William Joiner

Title(s)Associate Professor, Pharmacology
SchoolVc-health Sciences-schools
Address9500 Gilman Drive #
La Jolla CA 92093
vCardDownload vCard

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    Kenyon CollegeB.A.Biology
    Yale UniversityPh.D.Physiology
    University of PennsylvaniaPostdocNeuroscience

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    There are two major directions to my lab’s research:
    (1) We study the mechanisms that control the sleep/wake cycle in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Our studies have identified molecules that were previously unknown to regulate sleep, including endogenous prototoxins called Ly6 proteins that control excitability and synaptic transmission, as well as the RNA editing enzyme, ADAR, which controls short-term plasticity within a sleep-promoting neural circuit. Our studies are thus defining the biological basis of sleep regulation, the mechanistic link between sleep and synaptic plasticity, and ultimately novel potential targets for intervening in sleep-related disorders.
    (2) We also study the functions of Ly6 proteins in the mammalian brain. Our data indicate that various Ly6 proteins regulate the gating, trafficking and pharmacology of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in different ways with important implications for nicotine addiction, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Mechanisms underlying sleep homeostasis
    NIH R01GM125080Jul 1, 2017 - May 31, 2021
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Mechanisms Underlying Sleep Homeostasis
    NIH R01GM125080Jul 1, 2017 - May 31, 2021
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Molecular and anatomical basis of sleep regulation by SLEEPLESS
    NIH R01NS072431Mar 15, 2011 - Feb 28, 2017
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
    Collapse Featured Publications

