Scientists: Diane K. O'Dowd, Ph.D.

Research Focus

Working to understand: cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory formation.

Scientific Focus: regulation of excitability and synaptic transmission in the central nervous system of flies and mice.

Selected/Recent Publications

Publications Listed on PubMed

Anderson WA, Banerjee U, Drennan CL, Elgin SC, Epstein IR, Handelsman J, Hatfull GF, Losick R, O'Dowd DK, Olivera BM, Strobel SA, Walker GC, Warner IM.
Science education. Changing the culture of science education at research universities. Science. 2011 Jan 14;331(6014):152-3. No abstract available.

Moravec M, Williams A, Aguilar-Roca N, O'Dowd DK.
Learn before lecture: A strategy that improves learning outcomes in a large introductory biology class. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2010 Winter;9(4):473-81.

Gu*, H., S.A. Jiang*, J.M. Campusano*, J. Iniguez*, H. Su, A.A. Hoang, M. Lavian, X. Sun, and D.K. O’Dowd
(2009) Cav2-type calcium channels encoded by cac regulate AP-independent neurotransmitter release at cholinergic synapses in adult Drosophila brain. J. Neurophysiol. 101: 42-53. * authors contributed equally.

Hilgenberg LG, Pham B, Ortega M, Walid S, Kemmerly T, O'Dowd DK, Smith MA.
Agrin regulation of alpha3 sodium-potassium ATPase activity modulates cardiac myocyte contraction. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jun 19;284(25):16956-65. Epub 2009 Apr 16.

O’Dowd, D.K. and N. Aguilar-Roca
(2009) Garage Demos: Using physical models to illustrate dynamic aspects of microscopic processes. Cell Biology Education 8: 118-122.

Oh, H-W, J,M. Campusano, L.G.W. Hilgenberg, X. Sun, M.A. Smith, and D.K. O’Dowd
(2008) Ultrastructural analysis of chemical synapses and gap junctions between Drosophila brain neurons in culture. Dev. Neurobiology 68: 281-294.

Sheeba, V.*, H. Gu*, V.K. Sharma, D.K.O’Dowd, and T. Holmes
(2008) Circadian- and light-dependent regulation of resting membrane potential and spontaneous action potential firing of Drosophila circadian pacemaker neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 99: 976-88. *authors contributed equally to the work.

Campusano, J.M., H. Su, S.A. Jiang, B. Sicaeros, D.K. O’Dowd
(2007) nAChR-mediated calcium responses and plasticity in Drosophila Kenyon cells. Dev. Neurobiology 67: 1520-1532.

Gu, H. and D.K. O’Dowd
(2006) Cholinergic synaptic transmission in Drosophila Kenyon cells in situ. J. Neurosci. 26: 265-272.

Hilgenberg, L.G.W, H. Su, H. Gu, D.K. O’Dowd, and M.A. Smith
(2006) 3Na+/K+-ATPase is a neuronal receptor for agrin. Cell 125: 359-369.