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Deri Morgan, PhD

Deri Morgan, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology & Biophysics, RUSH Medical College
Education

PhD, University of Hertfordshire, England
BSc, Swansea University, Wales

Research Areas

Voltage-gated proton channels

Contact Info:

1750 W. Harrison St.
Suite 1245
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 942-7829
Fax: (312) 942-8711
deri_morgan@rush.edu
Links:
Biography

As part of the DeCoursey lab, Deri Morgan, PhD, has been involved in research into the role of voltage gated proton channels (Hv1) for over a decade. The DeCoursey lab has observed the function of this intricate channel in the antibacterial function of white blood cells, the release of histamine and in potential pathophysiological roles in excessive proliferation of B cells in lymphocytic leukemia. They have also determined the role of this channel in bioluminescence produced by marine dinoflagellates. Current research is examining the role of Hv1 in breast cancer and determining its efficacy in bone metabolism due to its expression in osteoclasts. Alongside discovering functions of the channel, they have discovered many structure function aspects of the channel including residues that determine the channels selectivity and permeation mechanism, as well as the method that this channel enhances its activity due to phosphorylation.

Publications

Complete list of published work on PubMed

Complete list of published work on Scopus

DeCoursey, T.E., D. Morgan, and V.V. Cherny. (2003). The voltage dependence of NADPH oxidase reveals why phagocytes need proton channels. Nature. 422:531-534.

Morgan, D., V.V. Cherny, A. Finnegan, J. Bollinger, M.H. Gelb, and T.E. DeCoursey. (2007). Sustained activation of proton channels and NADPH oxidase in human eosinophils and murine granulocytes requires PKC but not cPLA2? activity. Journal of Physiology. 579:327-344.

Musset, B., M. Capasso, V.V. Cherny, D. Morgan, M. Bhamrah, M.J.S. Dyer, and T.E. DeCoursey. (2010). Identification of Thr29 as a critical phosphorylation site that activates the human proton channel Hvcn1 in leukocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 285:5117-5121.

Morgan, D., M. Capasso, B. Musset, V.V. Cherny, E. Rios, M.J.S. Dyer, T.E. DeCoursey. (2009). Voltage-gated proton channels maintain pH in human neutrophils during phagocytosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 106:18022-18027.

Musset, B., D. Morgan, V.V. Cherny, D.W. MacGlashan Jr, L.L. Thomas, E. Rios, T.E. DeCoursey. (2008) A pH-stabilizing role of voltage-gated proton channels in IgE-mediated activation of human basophils. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 105(31):11020-5.

Musset, B., S.M.E. Smith, S. Rajan, D. Morgan, V.V. Cherny, and T.E. DeCoursey. (2011). Aspartate 112 is the selectivity filter of the human voltage gated proton channel. Nature. 480:273-277.

Morgan, D., B. Musset, K. Kulleperuma, S.M.E. Smith, S. Rajan, V.V. Cherny, R. Pomes, T.E. DeCoursey. (2013). Peregrination of the selectivity filter delineates the pore of the human voltage gated proton channel hHV1. Journal of General Physiology. 142:625-640.

Grants
  • MCB-1242985 DeCoursey (PI) S.M.E. Smith (co-PI) 09/01/2013-08/31/2017, Collaborative Research: Voltage-Gated Proton Channels in Dinoflagellates, Role: Co-investigator
  • R01 GM102336 DeCoursey (PI) Smith (co-PI) 09/01/2013-04/30/2017, Selectivity and Permeation in the Human Voltage-gated Proton Channel, hHV1, Role: Co-investigator 
  • Bears Care Morgan (PI) 1/31/2014-1/31/2016, RTSC: The Role of Voltage-Gated Proton Channels in pH Regulation and Reactive Oxygen Species in Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Role: PI
  • Gavers Community Cancer Fund Morgan (PI) 1/31/2014-1/31/2016, Role: PI