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Unwin, Nigel (Peter)
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Unwin, Nigel (Peter)

Faculty Member
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Positions

  • 2017 - Professor Emeritus, Neuroscience , Scripps Research
  • 2017 Professor, Integrative Structural and Computational Biology (ISCB) , Scripps Research
  • 2013 - 2017 Professor (Joint Appointment), Center for Integrative Molecular Biosciences (CIMBio) , Scripps Research
  • 2013 - 2017 Professor, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience (MCN) , Scripps Research
  • 1987 - 2012 Professor, Cell Biology , Scripps Research

Contact

  • unwin@scripps.edu

Websites

  • Peter Unwin, Ph.D.
  • Laboratory Website
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Publications

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  • academic article

    • Unwin, N., Fujiyoshi, Y. Gating movement of acetylcholine receptor caught by plunge-freezing Journal of Molecular Biology  2012 422:617-634  DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2012.07.010  PMID:22841691  PMCID:PMC3443390
    • Fisher, L. S., Ward, A., Milligan, R. A., Unwin, N., Potter, C. S., Carragher, B. A helical processing pipeline for EM structure determination of membrane proteins Methods  2011 55:350-362  DOI:10.1016/j.ymeth.2011.09.013  PMID:21964395  PMCID:PMC3262078
    • Fujiyoshi, Y., Unwin, N. Electron crystallography of proteins in membranes Current Opinion in Structural Biology  2008 18:587-592  DOI:10.1016/j.sbi.2008.07.005  PMID:18755273  PMCID:PMC2651081
    • O'Brien, J., Unwin, N. Organization of spines on the dendrites of purkinje cells Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America  2006 103:1575-1580  DOI:10.1073/pnas.0507884103  PMID:16423897  PMCID:PMC1360541
    • Unwin, N. Refined structure of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at 4 Å resolution Journal of Molecular Biology  2005 346:967-989  DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2004.12.031  PMID:15701510
    • Unwin, N. Structure and action of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor explored by electron microscopy FEBS Letters  2003 555:91-95  DOI:10.1016/s0014-5793(03)01084-6  PMID:14630325
    • Miyazawa, A., Fujiyoshi, Y., Unwin, N. Structure and gating mechanism of the acetylcholine receptor pore Nature  2003 423:949-955  DOI:10.1038/nature01748  PMID:12827192
    • Unwin, N., Miyazawa, A., Li, J., Fujiyoshi, Y. Activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor involves a switch in conformation of the a subunits Journal of Molecular Biology  2002 319:1165-1176  DOI:10.1016/s0022-2836(02)00381-9  PMID:12079355
    • Unwin, N. The croonian lecture 2000. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the structural basis of fast synaptic transmission Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences  2000 355:1813-1829  DOI:10.1098/rstb.2000.0737  PMID:11205343  PMCID:PMC1692909
    • Tierney, M. L., Unwin, N. Electron microscopic evidence for the assembly of soluble pentameric extracellular domains of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor Journal of Molecular Biology  2000 303:185-196  DOI:10.1006/jmbi.2000.4137  PMID:11023785
    • Miyazawa, A., Fujiyoshi, Y., Stowell, M., Unwin, N. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at 4.6 Å resolution: Transverse tunnels in the channel wall Journal of Molecular Biology  1999 288:765-786  DOI:10.1006/jmbi.1999.2721  PMID:10329178
    • Stowell, M. H. B., Miyazawa, A., Unwin, N. Macromolecular structure determination by electron microscopy: New advances and recent results Current Opinion in Structural Biology  1998 8:595-600  DOI:10.1016/s0959-440x(98)80150-4  PMID:9818263
    • Unwin, N. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of the torpedo electric ray Journal of Structural Biology  1998 121:181-190  DOI:10.1006/jsbi.1997.3949  PMID:9615437
    • Beroukhim, R., Unwin, N. Distortion correction of tubular crystals: Improvements in the acetylcholine receptor structure Ultramicroscopy  1997 70:57-81  DOI:10.1016/s0304-3991(97)00070-3  PMID:9440347
    • Unwin, N. Projection structure of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: Distinct conformations of the alpha subunits Journal of Molecular Biology  1996 257:586-596  DOI:10.1006/jmbi.1996.0187  PMID:8648626
    • Beroukhim, R., Unwin, N. Three-dimensional location of the main immunogenic region of the acetylcholine receptor Neuron  1995 15:323-331  DOI:10.1016/0896-6273(95)90037-3  PMID:7544140
    • Unwin, N. Acetylcholine receptor channel imaged in the open state Nature  1995 373:37-43  DOI:10.1038/373037a0  PMID:7800037
    • Berriman, J., Unwin, N. Analysis of transient structures by cryomicroscopy combined with rapid mixing of spray droplets Ultramicroscopy  1994 56:241-252  DOI:10.1016/0304-3991(94)90012-4  PMID:7831735
    • Li, M., Unwin, N., Stauffer, K. A., Jan, Y. N., Jan, L. Y. Images of purified shaker potassium channels Current Biology  1994 4:110-115  DOI:10.1016/s0960-9822(94)00026-6  PMID:7953509
    • Unwin, N. Nicotinic acetylcholine-receptor at 9 Å resolution Journal of Molecular Biology  1993 229:1101-1124  DOI:10.1006/jmbi.1993.1107  PMID:8445638
    • Unwin, N. Neurotransmitter action - opening of ligand-gated ion channels Cell  1993 72:31-41  DOI:10.1016/s0092-8674(05)80026-1  PMID:7679054
    • Hyman, A. A., Salser, S., Drechsel, D. N., Unwin, N., Mitchison, T. J. Role of gtp hydrolysis in microtubule dynamics - information from a slowly hydrolyzable analog, gmpcpp Molecular Biology of the Cell  1992 3:1155-1167  PMID:1421572  PMCID:PMC275679
    • Stauffer, K. A., Kumar, N. M., Gilula, N. B., Unwin, N. Isolation and purification of gap junction channels Journal of Cell Biology  1991 115:141-150  DOI:10.1083/jcb.115.1.141  PMID:1655801
    • Toyoshima, C., Unwin, N. Three-dimensional structure of the acetylcholine receptor by cryoelectron microscopy and helical image reconstruction Journal of Cell Biology  1990 111:2623-2635  DOI:10.1083/jcb.111.6.2623  PMID:2277076  PMCID:PMC2116367
    • Unwin, N. The structure of ion channels in membranes of excitable cells Neuron  1989 3:665-676  DOI:10.1016/0896-6273(89)90235-3  PMID:2484344
    • Toyoshima, C., Unwin, N. Ion channel of acetylcholine-receptor reconstructed from images of postsynaptic membranes Nature  1988 336:247-250  DOI:10.1038/336247a0  PMID:2461515
    • Milks, L. C., Kumar, N. M., Houghten, R., Unwin, N., Gilula, N. B. Topology of the 32-kd liver gap junction protein determined by site-directed antibody localizations EMBO Journal  1988 7:2967-2975  PMID:2460334  PMCID:PMC454678
    • Unwin, N., Toyoshima, C., Kubalek, E. Arrangement of the acetylcholine-receptor subunits in the resting and desensitized states, determined by cryoelectron microscopy of crystallized torpedo postsynaptic membranes Journal of Cell Biology  1988 107:1123-1138  DOI:10.1083/jcb.107.3.1123  PMID:3417777
    • Gogol, E., Unwin, N. Organization of connexons in isolated rat-liver gap-junctions Biophysical Journal  1988 54:105-112  DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(88)82935-7  PMID:3416022  PMCID:PMC1330320
    • Sikerwar, S. S., Unwin, N. Three-dimensional structure of gap junctions in fragmented plasma membranes from rat liver Biophysical Journal  1988 54:113-119  DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(88)82936-9  PMID:3416023  PMCID:PMC1330321
    • Lyon, M. K., Unwin, P. N. T. Two-dimensional structure of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex by cryoelectron microscopy Journal of Cell Biology  1988 106:1515-1523  DOI:10.1083/jcb.106.5.1515  PMID:2453515  PMCID:PMC2115055
    • Toyoshima, C., Unwin, N. Contrast transfer for frozen-hydrated specimens - determination from pairs of defocused images Ultramicroscopy  1988 25:279-291  DOI:10.1016/0304-3991(88)90003-4  PMID:3188279
    • Unwin, N. Design and action of cell communication channels Chemica Scripta  1987 27B:47-51
    • Kubalek, E., Ralston, S., Lindstrom, J., Unwin, N. Location of subunits within the acetylcholine-receptor by electron image-analysis of tubular crystals from torpedo-marmorata Journal of Cell Biology  1987 105:9-18  DOI:10.1083/jcb.105.1.9  PMID:3611197
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Gap junction structure and the control of cell-to-cell communication Ciba Foundation Symposia  1987 125:78-91  PMID:2435472
    • Unwin, N. The use of cryoelectron microscopy in elucidating molecular design and mechanisms Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences  1986 483:1-4  DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1986.tb34485.x  PMID:3471117
    • Milligan, R. A., Unwin, P. N. T. Location of exit channel for nascent protein in 80S ribosome Nature  1986 319:693-695  DOI:10.1038/319693a0  PMID:3951541
