Anthony L. Auerbach PhD
Anthony L. Auerbach
PhD
Professional Summary:
Synapses are the primary points of communication between cells of the nervous system. Our laboratory is interested in synaptic receptors and ion channels. We study the molecular events that constitute agonist binding, channel activation and receptor desensitization. Our research bridges physiology pharmacology, biochemistry and structural biology, and our experimental approaches include electrophysiology, computational chemistry (MD simulations) and molecular biology. We seek to to understand the molecular operation of receptors and other allosteric membrane proteins in the context of their physiological roles.
CONTACT INFORMATION: auerbach.anthony@gmail.com (716) 510-0793
Education and Training:
- PhD, Neuroscience, University of Oregon (1978)
- BS, Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara (1972)
Employment:
- Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1998-present)
- Associate Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1992–1998)
- Assistant Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1987–1992)
- Research Assistant Professor, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1983–1987)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Biophysical Sciences, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1981–1983)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Neurobiology, Institute of Neurobiology San Juan, PR Institute of Neurobiology (1978–1981)
Awards and Honors:
- Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities (2012)
- Javits Award (2006-2014) (2006)
- SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research (2003)
- Chair, NIH Study Section BSCT (2003)
- SUNY Research Achievement Award (2002)
- Javits Award (1999-2006) (1999)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- June 2009–May 2014
Engineering a Transmitter Binding Site
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator - April 1986–March 2014
Multiple Activity Patterns of Acetylcholine Receptors
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Nayak TK, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) Asymmetric transmitter binding sites of fetal muscle acetylcholine receptors shape their synaptic response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Aug), 110(33): 13654-13659.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) The energy and work of a ligand-gated ion channel. J Mol Biol (May), 425(9): 1461-1475.
- Gupta S, Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) Function of interfacial prolines at the transmitter-binding sites of the neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor. J Biol Chem (May), 288(18): 12667-12679.
- Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) Loop C and the mechanism of acetylcholine receptor-channel gating. J Gen Physiol (Apr), 141(4): 467-478.
- Gupta S, Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) Function of interfacial prolines at the transmitter binding sites of the neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor. J Biol Chem (Mar).
- Bruhova I, Gregg T, Auerbach A,. (2013) Energy for wild-type acetylcholine receptor channel gating from different choline derivatives. Biophys J (Feb), 104(3): 565-574.
- Jadey S, Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2013) Action of nicotine and analogs on acetylcholine receptors having mutations of transmitter-binding site residue aG153. J Gen Physiol (Jan), 141(1): 95-104.
- Jadey S, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2012) An integrated catch-and-hold mechanism activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J Gen Physiol (Jul), 140(1): 17-28.
- Purohit P, Bruhova I, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2012) Sources of energy for gating by neurotransmitters in acetylcholine receptor channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Jun), 109(24): 9384-9389.
- Nayak TK, Purohit PG, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2012) The intrinsic energy of the gating isomerization of a neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor channel. J Gen Physiol (May), 139(5): 349-358.
- Jha A, Gupta S, Zucker SN, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2012) The energetic consequences of loop 9 gating motions in acetylcholine receptor-channels. J Physiol (Jan), 590(Pt 1): 119-129.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2012) Thinking in cycles: MWC is a good model for acetylcholine receptor-channels. J Physiol (Jan), 590(Pt 1): 93-98.
- Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2011) Glycine hinges with opposing actions at the acetylcholine receptor-channel transmitter binding site. Mol Pharmacol (Mar), 79(3): 351-359.
- Jadey SV, Purohit P, Bruhova I, Gregg TM, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2011) Design and control of acetylcholine receptor conformational change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Mar), 108(11): 4328-4333.
- Gupta S, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2011) Mapping heat exchange in an allosteric protein. Biophys J (Feb), 100(4): 904-911.
- Gupta S, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2011) Temperature dependence of acetylcholine receptor channels activated by different agonists. Biophys J (Feb), 100(4): 895-903.
