Professional
Qualifications:
PhD. Biophysics,
Babraham Institute,
BSc. Jt. Hons.,
Physiology and Biochemistry.
Key Skills and
Experience:
Publishing
Academic
Management (Technical & Marketing)
Professional Societies
Biophysical Society
(1995- )
Society for
Neuroscience (1996- )
Elected Member of
the New York Academy of Sciences (April 1998
- )
Employment
History
|
Institution |
Title |
Research |
Dates |
|
Cellscience
Ltd, HiPaCC Ltd |
Managing
Director |
Medical
Information Directory & on-line Journal; Webmaster |
2002-present |
|
Department
of Endocrinology, |
Group
Leader |
Growth
factor regulation of the expression of catecholaminergic enzymes and GABAA
receptors in PC12 cells. |
2001-2002 |
|
Department
of Pharmacology, |
Fellow |
Role
of a2A and a2C norepinephrine
receptors in voltage-independent and dependent inhibition of N-type Ca2+
channels. |
2000-2001 |
|
Department
of Pharmacology, |
Fellow |
Molecular
structure-function relationship governing kinetics and pharmacology of GABAA
and GABAC receptors. |
1999-2000 |
|
Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology at the |
Associate |
Regulation
and properties of L- and G-type calcium channels in the pancreatic b-cell. |
1997-1998 |
|
|
Electro-physiologist |
Regulation
of pacemaker neurons in the Ventral
Tegmental Area |
1997 |
|
Department
of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kennedy Center, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 10461, U.S.A.. |
Associate |
Regulation
of synaptic transmission in the retina by protein kinases A, GRK and CaMKII |
1994-1996 |
|
Development
and Signalling, BBSRC Babraham Institute, |
Assistant |
Role
of the phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate (PIP3) signalling
pathway in U937 cells. |
1993-1994 |
Teaching
Experience
Course
design: Molecular
Pharmacology,
Teaching: Cyclic Nucleotide Signalling, 2 hours,
examination question section.
Student
Training: Manou Brandt (medical student, Düsseldorf) PCR, cell
culture, cloning, scientific methodology (160 hours); Janette Seres (Ph.D. student , Düsseldorf) PCR, cell culture,
scientific methodology (100 hours); Carmen Riggio
(technician, Düsseldorf), cell culture, fluorescence microscopy and staining (150
hours); Jean-Francois Rolland (Ph.D. student, Brussels) patch-clamp, (50 hours);
Delphine Beaujean
(post-doctoral student, Düsseldorf) cell culture, immunocytochemistry,
immunofluorescence (80 hours).
Education,
Qualifications and Activities
|
Institution |
Dates |
Subjects |
Grade |
Activities |
|
University of
Cambridge, BBSRC Babraham Institute & St. Edmund's College |
1990-3 |
Ion channel
regulation in small intestinal crypts |
Ph.D. |
CR
Vice-President St.Edmund’s College, |
|
University of |
1987-90 |
Part I:
Physiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry Part II:
Physiology & Biochemistry Joint Honours. |
II (i) |
Physiology
department Student Representative; Company Director,
Park Security |
|
University of |
1986-7 |
Biochemistry,
Physiology, Anatomy |
N/A |
Career change |
|
‘A’ levels ‘O’ levels |
1986 1984 |
A, B2, C 6 ‘A’s, 3 ‘B’s |
|
National
X-Country Championships |
Lectures & Seminars:
BBSRC Babraham
Institute,
Department of
Physiology,
St. Edmund's
College, Mt.Pleasant,
IBIFKA,
Regulation of the L-AP4 receptor pathway
by protein kinases in the retinal On-bipolar cell at the:
Department of Physiology, University College London, 18th June 1996
Max-Planck Institut fur Hirnforschung, Frankfurt, Germany, 24th June 1996
Hirnforschung, University of Zurich, Switzerland, 28th June 1996
Modulation of synaptic transmission by
protein kinases in a bipolar interneuron
Department of Physiology, University of South Florida College of
Medicine.
Characterization of two novel
glucose-activated Ca2+-channels in the pancreatic beta-cell
Department of Pharmacology, University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Department of Endocrinology,
Department of Pharmacology,
Mind Aid
Conference, Haft Auditorium, Fashion Institute of Technology,
Publications:
Peer-reviewed original papers
(i) Published
Walters, R.J., Sepulveda, F.V. A basolateral K+ conductance modulated by carbachol dominates the membrane potential of small
intestinal crypts. Pflugers Arch. 1991 Nov; 419(5):537-9.
O'Brien, J.A., Walters,
R.J., Sepulveda, F.V. Regulatory volume decrease in small intestinal
crypts is inhibited by K+ and Cl-
channel blockers. Biochim Biophys
Acta. 1991 Dec 9; 1070(2):501-4.
