Ph.D., Boston University, 1958
Professor of Medical Science and Vice Chairman
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology
313A Biomed Center
Tel. (401) 863-3341

Research Summary

Investigation is aimed at elucidating the mechanisms that cells employ in regulating their volume under normal conditions and during osmotic stress. We are examining this question in fish since many representatives of this group normally encounter wide variations in osmolarity of the external environment and can tolerate marked perturbations in the osmotic pressure of their extracellular fluid. Current studies focus on the role of organic solutes in maintaining cell volume during disturbances in extracellular fluid osmolarity. Membrane transport mechanisms involved in modulating the cellular concentrations of these organic solutes during osmotic stress are under investigation. The role of intracellular ionic strength and protein phosphorylation in regulating organic solute transport systems during osmotic stress is being elucidated.

Publications

Musch, M.W. and Goldstein, L. High affinity binding of ankyrin induced by volume expansion in skate erythrocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 271(35): 21221-21225, 1996.

Musch, M.W., Davis-Amaral, E.M., Leibowitz, K.L. and Goldstein, L. Hypotonic-stimulated taurine efflux in skate erythrocytes: regulation by tyrosine phosphatase activity. Am. J. Physiol. 274: R1677-R1686, 1998.

Musch, M.W., Davis-Amaral, E.M., Vandenburgh, H.H. and Goldstein, L. Hypotonicity stimulates translocation of Icln in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Pflugers Arch – Eur. J. Physiol. 436: 415 – 422, 1998.

Musch, M.W., Hubert, E.M. and Goldstein L. Volume expansion stimulates p72syk and p56lyn in skate erythrocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 274 (12): 7923 – 7928, 1999.

Hubert, E.M., Musch, M.W. and Goldstein, L. Inhibition of volume-stimulated taurine efflux and tyrosine kinase activity in the skate red blood cell. Eur. J. Physiol. 440: 132 – 139, 2000

Wittles, K.A., Hubert, E.M., Musch, M.W., and Goldstein, L. Osmolyte channel regulation by ionic strength in skate RBC. Am. J. Physiol. 279: R69 – R76, 2000.