Dr Noel Davies

My main interests have always been in the physiology and biophysics of ion channels. Following my PhD at the University of St Andrews I was awarded a Royal Society European Exchange Fellowship to work with Prof HD Lux on neuronal Ca2+ channels at the Max-Planck-Institute für Psychiatrie in Munich. After 2 years in Munich I came to the University of Leicester as a post-doctoral associate with Profs Peter Stanfield and Nick Standen to work on K+ channels in muscle. In 1991 I was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship; after 8 years I was appointed a lecturer in the then Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology and in 2004 I was promoted to a Senior Lecturer (now Associate Professor).

My main research focuses on two areas:

The physiology and biophysics of K+ channels and in particular on their regulation by haem-dependent processes. This work involves structure/function studies of haem interaction with K+ channels and an investigation of haem-dependent regulation in arterial smooth muscle.

The regulation of cardiac Ca2+ currents by nitric oxide. This involves examining the different signalling pathways whereby NO can modulate cardiac Ca2+ current. These experiments used the perforated single-electrode voltage-clamp technique.

Both of these projects involve detailed analysis of electrophysiological data which are obtained using single-channel whole-cell patch-clamp and single-electrode voltage-clamp recording. I also develop analysis software and am interested in modelling electrophysiological data.

Kapetanaki SM Burton MJ Basran J Uragami C Moody PCE Mitcheson JS Schmid R Davies NW Dorlet P Vos MH Storey NM & Raven E (2018). A mechanism for CO regulation of ion channels Nature Comm 9:907-917.

Lörinczi E Helliwell M Finch A Stansfeld PJ Davies NW Mahaut-Smith MP Muskett F & Mitcheson JS (2016) Calmodulin regulates hEAG1 channels through interactions of the eag-domain with the cyclic nucleotide binding homology domain. J Biol Chem 291(34):17907-17918.

Burton MJ Kapetanaki SM Chernova T Jamieson AG Dorlet P Santolini J Moody PCE Mitcheson JS Davies NW Schmid R Raven EL and Storey NM (2016). A heme- binding domain controls regulation of ATP-dependent potassium channels. PNAS 113(14): 3785-3790

Nelson CP Rainbow RD Brignell JL Perry MD Willets JM Davies NW Standen NB & Challiss RA. (2011). Principal role of adenylyl cyclase 6 in K+ channel regulation and vasodilator signalling in vascular smooth muscle cells. Cardiovasc Res. 91:694-702.

Rainbow R.D. Parker A.M. & Davies N.W. (2011). Protein kinase C-independent inhibition of arterial smooth muscle K+ channels by a diacylglycerol analogue. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 163:845-856.

Rainbow R.D. Norman R.I. Everitt D.E. Brignell J.L. Davies N.W. & Standen N.B. (2009). Endothelin I and angiotensin II inhibit arterial voltage-gated K+ channels through different PKC isoenzymes. Cardiovascular Research 83:493-500.

Nelson CP Willets JM Davies NW Challiss RAJ & Standen NB (2008). Visualizing the temporal effects of vasoconstrictors on PKC translocation and Ca2+ signaling in single resistance arterial smooth muscle cells. American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology 295:C1590-1601.

Rainbow R.D. Hardy M.E.L. Standen N.B. & Davies N.W. (2006). Glucose reduces endothelin inhibition of voltage-gated potassium channels in rat arterial smooth muscle cells. Journal of Physiology 575(3): 833-844.

Lippiat J.D. Standen N.B. Harrow I.D. Phillips S.C. & Davies N.W. (2003). Properties of BKCa channels formed by bicistronic expression of hSloa and b1-4 subunits in HEK293 cells. Journal of Membrane Biology 192: 141-148.

Hayabuchi Y. Standen N.B. & Davies N.W. (2001). Angiotensin II inhibits and alters kinetics of voltage gated K+ channels of rat arterial smooth muscle. American Journal of Physiology 281: H2480-H2489.

I would be able to supervise PhD students in the following areas:

Whole-cell and single-channel recording of K+ and Ca2+ currents 

The topics I teach currently include membrane potentials and action potentials cardiac physiology and pharmacology liver function and disease ion channel physiology and biophysics vascular physiology. I teach on the following modules BS0011 BS0012 BS1030 BS1040 BS1050 BS1060 BS2013 BS2014 BS2015 MB2080 BS3056 (convenor). I also teach on a first year physiology module for medical students and run final year undergraduate projects.

BSc in Physiology University of Wales (Cardiff)

PhD in Neurophysiology University of St Andrews

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy