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Selected Publications
 

DiFranco, M., Quinonez, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2012. The delayed rectifier potassium conductance in the sarcolemma and the transverse tubular system membranes of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. Journal General Physiology. 2012. 140(2):109-137.

DiFranco, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2011. The Na conductance in the sarcolemma and the transverse tubular system membranes of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. Journal General Physiology. 2011. 138(4):393-419.

Ermolova, N., Kudryashova, E., DiFranco, M., Vergara, J. L., Kramerova, I., and Spencer M. 2011. Pathogenity of some limb girdle muscular dystrophy mutations can result from reduced anchorage to myofibrils and altered stability of calpain 3. Human Molecular Genetics, 2011, Vol. 20, No. 17 pp. 3331-3345.

DiFranco, M., Tran, P., Quinonez, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2011. Functional Expression of Transgenic {alpha}1sDHPR Channels in Adult Mammalian Skeletal Muscle Fibers. Journal of Physiology 589.6 (2011) pp 1421–1442.

DiFranco, M., Herrera, A., and Vergara, J. L. 2010. Chloride currents from the transverse tubular system in adult mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of General Physiology. 2011. 137(1):21-41.

Capote, J., DiFranco, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2010. Excitation-contraction coupling alterations in mdx and utrophin/dystrophin double knockout mice: a comparative study. American Journal of  Physiology - Cell Physiology 298:1077-1086.

DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Quinonez, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2009. DNA transfection of mammalian skeletal muscles using in vivo electroporation. JoVE. 32. http://www.jove.com/index/details.stp?id=1520.

DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Quinonez, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2008. Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle Fibers Display Alterations at the level of Calcium Release Microdomains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105(38):14698-703.

Morgado-Valle, C., Beltran-Parraza, L., DiFranco, M., Vergara, J.L., and Feldman, J.L. 2008. Somatic Ca2+ dynamics in active preBötzinger complex inspiratory neurons. Journal of Physiology 586 (Pt 18):4531-40.

DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Quinonez, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2007. Voltage-dependent Dynamic FRET Signals from the Transverse Tubules in Mammalian Skeletal Muscle Fibers. Journal of General Physiology 130:581-600 .

                                                                                                    

Faas, G, Schwaller, B., Vergara, J.L. and, Mody, I. 2007. Resolving the Fast Kinetics of Cooperative Binding: New Insights into the Regulation of Cellular Ca2+. PLoS Biology 5:e311.

Vergara, J. L. and DiFranco, M. 2006. Modulation by caffeine of calcium release microdomains in frog skeletal muscle. Biological Research vol.39, no.3, p.567-581.

Gomez, J., Ñeco, P., DiFranco, M., and Vergara, J. L. 2006. Calcium release domains in mammalian skeletal muscle studied with two-photon imaging and spot detection techniques. Journal General Physiology 127: 623 – 637.

                                                                                                         

DiFranco, M., Ñeco, P., Capote, J., Meera, P., and Vergara, J. L. 2006. Quantitative Evaluation of Mammalian Skeletal Muscle as a Heterologous Protein Expression System. Protein Expression and Purification 47: 281-288.

DiFranco, M., Capote, J., and Vergara, J. L. 2005. Optical Imaging and Functional Characterization of the Transverse Tubular System of Mammalian Muscle Fibers using the Potentiometric Indicator di-8-ANEPPS. J. Membrane Biology 209: 141-153 (2005).

Woods, C.E., Novo, D., DiFranco, M and Vergara, J. 2005. Propagation in the transverse tubular system and voltage dependence of calcium release in normal and mdx muscle fibres.  Journal of Physiology (Lond) 568: 867-880.

Faas, Guido C., Karacs, K., Vergara, J. L., and Mody, I. 2005. Kinetic Properties of DM-Nitrophen Binding to Calcium and Magnesium. Biophysical Journal 88:4421-4433.

Woods, C.E., Novo, D., DiFranco, M and Vergara, J. 2004. Evoked sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release is impaired in dystrophic mouse muscle fibers. Journal of Physiology (Lond) 557: 59–75.

Novo, D., DiFranco, M. and Vergara, J. 2003. Comparison between the predictions of diffusion-reaction models and localized Ca2+ transients in amphibian skeletal muscle fibers. Biophysical Journal 85: 1080-1097.

DiFranco, M., Novo, D. and Vergara, J. 2002. Characterization of the Calcium Release Domains during Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscle Fibres. Pflügers Archiv 443:508-519.

DiGregorio, D. Negrete, O., Jeromin, A., Peng, H.B. and Julio L. Vergara. 2001. Localization of Action Potential-induced Presynaptic Calcium Domains in Active Zones of a Cultured Neuromuscular Junction. European Journal of Neuroscience 14:1-16.

Vergara, J.L., DiFranco, M. and Novo, D. 2001. Dimensions of calcium release domains in frog skeletal muscle fibers. Proceedings of SPIE  4259: 133-143.

Pattillo, J.M, Yazejian,B., DiGregorio, D., Vergara, J.L., Grinnell, A.D., and Meriney, S. 2001. Contribution of Presynaptic Calcium-Activated Potassium Currents to Transmitter Release Regulation in Cultured Xenopus Nerve-Muscle Synapses. Neuroscience 102: 229-240.

Nägerl, U.V., Novo, D., Mody­, I., and Vergara, J.L. 2000. Binding Kinetics of Calbindin-D28k Determined by Flash Photolysis of Caged Ca2+. Biophysical Journal 79: 3009-3018.

Cifuentes, F., Vergara, J. and Hidalgo, C.  2000. Sodium-calcium exchange in amphibian skeletal muscle fibers and isolated transverse tubules. Am. J. of Physiology. Cell Physiology, 279: C89-C97.

DiGregorio, D., Peskoff, A., and Vergara, J. 1999. Measurement of action potential-induced presynaptic calcium domains at a cultured neuromuscular junction.  Journal of Neuroscience 19(18):7846-7859.

DiFranco, M, Quiñonez, M., DiGregorio,D., Kim, A.M., Pacheco, R. and Vergara, J.L. 1999. Inverted double gap isolation chamber for high-resolution calcium fluorimetry in skeletal muscle fibers. Pflügers Archiv 483/3: 412-418.

Kim, A.M. and Vergara, J.L. 1998.  Supercharging accelerates T-tubule membrane potential changes in voltage clamped frog skeletal muscle fibers. Biophysical Journal 75: 2098-2116.

Kim A.M. and Vergara, J.L. 1998.  Fast voltage gating of Ca2+ release in skeletal muscle revealed by supercharging pulses. Journal of Physiology 511: 509-518.

DiGregorio, D. and Vergara, J.L.  Localized detection of action potential induced presynaptic calcium transients at a neuromuscular junction.  Journal of Physiology 505: 585-592, 1997.

Yazejian, B., DiGregorio, D. A., Vergara, J. L., Poage, R.E., Meriney, S. D., and Grinnell, A.D.  Direct measurements of presynaptic calcium and calcium-activated potassium currents regulating neurotransmitter release at cultured Xenopus nerve-muscle synapses. Journal of Neuroscience 17: 2990-3001, 1997.

Escobar, A.L., Velez,P., Kim, A. M., Cifuentes, F., Fill, M., and Vergara, J.L. Kinetic properties of DM-nitrophen and calcium indicators: rapid transient response to flash photolysis.  Pflügers Archiv  434: 615-631, 1997.

Velez, P.,  Gyorke, S.,  Escobar, A.,  Vergara, J.L. and Fill, M. Adaptation of single cardiac ryanodine receptor channels. Biophysical Journal 72: 691-697, 1997.

Kim A.M., DiFranco, M., and Vergara, J.L.  A gap isolation method to investigate electrical and mechanical properties of fully contracting skeletal muscle fibers.  Biophysical Journal 91: 924-931, 1996.

Matsuyama, S.S.,Yamaguchi, D.T., Vergara, J.L. and Jarvik, L.F. Tetraethylammonium-induced calcium concentration changes in skin fibroblasts from patients with Alzheimer disease. Dementia  6: 241-244, 1995.

Escobar, A.L., Cifuentes, F., and Vergara, J.L. Detection of Ca2+ elicited by flash photolysis of DM-nitrophen with a rapid indicator. FEBS Letters  364: 335-338, 1995.

Monck, J. R., Robinson, I.M., Escobar, A.L., Vergara, J.L. & Fernandez, J.M. Pulsed Laser imaging of rapid Ca2+ gradients in excitable cells. Biophysical Journal 67: 505-514, 1994.

