Dr. Zimmerman received a BS in Zoology in 1978 at the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Physiology & Biophysics in 1982 at the University of Miami Medical School, with advisors Dr. Birgit Rose and Dr. Karl Magleby. Her PhD thesis project was on the mechanism of cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions. Before arriving at Brown in 1987, she obtained postdoctoral training with Dr. Denis Baylor in Neurobiology at Stanford Medical School, where she began studying ion channels and visual transduction in rods and cones. At Brown, she continued to perform NIH-funded research on ion channel biophysics, regulation and function in sensory transduction, but she has since closed her lab, and her research involvement is now limited to the role of informal consultant for her active research colleagues. Dr. Zimmerman teaches cellular neurophysiology and biophysics to medical students, as well as to graduate and undergraduate students. She is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (MMI), and Director for Student Support & Inclusion in the Therapeutic Sciences Graduate Program.
| Bellono, Nicholas W., Kammel, Laura G., Zimmerman, Anita L., Oancea, Elena. "Ultraviolet Light Phototransduction Activates TRPA1 to Mediate Melanin Synthesis in Human Melanocytes." Biophysical Journal, vol. 104, no. 2, 2013, pp. 454a. |
| Bellono NW, Kammel LG, Zimmerman AL, Oancea E. "UV light phototransduction activates transient receptor potential A1 ion channels in human melanocytes." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 110, no. 6, 2013, pp. 2383-8. |
| Khan S, Perry C, Tetreault ML, Henry D, Trimmer JS, Zimmerman AL, Matthews G. "A novel cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel enriched in synaptic terminals of isotocin neurons in zebrafish brain and pituitary." Neuroscience, vol. 165, no. 1, 2010, pp. 79-89. |
| Isayama, Tomoki, Okada, Tetsuji, Looney, James D., Crouch, Rosalie K., Zimmerman, Anita L., Makino, Clint L. "An Additional Retinoid Binding Site in Rhodopsin." Biophysical Journal, vol. 96, no. 3, 2009, pp. 528a. |
| Isayama T, McCabe England SL, Crouch RK, Zimmerman AL, Makino CL. "Beta-ionone activates and bleaches visual pigment in salamander photoreceptors." Visual Neuroscience, vol. 26, no. 3, 2009, pp. 267-74. |
| Tetreault ML, Henry D, Horrigan DM, Matthews G, Zimmerman AL. "Characterization of a novel cyclic nucleotide-gated channel from zebrafish brain." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 348, no. 2, 2006, pp. 441-9. |
| He Q, Alexeev D, Estevez ME, McCabe SL, Calvert PD, Ong DE, Cornwall MC, Zimmerman AL, Makino CL. "Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in rod photoreceptors are protected from retinoid inhibition." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 128, no. 4, 2006, pp. 473-85. |
| Tetreault ML, Horrigan DM, Kim JA, Zimmerman AL. "Retinoids restore normal cyclic nucleotide sensitivity of mutant ion channels associated with cone dystrophy." Molecular vision, vol. 12, 2006, pp. 1699-705. |
| Zimmerman AL. "The sweet smell of success: Conclusive evidence that cyclic AMP hydrolysis does not trigger fast adaptation in olfactory receptor cells." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 128, no. 2, 2006, pp. 149-51. |
| Horrigan DM, Tetreault ML, Tsomaia N, Vasileiou C, Borhan B, Mierke DF, Crouch RK, Zimmerman AL. "Defining the retinoid binding site in the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated channel." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 126, no. 5, 2005, pp. 453-60. |
| Yeh JI, Zimmt MB, Zimmerman AL. "Nanowiring of a redox enzyme by metallized peptides." Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 21, no. 6, 2005, pp. 973-8. |
| McCabe SL, Pelosi DM, Tetreault M, Miri A, Nguitragool W, Kovithvathanaphong P, Mahajan R, Zimmerman AL. "All-trans-retinal is a closed-state inhibitor of rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 123, no. 5, 2004, pp. 521-31. |