- Zheng W, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2011) Decrypting the sequence of structural events during the gating transition of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels based on an interpolated elastic network model. PLoS Comput Biol (Jan), 7(1): 1001046-1001046.
- Bruhova I, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2010) Subunit symmetry at the extracellular domain-transmembrane domain interface in acetylcholine receptor channel gating. J Biol Chem (Dec), 285(50): 38898-38904.
- Cadugan DJ, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2010) Linking the acetylcholine receptor-channel agonist-binding sites with the gate. Biophys J (Aug), 99(3): 798-807.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2010) The gating isomerization of neuromuscular acetylcholine receptors. J Physiol (Feb), 588(Pt 4): 573-586.
- Bafna PA, Jha A, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2009) Aromatic Residues {epsilon}Trp-55 and {delta}Trp-57 and the Activation of Acetylcholine Receptor Channels. J Biol Chem (Mar), 284(13): 8582-8588.
- Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2009) Unliganded gating of acetylcholine receptor channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Jan), 106(1): 115-120.
- Pollak E, Auerbach A, Talkner P, Auerbach AL. (2008) Observations on rate theory for rugged energy landscapes. Biophys J (Nov), 95(9): 4258-4265.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2007) How to turn the reaction coordinate into time. J Gen Physiol (Dec), 130(6): 543-546.
- Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2007) Acetylcholine receptor gating at extracellular transmembrane domain interface: the "pre-M1" linker. J Gen Physiol (Dec), 130(6): 559-568.
- Purohit P, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2007) Acetylcholine receptor gating: movement in the alpha-subunit extracellular domain. J Gen Physiol (Dec), 130(6): 569-579.
- Cadugan DJ, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2007) Conformational dynamics of the alphaM3 transmembrane helix during acetylcholine receptor channel gating. Biophys J (Aug), 93(3): 859-865.
- Purohit P, Mitra A, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2007) A stepwise mechanism for acetylcholine receptor channel gating. Nature (Apr), 446(7138): 930-933.
- Lema GM, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2006) Modes and models of GABA(A) receptor gating. J Physiol (Apr), 572(Pt 1): 183-200.
- Zhou Y, Pearson JE, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2005) Phi-value analysis of a linear, sequential reaction mechanism: theory and application to ion channel gating. Biophys J (Dec), 89(6): 3680-3685.
- Mitra A, Cymes GD, Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2005) Dynamics of the acetylcholine receptor pore at the gating transition state. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Oct), 102(42): 15069-15074.
- Auerbach A, Zhou Y, Auerbach AL. (2005) Gating reaction mechanisms for NMDA receptor channels. J Neurosci (Aug), 25(35): 7914-7923.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2005) Gating of acetylcholine receptor channels: brownian motion across a broad transition state. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Feb), 102(5): 1408-1412.
- Mitra A, Bailey TD, Auerbach AL. (2004) Structural dynamics of the M4 transmembrane segment during acetylcholine receptor gating. Structure (Camb) (Oct), 12(10): 1909-1918.
- Popescu G, Auerbach A. (2004) The NMDA receptor gating machine: lessons from single channels. Neuroscientist (Jun), 10(3): 192-198.
- Popescu G, Auerbach A. (2003) Modal gating of NMDA receptors and the shape of their synaptic response. Nature Neuroscience (Apr).
- Elenes S, Auerbach A. (2002) Desensitization of diliganded mouse muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels. J Physiol (Jun), 541(Pt 2): 367-383.
- Cymes GD, Grosman C, Auerbach A. (2002) Structure of the transition state of gating in the acetylcholine receptor channel pore: a phi-value analysis. Biochemistry (Apr), 41(17): 5548-5555.
- Auerbach A, Auerbach AL. (2002) Acetylcholine receptors, between closed and open. Novartis Found Symp (Jan), 245: 223-234.
- Grosman C, Auerbach A. (2001) The dissociation of acetylcholine from open nicotinic receptor channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Nov), 98(24): 14102-14107.
- Zhu Y, Auerbach A. (2001) K(+) occupancy of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor channel probed by Mg(2+) block. J Gen Physiol (Mar), 117(3): 287-298.
