Professor Chris Palmer is a Professor of Cell Membrane Signalling and Cancer at the School of Human Sciences. He is course leader for Cancer Immunotherapy - MSc and a member of the Cellular Molecular and Immunology Research Centre (CMIRC) at London Met.
More about Chris Palmer
Previously Professor Chris Palmer worked on the molecular biology of the HIV-1 transmembrane protein at the University or Reading. Professor Palmer's research then moved on to carry out research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on mechanosensitive ion channels in yeast and humans and on the role of Sigma-1 receptors in Potassium channel modulation in neurones.
More recently Professor Palmer worked at Imperial College investigating the role of ion channels and transporters in Cancer. Professor Palmer's present work involves the involvement of ion channels, receptors and transporters in cancer, particularly breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. Additionally he has interests in investigating phytochemicals with anti-cancer properties and in longevity, health, well being and dance nutrition. He also runs a popular evening class course at Imperial College London entitled "The body – in sickness and health".
Professor Palmer is a member of the Cellular Molecular and Immunology Research Centre (CMIRC) at London Met. He's currently working on a translational project attempting to identify antibodies and peptides which bind to and block sodium channels in breast and colon cancer. These proteins are so important in the spread of these cancers trying to find targeted biopharmaceuticals which inhibit these molecules. This is a big part of his research effort as well as continuing to understand how they contribute to cancer spread. Professor Palmer is also co-writing a book looking at the role of diet and nutrition in dance training and performance.
Professor Palmer is module leader for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology. He is also course leader for the Cancer Immunotherapy - MSc and module leader for Molecular Oncology.
Selected publications
Palmer and Aydar (2019). Effect of Sigma-1 receptors on colon cancer cell line SW620. Bioelectricity. vol 1
Aydar E, Stratton D, Fraser SP, Djamgoz MB, Palmer C. Sigma-1 receptors modulate neonatal Nav1.5 ion channels in breast cancer cell lines. (2016) Eur Biophys J. 671-683.
Joaquín Ariño, Ebru Aydar, Samuel Drulhe, Daniel Ganser,Jesús Jorrín, Matthias Kahm, Falko Krause, Silvia Petrezsélyová, Lynne Yenush, Olga Zimmermannová, G. Paul H. van Heusden,vMaik Kschischo, Jost Ludwig, Chris Palmer, José Ramos, Hana Sychrová, Systems Biology of Monovalent Cation Homeostasis in Yeast, (2014), Advances in Microbial Physiology, 64, 1-63
Chang S-C, Palmer CP, Couchman JR and Magee AI., Attentuation of Hedhehog acyltransferase-catalysed Sonic hedgehog palmitoylation causes reduced proliferation and invasiveneness of PANC1 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells, 2014 Plosone, 9, 1-13
Palmer CP, and Kaleta KL (2011) TRP channels in yeast. In Transient Receptor Potential Channels. Ed Md. Shahidul Islam, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Publisher Springer, chapter 17.
Mazurek MP, Prasad PD, Gopal E, Fraser SP, Bolt L, Rizaner N, Palmer CP, Foster CS, Palmieri F, Ganapathy V, Stühmer W, Djamgoz MB, Mycielska ME (2010) Molecular origin of plasma membrane citrate transporter in human prostate epithelial cells. EMBO Rep. 11:431-7.
Aydar E, Yeo S, Djamgoz M, Palmer C (2009) Abnormal expression, localization and interaction of canonical transient receptor potential ion channels in human breast cancer cell lines and tissues: a potential target for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. Cancer Cell Int. 9: 23.
Aydar E and Palmer CP (2009) Polycystic Kidney Disease and Synaptotagmin homologues Play Roles in Schizosaccharomyces pombe Cell Wall Synthesis/Repair and Membrane Protein Trafficking. J. Membrane Biology 229:141-152.
Palmer C., Mycielska M., Burcu H., Osman K., Collins T., Perrett R., Aydar E., and Djamgoz M.B.A. (2008) A micro-pressure system for measuring single cell adhesion: application to cancer cell lines of different metastatic potential and voltage-gated Na+ channel expression. Eur Biophys J. 37, 359-68.
Palmer C.P., Mahen R., Edwards C., & Aydar E. (2007) Sigma (σ) 1 receptors bind cholesterol and remodel lipid rafts in breast cancer cell lines- effects on β1 integrin mediated adhesion. Cancer Res . 2007 67, 11166-75.
Palmer C.P., Aydar E. and Jackson M.B. (2007) Sigma receptor modulation of ion channels. In: Sigma Receptors: Chemistry, Cell Biology, and Clinical Implications . Ed. R. Matsumoto, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Pg127-149.
Mycielska, M.E., Broke-Smith, T., Palmer, C.P., Nastos, T., Backerman, R., Egruler, K. and Djamgoz, M.B.A. (2006). Citrate uptake enhances in vitro metastatic behaviours of PC3M human prostate cancer cells: aconitase and fatty acid synthase. International Journal of Chemistry and Cell Biology. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 38, 1766-77.
Aydar, E. and Palmer, C.P. (2006). A cardiac HERG channel splice variant. J. Membr. Biol. 211, 115-26.
