J. David Spafford

Cross-appointed (Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering)

Bachelor of Science (BSc) Saskatchewan, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Alberta

Email: spafford@uwaterloo.ca

Office: Biology 1 (B1) 173

Telephone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 38185

Lab: B1 172/173, ext. 38186

Website: Spafford Lab

Research interests

In the Spafford laboratory, we study voltage-gated calcium channels.

Calcium channels participate in essential brain functions, such as synaptic transmission, neuronal plasticity, patterned nerve activity underlying rhythmic behaviours, outgrowth of neurons and synapse formation.

Lab trainees are exposed to multidisciplinary research that spans molecular physiology and biophysics, to cell and integrative physiology underlying animal behaviour. Students have access to techniques in electrophysiology as well as in molecular and cell biology, protein biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and tissue culture.

- Actively seeking Graduate Students -

Selected publications

• Senatore, A, Boone, A.N., Lam, S, Dawson, T. F, Zhorov, B. S., and Spafford, J.D. (2011) Mapping of dihydropyridine binding residues in a less sensitive invertebrate l-type calcium channel (LCav1) Channels (5:1).

• Senatore, A., Boone, A. and Spafford, J.D. (2011) Optimized Transfection Strategy for Expression and Electrophysiological Recording of Recombinant Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in HEK-293T Cells Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).  Jan 19;(47). pii: 2314. doi: 10.3791/2314.

• Huang, X., Senatore, A., Dawson, T.F. Quan, Q. and Spafford, J.D. (2010) G proteins modulate invertebrate synaptic calcium channel (LCav2) differently from the classical voltage-dependent regulation of mammalian Cav2.1 and Cav2.2 channels Journal of Experimental Biology. 213(Pt 12):2094-103.

• Senatore, A. and Spafford, J.D. (2010) Transient and big are key features of an invertebrate T-type channel (LCa_v3) from the central nervous system of Lymnaea stagnalis Journal of Biological Chemistry. 285, 7447-7458.

• Zhang, Y., Helm, J., Senatore, A., Spafford, J.D., Kaczmarek, L. and Jonas E. (2008) PKC-induced intracellular trafficking of CaV2.1 precedes its rapid recruitment to the plasma membrane. Journal of Neuroscience. 28(10):2601-12.

• Flynn, R., Hameed, S., Chen, L., Spafford, J.D. and Zamponi, G.W. (2008) Molecular determinants of Rem2 regulation of N-type calcium channels. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 368(3):827-31.

• Pham P., Senatore, A. and Spafford, J.D. (2007) Ion channels: from development to disease. Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Binder, M.D.; Hirokawa, N.; Windhorst, U.; Hirsch, M.C. (Eds.). Springer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg.

• Senatore, A. and Spafford, J.D. (2007) Calcium channels: Regulation of  gene expression.  Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Binder, M.D.; Hirokawa, N.; Windhorst, U.; Hirsch, M.C. (Eds.). Springer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg.