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Sheila Baker, PhD

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Introduction

Photoreceptor organization, signaling, and disease.

The Baker lab is interested is all aspects of photoreceptor cell and molecular biology. We have made discoveries related to protein trafficking and degradation, synapse development, and the integration of signaling between rod and cone photoreceptors which are used in dim or bright light respectively. Current work is focused on a form of inherited childhood blindness that is caused by the loss of a potassium channel that helps control the electrical response of photoreceptors in different lighting conditions. Please see the Baker Lab webpage for more information.

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Education

  • BS in Biology, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
  • PhD in Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Research Associate in Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina

Graduate Program Affiliations

Center, Program and Institute Affiliations

Research Interests

  • Overarching Goals
  • Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Responses
  • Generation of Cellular Atlases

Selected Publications

  • Hassan S, Hsu Y, Mayer SK, Thomas J, Kothapalli A, Helms M, Baker SA, Laird JG, Bhattarai S, Drack AV (2023). A visually guided swim assay for mouse models of human retinal disease recapitulates the multi-luminance mobility test in humans. Saudi J Ophthalmol., 37 (4):313:320. PMID: 38155679; PMCID: PMC10752274.
  • Laird JG, Kopel A, Lankford CK, Baker SA (2023). Mouse all-cone retina models of Cav1.4 synaptopathy. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, Apr 27:16:1155955. PMID: 37181655; PMCID: PMC10174292.
  • Inamdar SM, Lankford CK, Baker SA (2023). Photoreceptor ion channels in signaling and disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology; Retinal Degenerative Diseases XIX - Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy. Edited by Ash J, Pierce E, Anderson R, Bowes Rickman C, Hollyfield JG, and Grimm C. PMID: 37440044, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_39
  • Laird JG, Kopel A, Lankford CK, Baker SA (2022). Mouse all-cone retina models of Cav1.4 synaptopathy. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 2023 Apr 27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1155955
  • Scruggs BA, Bhattarai S, Helms M, Cherascu I, Salesevic A, Stalter E, Laird J, Baker SA, Drack AV (2022). AAV2/4-RS1 gene therapy in the retinoschisin knockout mouse model of X-linked retinoschisis. PLoS One. 2022 Dec 7;17(12):e0276298. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276298. PMID: 36477475; PMCID: PMC9728878.
  • Lankford C, Houtman J, Baker SA (2022). Identification of HCN1 as a 14-3-3 client. PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0268335. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268335. eCollection 2022. PubMed PMID: 35679272; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9182292.
  • Xu Z, Khan S, Schnicker NJ, Baker SA (2022). Pentameric assembly of the Kv2.1 tetramerization domain. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol. 2022 Jun 1;78(Pt 6):792-802. doi: 10.1107/S205979832200568X. Epub 2022 May 30. PubMed PMID: 35647925; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9159280.
  • Lankford CK, Umino Y, Poria D, Kefalov V, Solessio E, Baker SA (2022). Cone-Driven Retinal Responses Are Shaped by Rod But Not Cone HCN1. J Neurosci. 2022 May 25;42(21):4231-4249. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2271-21.2022. Epub 2022 Apr 18. PubMed PMID: 35437278; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9145265.
  • Inamdar SM, Lankford CK, Poria D, Laird JG, Solessio E, Kefalov VJ, Baker SA (2021). Differential impact of Kv8.2 loss on rod and cone signaling and degeneration. Hum Mol Genet. PMID: 34652420. DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab301
  • Lankford, CK, Laird, JG, Inamdar, SM, Baker, SA (2020). A Comparison of the Primary Sensory Neurons Used in Olfaction and Vision. Front Cell Neurosci. 14. DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.595523. PMID: 33250719. PMCID: PMC7676898.