                                                                                                       

Sanchez, J.A. & Vergara, J. Modulation of action potential and Ca2+ transients by flash photolysis of caged cAMP in single skeletal muscle fibres.  American  Journal of Physiology 266/5: C1291-C1300, 1994.

Escobar, A., Monck, J., Fernandez, J.M. & Vergara, J. Localization of the site of Ca2+ release at the level of a single sarcomere in skeletal muscle fibers. Nature 367: 739-741, 1994.

Compagnon, D., Lagos, N., and Vergara, J. Phosphoinositides in barnacle muscle: A  quantitative analysis. Biochemical et Biophysical Acta 1167:94-101, 1993.

Vergara, J. and DiFranco, M. Imaging of calcium transients during excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibers. Advances in Experimental and Medical Biology 311: 227-236, 1992.

Sanchez, X., Carrasco, M.A., Vergara, J. & Hidalgo, C. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate phosphatase activity in membranes isolated from amphibian skeletal muscle. FEBS Letters 279: 58-60, 1991.

Asotra, K., Lagos, N., and Vergara, J. Synthesis of polyphosphoinositides in transverse tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes of frog skeletal muscle. Biochemical et Biophysical Acta 1081: 229-237, 1991.

Vergara, J., Di Franco, M., Compagnon, D., and Suarez-Isla, B. Imaging of calcium transients in skeletal muscle fibers. Biophysical Journal 59: 12-24, 1991.

Vergara, J., Lagos, N., and Compagnon, D. A chemical mechanism of excitation ‑ contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. In: Transduction in Biological Systems. C. Hidalgo, E. Jaimovich, J. Bacigalupo and J. Vergara., Eds., Plenum Press, pp. 415-427, 1990 .

Lagos, N., and Vergara, J. Phosphoinositides in  frog skeletal   muscle: A  quantitative analysis. Biochemical et Biophysical Acta 1043: 235-244, 1990.

Vergara, J. and Asotra, K.  A chemical transmission mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.  News in Physiological Sciences 2: 182-186, 1988.

Vergara, J. and Delay, M.  A transmission delay and the effect of temperature at the triadic junction of skeletal muscle.  Proceedings of the Royal Society London, Series B 229: 97-110, 1986.

Delay, M., Ribalet, B., and Vergara, J.  Caffeine potentiation of calcium release in frog skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of Physiology  375: 535-559, 1986.

Vergara, J., Tsien, R.Y. and Delay, M.  Inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate: A possible chemical link in excitation-contraction coupling in muscle.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 82: 6352‑6356, 1985.

Vergara, J. and Delay, M.  The use of metallochromic Ca indicators in skeletal muscle.  Cell Calcium 6: 119-132, 1985.

Ashcroft, F.M., Heiny, J.A. and Vergara, J.  Inward rectification in the transverse tubular system of frog skeletal muscle studies with potentiometric dyes. Journal of Physiology 359: 269-291, 1985.

Lopez, J.R., Alamo, L., Caputo, C., Vergara, J. and DiPolo, R.  Direct measurement of intracellular free magnesium in frog skeletal muscle using magnesium selective microelectrodes. Biochemical et Biophysical Acta 804: 1-7, 1984.

Heiny, J.A. and Vergara, J.  Dichroic behavior of the absorbance signals from dyes NK2367 and WW375 in skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of General Physiology 84: 805-837, 1984.

Lopez, J.R., Alamo, L., Caputo, C., Vergara, J., y DiPolo, R. Determinación de la concentración intracelular de Mg2+ libre en fibras de músculo esquelético. Acta Científica Venezolana 34: 208, 1983.

DiPolo, R., Rojas, H., Vergara, J., Lopez, R., and Caputo, C. Measurements od intracellular ionized Ca2+ in squid giant axons using Ca-selective electrodes. Biochemical et Biophysical Acta 728: 311-318, 1983

Vergara, J., Delay, M., Heiny, J. and Ribalet, B.  Optical studies of T-system potential and calcium release in skeletal muscle fibers.  In: The Physiology of Excitable Cells.  A.D. Grinnell and W.J. Moody, Jr., eds., Allan Liss, pp. 343-355, 1983.

