PhD, University of Hertfordshire, England
BSc, Swansea University, Wales
Voltage-gated proton channels
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.
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.