    • Brisson, A., Unwin, P. N. T. Quaternary structure of the acetylcholine-receptor Nature  1985 315:474-477  DOI:10.1038/315474a0  PMID:4000275
    • Taylor, K. A., Milligan, R. A., Raeburn, C., Unwin, P. N. T. A cold stage for the philips em300 electron-microscope Ultramicroscopy  1984 13:185-189  DOI:10.1016/0304-3991(84)90197-9  PMID:6485128
    • Milligan, R. A., Brisson, A., Unwin, P. N. T. Molecular-structure determination of crystalline specimens in frozen aqueous-solutions Ultramicroscopy  1984 13:1-9  DOI:10.1016/0304-3991(84)90051-2  PMID:6474593
    • Unwin, N., Henderson, R. The structure of proteins in biological membranes Scientific American  1984 250:78-94  PMID:6318309
    • Brisson, A., Unwin, P. N. T. Tubular crystals of acetylcholine-receptor Journal of Cell Biology  1984 99:1202-1211  DOI:10.1083/jcb.99.4.1202  PMID:6480689
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Ennis, P. D. Two configurations of a channel-forming membrane protein Nature  1984 307:609-613  DOI:10.1038/307609a0  PMID:6320017
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Ennis, P. D. Calcium-mediated changes in gap junction structure - evidence from the low-angle x-ray pattern Journal of Cell Biology  1983 97:1459-1466  DOI:10.1083/jcb.97.5.1459  PMID:6630291
    • Amos, L. A., Henderson, R., Unwin, P. N. T. Three-dimensional structure determination by electron microscopy of two-dimensional crystals Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology  1983 39:183-231  DOI:10.1016/0079-6107(83)90017-2  PMID:6289376
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Milligan, R. A. A large particle associated with the perimeter of the nuclear-pore complex Journal of Cell Biology  1982 93:63-75  DOI:10.1083/jcb.93.1.63  PMID:7068761
    • Kuhlbrandt, W., Unwin, P. N. T. Distribution of rna and protein in crystalline eukaryotic ribosomes Journal of Molecular Biology  1982 156:431-448  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(82)90259-5  PMID:6811751
    • Milligan, R. A., Unwin, P. N. T. In vitro crystallization of ribosomes from chick embryos Journal of Cell Biology  1982 95:648-653  DOI:10.1083/jcb.95.2.648  PMID:7142299  PMCID:PMC2112976
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Zampighi, G. Structure of the junction between communicating cells Nature  1980 283:545-549  DOI:10.1038/283545a0  PMID:7354837
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Attachment of ribosome crystals to intracellular membranes Journal of Molecular Biology  1979 132:69-84  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(79)90496-0  PMID:117113
    • Zampighi, G., Unwin, P. N. T. Two forms of isolated gap junctions Journal of Molecular Biology  1979 135:451-464  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(79)90446-7  PMID:537084
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Taddei, C. Packing of ribosomes in crystals from lizard lacerta-sicula Journal of Molecular Biology  1977 114:491-506  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(77)90174-7  PMID:562417
    • Henderson, R., Unwin, P. N. T. Structure of purple membrane from halobacterium-halobium Biophysics of Structure and Mechanism  1977 3:121-121  DOI:10.1007/bf00535804  PMID:890047
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Three-dimensional model of membrane-bound ribosomes obtained by electron microscopy Nature  1977 269:118-122  DOI:10.1038/269118a0  PMID:909577
    • Mandelkow, E. M., Mandelkow, E., Unwin, N., Cohen, C. Tubulin hoops Nature  1977 265:655-657  DOI:10.1038/265655a0  PMID:859570
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Beef liver catalase structure - interpretation of electron micrographs Journal of Molecular Biology  1975 98:235-242  DOI:10.1016/s0022-2836(75)80111-2  PMID:1195381
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Henderson, R. Molecular structure determination by electron microscopy of unstained crystalline specimens Journal of Molecular Biology  1975 94:425-440  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(75)90212-0  PMID:1236957
    • Henderson, R., Unwin, P. N. T. Three-dimensional model of purple membrane obtained by electron microscopy Nature  1975 257:28-32  DOI:10.1038/257028a0  PMID:1161000
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Electron microscopy of the stacked disk aggregate of tobacco mosaic virus protein. Ii. The influence of electron irradiation of the stain distribution Journal of Molecular Biology  1974 87:657-670  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(74)90076-x  PMID:4139268