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Timeless noncoding DNA contains cell-type preferential enhancers important for proper Drosophila circadian regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Apr 09; 121(15):e2321338121. Ma D, Ojha P, Yu AD, Araujo MS, Luo W, Keefer E, Díaz MM, Wu M, Joiner WJ, Abruzzi KC, Rosbash M. PMID: 38568969.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    2. Senataxin helicase, the causal gene defect in ALS4, is a significant modifier of C9orf72 ALS G4C2 and arginine-containing dipeptide repeat toxicity. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023 10 17; 11(1):164. Bennett CL, Dastidar S, Arnold FJ, McKinstry SU, Stockford C, Freibaum BD, Sopher BL, Wu M, Seidner G, Joiner W, Taylor JP, West RJH, La Spada AR. PMID: 37845749; PMCID: PMC10580588.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    3. Re-examining the role of the dorsal fan-shaped body in promoting sleep in Drosophila. Curr Biol. 2023 09 11; 33(17):3660-3668.e4. De J, Wu M, Lambatan V, Hua Y, Joiner WJ. PMID: 37552985; PMCID: PMC10573663.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    4. Inputs to the sleep homeostat originate outside the brain. J Neurosci. 2022 Jun 09. Satterfield LK, De J, Wu M, Qiu T, Joiner WJ. PMID: 35680412; PMCID: PMC9302467.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    
    5. Unbalanced Regulation of α7 nAChRs by Ly6h and NACHO Contributes to Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease. J Neurosci. 2021 10 13; 41(41):8461-8474. Wu M, Liu CZ, Barrall EA, Rissman RA, Joiner WJ. PMID: 34446574; PMCID: PMC8513707.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    6. Neuroscience: Sleep Fragmentation Impairs Memory Formation. Curr Biol. 2019 11 18; 29(22):R1181-R1184. Joiner WJ. PMID: 31743673.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    7. Amplification of Drosophila Olfactory Responses by a DEG/ENaC Channel. Neuron. 2019 12 04; 104(5):947-959.e5. Ng R, Salem SS, Wu ST, Wu M, Lin HH, Shepherd AK, Joiner WJ, Wang JW, Su CY. PMID: 31629603; PMCID: PMC6895426.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 27     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    8. The Neurobiological Basis of Sleep and Sleep Disorders. Physiology (Bethesda). 2018 09 01; 33(5):317-327. Joiner WJ. PMID: 30109824; PMCID: PMC6230548.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    9. Unraveling the Evolutionary Determinants of Sleep. Curr Biol. 2016 10 24; 26(20):R1073-R1087. Joiner WJ. PMID: 27780049; PMCID: PMC5120870.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 75     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    10. Using Drosophila as an integrated model to study mild repetitive traumatic brain injury. Sci Rep. 2016 05 04; 6:25252. Barekat A, Gonzalez A, Mauntz RE, Kotzebue RW, Molina B, El-Mecharrafie N, Conner CJ, Garza S, Melkani GC, Joiner WJ, Lipinski MM, Finley KD, Ratliff EP. PMID: 27143646; PMCID: PMC4855207.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 42     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    11. The mood stabilizer valproic acid opposes the effects of dopamine on circadian rhythms. Neuropharmacology. 2016 08; 107:262-270. Landgraf D, Joiner WJ, McCarthy MJ, Kiessling S, Barandas R, Young JW, Cermakian N, Welsh DK. PMID: 27033596.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    12. Structural Analysis and Deletion Mutagenesis Define Regions of QUIVER/SLEEPLESS that Are Responsible for Interactions with Shaker-Type Potassium Channels and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. PLoS One. 2016; 11(2):e0148215. Wu M, Liu CZ, Joiner WJ. PMID: 26828958; PMCID: PMC4735452.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    13. ADAR-mediated RNA editing suppresses sleep by acting as a brake on glutamatergic synaptic plasticity. Nat Commun. 2016 Jan 27; 7:10512. Robinson JE, Paluch J, Dickman DK, Joiner WJ. PMID: 26813350; PMCID: PMC4737855.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 38     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Identification of Neurons with a Privileged Role in Sleep Homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster. Curr Biol. 2015 Nov 16; 25(22):2928-38. Seidner G, Robinson JE, Wu M, Worden K, Masek P, Roberts SW, Keene AC, Joiner WJ. PMID: 26526372; PMCID: PMC4654679.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 60     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Mechanisms of inhibition and potentiation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by members of the Ly6 protein family. J Biol Chem. 2015 Oct 02; 290(40):24509-18. Wu M, Puddifoot CA, Taylor P, Joiner WJ. PMID: 26276394; PMCID: PMC4591831.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    16. Aging and Autophagic Function Influences the Progressive Decline of Adult Drosophila Behaviors. PLoS One. 2015; 10(7):e0132768. Ratliff EP, Mauntz RE, Kotzebue RW, Gonzalez A, Achal M, Barekat A, Finley KA, Sparhawk JM, Robinson JE, Herr DR, Harris GL, Joiner WJ, Finley KD. PMID: 26182057; PMCID: PMC4504520.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Nmf9 Encodes a Highly Conserved Protein Important to Neurological Function in Mice and Flies. PLoS Genet. 2015 Jul; 11(7):e1005344. Zhang S, Ross KD, Seidner GA, Gorman MR, Poon TH, Wang X, Keithley EM, Lee PN, Martindale MQ, Joiner WJ, Hamilton BA. PMID: 26131556; PMCID: PMC4488434.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Neurodegeneration: paying it off with sleep. Curr Biol. 2015 Mar 16; 25(6):R234-R236. Keene AC, Joiner WJ. PMID: 25784043; PMCID: PMC4381801.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    19. Ly6h regulates trafficking of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and nicotine-induced potentiation of glutamatergic signaling. J Neurosci. 2015 Feb 25; 35(8):3420-30. Puddifoot CA, Wu M, Sung RJ, Joiner WJ. PMID: 25716842; PMCID: PMC4339353.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 26     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. SLEEPLESS is a bifunctional regulator of excitability and cholinergic synaptic transmission. Curr Biol. 2014 Mar 17; 24(6):621-9. Wu M, Robinson JE, Joiner WJ. PMID: 24613312; PMCID: PMC4059605.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 42     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. Metabolic and transcriptional response to a high-fat diet in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Metab. 2014 Feb; 3(1):42-54. Heinrichsen ET, Zhang H, Robinson JE, Ngo J, Diop S, Bodmer R, Joiner WJ, Metallo CM, Haddad GG. PMID: 24567903; PMCID: PMC3929909.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 47     Fields:    