| Zimmerman AL. "Capturing ion channel gating: a little salt on the tail does the trick." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 124, no. 6, 2004, pp. 627-9. |
| Dean DM, Nguitragool W, Miri A, McCabe SL, Zimmerman AL. "All-trans-retinal shuts down rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels: a novel role for photoreceptor retinoids in the response to bright light?." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 99, no. 12, 2002, pp. 8372-7. |
| Zimmerman AL. "Two B or not two B? Questioning the rotational symmetry of tetrameric ion channels." Neuron, vol. 36, no. 6, 2002, pp. 997-9. |
| Crary JI, Dean DM, Nguitragool W, Kurshan PT, Zimmerman AL. "Mechanism of inhibition of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels by diacylglycerol." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 116, no. 6, 2000, pp. 755-68. |
| Crary JI, Dean DM, Maroof F, Zimmerman AL. "Mutation of a single residue in the S2-S3 loop of CNG channels alters the gating properties and sensitivity to inhibitors." The Journal of general physiology, vol. 116, no. 6, 2000, pp. 769-80. |
| Crary JI, Gordon SE, Zimmerman AL. "Perfusion system components release agents that distort functional properties of rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels." Visual Neuroscience, vol. 15, no. 6, 1998, pp. 1189-93. |
| Zimmerman AL. "Cyclic nucleotide gated channels." Current opinion in neurobiology, vol. 5, no. 3, 1995, pp. 296-303. |
| Gordon SE, Downing-Park J, Tam B, Zimmerman AL. "Diacylglycerol analogs inhibit the rod cGMP-gated channel by a phosphorylation-independent mechanism." Biophysical Journal, vol. 69, no. 2, 1995, pp. 409-17. |
| Gordon SE, Downing-Park J, Zimmerman AL. "Modulation of the cGMP-gated ion channel in frog rods by calmodulin and an endogenous inhibitory factor." The Journal of Physiology, vol. 486 ( Pt 3), 1995, pp. 533-46. |
| Zimmerman AL, Baylor DA. "Cation interactions within the cyclic GMP-activated channel of retinal rods from the tiger salamander." The Journal of Physiology, vol. 449, 1992, pp. 759-83. |
| Gordon SE, Brautigan DL, Zimmerman AL. "Protein phosphatases modulate the apparent agonist affinity of the light-regulated ion channel in retinal rods." Neuron, vol. 9, no. 4, 1992, pp. 739-48. |
| Zimmerman AL, Karpen JW, Kantrowitz-Gordon SE, Tsai CS, Stryer L, Baylor DA. "Workings of the cGMP-activated channel of retinal rods." Neuroscience research. Supplement : the official journal of the Japan Neuroscience Society, vol. 12, 1990, pp. S165-74. |
| Karpen JW, Zimmerman AL, Stryer L, Baylor DA. "Gating kinetics of the cyclic-GMP-activated channel of retinal rods: flash photolysis and voltage-jump studies." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 85, no. 4, 1988, pp. 1287-91. |
| Zimmerman AL, Karpen JW, Baylor DA. "Hindered diffusion in excised membrane patches from retinal rod outer segments." Biophysical Journal, vol. 54, no. 2, 1988, pp. 351-5. |
| Karpen JW, Zimmerman AL, Stryer L, Baylor DA. "Molecular mechanics of the cyclic-GMP-activated channel of retinal rods." Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, vol. 53 Pt 1, 1988, pp. 325-32. |
| Zimmerman AL, Baylor DA. "Cyclic GMP-sensitive conductance of retinal rods consists of aqueous pores." J. Geophys. Res., vol. 321, no. 6065, 1986, pp. 70-2. |
| Zimmerman AL, Yamanaka G, Eckstein F, Baylor DA, Stryer L. "Interaction of hydrolysis-resistant analogs of cyclic GMP with the phosphodiesterase and light-sensitive channel of retinal rod outer segments." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 82, no. 24, 1985, pp. 8813-7. |
My research expertise is in molecular and cellular aspects of the nervous system, with an emphasis on ion channels and phototransduction in the eye and skin. Ion channels are membrane proteins that are critically involved in functions as diverse as the beating of the heart, visual perception, learning and memory, and hormone secretion. They are also targets for many drugs, and genetic defects in ion channels can cause devastating diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.