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Klug, A. Electron microscopy of the stacked disk aggregate of tobacco mosaic-virus protein: 1. Three-dimensional image reconstruction Journal of Molecular Biology  1974 87:641-650  DOI:10.1016/0022-2836(74)90075-8  PMID:4427373
    • Unwin, P. N. T. New electron-microscope imaging method for enhancing detail in thin biological specimens Zeitschrift für Naturforschung Section A-A Journal of Physical Sciences  1974 A 29:158-163
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Phase-contrast electron-microscopy of biological-materials Journal of Microscopy  1973 98:299-312  PMID:4126993
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Electron microscopy of biological specimens by means of an electrostatic phase plate Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series a-Mathematical and Physical Sciences  1972 329:327-359  DOI:10.1098/rspa.1972.0116
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Muguruma, J. Electron-microscope observations on defect structure of ice Physica Status Solidi a-Applied Research  1972 14:207-216  DOI:10.1002/pssa.2210140125
    • Unwin, P. N. T. Phase contrast and interference microscopy with the electron microscope Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences  1971 261:95-104  DOI:10.1098/rstb.1971.0039  PMID:4399209
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Muguruma, J. Transmission electron microscopy of ice Journal of Applied Physics  1971 42:3640-3641  DOI:10.1063/1.1660782
    • Unwin, P. N. T. An electrostatic phase plate for the electron microscope Berichte Der Bunsen-Gesellschaft Fur Physikalische Chemie  1970 74:1137-1141  DOI:10.1002/bbpc.19700741110
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Wilkins, M. A. A technique for the preparation of thin foils from regions near cracks in massive bodies Journal of Physics E-Scientific Instruments  1969 2:736  DOI:10.1088/0022-3735/2/8/435
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Smith, G. C. Microstructure and mechanical properties of al-6% zn-3% mg Journal of the Institute of Metals  1969 97:299-310
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Nicholson, R. B. The nucleation and initial stages of growth of grain boundary precipitates in al-zn-mg and al-mg alloys Acta Metallurgica  1969 17:1379-1393  DOI:10.1016/0001-6160(69)90155-2
    • Unwin, P. N. T., Lorimer, G. W., Nicholson, R. B. The origin of the grain boundary precipitate free zone Acta Metallurgica  1969 17:1363-1377  DOI:10.1016/0001-6160(69)90154-0
    • Cundy, S. L., Metherell, A. J. F., Nicholson, R. B., Unwin, P. N. T., Whelan, M. J. Studies of segregation and the initial stages of precipitation at grain boundaries in an aluminium 7 wt. Percent magnesium alloy with an energy analysing electron microscope Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series a-Mathematical and Physical Sciences  1968 307:267-281  DOI:10.1098/rspa.1968.0189
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Research

research overview

  • Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor and Fast Synaptic Transmission

    The nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor is the neurotransmitter-gated ion channel involved in rapid transmission of electrical signals across the nerve-muscle synapse. Our goal is to understand how this channel works, using electron microscopy to determine its structure trapped in different functional states. We investigate tubular crystals, derived from Torpedo electric organ, in which the ACh receptors, lipids and the receptor-clustering protein rapsyn are organized almost as they are in vivo. We have shown that when acetylcholine enters the binding pockets it triggers a concerted conformational change which opens the membrane-spanning pore by destabilizing a gate in the middle of the membrane. The nature of this conformational change is now being explored at near-atomic resolution.
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Background

education and training

  • Ph.D. in Cell Biology, University of Cambridge 1968
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Contact

full name

  • Peter Nigel Unwin

geographic location

  • Scripps California 

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