Volodymyr Rybalchenko, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

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

- electrophysiological study of the althered synaptic and excitability properties of the anterior cingulate cortical neurons in Snord116del mouse model of the Prader-Willi Syndrome (Psychiatry);

- electrphysiological study of the role of MEF2C protein in neuronal excitatory synaptic remodeling during normal sleep and sleep deprivation (Psychiatry);

- electrophysiological study of the FOXP1 protein regulation of subthreshold K+ ion channels that control excitability of dopaminergic striatal neurons (Neuroscience);

- biophysical characterization of the skeletal muscle "leaky voltage sensor" miotonia pathology model using mutant Na+ channels NaV1.4 (Neurology);

- development of the original microfluidic perfusion technique for high-performance cut-open oocyte voltage clamp recordings (Neurology);
- discovery of the ion-channel forming neuroprotective properties of the Bax Inhibitor-1 protein C-terminus using lipid membrane bilayers (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 cationic channels TPC1 incorporated in lipid bilayers;
- development of the original electrical recording technique from lipid bilayer membranes, with enhanced cis and trans chamber perfusion capabilities;
- electrophysiological recordings of ionc currents generated by the epithelial cell monolayers using the Ussing chamber.

Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

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

- discovery of the protein-protein regulation of intracellular Ca2+ release ryanodine receptors (RyR) by soluble presenilin protein N-terminus fragments;
- discovery of the modulation of the RyR by estrogen receptor beta;

Research Associate, Department of Surgery

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

- discovery of the novel mechano-sensitive ion transducer with ultra-fast kinetics in the baso-lateral membrane of the mammalian outer hair cells (OHC);
- discovery of allosteric modulation of the OHC membrane motor protein prestin by multivalent inorganic and organic anions;
- recordings of the ultra-fast voltage-dependent motility and “active” membrane capacitance generated by mammalian OHCs.

Instructor in Electrophysiology, Biology Department

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

- discovery of allosteric inhibition of voltage-gated K+ channels by verapamil and by related phenylalkylamines in human prostate cancer LNCaP cell line;
- development of the applied theoretical model of the ion channel simultaneous inhibition by two channel blockers;
- development of custom image analysis software for semi-automatic tracing of migrating cells in long-term cell cultures.

Postdoctoral Fellow

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

- discovery of functional heterogenious low- and high-affinity AMPA receptor binding sites in spinal neurons;
- discovery of dual mode of GABA-A receptor activation by anxiolytic etifoxine in spinal neurons;
- patch-clamp characterization of ACh-, 5-HT3- and TRPV1- receptor-mediated currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons;
- patch-clamp study of pharmacologhical modulation of voltage-gated K+ and Ca2+ channels by substance P in dorsal root ganglion neurons;
- development of 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 structural organic molecular analogs of glutamate/AMPA-receptor blocker APB;
- patch-clamp study of biophysical properties of AMPA/glutamate receptors in mouse hippocampal neurons;
- development of microfluidic pulsing jet sustem for high frequency (20 Hz) short term (5-10 ms) application of neurotransmitters to patch-clamped neurons, mimicking the biological time-scale of repetitive synaptic activation.

Research Engineer

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

- patch-clamp study of the ion selectivity of the voltage-gated K+ channels in snail neurons;
- patch-clamp study of the temperature-depended conformations in K+ channels;
- biophysical modeling of the free-energy profile of the K+ channel voltage sensor intramembrane transitions;
- development of the custom-built voltage/current clamp switch amplifier;
- development and fabrication of the custom precision micro-mechanics equipment for electrophysiological patch-clamp recordings.

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

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
Modulation of GABAergic synaptic transmission by the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic etifoxine.: Schlichter R, Rybalchenko V, Poisbeau P, Verleye M, Gillardin J Neuropharmacology 2000 Jul 39 9 1523-35
RNAi-Induced Expression of Paternal UBE3A.: Kang HR, Zaric V, Rybalchenko V, Gray SJ, Butler RK, Genes (Basel) 2026 Jan 17 2

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