Dr James Hodge

Summary

We are interested in how activity and plasticity in the nervous system generates behaviour. We are particularly interested in the role of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, CamKII and CASK in these processes.

We use Drosophila to study the role of these protein families as they display high functional conservation with mammals and flies are highly genetically and experimentally tractable. We use electrophysiology or dynamic cell imaging to record neural activity from highly defined behavioural circuits that are complex enough to generate a repertoire of behaviours known to involve channels and interacting molecules in humans.

We are currently studying the role of several Kv channels and calcium signalling molecules in synaptic plasticity, learning, circadian rhythms and alcohol response. We also use Drosophila to study molecular mechanisms of diseases involving Kv channels (channelopathies) and synaptic proteins (synaptopathies). To help model channelopathies in Drosophila we compare the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of Drosophila Kv channels with their mammalian homologues.

We are also taking advantage of information from Genome Wide Association Studies for instance linking particular human Kv channel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with certain diseases. We hope to study the detailed mechanism of action of these molecular changes using our powerful in vivo model.

Read more >

Activities / Findings

• Potassium channel mediated mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila. Read more >
• The role of PDZ scaffold CASK and CaMKII signalling in synaptic plasticity and learning. Read more >
• Using Drosophila to dissect the molecular connection between potassium channels and cancer.

Teaching

• Pharmacology BSc/MSci Lev 1-3 courses
• MSc Biomedical Research Neuropharmacology Unit Organiser.
• Medicine, Element 5: Intervention in Homeostasis, An introduction in Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Keywords

• Potassium channels
• Calcium signalling
• Kinases
• PDZ proteins
• Serotonin

Skills

• Addiction (Alcohol)
• Channelopathies
• seizure
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Processes and functions

• Memory
• synaptic plasticity
• intrinsic excitability
• circadian rhythms
• activity
• attention

Methodologies

• Molecular genetics
• Mutagenesis
• Patch clamp
• Imaging
• Behavioural assays

Memberships

Organisations

School of Physiology and Pharmacology

Other sites

• Neuroscience

Research Areas

• Molecular Neuroscience
• Neuronal Plasticity
• Learning and Memory
• Behaviour and the Brain
• CFTR regulation

Research Themes

• Neuroscience

Links

•   home page

Recent publications

• Malik, BR, Gillespie, JM & Hodge, JJL 2013, ‘CASK and CaMKII function in the mushroom body α’/ß’ neurons during Drosophila memory formation: CASK and CaMKII in memory’. Frontiers in Neural Circuits.
• Cavaliere, S, Malik, BR & Hodge, JJL 2013, ‘KCNQ channels regulate age-related memory impairment: KCNQ regulates age-related memory’. PLoSONE.
• Cavaliere, S, Gillespie, JM & Hodge, JJL 2012, ‘KCNQ channels show conserved ethanol block and function in ethanol behaviour.’. PLoS ONE.
• Cavaliere, S & Hodge, J 2011, ‘Drosophila KCNQ Channel Displays Evolutionarily Conserved Electrophysiology and Pharmacology with Mammalian KCNQ Channels’. PLoS one, vol 6., pp. e23898
• Malik, BR, Gillespie, JM & Hodge, JJL 2010, ‘The role of CASK and CaMKII in synaptic plasticity and learning’. Journal of Neurogenetics., pp. 26-26
• Cavaliere, S & Hodge, JJL 2010, ‘Evolutionarily conserved KCNQ channel function’. Journal of Neurogenetics., pp. 4-4
• Hodge, JJL & Stanewsky, R 2009, ‘Function of the Shaw potassium channel within the Drosophila clock’. Journal of Neurogenetics., pp. 31-32
• Hodge, J 2009, ‘Ion channels to inactivate neurons in Drosophila’. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, vol 2., pp. 1 - 10
• Parisky, K, Agosto, J, Pulver, S, Shang, Y, Kuklin, E, Hodge, J, Kang, K, Liu, X, Garrity, P, Rosbash, M & Griffith, L 2008, ‘The PDF cells are a GABA-responsive wake-promoting component of the Drosophila sleep circuit’. Neuron, vol 60., pp. 672 - 682
• Hodge, J & Stanewsky, R 2008, ‘Function of the Shaw potassium channel within the Drosophila circadian clock’. PLoSONE, vol 3(5)., pp. e2274 - 1-13

View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system

Networks & contacts

• Drosophila circadian rhythms

• Prof Ralf Stanewsky (Queen Mary College - London University)
  

  Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology

  Prof Ian Day
  George Davey-Smith
  Luisa Zuccolo (Bristol University)
  

  Potassium channel electrophysiology

  Prof Neil Marrion (Bristol University)
  

  Drosophila models of ADHD

  Dr Olivia Carter (Melborne University - Australia)
  Dr Stephen Glatt (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - SUNY Upstate Medical University - USA)