Maurice B. Burg

Revolutionized the field of renal physiology by developing new techniques to study the function of individual nephron segments and using these techniques to identify many new transport systems as well as the sites of action of vasopressin and major diuretics. Current research focuses on the mechanisms by which kidney cells protect themselves from the high levels of salt and urea to which they are exposed, levels much higher than elsewhere in the body. One important mechanism is osmotically regulated accumulation of small organic molecules, identified as sorbitol, inositol, betaine, glycerophosphocholine, and taurine. With collaborators, has cloned the cDNAs for many of the enzymes and transporters involved in accumulating these substances and is studying their regulation. Also is investigating the mechanisms by which osmotic stress interferes with the cell cycle and damages DNA, leading to apoptosis.