Walter Boron

Secretary General Physiology & Biophysics School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University 10900 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH44106-4970 USA Phone: 1 216 368 5298 Fax: 1 216 368 5586 Walter.Boron@case.edu Website

We have three major research areas (see below). These evolved from our longstanding interest in intracellular pH (pH_i) homeostasis, which is critically important because virtually every biological process—cell division, metabolism, action of channels/transporters/structural proteins—depends on pH_i. Our three projects interact philosophically and technically. Philosophically, pH_i homeostasis depends on HCO₃⁻ and H⁺ transport across cell membranes, which in turn depends on pH, [CO₂] and [HCO₃⁻] in the extracellular (o) fluid. The kidneys regulate pH_o by regulating [HCO₃⁻]_o—and they do this by using novel sensors to sniff CO₂ and HCO₃⁻ in the blood. The lungs, controlled by brainstem neurons, regulate pH_o by regulating [CO₂]_o. The whole system depends on movements of CO₂ (and other gases) through gas channels in the cell membrane. Technically, our projects exploit technologies ranging from structural biology, through molecular and cell physiology, to whole tissues and organisms.