My research involvement now only includes consultation and collaboration in the area of molecular & cellular neurobiology. My past research focused on the function and regulation of ion channels and their role in sensory transduction and brain function. Essentially every function in the body is controlled by the activity of ion channels, which are membrane proteins that change their conformation in response to chemical and electrical signals, allowing specific ions to enter or exit cells as needed. Ion channels are critically involved in functions as diverse as nerve impulses in the brain, the beating of the heart, visual perception, muscle contraction, learning and memory, hormone secretion and embryonic development. They are also the targets of many drugs, such as those used to treat pain and heart disease; and genetic defects in ion channels can cause devastating diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. My work centered mainly on nonselective cation channels such as cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels and other sensory channels (TRP channels). Since these particular ion channels contain pores that allow the passage of Ca2+ and Na+ into cells, their activity tends to make the membrane potential more positive and to increase intracellular Ca2+ levels, leading to cell excitation and triggering a variety of cell functions.
My past research used patch clamp (electrophysiology) and molecular biology techniques to record from channels in their native membranes and cells, as well as in heterologous expression systems (e.g., Xenopus frog eggs expressing cloned ion channels). My collaborative projects have centered on UV signal transduction in the skin, mechanisms of ciliary beating, visual transduction in retinal rods and cones, and drug development for cyclic nucleotide-activated ion channels, respectively.
Current and pending grants:
NIH NIGMS T32, GM139793 (MPI; other PIs are Elena Oancea and Sean Lawler), "Interdisciplinary Training in Pharmacological Sciences". 7/1/21-6/30/26. This grant replaces NIH NIGMS T32 GM077995, since NIGMS required new applications this year, instead of continuing renewals, due to significant changes in their T32 policies. 7/1/21-6/30/26.
Past grants and awards:
NIH NIGMS T32, GM077995, training grant for MPP grad program. (Co-investigator; PI: Elena Oancea), "Predoctoral Training Program in Trans-disciplinary Pharmacological Sciences" 7/1/16-6/30/21
NIH NIAMSD 1 R01 AR066318-01 (Co-Investigator; Elena Oancea was PI), 9/1/13-8/31/18, "Ion channel and calcium signaling in ultraviolet light transduction in human skin."
1988-2007: NIH research grant, R01 EY07774 (National Eye Institute), "Properties of light-modulated ion channels in the retina."
1998: Salomon Faculty Research Award, "Molecular mechanism of modulation of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels by Ca2+/calmodulin."
1998: Rhode Island Foundation Research Grant, "Molecular mechanism of modulation of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels by Ca2+/calmodulin."
1997-1999: RI American Heart, "Modulation of ion channels in the sino-atrial node of the heart."
2007-2008: Maren Foundation Award for equipment, "Request for equipment for a novel tissue preparation to study vision."
2007-2008: Maren Research Seed Award from MPPB, "The RPE/retinal slice: a new preparation for studying photoreceptor responses to bright light in health and disease."
2009: Brown Advance Scientific Leadership Award.
Bellono, N.W., Kammel, L.G., Zimmerman, A.L. and Oancea, E. UV light phototransduction activates transient receptor potential A1 ion channels in human melanocytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 110: 2383-2388 (2013); Epub, Jan 23, 2013. PMCID: PMC3568351.
Khan, S., Perry, C., Tetreault, M.L., Henry, D., Trimmer, J.S., Zimmerman, A.L. and Matthews, G. A novel cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel enriched in synaptic terminals of isotocin neurons in zebrafish brain and pituitary. Neuroscience 165: 79-89 (2010). PMCID: PMC2789987.
Isayama, T., McCabe England, S.L., Crouch, R.K., Zimmerman, A.L. and Makino, C.L. Beta-ionone activates and bleaches visual pigment in salamander photoreceptors. Visual Neuroscience 26: 267-274 (2009). PMCID: PMC3220273.
Zimmerman, A.L. The sweet smell of success: conclusive evidence that cyclic AMP hydrolysis does not trigger fast adaptation in olfactory receptor cells. J. Gen. Physiol. 128: 149-151 (2006). Invited paper, but reviewed.
Tetreault, M.L., Horrigan, D.M., Kim, J.A. and Zimmerman, A.L. Retinoids restore normal cGMP sensitivity of mutant ion channels associated with cone dystrophy. Molecular Vision 12: 1699-1705 (2006).
Tetreault, M.L., Henry, D., Horrigan, D.M., Matthews, G. and Zimmerman, A.L. Characterization of a novel cyclic nucleotide-gated channel from zebrafish brain. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 348: 441-449 (2006).
He, Q., Alexeev, D., Estevez, M.E., McCabe, S.L., Calvert, P.D., Ong, D.E., Cornwall, M.C., Zimmerman, A.L. and Makino, C.L. Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in rod photoreceptors are protected from retinoid inhibition. J. Gen. Physiol. 128: 473-485 (2006).