- Zhu Y, Auerbach A. (2001) Na(+) occupancy and Mg(2+) block of the n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor channel. J Gen Physiol (Mar), 117(3): 275-286.
- Qin F, Auerbach A, Sachs F. (2000) A direct optimization approach to hidden Markov modeling for single channel kinetics. Biophys J (Oct), 79(4): 1915-1927.
- Qin F, Auerbach A, Sachs F. (2000) Hidden Markov modeling for single channel kinetics with filtering and correlated noise. Biophys J (Oct), 79(4): 1928-1944.
- Grosman C, Salamone FN, Sine SM, Auerbach A. (2000) The extracellular linker of muscle acetylcholine receptor channels is a gating control element. J Gen Physiol (Sep), 116(3): 327-340.
- Grosman C, Auerbach A. (2000) Kinetic, mechanistic, and structural aspects of unliganded gating of acetylcholine receptor channels: a single-channel study of second transmembrane segment 12' mutants. J Gen Physiol (May), 115(5): 621-635.
- Grosman C, Auerbach A. (2000) Asymmetric and independent contribution of the second transmembrane segment 12' residues to diliganded gating of acetylcholine receptor channels: a single-channel study with choline as the agonist. J Gen Physiol (May), 115(5): 637-651.
- Grosman C, Zhou M, Auerbach A. (2000) Mapping the conformational wave of acetylcholine receptor channel gating. Nature (Feb), 403(6771): 773-776.
- Akk G, Auerbach A. (1999) Activation of muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels by nicotinic and muscarinic agonists. Br J Pharmacol (Dec), 128(7): 1467-1476.
- Zhou M, Engel AG, Auerbach A. (1999) Serum choline activates mutant acetylcholine receptors that cause slow channel congenital myasthenic syndromes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Aug), 96(18): 10466-10471.
- Salamone FN, Zhou M, Auerbach A. (1999) A re-examination of adult mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel activation kinetics. J Physiol (Apr), 516 (: 315-330.
- Akk G, Zhou M, Auerbach A. (1999) A mutational analysis of the acetylcholine receptor channel transmitter binding site. Biophys J (Jan), 76(1 Pt): 207-218.
- Auerbach A, Akk G. (1998) Desensitization of mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels. A two-gate mechanism. J Gen Physiol (Aug), 112(2): 181-197.
- Chen J, Auerbach A. (1998) A distinct contribution of the delta subunit to acetylcholine receptor channel activation revealed by mutations of the M2 segment. Biophys J (Jul), 75(1): 218-225.
- Premkumar LS, Auerbach A. (1997) Stoichiometry of recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channels inferred from single-channel current patterns. J Gen Physiol (Nov), 110(5): 485-502.
- Wang HL, Auerbach A, Bren N, Ohno K, Engel AG, Sine SM. (1997) Mutation in the M1 domain of the acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit decreases the rate of agonist dissociation. J Gen Physiol (Jun), 109(6): 757-766.
- Qin F, Auerbach A, Sachs F. (1997) Maximum likelihood estimation of aggregated Markov processes. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci (Mar), 264(1380): 375-383.
- Qin F, Auerbach A. (1997) (Feb), 109(2): 181-189.
- Akk G, Sine S, Auerbach A. (1996) Binding sites contribute unequally to the gating of mouse nicotinic alpha D200N acetylcholine receptors. J Physiol (Oct), 496 (: 185-196.
- Auerbach A, Sigurdson W, Chen J, Akk G. (1996) Voltage dependence of mouse acetylcholine receptor gating: different charge movements in di-, mono- and unliganded receptors. J Physiol (Jul), 494 (: 155-170.
- Akk G, Auerbach A. (1996) Inorganic, monovalent cations compete with agonists for the transmitter binding site of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biophys J (Jun), 70(6): 2652-2658.
- Premkumar LS, Auerbach A. (1996) Identification of a high affinity divalent cation binding site near the entrance of the NMDA receptor channel. Neuron (Apr), 16(4): 869-880.
