John Baenziger

Biography

Dr. Baenziger received his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Queen’s University in 1984, conducting research in the laboratories of both Drs. John Elce and Peter Davies.  It was during this time that he was first exposed to the field of biophysics.  This stimulated him to pursue a Ph.D. at the National Research Council of Canada with Dr. Ian C.P. Smith, a pioneer in the use of solid state NMR methods to study biological molecules and human disease.  Dr. Baenziger completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa in 1989.  Building on his acquired expertise, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship jointly at Harvard Medical School and Boston University where he worked on the structural and functional characterization of ligand-gated ion channels.  In 1992, Dr. Baenziger joined the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa, where he is currently a full professor.

Research Interests

The Baenziger lab uses a variety of biophysical tools to study the structure and function of a superfamily of proteins, called pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). These neurotransmitter receptors are found in pre-, post-, and non-synaptic membranes of the central and peripheral nervous system where they play a key role in both synaptic communication and information processing. They have been implicated in a variety of neurological processes and diseases, and are targets of numerous pharmaceuticals. The Baenziger lab is particularly interested in understanding how the activity of these receptors is modulated during both normal and abnormal brain function, with the goal of developing new strategies to correct the altered synaptic communication that occurs in diseased states.

The laboratory is well equipped with basic biochemical and electrophysiology equipment, the latter including rigs for both performing two-electrode voltage clamp and single channel measurements. Other equipment for protein production, purification, and characterization include Acta FPLC, cell culture incubators, microscopes, a DynaPro dynamic light scatterer, a Cary Eclipse fluorescence spectrometer, and FTIR spectrometers. The FTIR spectrometers are equipped with numerous data acquisition accessories, including standard ATR sampling accessories, a Golden Gate diamond ATR, and both manual and automated polarizers.

Current Administrative Positions

2015- : President of the Harvard Club of Ottawa
2014- : President of the Biophysical Society of Canada
2014- : Director of the Biochemistry Graduate Program
2014-2017: President of the Commission on Graduate Studies in the Sciences, Office of the Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (responsibilities include Chairing the commission, as well as membership on the Office of the Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Executive, Council, Graduate Program Evaluation Committee, and Membership Committee)

Recent Publications

• J.E. Baenziger, C.M. Hénault, D.T. Therien, & J. Sun “Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-lipid interactions: mechanistic insight and biological function ”BBA-Biomembranes (2015) Epub ahead of print
• C.L. Carswell, J. Sun, & J.E. Baenziger “Intramembrane aromatic interactions influence the lipid sensitivities of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels” J. Biol. Chem. (2015) 290 2496-2507
• C.M. Hénault, J. Sun, J.P.D. Therien, C.J.B. daCosta, C.L. Carswell, J.M. Labriola, P.J. Juranka & J.E. Baenziger “The role of the M4 lipid-sensor in the folding, trafficking, and allosteric modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors” Neuropharmacology (2014) Epub ahead of print
• C.J.B. daCosta, L. Dey, J.P.D. Therien & J.E. Baenziger “A novel mechanism for activating uncoupled nicotinic acetylcholine receptors”
  Nat. Chem. Biol. (2013)9, 701-707
• Highlighted in News and Views:  Andersen, O.S. Nat. Chem. Biol. (2013) 9, 667-668
• C.J.B. daCosta & J.E. Baenziger “Gating of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels: structural insights and ambiguities”
  Featured review in Structure (2013)21, 1271-1283
• J.M. Labriola, A. Pandhare, M. Jansen, M.P. Blanton, P.-J. Corringer & J.E. Baenziger “Structural sensitivity of a prokaryotic pentameric ligand-gated ion channel to its membrane environment” J. Biol. Chem. (2013) 288, 11294-11303
• J.E. Baenziger & C.J.B. daCosta “Molecular mechanisms of acetylcholine receptor-lipid interactions: from model membranes to human Biology” Biophys. Rev. (2013) 5, 1-9
• C.J.B. daCosta, R.M. Sturgeon, A.K. Hamouda, M.P. Blanton & J.E. Baenziger   “Structural characterization and agonist binding to human α4β2 nicotinic receptors” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2011)407, 456-460
• J.E. Baenziger & P.J. Corringer "3D structure and allosteric modulation of the transmembrane domain of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels" Neuropharmacology (2011) 60, 116-125
• J.M. Labriola, C.J.B. daCosta, S. Wang, D. Figeys, J.C. Smith, R.M. Sturgeon, & J.E. Baenziger "Phosphatidic acid-specific phospholipase C activity affinity purifies with the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor" J. Biol. Chem. (2010) 285, 10337-10343
• R.M Sturgeon & J.E Baenziger "Cations mediate interactions between the acetylcholine receptor and anionic lipids" Biophys J. (2010) 98, 989-998
• N. Vuong, J.E. Baenziger & L.J. Johnston "Preparation of reconstituted acetylcholine receptor membranes suitable for AFM imaging of lipid-protein interactions" Chem. Phys. Lipids (2010) 163, 117-126