Walters, R.J., O'Brien, J.A., Valverde, M.A., Sepulveda, F.V. Membrane conductance and
cell volume changes evoked by vasoactive intestinal
polypeptide and carbachol in small intestinal crypts.
Pflugers Arch. 1992 Sep; 421(6):598-605.
O'Brien,
J.A., Walters, R.J., Valverde, M.A., Sepulveda, F.V. Regulatory volume increase
after hypertonicity- or vasoactive-intestinal-peptide-induced
cell-volume decrease in small-intestinal crypts is dependent on Na+-K+-2Cl-
cotransport. Pflugers Arch.
1993 Apr; 423(1-2): 67-73.
Stephens,
L., Cooke, F.T., Walters, R.,
P.T.Hawkins, A.Eguinoa, R-G.Qiu, D.Stokoe, F.T.Cooke, R.Walters, S.Wennstrom, L.Claesson-Welsh, T.Evans, M.Symons, L.Stephens. PDGF
stimulates an increase in GTP-Rac via activation of
phosphoinositide-3-kinase. Curr. Biol. 1995, 5 393-403.
Walters, R.J., Hawkins, P., Cooke,
F.T., Eguinoa, A., Stephens, L.R. Insulin and ATP
stimulate actin polymerization in U937 cells by a wortmannin-sensitive mechanism. FEBS Lett.1996 Aug.19; 392(1):66-70.
Walters, R.J., Kramer, R.H., Nawy, S. Regulation of cGMP-dependent
current in On bipolar cells by calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase.
Visual Neurosci. 1998 Mar-Apr; 15(2):257-61.
Walters, R.J., Hadley, S.H., Morris, K.D., Amin, J. Benzodiazepines act on GABAA receptors via two
distinct and separable mechanisms. Nature Neurosci.
2000 December 3 (12):1274-81.
Walters, R.J., Rosenbaum, C., Willenberg H.S., Scherbaum, W.A., Bornstein S.R. Insulin, Nerve Growth Factor and PACAP modulate the expression of GABAA subunits in PC12 Cells. Neuroscience (www.neuroscience.com) 2002-1
(ii) In
preparation
Walters, R.J., Pollock, V. Amin, J.
Slowed kinetics of r1 receptors upon
substitution at S439 correlate positively with both side chain volume
and hydrophobicity.
Walters, R.J., Pattnaik, B.,
Pollock, V. Amin, J.
Cloning and characterisation of a novel r1 receptor variant r1-in from the retina.
Reviews
(i) Published
R.J.Walters. A
fourth strategy to contain the threat of HIV and AIDS? New York Times Science Article February 1996.
R.J.Walters.
Seeing a change against the light: how neural circuits
are adapted in the retina. New York Times
Science Article, June 1996.
R.J.Walters. Excitation and Adrenaline: GABA - the bipolar neurotransmitter. Cellscience Reviews, Vol.1 No.1 pp4-11 2004
R.J.Walters. Cystic Fibrosis: search for the NorthWest
Passage. Cellscience Reviews
Vol.1 No.2 pp13-23 2004
Books
Barber,
M., Collier, J., Walters, R.J. The HiPaCC Diet. HiPaCC Press 2006.
Conference Papers
(i) Unpublished
R.J.Walters, F.V.Sepulveda.
Ca2+ and voltage-dependence of K+ channels in the crypt basolateral membrane. Biophys.J., , W115, Baltimore 1996.
F.V.Sepulveda, R.J.Walters. The
stage of enterocyte differentiation determines
resting potential and agonist responses. Exp.
Biol.'96,
R.J.Walters, S.Nawy.
Modulation of the retinal On-bipolar cell mGluR6 cascade by phosphorylation. Soc. for Neurosci
, 435.2,
M.L.Chandler, I.H.Pang, R.Doshi, E.M.Wexler, R.J.Walters,
S.Nawy, L.DeSantis, M.A.Kapin. In vitro
and in vivo protective effects of eliprodil in the retina. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 1997, 38, No.4, Pt1, p.725.
