MAILMAN RESEARCH CENTER
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory
The Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory Staff
(click to enlarge)
|
The investigators in the Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory study the mechanisms of action of currently available medications for Bipolar Disorders and Schizophrenia and work to identify new targets and new compounds to treat these disorders. Particular areas of recent or current research include:
- Characterizing the mechanisms by which cells and circuits in the brain respond to antipsychotic and mood stabilizing agents.
- The synthesis and testing of agents which modulate activity at brain kappa and trace amine receptors, and
- Development of a model system in C. elegans to identify new targets for drugs to treat psychoses and mood disorders.
Dynorphinergic cells are activated by clozapine
(click to enlarge) |
|
Synthesis of Salvinorin Analogues Modified at the C-2 Position
(click to enlarge) |
|
Time-course study of larval arrest (wt N2 strain) in the presence of clozapine.
(click to enlarge) |
|
Core Personnel and Associated Faculty
- Bruce M. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. - Director
- Cécile Béguin, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
- Ned Buttner, M.D., Ph.D. - Assistant Research Neurologist
- Elena Chartoff, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
- Diane Damez-Werno, M.S. - Research Fellow
- Sarah Demarco - Research Assistant (e-mail)
- Rakesh Karmacharya, M.D., Ph.D. - Assistant Psychiatrist & Research Fellow
- Nicholas Lange, Sc.D. - Associate Professor (e-mail)
- Thomas Munro, Ph.D. - Research Fellow
- Donna McPhie, Ph.D. - Instructor
- Angelica Ortiz - Research Assistant (e-mail)
- David Potter, M.A. - Senior Technical Research Assistant (e-mail)
- Steven Punzell - Research Assistant (e-mail)
- Gregory Sliwoski - Research Assistant (e-mail)
- Nancy Ye, M.A.- Research Associate (e-mail)
- Sarah Elmiligy - Technical Research Assistant (e-mail)
- Jennifer Kahn (e-mail)
- Hyojin Kim (e-mail)
- Jeanne Lothrop (e-mail)
- Munro TA, Duncan KK, Staples RJ, Xu W, Liu-Chen L-Y, BĂ©guin C, Carlezon Jr WA, Cohen BM. 8-epi-Salvinorin B: crystal structure and affinity at the k opioid receptor. Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry 3:1, 2007.
- Karmacharya R, Lundy MY, Silwoski GR, Cohen BM, Buttner EA. Identification of clozapine effects on the insulin-signaling pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. Submitted, 2007.
- BĂ©guin C, Cohen BM. Medicinal chemistry of kappa opioid receptor antagonists. In: Dean RL III, Bilsky EJ, Negus SS III (eds), Opioid Receptors and Antagonists: From Bench to Clinic. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey. Submitted, 2006.
- Chartoff EH, Potter D, Damez-Werno D, Cohen BM, Carlezon WA, Jr. Exposure to the selective kappa opioid salvinorin A modulates the behavioral and molecular effects of cocaine in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Oct;33(11):2676-87.
- Munro TA, Duncan KK, Xu W, Wang Y, Liu-Chen L-Y, Carlezon WA, Jr, Cohen BM, BĂ©guin C. Standard protecting groups create potent and selective kappa opioids: Salvinorin B alkoxymethyl ethers. Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Feb 1;16(3):1279-86.
- BĂ©guin C, Potter DN, DiNieri JA, Munro TA, Richards MR, Paine TA, Berry L, Zhao Z, Roth BL, Xu W, Liu-Chen L-Y, Carlezon WA Jr, Cohen BM. C-2 modified salvinorin analogues: identification of a highly potent and selective kappa opioid receptor agonist with improved metabolic stability and in vivo efficacy. Submitted, 2007.
Our work is supported by NIH grants, the
Stanley Medical Research Institute,
NARSAD, industrial contracts, and private gifts.
01.2009
