Professor

Research Areas
Ion channels, synapses and addiction

Biography

Dr. Lester has a longstanding interest in how the regulation of postsynaptic receptor ion channels contribute to synaptic transmission and plasticity. During his graduate studies he contributed to studies that first demonstrated a synaptic role for the NMDA glutamate receptor and described a mechanism for its role in the induction of long-term potentiation, a major form of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Subsequently, as an independent investigator, Dr. Lester focused his efforts on unmasking the physiological roles of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, and how exposure to nicotine can promote persistent changes that may contribute to nicotine dependence. Over the last ten years he has devoted the majority of his time towards teaching a variety of neuroscience/neuroanatomy topics to undergraduate, graduate, medical, dental and optometry students.

Herron, C.E., Lester, R.A.J., Coan, E.J. and Collingridge, G.L. Frequency-dependent involvement of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus: a novel synaptic mechanism. Nature 322:265-268, 1986.

Davies, S.N., Lester, R.A.J., Reymann, K.G. and Collingridge, G.L.   Temporally distinct pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms maintain long-term potentiation.  Nature 338:500-503, 1989.

Lester, R.A.J., Clements, J.D., Westbrook, G.L. and Jahr, C.E.  Channel kinetics determine the time course of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic currents.  Nature 346:565-567, 1990.

Clements, J.D., Lester, R.A.J., Tong, G., Jahr, C.E. and Westbrook, G.L.  Time course of glutamate in the synaptic cleft.  Science 258:1498-1501, 1992.

Lester, R.A.J. and Dani, J.A. Acetylcholine receptor desensitization induced by nicotine in rat medial habenula neurons.  J. Neurophysiol. 74:195-206, 1995.

Fenster, C.P., Whitworth, T., Quick, M.W and Lester, R.A.J.  Upregulation of surface α4β2 nicotinic receptors is initiated by receptor desensitization following chronic exposure to nicotine. J. Neurosci., 19:4804-4814, 1999

Quick, M.W. and Lester, R.A.J.  Desensitization of neuronal nicotinic receptors.  J. Neurobiol. 53:457-478, 2002.

Guo, X. and Lester, R.A.J. Ca2+ Flux and Signaling Implications via Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Rat Medial Habenula. J. Neurophysiol. 97:83-92, 2007.

Penton, R.E., Quick, M.W. and Lester, R.A.J. Short- and long-lasting consequences of in vivo nicotine treatment on hippocampal excitability. J. Neurosci., 31:2584 –2594, 2011.

“Nicotinic Receptors” (ed. R.A.J. Lester), Springer, Humana Press, 2014.

Education

Graduate School
Ph.D., Pharmacology, University of Bristol, U.K.

Contact

Email
nicotine@uab.edu

Phone
205.934.4483

Office
SHEL 1006

Contact Person
Ms. Jan Phillips
jancphil@uab.edu