Stephen F. Heinemann was a professor of neuroscience at the Salk Institute. He was an early researcher in the field of molecular neuroscience, contributing to the current knowledge of how nerves communicate with each other, and the role of neurotransmitters. Stephen Heinemann died August 6, 2014 of kidney failure.
Heinemann graduated from CalTech with a bachelor's degree in 1962, and in 1967, he earned a PhD in biochemistry at Harvard University under the mentorship of Matt Meselson, a well known geneticist and molecular biologist. He then did research as a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. His work at MIT was alongside A. Dale Kaiser. They focused on how transcription is related to the phage lambda repressor synthesis. During his time at Stanford, he worked with Ethan Royal Signer. He joined the Salk Institute in 1970, where he founded the department of molecular neurobiology, which soon became known as one of the world's top research centers in the field. He did pioneering work in the subject of motor neurons and the neuromuscular junction. He remained at Salk until his retirement.
Research
Stephen F. Heinemann’s research focus was acetylcholine and glutamate receptors. A majority of the excitatory neurons in the central nervous system communicate via these two chemical signaling molecules known as neurotransmitters. Heinemann’s work included identifying the key structural elements of the receptor proteins that allow them to recognize signal molecules and enact change in the cell. The understanding of their structures has furthered research in cognition and neurological disorders. His research has illuminated the cognitive function of several receptors. Heinemann has also researched the application of dysfunction in these neurotransmitter receptors on human diseases including addiction and Alzheimers.
Glutamate receptors
is an excitatory neurotransmitter. In humans and other vertebrate’s brains, glutamate controls over 90% of excitatory connections. Receptors for glutamate are found throughout the brain. One contribution Heinemann made to neuroscience includes discovering and cloning the first DNA sequences of glutamate receptors. There are 3 ionotropic glutamate receptors that Heinemann contributed to differentiating: AMPA receptors, NMDA receptors, and kainate receptors. As shown by Heinemann, NMDA receptors differ in that they allow significant amounts of calcium to enter the cell rather than just sodium. Heinemann’s research also illuminated the role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in learning and unlearning information using a rodent model. Metabotropic receptors differ from ionotropic receptors in that they activate other internal cell signaling pathways. Heinemann and his team also discovered the differences between kainate and AMPA receptors, which were previously thought to make up one family of glutamate receptors. Heinemann’s most notable contribution to the study of glutamate as a major excitatory neurotransmitter was to identify and replicate the DNA sequences for each of many of these receptors and their subunits. This allowed for further research of the function and dysfunction of communication between neurons through neurotransmitter receptors.
Neurological disorders
Stephen Heinemann’s research contributed largely to the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders. Much of his research focused on the idea that disorders can occur when connectivity is disrupted between cells. His work with glutamate receptors showed that malfunctions can contribute to disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In addition, he studied acetylcholine and nicotine receptors in the brain, especially their involvement with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In doing so, his team discovered the cause of paralysis in the neuromuscular disorder, myasthenia gravis.