Horrigan, D.M., Tetreault, M.L., Tsomaia, N., Vasileiou, C., Borhan, B., Mierke, D.F., Crouch, R.K. and Zimmerman, A.L. Defining the retinoid binding site in the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated channel. J. Gen. Physiol. 126: 453-460 (2005).
Yeh, J.I., Zimmt, M. B., and Zimmerman, A. L. Nanowiring of a Redox Enzyme by Metallized Peptides. Rapid communication, Biosensors & Bioelectronics 21: 973-978 (2005).
Zimmerman, A.L. Capturing ion channel gating: a little salt on the tail does the trick. J. Gen. Physiol. 124: 627-629 (2004). Invited paper, but reviewed.
McCabe, S.L., Pelosi, D.M., Tetreault, M., Miri, A., Nguitragool, W., Kovithvathanaphong, P., Mahajan, R. and Zimmerman, A.L. All-trans-retinal is a closed-state inhibitor of rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels. J. Gen. Physiol. 123: 521-531 (2004).
Zimmerman, A.L. Two B or not two B? Questioning the rotational symmetry of tetrameric ion channels. Neuron 36: 997-999 (2002). This was an invited, but peer-reviewed, minireview.
Dean, D.M., Nguitragool, W., Miri, A., McCabe, S.L. and Zimmerman, A.L. All-trans-retinal shuts down rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels: a novel role for photoreceptor retinoids in the response to bright light? Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 8372-8377 (2002).
Crary, J.I., Dean, D.M., Maroof, F. and Zimmerman, A.L. Mutation of a single residue in the S2-S3 loop of CNG channels alters the gating properties and sensitivity to inhibitors. J. Gen. Physiol. 116: 769-779 (2000).
Crary, J.I., Dean, D.M., Nguitragool, W., Kurshan, Peri T. and Zimmerman, A.L. Mechanism of Inhibition of Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels by Diacylglycerol. J. Gen. Physiol. 116: 755-768 (2000).
Crary, J.I., Gordon, S.E. and Zimmerman, A.L. Perfusion system components release agents that distort functional properties of rod cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels. Visual Neuroscience 15: 1189-1193 (1998).
Zimmerman, A.L. Visual transduction. In: Cell Physiology Source Book: A Molecular Approach (Essentials of Membrane Biophysics is the new subtitle for 4th edition, 2012). N. Sperelakis, editor. Academic Press (chapter 37 in 1st edition, 1995; chapter 47 in 2nd edition, 1998; chapter 48 in 3rd edition, 2001; Chapter 38 in 4th edition, 2012).
Zimmerman, A.L. Cyclic nucleotide gated ion channels. In: Cell Physiology Source Book: A Molecular Approach (Essentials of Membrane Biophysics is the new subtitle for 4th edition, 2012). N. Sperelakis, editor. Academic Press (chapter 36 in 1st edition, 1995; chapter 46 in 2nd edition, 1998; chapter 47 in 3rd edition, 2001, Chapter 35 in 4th edition, 2012).
Gordon, S.E., Downing-Park, J., Tam, B. and Zimmerman, A.L. Diacylglycerol analogs inhibit the rod cGMP-gated channel by a phosphorylation-independent mechanism. Biophys. J. 69: 409-417 (1995).
Gordon, S.E., Downing-Park, J. and Zimmerman, A.L. Modulation of the cGMP-gated ion channel in frog rods by calmodulin and an endogenous inhibitory factor. J. Physiol. 486: 533-546 (1995).
Zimmerman, A.L. Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 5: 296-303 (1995).
Gordon, S.E., Brautigan, D.L. and Zimmerman, A.L. Protein phosphatases modulate the apparent agonist affinity of the light-regulated ion channel in retinal rods. Neuron 9: 739-748 (1992).
Zimmerman, A.L. and Baylor, D.A. Cation interactions within the cyclic GMP-activated channel of retinal rods from the tiger salamander. J.Physiol. 449: 759-783 (1992).
Zimmerman, A.L., Karpen, J.W., Kantrowitz-Gordon, S., Tsai, C-S. S., Baylor, D.A. and Stryer, L. Workings of the cGMP-activated channels of retinal rods. Neuroscience Research, Suppl. 12, S165 - S174 (1990).
