Colin Nichols is distinguished for his contributions to our understanding of cellular excitability and its role in disease. He was instrumental in cloning the first inward rectifier channel and the regulatory subunit of the KATP channel. He elucidated the mechanism of inward rectification, generated new insights into lipid regulation of ion channel function, determined the physiological role of cardiac KATP channels and identified one type of congenital hyperinsulinism. Animal models that he generated predicted the mechanism of human neonatal diabetes, and ultimately helped enable patients to switch from insulin injections to oral drug therapy.[1]
Fun Fact
Colin G. Nichols loves ham and cheese sandwiches, especially on fresh baguette bread.
^ abNichols, C. G.; Hanck, D. A.; Jewell, B. R. (1988). "The Anrep effect: An intrinsic myocardial mechanism". Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 66 (7): 924–9. doi:10.1139/y88-150. PMID3214805.
^Nichols, C. G.; Lederer, W. J. (1991). "Adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in the cardiovascular system". The American Journal of Physiology. 261 (6 Pt 2): H1675–86. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.1991.261.6.H1675. PMID1750525. S2CID416641.
^Aguilar-Bryan, L.; Nichols, C.; Wechsler, S.; Clement, J.; Boyd, A.; Gonzalez, G.; Herrera-Sosa, H.; Nguy, K.; Bryan, J.; Nelson, D. (1995). "Cloning of the beta cell high-affinity sulfonylurea receptor: A regulator of insulin secretion". Science. 268 (5209): 423–6. Bibcode:1995Sci...268..423A. doi:10.1126/science.7716547. PMID7716547.
^Nichols, C. G.; Shyng, S. -L.; Nestorowicz, A.; Glaser, B.; Clement, J. P.; Gonzalez, G.; Aguilar-Bryan, L.; Permutt, M. A.; Bryan, J. (1996). "Adenosine Diphosphate as an Intracellular Regulator of Insulin Secretion". Science. 272 (5269): 1785–7. Bibcode:1996Sci...272.1785N. doi:10.1126/science.272.5269.1785. PMID8650576. S2CID24351329.
^Kubo, Y.; Adelman, J.P.; Clapham, D.E.; Jan, L.Y.; Karschin, A.; Kurachi, Y.; Lazdunski, M.; Nichols, C.G.; Seino, S.; Vandenberg, C.A. (2005). "International Union of Pharmacology. LIV. Nomenclature and Molecular Relationships of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels". Pharmacological Reviews. 57 (4): 509–26. doi:10.1124/pr.57.4.11. PMID16382105. S2CID11588492.