    22. Genetic and anatomical basis of the barrier separating wakefulness and anesthetic-induced unresponsiveness. PLoS Genet. 2013; 9(9):e1003605. Joiner WJ, Friedman EB, Hung HT, Koh K, Sowcik M, Sehgal A, Kelz MB. PMID: 24039590; PMCID: PMC3764144.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    23. Drosophila QVR/SSS modulates the activation and C-type inactivation kinetics of Shaker K(+) channels. J Neurosci. 2011 Aug 03; 31(31):11387-95. Dean T, Xu R, Joiner W, Sehgal A, Hoshi T. PMID: 21813698; PMCID: PMC3183472.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. A conserved behavioral state barrier impedes transitions between anesthetic-induced unconsciousness and wakefulness: evidence for neural inertia. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 30; 5(7):e11903. Friedman EB, Sun Y, Moore JT, Hung HT, Meng QC, Perera P, Joiner WJ, Thomas SA, Eckenhoff RG, Sehgal A, Kelz MB. PMID: 20689589; PMCID: PMC2912772.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 95     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    25. SLEEPLESS, a Ly-6/neurotoxin family member, regulates the levels, localization and activity of Shaker. Nat Neurosci. 2010 Jan; 13(1):69-75. Wu MN, Joiner WJ, Dean T, Yue Z, Smith CJ, Chen D, Hoshi T, Sehgal A, Koh K. PMID: 20010822; PMCID: PMC2842941.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 63     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    26. Identification of SLEEPLESS, a sleep-promoting factor. Science. 2008 Jul 18; 321(5887):372-6. Koh K, Joiner WJ, Wu MN, Yue Z, Smith CJ, Sehgal A. PMID: 18635795; PMCID: PMC2771549.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 176     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. A genetic screen for sleep and circadian mutants reveals mechanisms underlying regulation of sleep in Drosophila. Sleep. 2008 Apr; 31(4):465-72. Wu MN, Koh K, Yue Z, Joiner WJ, Sehgal A. PMID: 18457233; PMCID: PMC2279757.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 67     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsPHPublic Health
    28. Molecular analysis of sleep: wake cycles in Drosophila. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2007; 72:557-64. Sehgal A, Joiner W, Crocker A, Koh K, Sathyanarayanan S, Fang Y, Wu M, Williams JA, Zheng X. PMID: 18419315.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    29. Sleep in Drosophila is regulated by adult mushroom bodies. Nature. 2006 Jun 08; 441(7094):757-60. Joiner WJ, Crocker A, White BH, Sehgal A. PMID: 16760980.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 231     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    30. A sleep-promoting role for the Drosophila serotonin receptor 1A. Curr Biol. 2006 Jun 06; 16(11):1051-62. Yuan Q, Joiner WJ, Sehgal A. PMID: 16753559.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 146     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    31. The appearance of a protein kinase A-regulated splice isoform of slo is associated with the maturation of neurons that control reproductive behavior. J Biol Chem. 2004 Dec 10; 279(50):52324-30. Zhang Y, Joiner WJ, Bhattacharjee A, Rassendren F, Magoski NS, Kaczmarek LK. PMID: 15375169.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    32. Slick (Slo2.1), a rapidly-gating sodium-activated potassium channel inhibited by ATP. J Neurosci. 2003 Dec 17; 23(37):11681-91. Bhattacharjee A, Joiner WJ, Wu M, Yang Y, Sigworth FJ, Kaczmarek LK. PMID: 14684870; PMCID: PMC6740956.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 114     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    33. The hSK4 (KCNN4) isoform is the Ca2+-activated K+ channel (Gardos channel) in human red blood cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jun 10; 100(12):7366-71. Hoffman JF, Joiner W, Nehrke K, Potapova O, Foye K, Wickrema A. PMID: 12773623; PMCID: PMC165881.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    34. Active K+ secretion through multiple KCa-type channels and regulation by IKCa channels in rat proximal colon. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2003 Jul; 285(1):G185-96. Joiner WJ, Basavappa S, Vidyasagar S, Nehrke K, Krishnan S, Binder HJ, Boulpaep EL, Rajendran VM. PMID: 12606302.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 33     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    35. Targeted attenuation of electrical activity in Drosophila using a genetically modified K(+) channel. Neuron. 2001 Sep 13; 31(5):699-711. White BH, Osterwalder TP, Yoon KS, Joiner WJ, Whim MD, Kaczmarek LK, Keshishian H. PMID: 11567611.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 56     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    36. Calmodulin regulates assembly and trafficking of SK4/IK1 Ca2+-activated K+ channels. J Biol Chem. 2001 Oct 12; 276(41):37980-5. Joiner WJ, Khanna R, Schlichter LC, Kaczmarek LK. PMID: 11495911.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 51     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    37. hSK4/hIK1, a calmodulin-binding KCa channel in human T lymphocytes. Roles in proliferation and volume regulation. J Biol Chem. 1999 May 21; 274(21):14838-49. Khanna R, Chang MC, Joiner WJ, Kaczmarek LK, Schlichter LC. PMID: 10329683.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 76     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    38. Formation of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels by interaction of Slack and Slo subunits. Nat Neurosci. 1998 Oct; 1(6):462-9. Joiner WJ, Tang MD, Wang LY, Dworetzky SI, Boissard CG, Gan L, Gribkoff VK, Kaczmarek LK. PMID: 10196543.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 74     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. hSK4, a member of a novel subfamily of calcium-activated potassium channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Sep 30; 94(20):11013-8. Joiner WJ, Wang LY, Tang MD, Kaczmarek LK. PMID: 9380751; PMCID: PMC23566.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 131     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    40. A new family of outwardly rectifying potassium channel proteins with two pore domains in tandem. Nature. 1995 Aug 24; 376(6542):690-5. Ketchum KA, Joiner WJ, Sellers AJ, Kaczmarek LK, Goldstein SA. PMID: 7651518.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 121     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. A characterization of the activating structural rearrangements in voltage-dependent Shaker K+ channels. Neuron. 1994 Feb; 12(2):301-15. McCormack K, Joiner WJ, Heinemann SH. PMID: 8110460.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 67     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    With one click, see people who:

    Mentor Faculty

    Run Clinical Trials

    See more options in the Advanced Search tab

    William's Networks
    Concepts (249)
    Derived automatically from this person's publications.
    Explore
    _
    Co-Authors (12)
    People in Profiles who have published with this person.
    Explore
    _
    Similar People (60)
    People who share similar concepts with this person.
    Explore
    _
    Same Department
    Search Department
    _

    UCSD Profiles is managed by the UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute (ACTRI).
    This site is running Profiles RNS version UCSF-v3.1.0-3-g1ef1264b on PROFILES-PWEB03. We use cookies to operate our website. We also use cookies to analyze our site’s performance and improve your experience on our site. For more information about how we use cookies, please see our Website Terms of Use.

    Copyright © The Regents of the University of California