Volodymyr Rybalchenko, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Universty of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX 01/2009 – Present

- electrophysiological study of the altered synaptic-, resting state, and excitability properties of the anterior cingulate cortex pyramidal neurons in Snord116del mouse model of Prader-Willi Syndrome (Psychiatry);

- electrophysiological study of the role of MEF2C transcription factor in mouse brain cortical neuron remodeling of the excitatory and inhibitory transmission during sleep and sleep deprived states (Psychiatry);

- electrophysiological study of the role of FOXP1 transcription factor in setting the resting state and excitability of dopaminergic striatal neurons via control of subthreshold K+ ion channels (Neuroscience);

- biophysical study of the skeletal muscle NaV1.4 Na+ channels transformed by particular mutations into the channels with "leaky voltage sensor", underlying human hypokalemic periodic paralysis (Neurology);

- development of the enhanced microfluidic perfusion system for high-performance electrophysiological cut-open oocyte voltage clamp recordings (Neurology);

- discovery of the cation-channel-forming ability of the endoplasmic Bax Inhibitor-1 (BI-1) protein C-terminus, while incorporated in the artificial bilayer lipid membranes, which underlies the BI-1 neuroprotective properties (Physiology).

Research Fellow, Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch

National Institutes of Health / NIDCR, Bethesda, MD 07/2010 – 09/2012

- biophysical and pharmacological characterization of the intracellular endosomal/lysosomal cation-permeable ion channels TPC1 incorporated in the artificial lipid bilayer membranes;

- electrophysiological recordings of the ionic currents produced by artificially grown cell monolayers upon exposure to various neurotransmitters using the Ussing chamber experimental technique.

Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 01/2004 – 12/2008

- discovery of potentiation of the intracellular endoplasmic Ca2+ release ryanodine receptors (RyR) by soluble presenilin protein N-terminus fragments via protein-protein interactions;

- discovery of modulation of the RyR function by estrogen receptor beta.

Research Associate, Department of Surgery

Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT 11/2000 – 01/2004

- functional description of the novel mechanosensitive ion transducer-channel expressed in the basolateral membrane of the mammalian outer hair cells (OHC), which enables ultra-fast molecular kinetics underlying the mammalian cochlea high-pitch sensitivity;

- discovery of the allosteric modulation of the OHC membrane motor protein prestin by polyvalent anions.

Instructor in Electrophysiology, Biology Department

University of Science and Technology - Lille 1, Lille, France 04/1999 – 07/2000

- discovery of the allosteric mode of inhibition of the delayed rectifying voltage-gated K+ channels by verapamil and by related phenylalkylamines in human prostate cancer LNCaP cell line;

- development of the equilibrium kinetics model for simultaneous inhibition of the ion channel by two channel antagonists.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Louis Pasteur University, Institute of Physiology and Biological Chemistry, Strasbourg, France 03/1994 – 03/1999

- discovery of the functional low- and high-affinity AMPA receptor binding sites in spinal cord neurons;
- discovery of the dual mode of GABA-A receptor activation by anxiolytic etifoxine in spinal cord neurons;
- patch-clamp characterization of the ACh-, 5-HT3- and TRPV1- receptor-mediated fast transient currents in murine dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons;

- development of the robotic microfluidic “concentration-clamp” system for ultra-fast application of drugs to patch-clamped neurons (15-20 samples per cell).

Jr Research Scientist, Department of Biomedical Research

National Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry, Kiev, Ukraine 10/1987 – 02/1994

- patch-clamp study of pharmacological properties of new synthetic ligands of glutamate receptors;
- development of robotized microfluidic pulsing-jet system for high frequency (20 Hz) short term (5-10 ms) application of neurotransmitters on patch-clamped neurons, emulating synaptic glutamate bursts.

Research Engineer

National Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine 07/1984 – 09/1987

- development of custom-built electronic equipment and precision micro-mechanics equipment for electrophysiological patch-clamp recordings;

- early patch-clamp studies of biophysical properties of voltage-gated K+ channels in giant mollusk neurons using plastic V-shaped tubes invented at the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology.

Education

Graduate School: Moscow Inst of Phys & Tech-Rus (1984), Physics Engineering
Graduate School: Moscow Inst of Phys & Tech-Rus (1994), Biological Sciences
Graduate School: (2017), Biology

Publications

Featured Publications

Altered neural electrophysiological properties in the anterior cingulate cortex in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndrome.: Rybalchenko V, Butler R, J Physiol 2026 Aug
An essential role for MEF2C in the cortical response to loss of sleep in mice.: Bjorness TE, Kulkarni A, Rybalchenko V, Suzuki A, Bridges C, Harrington AJ, Cowan CW, Takahashi JS, Konopka G, Greene RW, Elife 2020 08 9
Disrupted coupling of gating charge displacement to Na+ current activation for DIIS4 mutations in hypokalemic periodic paralysis.: Mi W, Rybalchenko V, Cannon SC J. Gen. Physiol. 2014 Aug 144 2 137-45
Membrane potential regulates nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) dependence of the pH- and Ca2+-sensitive organellar two-pore channel TPC1.: Rybalchenko V, Ahuja M, Coblentz J, Churamani D, Patel S, Kiselyov K, Muallem S J. Biol. Chem. 2012 Jun 287 24 20407-16
Leaky sodium channels from voltage sensor mutations in periodic paralysis, but not paramyotonia.: Francis DG, Rybalchenko V, Struyk A, Cannon SC Neurology 2011 May 76 19 1635-41
Anion control of voltage sensing by the motor protein prestin in outer hair cells.: Rybalchenko V, Santos-Sacchi J Biophys. J. 2008 Nov 95 9 4439-47
The N-terminus of presenilin-2 increases single channel activity of brain ryanodine receptors through direct protein-protein interaction.: Hayrapetyan V, Rybalchenko V, Rybalchenko N, Koulen P Cell Calcium 2008 Nov 44 5 507-18
The cytosolic N-terminus of presenilin-1 potentiates mouse ryanodine receptor single channel activity.: Rybalchenko V, Hwang SY, Rybalchenko N, Koulen P Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2008 40 1 84-97
Cl- flux through a non-selective, stretch-sensitive conductance influences the outer hair cell motor of the guinea-pig.: Rybalchenko V, Santos-Sacchi J J. Physiol. (Lond.) 2003 Mar 547 Pt 3 873-91
Verapamil inhibits proliferation of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells influencing K+ channel gating.: Rybalchenko V, Prevarskaya N, Van Coppenolle F, Legrand G, Lemonnier L, Le Bourhis X, Skryma R Mol. Pharmacol. 2001 Jun 59 6 1376-87

Honors & Awards

Intramural Seed Research Grant
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX (2006)
Postdoctoral Research Service Fellowship
Eli Lilly Institute of France, Strasbourg, France (1996-1999)
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Foundation for Medical Research of France (1995)
International Postdoctoral Trainee Fellowship
National Ministry of Education, Research and Technology of France (1994)
Engineering and Business in Canada, Canada/Ukraine Government Exchange Program
Ministry of Cultural and Scientific Affairs of Canada (1993)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

Psychiatry Department