Aydar E, Onganer P, Perrett R, Djamgoz MB and Palmer C.P. (2006). The expression and functional characterization of sigma (σ) 1 receptors in breast cancer cell lines. Cancer Lett. 242, 245-57
Mycielska, M., Palmer, C., Brackenbury, W. and Djamgoz M.B.A. (2005) Expression of Na+-dependent citrate transport in strongly metastatic human prostate cancer PC-3M cell line: regulation by voltage-gated Na+ channel activity. J. Physiology 563, 393-408.
Palmer, C., Aydar E. and Djamgoz M.B.A. (2005). A microbial TRP-like polycystic kidney disease related ion channel gene. Biochemical Journal 387, 211-9.
Palmer, C.P., Batiza, A., Zhou, X.-L., Loukin, S.H., Saimi, Y. and Kung, C. (2004) Ion channels of microbes. in Cell Signalling in Prokaryotes and Lower Metazoa. ed. I. Fairweather. Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 325-345 (Chapter 10).
Aydar E., Palmer C.P. and Djamgoz M.B. (2004). Sigma receptors and cancer: possible involvement of ion channels. Cancer Res. 64, 5029-35.
Zhou X.L., Batiza A.F., Loukin S.H., Palmer C.P., Kung C., and Saimi Y. (2003). The transient receptor potential channel on the yeast vacuole is mechanosensitive. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 100, 7105-10.
Aydar E., Palmer C., Klachko V. and Jackson M. (2002) The Sigma receptor as a ligand modulated auxiliary potassium channel subunit. Neuron 34, 339-410.
Loukin S., Lin J., Athar U., Palmer C. and Saimi Y (2002) The carboxyl tail forms a discrete functional domain that blocks closure of the yeast K+ channel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 99, 1926-30.
Aydar E. and Palmer C. (2001) Functional characterization of the C-terminus of the human ether-a-go-go-related gene K+ channel (HERG). Journal of Physiology 534, 1-14.
Palmer C., Zhou X-L., Lin J., Loukin S., Kung C. & Saimi Y. (2001) A TRP homolog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae forms an intracellular Ca2+ permeable channel in the yeast vacuolar membrane. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 98, 7801-7805.
Lupardus P., Wilke R., Aydar E., Palmer C., Chen Y., Ruoho A. and Jackson M. (2000) Membrane-delimited coupling between sigma receptors and K+ channels in rat neurohypophysial terminals requires neither G-protein nor ATP. Journal of Physiology 526, 527-39.
Israel Z., Gorny M., Palmer C., McKeating J. and Zolla-Pazner S. (1997) Prevalence of a V2 epitope in clade B primary isolates and its recognition by sera from HIV-1-infected individuals. AIDS 11, 128-30.
Fox D., Balfe P., Palmer C., May J., Arnold C. and McKeating J. (1997) Length polymorphism within the second variable region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein affects accessibility of the receptor binding site. Journal of Virology 71, 759-65.
McKeating J., Shotton C., Jeffs S., Palmer C., Hammond A., Lewis J., Oliver K., May J. and Balfe P. (1996) Immunogenicity of full length and truncated forms of the human immunodeficiency virus type I envelope glycoprotein. Immunology Letters 51, 101-5.
Palmer C., Balfe P., Fox D., May J., Frederiksson R., Fenyo E. and McKeating J. (1996) Functional characterization of the V1V2 region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Virology 220, 436-49.
Palmer C., Miller D., Marlow S., Wilson L., Lawrie A. and King L. (1995) Genetic modification of an entomopoxvirus: deletion of the spheroidin gene does not affect virus replication in vitro. Journal of General Virology 76, 15-23.
King L.A., Possee R.D., Hughes D.S., Atkinson A.E., Palmer C.P., Marlow S.A.,Pickering J.M., Joyce K.A., Lawrie A.M., Miller D.P. and Beadle D.J. (1994). Advances in Insect Virology. In Advances in Insect Physiology. Ed P. Evans, Academic Press
Marlow S., Billam L., Palmer C. and King L. (1993) Replication and morphogenesis of Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus in cultured cells of Estigmene acrea (salt marsh caterpillar). Journal of General Virology 74, 1457-61.
Marlow S., Palmer C. and King L. (1992) Cytoplasmic effects of Amsacta moorei Entomopoxvirus infection on cytoskeleton of Estigmene acrea cells. Virus Research 26, 41-55.
- 2006-2008, Wellcome Trust – Mechanosensitive ion channels in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
- 2006-2008, Wellcome Trust – Sigma receptor modulation of ion channels in cancer cells
- 2005-2007 , Polycystic kidney disease Foundation, USA – A microbial model for polycystic disease related ion channels
- 2008-2010, London Metropolitan University – Expression of human pkd2 channel in yeast as a tool to discover the structure/function of pkd2 channels
- 2008-, Personal funding – Novel peptide blockers of Sodium channels involved in metastasis of Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer
- 2010-2013, BBSRC grant (through Sysmo-2 European funding) – Systems biology of cation transport in yeast
- 2010-12, Emerald Fund – Proof of concept of novel peptide inhibitors of Cav3.2 T-type channels
Professor Palmer is a qualified dance teacher by the Spanish Dance Society and also acts as treasurer for this international organisation.
Prof Chris Palmer
Professor of Molecular Cell Signalling and Cancer
Palmerc1@staff.londonmet.ac.uk