Nawy, S., R.J.Walters. Modulation by PKA of the responses to
L-AP4 in retinal bipolar cells. Soc. for Neurosci. , 498.12,
Amin, J., Pollock, V., Walters,
R.J. A novel r1 GABA receptor channel with slowed
kinetics. ARVO, Ft.Lauderdale,
FL, May, 2000
Walters, R.J. Synergistic activation
of G- and L-type Ca2+ channels by D-glucose and membrane
depolarization in pancreatic beta-cells. Soc.for Neurosci. (platform),
New
Brandt,
M.V., Walters, R.J., Willenberg, H.S, Scherbaum, W.A.,
Bornstein, S.R. Nerve Growth Factor Increases Expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Serum-Starved PC12 Pheochromocytoma
Cells. Endocrine Soc. Abst.,
Walters, R.J., Rosenbaum, C, Willenberg, H.S., Ehrhart-Bornstein,
M, Muller, H-W, Siebler, M., Scherbaum,
W.A., Bornstein, S.R. Insulin Induces Increased Expression and Focal Clustering
of GABA-A Receptors in PC12 Cells. Endocrine
Soc. Abst. (platform),
Research
History
Undergraduate final year projects:
(1) Localization
and characterization of a serine-O-sulfatase activity
in bovine liver.
(2) Effects of caffeine upon glutamate and 5-HT release from hippocampal synaptosomes.
(3) Dissertation: Physiological roles of the endothelins.
Thesis Dissertation: Ion channel regulation in small
intestinal crypts.
(Department of
Cell Biology, October 1991 - August 1993).
A low
temperature method was developed to isolate populations of small intestinal
crypts using biochemical assays for specific marker enzymes. The single-channel and perforated-patch modes of the patch-clamp technique were employed
to characterize the role of the various ion channels present within the crypt
in fluid and electrolyte secretion. Imaging techniques were devised to
determine the nature and mechanism of crypt volume regulation in response to
changes in external osmolarity and secretagogues. Radioimmunoassays were performed to measure changes in
crypt cGMP and cAMP levels
in response to Atrial Natriuretic
Peptide and Angiotensin II (AII).
Collaborations: The crypt isolation method was used to
examine changes in expression of AII receptor protein and mRNA along the rat jejunal crypt-villus axis.
Radioimmunoassay and membrane conductance measurements were performed to
elucidate the signalling mechanisms of AII. A truncated form of the CFTR gene
product was expressed in Hela cells using the vaccinia virus transfection system, and gene function was evaluated using
the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp
recording technique.
Pre-doctoral Research Assistant, Laboratory
of Development and Signalling, BBSRC Babraham Institute,
Post-doctoral Research Associate,
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kennedy Ctr,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, 10461, USA. (1994-1996). The conventional whole-cell patch-clamp
recording technique was used to record from flat-mounted retina to demonstrate
that dendrites in retinal ganglion cells are anisopotential. The conventional
whole-cell patch clamp technique was then employed to selectively dialyse the retinal On-bipolar cell to determine the role of
protein phosphorylation in the regulation of the mGluR6 receptor cascade. Western blotting and whole-cell
recordings were used to show that P10 cultured rat on-bipolar cells expressed
the components of the L-APB-receptor cascade (see Wexler et al.,1998). In
addition the action of the NMDA-receptor antagonist eliprodil
upon ganglion cells was tested using a fast piezo-driven
perfusion system, and a viable cultured rat retinal slice system was developed
in agarose.
Electrophysiologist
at the University of
Post-doctoral scientist at the Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology at the
Research Fellow at the Department of
Pharmacology,
Research Fellow at the Department of
Pharmacology,
Group Leader, Department of
Endocrinology,
Training, supervision, research direction and management of autonomous
laboratory (with one technician and part-time medical student). Also
supervision and training of three other students and a post-doctoral
student. Personal projects: (1) Determination of the GABA subunits
expressed in the adrenal and PC12 pheochromocytoma
cell line and the regulation of their expression level using RT-PCR, TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR and immunocytochemistry.
(2) Polyadenylation of18S rRNA
and its novel application in quantitative TaqMan
PCR. Supervised projects: (i) Regulation of the
appearance of punctate actin
foci by insulin in PC12 cells; (ii) RACE cloning and regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase splice variant expression in the PC12 line.
Administrative and
Community Contributions
Elected
student Vice-President St.Edmund’s College,
Served
as principal co-ordinator of College team for Wintercomfort, a
Organized Current Research Discussion Group 1994 for
Neuroscience Department, AECOM.
Organization of Mannarcc Mind Aid Conference,
Training and Development
|
Discipline |
Technical Skills |
Experience |
|
Molecular
Biology |
Site-directed
mutagenesis, cloning, RT-PCR, RACE, Real-time RT-PCR, in vitro transcription, eukaryotic expression systems, western
blotting.. |
4 years |
|
Electrophysiology |
Conventional
and perforated-patch whole-cell recording (current-clamp and voltage-clamp),
Two electrode voltage-clamp, single-channel recording, extracellular
single-unit slice recording. |
9 years |
|
Cell Biology |
Radioimmunoassay,
cell culture (primary and secondary), immunocytochemistry, fluorescence
microscopy, fluorescence-activated cell sorting. |
5 years |
|
Web design |
HTML,
ASP, Javascript, CSS |
5 years |