke B. Metabolic stress reversibly activates the Drosophila light-sensitive channels TRP and TRPL in vivo. J Neurosci. 2000 Aug 1; 20(15):5748-55. PMID: 10908615
     
  3. Levy S, Payne R. Limulus ventral photoreceptors contain two functionally dissimilar inositol triphosphate-induced calcium release mechanisms. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1996 Aug; 35(1-2):97-103. PMID: 8823939
     
  4. Fisher TE, Levy S, Kaczmarek LK. Transient changes in intracellular calcium associated with a prolonged increase in excitability in neurons of Aplysia californica. J Neurophysiol. 1994 Mar; 71(3):1254-7. PMID: 8201416
     
  5. Levy S, Payne R. A lingering elevation of Cai accompanies inhibition of inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate-induced Ca release in Limulus ventral photoreceptors. J Gen Physiol. 1993 Jan; 101(1):67-84. PMID: 8436942; PMCID: PMC2216755
     
  6. Levy S. Effect of intracellular injection of inositol trisphosphate on cytosolic calcium and membrane currents in Aplysia neurons. J Neurosci. 1992 Jun; 12(6):2120-9. PMID: 1607931
     
  7. Levy S, Tillotson D. Effects of Na+ and Ca2+ gradients on intracellular free Ca2+ in voltage-clamped Aplysia neurons. Brain Res. 1988 Dec 6; 474(2):333-42. PMID: 3208137
     
  8. Payne R, Walz B, Levy S, Fein A. The localization of calcium release by inositol trisphosphate in Limulus photoreceptors and its control by negative feedback. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1988 Jul 26; 320(1199):359-79. PMID: 2906144
     
  9. Oetting M, LeBoff MS, Levy S, Swiston L, Preston J, Chen C, Brown EM. Permeabilization reveals classical stimulus-secretion coupling in bovine parathyroid cells. Endocrinology. 1987 Oct; 121(4):1571-6. PMID: 2820703; DOI: 10.1210/endo-121-4-1571;
     
  10. Levy S, Tillotson D. Ability of the Ca2+-selective microelectrodes to measure fast and local Ca2+ transients in nerve cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1987 May; 65(5):904-14. PMID: 2441832
     
Showing 10 of 19 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 14 publications over 11 distinct years, with a maximum of 2 publications in 1985 and 1987 and 1988

YearPublications
19831
19841
19852
19872
19882
19921
19931
19941
19961
20001
20061


2015 BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine: Basic Sciences Instructor of the Year
Contact for Mentoring:

700 Albany St
Boston MA 02118
Google Map

617.358.8488
Download vCard

Levy's Networks
Click the "See All" links for more information and interactive visualizations
Concepts
See all (108) concept(s)
_
Similar People
See all (60) people
_
Same Department
Search Department