Department of Physiology and Pharmacology

Andrew D. Beavis, Ph.D.

Dr. Beavis

Professor Emeritus

 

 Training

  • B.Sc., Biochemistry, 1974, University of Bristol, Bristol, Avon, England
  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, 1977, University of Bristol, Bristol, Avon, England
Appointments
  • Research Associate, Pharmacology, Medical University of Ohio,1982-1984
  • Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Medical University of Ohio, 1984-1991
  • Associate Professor Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Health Science Campus, 1991-2010
  • Professor Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Health Science Campus, 2011-present
  • Director of the Molecular Medicine (CVMD) Track of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, 2007-2020
Research Interests:
  • Mitochondrial bioenergetics and transport processes.
Research:
Mitochondria are cellular organelles responsible for the synthesis of ATP. The coupling mechanism of oxidative phosphorylation involves the generation of a large protonmotive force across the inner membrane by the H+ pumps of the respiratory chain. In addition to being the immediate source of energy for ATP synthesis, the protonmotive force has a great influence on the transport of anions and cations across the inner membrane, and in a number of cases the membrane potential itself is used to drive transport. Most of my research has been devoted to the study of these electrophoretic transport processes. I have studied two transport pathways, an anion uniporter which is also called the inner membrane anion channel (IMAC) and a cation uniporter which transports K+ and other cations. The anion uniporter enables mitochondria to pump out salts and the K+ uniporter allows salts to be pumped in. Controlling the balance between these processes is the essence of mitochondrial volume homeostasis. I have carried out studies with intact mitochondria investigating the effects of physiological and pharmacological regulators and chemical modification on the properties of IMAC. We have used electrophysiological methods to examine the properties of channels extracted from mitochondria and reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. 
Last Updated: 6/27/22