Nicholas J. Penington

Nicholas J. Penington is an Associate Professor at the University of Downstate in the Department of Pharmacology, focusing on serotonergic brain pacemaker cells. His research combines electrophysiological patch-clamp techniques with computational modeling to investigate neurotransmitter and drug effects on ion currents in dorsal raphe neurons.

• Neuropharmacology of 5-HT receptors
• TRPC channel modulation by ATP
• Protein kinase C phosphorylation mechanisms
• Calcium and potassium channel dynamics

In collaboration with Henry Tuckwell (University of Adelaide), he developed computational models of pacemaker firing. Recent work with Keith Williams examines TRPC4/5 channel regulation. The lab uses acutely isolated adult brain cells and neuronal cell lines for single-channel and whole-cell recordings.

Key findings include:

• 5-HT1A receptor-mediated calcium current inhibition
• ATP-dependent TRPC5 channel regulation
• PKC modification of G-protein subunits

Students in his lab include Yekaterina Merkulova. Publications span Journal of Physiology, Molecular Pharmacology, and eLife, with a focus on serotonergic system mechanisms and ion channel pharmacology.