Dr. Ana Estevez
Assistant Professor of Biology and Psychology
Office: Johnson Hall of Science120
Phone: (315) 229-5809, fax: 315-379-7429
email: aestevez@stlawu.edu

Education:

Ph.D. 1999 Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI

 

B.S. 1994 Psychobiology, Binghamton University Binghamton, NY

Courses Offered:

Introduction to Cell Biology

Introduction to Neuroscience

Advanced Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Basis of Learning and Memory

Drugs and the Brain

Research Interests:

My area of research is in Neuroscience. I'm interested in learning how nerve cells generate calcium signals to communicate and the role of calcium channels - the gateways of calcium entry into cells - in this process. I specifically study the TRP family of calcium channels using a tiny little nematode (round worm) called C. elegans.  C. elegans has a very simple body plan yet its TRP calcium channels are very similar to the human versions. Studying TRP channels in a much simpler organism like C. elegans has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of the physiology of these channels and may provide us with novel insight into the biological role of TRP channels in humans.

I’m also interested in the mechanisms by which nerve cells die (neurodegeneration) and how we can intervene to prevent unwarranted neuronal death (neuroprotection). C. elegans can survive extended periods of time in an environment with very little or no oxygen (hypoxia or anoxia). I’m interested in studying the signaling pathways that are activated in the neurons of these worms to help protect them from death. Ultimately these studies have the potential to provide information on how to prevent or minimize neuronal death in humans after a lack of oxygen to the brain as occurs when a person suffers a stroke.

Selected publications:

Yan, X., Xing, J., Lorin-Nebel, C., Estevez, A.Y., Nehrke, K., Lamitina, T. and Strange, K., Function of a STIM1 Homologue in C. elegans: Evidence that store-operated Ca²⁺ entry is not essential for oscillatory Ca²⁺ signaling and ER Ca²⁺ homeostasis. J. Gen. Physiol., 128:  443-459, 2006

Espelt, M.V., Estevez, A.Y., Yin, X. and Strange, K., Oscillatory Ca²⁺ signaling in the isolated Caenorhabditis elegans intestine: role of the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and phospholipases C beta and gamma, J. Gen. Physiol., 126: 379-392, 2005

Estevez, A.Y. and Strange, K., Calcium feedback mechanisms regulate oscillatory activity of a TRP-like Ca²⁺ conductance in C. elegans intestinal cells, J. Physiol., 567: 239-251, 2005

Estevez, A.Y., Roberts, R.K. and Strange, K., Identification of store-independent and store-operated Ca²⁺ conductances in C. elegans intestinal epithelial cells, J. Gen. Physiol., 122: 207-223, 2003.

Christensen, M., Estevez, A., Yin, X., Fox, R., Morrison, R., McDonnell, M., Gleason, C., Miller, D.M., Strange, K., A primary culture system for functional analysis of C. elegans neurons and muscle cells. Neuron, 33: 503-14, 2002.

Estevez, A.Y., Bond, T. and Strange, K., Regulation of I Cl, swell in neuroblastoma cells by G protein signaling pathways. Am. J. Physiol., 281: C89-98, 2001.

Estevez, A.Y ., O’Regan, M.H., Song, D. and Phillis, J.W., Effects of the anion channel blocker DIDS on ouabain- and high K(+)-induced release of amino acids from the rat cerebral cortex. Brain Res Bull., 52: 45-50, 2000.

Estevez, A.Y .,O’Regan, M.H., Song, D. and Phillis, J.W., Hyposmotically-induced amino acid release from the rat cerebral cortex: role of phospholipases and protein kinases. Brain Res., 844: 1-9, 1999.

Phillis, J.W., Estevez, A.Y ., Guyot, L.L., O’Regan, M.H., 5-(N-Ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride, an Na⁺/H⁺ exhange inhibitor, protects gerbil hippocampal neurons from ischemic injury. Brain Res., 839: 199-202, 1999.

Estevez, A.Y ., O’Regan, M.H., Song, D. and Phillis, J.W., Effects of anion channel blockers on hyposmotically induced amino acid release from the in vivo rat cerebral cortex. Neurochem. Res., 24: 447-452, 1999.

Phillis, J.W., Estevez, A.Y . and O’Regan, M.H., Protective effects of the free radicalscavengers dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol, in cerebral ischemia in gerbils. Neurosci. Lett. 244: 109-111, 1998.

Estevez, A.Y. and Phillis, J.W., Hypercapnia-induced increases in cerebral blood flow: roles of adenosine, nitric oxide and cortical arousal. Brain Res., 758: 1-8, 1997.

Estevez, A.Y. and Phillis, J.W., The phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, quinacrine, reduces infarct size in rats after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Brain Res. 752: 203-208, 1997.

Phillis, J.W., O’Regan, M.H., Estevez, A.Y. , Song, D., and Vander Heide, S.J., Cerebral energy metabolism during severe ischemia of varying duration and following reperfusion. J. Neurochem. 16: 1525-1531, 1996.

Book Chapters:

Estevez, A.Y. and Strange, K., Genetic and molecular characterization of Ca²⁺ and IP₃ signaling in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, In Calcium Signaling, 2^nd edition, ed. J.W. Putney, pp. 161-186, CRC Press, Florida, 2006.

 Grants:

 2006-2007 National Science Foundation Research Starter Grant, $22,500.

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