Karpen, J.W., Zimmerman, A.L., Stryer, L., and Baylor, D.A. Molecular mechanics of the cyclic GMP-activated channel of retinal rods. In: Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Quantitative Biology, Vol. 53 (1988).
Zimmerman, A.L., Karpen, J.W. and Baylor, D.A. Hindered diffusion in excised membrane patches from retinal rod outer segments. Biophys. J. 54: 351-355 (1988).
Karpen, J.W., Zimmerman, A.L., Stryer, L. and Baylor, D.A. Gating kinetics of the cyclic-GMP-activated channel of retinal rods: flash photolysis and voltage-jump studies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85: 1287-1291 (1988).
Zimmerman, A.L. and Baylor, D.A. The cyclic GMP-sensitive conductance of retinal rods consists of aqueous pores. Nature 321: 70-72 (1986).
Zimmerman, A.L., Yamanaka, G., Eckstein, F., Baylor, D.A. and Stryer, L. Interaction of hydrolysis-resistant analogs of cyclic GMP with the phosphodiesterase and light-sensitive channel of retinal rod outer segments. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82: 8813-8817 (1985).
Zimmerman, A.L. and Rose, B. Permeability properties of cell-to-cell channels: Kinetics of fluorescent tracer diffusion through a cell junction. J. Membrane Biol. 84: 269-283 (1985).
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | PhD | University of Miami |
| 1978 | AB | University of California |
See CV for service, full list of publications, etc.
Professional Appointments:
1974-1977 Staff Research Associate, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco and the Lawrence Livermore Lab, Livermore, CA.
1983-1987 Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate, Department of Neurobiology, Stanford Medical Center, Stanford, CA. Advisor: Dr. Denis Baylor.
1987-1994 Assistant Professor of Medical Science, Section of Physiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
1994-2005 Associate Professor of Medical Science (tenured), Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
1994-1995 Visiting Scientist, on sabbatic leave in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. September, 1994 - June, 1995.
2000-2005 Associate Director, Brown University MD/PhD Program.
2000-2006 Co-director, Brown University Graduate Program in Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology.
2005-6/2021 Professor of Medical Science (tenured), Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI.
2005-2007 Director, Brown University MD/PhD Program.
2008-6/2021 Vice Chair, Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
2010-present Director, Graduate Program in Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology.
2010-2012 Vice Chair, Brown University Diversity Advisory Board.
7/2021-pres. Professor of Medical Science (tenured), Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Honors and Awards (excluding grants):
1988 Ad Hoc reviewer for Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (Canada).
1990 Ad Hoc reviewer for the Medical Research Council of Canada.
1991 Ad Hoc reviewer for the Vis B Study Section (AHR-S1), NEI, NIH.
1993-1994 Member, NIH Behavior & Neurosciences Study Section 1, until its dissolution.
1994 Ad Hoc reviewer for the Vis A and Vis C Study Sections, NEI, NIH.
1996 Ad Hoc reviewer for a Special Emphasis Panel for the Vis A Study Section, NEI.
1998-2001 Elected Member of General Council, Biophysical Society.
Elected Member of Council, Society of General Physiology
2002-present Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching in the first-year medical curriculum; received award for many years during this period.
2005-2008 Ad Hoc reviewer for Special Emphasis Panels for CB/G(90), Retinal Studies, and Retinopathy Study Sections, NIH.
2006-2017 Member, Editorial Board, Journal of General Physiology.
2011 Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring
2011-2020 NST-2 study section, NIH/NINDS -- initially ad hoc, regular member 2012-2017; then ad hoc again beginning in March of 2017.
2013-2020 Ad Hoc reviewer for NIH/NINDS Loan Repayment Applications
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Oancea, Elena | Professor of Medical Science |
Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology
Therapeutic Sciences Graduate Program
Biophysical Society
Society of General Physiologists
Cellular physiology section of first-year medical school course, BIOL 3642
Cellular physiology section of TSGP graduate core course, BIOL 2170.
Co-instructor in cell physiology, ion channel biophysics and other topics in BIOL 1100.
Occasional guest lectures on ion channel biophysics and sensory physiology in other courses, especially in Physics and Neuroscience.
| BIOL 1100 - Cell Physiology and Biophysics |
| BIOL 2170 - Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology |
| NEUR 2030 - Advanced Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology I |