- Qin F, Auerbach A, Sachs F. (1996) Estimating single-channel kinetic parameters from idealized patch-clamp data containing missed events. Biophys J (Jan), 70(1): 264-280.
- Chen J, Zhang Y, Akk G, Sine S, Auerbach A. (1995) Activation kinetics of recombinant mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: mutations of alpha-subunit tyrosine 190 affect both binding and gating. Biophys J (Sep), 69(3): 849-859.
- Zhang Y, Auerbach A. (1995) Kinetic properties of NMDA receptors in embryonic Xenopus spinal neurons. J Neurophysiol (Jul), 74(1): 153-161.
- Gao J, Chou LW, Auerbach A. (1993) The nature of cation-pi binding: interactions between tetramethylammonium ion and benzene in aqueous solution. Biophys J (Jul), 65(1): 43-47.
- Auerbach A. (1993) A statistical analysis of acetylcholine receptor activation in Xenopus myocytes: stepwise versus concerted models of gating. J Physiol (Feb), 461: 339-378.
- Auerbach A. (1991) Single-channel dose-response studies in single, cell-attached patches. Biophys J (Sep), 60(3): 660-670.
- Davidson RM, Tatakis DW, Auerbach AL. (1990) Multiple forms of mechanosensitive ion channels in osteoblast-like cells. Pflugers Arch (Aug), 416(6): 646-651.
- Auerbach A, Lingle CJ. (1987) Activation of the primary kinetic modes of large- and small-conductance cholinergic ion channels in Xenopus myocytes. J Physiol (Dec), 393: 437-466.
- Auerbach A, Lingle CJ. (1986) Heterogeneous kinetic properties of acetylcholine receptor channels in Xenopus myocytes. J Physiol (Sep), 378: 119-140.
- Auerbach A, Sachs F. (1984) Single-channel currents from acetylcholine receptors in embryonic chick muscle. Kinetic and conductance properties of gaps within bursts. Biophys J (Jan), 45(1): 187-198.
- Auerbach A, del Castillo J, Specht PC, Titmus M. (1983) Correlation of agonist structure with acetylcholine receptor kinetics: studies on the frog end-plate and on chick embryo muscle. J Physiol (Oct), 343: 551-568.
- Auerbach A, Sachs F. (1983) Flickering of a nicotinic ion channel to a subconductance state. Biophys J (Apr), 42(1): 1-10.
- Lingle C, Auerbach A. (1983) Comparison of excitatory currents activated by different transmitters on crustacean muscle. I. Acetylcholine-activated channels. J Gen Physiol (Apr), 81(4): 547-569.
- Lingle C, Auerbach A. (1983) Comparison of excitatory currents activated by different transmitters on crustacean muscle. II. Glutamate-activated currents and comparison with acetylcholine currents present on the same muscle. J Gen Physiol (Apr), 81(4): 571-588.
- Auerbach A, Barker DL. (1981) [(3)H]Choline uptake and metabolism in nonsynaptic regions of a crustacean sensory nerve. J Neurochem (May), 36(5): 1648-1658.
- Auerbach A, Sachs F, Neil J, McGarrigle R. (1900) Temperature measurement and control of small volumes: applications for single channel recording. Methods Enzymol (Jan), 124: 190-206.
- Auerbach A, Sachs F. (1900) Patch clamp studies of single ionic channels. Annu Rev Biophys Bioeng (Jan), 13: 269-302.
- Sachs F, Auerbach A. (1900) Single-channel electrophysiology: use of the patch clamp. Methods Enzymol (Jan), 103: 147-176.
- Auerbach A. (1900) Acetylcholine receptors, between closed and open. Novartis Found Symp (Jan), 245: 223-234.
- del Castillo J, Specht P, Auerbach A. (1900) Automatic control of potential and agonist-induced current across the endplate membrane by drug electrophoresis. J Neurosci Res (Jan), 8(1): 35-48.
Service Activities:
- NIH; MDCN-3; biophysics of ion channels, synapses, and transporters;; Chair (2003–2005)