Palade, P. and Vergara, J.  Stoichiometries of Arsenazo III-Ca complexes. Biophysical Journal 43: 355-369, 1983.

Heiny, J.A., F.M. Ashcroft, and J. Vergara. T-system Optical Signals Associated with Inward Rectification in Skeletal Muscle. Nature 301: 164‑166, 1983

Heiny, J.A., and Vergara, J. Optical Signals from the Surface and T-system membranes in skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of General Physiology 80: 203-230, 1982

Lopez, J. R., Alamo, L., Caputo, C., Dipolo, R.& Vergara, J. Determination of free ionic Ca2+ in Frog Skeletal Muscle Fibers. Biophysical Journal 43: 1‑4, 1982  

Vergara, J. & Caputo, C. Effects of Tetracaine on Charge Movements and Calcium Signals in Frog Skeletal Muscle Fibers Proceedings of the National Academy of  Sciences USA 80: 1477‑1481, 1983

Bezanilla, F., Vergara, J. and Taylor, R.E.  Voltage Clamping of Excitable Membranes.  In: Biophysical Methods  - Methods in Experimental Physics.  H. Lecar and G. Ehrenstein, eds., Academic Press, N.Y., pp. 445-511, 1982.

Palade, P. & Vergara, J.  Arsenazo III and antipyrylazo III calcium transients in single skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of General Physiology 79: 679-707, 1982.

Palade, P. & Vergara, J.  Detection of Ca2+ with optical methods. In: Regulation of Muscle Contraction: Excitation‑Contraction Coupling, A.D. Grinnell and M.A.B. Brazier, eds., Academic Press, New York, pp. 143-160, 1981.

Vergara, J., and Bezanilla, F. Optical Studies of E-C coupling with potentiometric dyes. In: Regulation of Muscle Contraction: Excitation-Contraction Coupling, Alan D. Grinnell, and Mary A.B. Brazier, Eds., Academic Press, New York, pp. 67-77, 1981

Bezanilla, F., and Vergara, J.  Properties of Excitable Membranes. In: Membrane Structure and Function, E.E. Bittar, Ed.,Volume II, Chapter 2, pp. 53-112, 1980

Caputo, C., J. Vergara, and F. Bezanilla. Local anesthetics inhibit Tension Development and Nile Blue fluorescence Signal in Frog Muscle Fibers. Nature 277: 401-402, 1979

Nassar-Gentina, V., J.V. Passonneau, J.L.Vergara, and S.I. Rapoport. Metabolic Correlate of Fatigue and of Recovery from Fatigue in single Frog Muscle Fibers.  Journal of General Physiology 72: 593-606

Vergara, J., Bezanilla, & Salzberg, B.M.  Nile Blue fluorescence signals from cut single muscle fibers under voltage or current clamp conditions.  Journal of General Physiology 72: 775‑800, 1978.

Bezanilla, F., and Vergara, J. Fluorescence signals from Frog Skeletal Muscle Fibers. In: Biophysical Aspects of Cardiac Muscle. M. Morad, Ed., Academic Press, New York, pp. 229-254, 1978.

Vergara, J., S.I. Rapoport, and Nassar-Gentina, V. Fatigue and Post-tetanic Potentiation in Single Muscle Fibers of the Frog. American Journal of Physiology 232: C185-C189, 1977.

Vergara, J., and Bezanilla, F. Fluorescence Changes during Electrical Activity in Frog Muscle stained with Merocyanine. Nature 159: 684-686, 1976.

Zampighi, G., J. Vergara, and F. Ramon.  On the Connection between the Transverse Tubule and the Plasma Membrane in Frog Semitendinosus Skeletal Muscle. Journal of Cell Biology  64: 734-740, 1975.

Vergara, J. and S.I. Rapoport. Fatigue in Frog Single Muscle Fibres. Nature 252: 727-728, 1974.

Atwater, I., Rojas, E., & Vergara, J. Calcium influxes and Tension Development in Perfused Single Barnacle Muscle Fibers under Membrane Potential Control.  Journal of Physiology 243: 523‑551, 1974.

Keynes, R.D., Rojas, E., Taylor, R.E. & Vergara, J. Calcium and Potassium systems of a giant Barnacle Muscle Fiber under Membrane Potential Control.  Journal of Physiology 229: 409‑455, 1973.

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