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Neuroscience Graduate Program at UCSF
Neuronal Signal Transduction in Addiction and Pain
My laboratory is interested in molecular mechanisms that underlie addiction and pain, with the goal of identifying new drug targets for treatment. Our discoveries include determining that protein kinase C epsilon plays a major role in nociceptor sensitization, and that protein kinase C epsilon and delta, N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels, and the type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter regulate ethanol intoxication and self-administration in rodents. Currently we are focused on signal transduction pathways that involve the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine-threonine kinases. The tools we use to manipulate these pathways include gene targeting, RNA interference, and mutagenesis to sensitize kinases to highly specific small molecule inhibitors. We are also mapping PKC signaling pathways in neurons by using these PKC mutants to identify novel immediate PKC substrates.
Shao-Ju Chang, Staff Research Associate
Jahan Dadgar, Staff Research Associate
Frederic Woody Hopf, Associate Investigator
Benjamin Kanter, Staff Research Associate
Anna Lee, Postdoctoral Fellow
Thomas McMahon, Senior Staff Research Associate
Taban Seif, Postdoctoral Fellow
Jacklyn Stecher, Supervisor, Lab Assistant
Zhanheng Qi, Assistant Research Scientist
Dan Wang, Specialist
Daifei Wu, Postdoctoral Fellow
Link to Publication via PubMed
Choi D-S, Cascini M-G, Mailliard W, Young H, Paredes P, McMahon T, Diamond I, Bonci A, Messing RO. The equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 modulates ethanol intoxication and preference in mice. Nat. Neurosci. 7:855-861, 2004.
Allen JJ, Brinkworth CS, Paulson JL, Davis RJ, Wang D, Chou WH, Messing RO, Burlingame AL, Shokat KM. A semi-synthetic epitope for identification of direct kinase substrates. Nat. Methods 4:511-516, 2007.
Qi Z-H, Song M, Wallace MJ, Wang D, Newton PM, McMahon T, Zhang C, Shokat KM, Messing RO. Protein kinase C epsilon phosphorylation of γ2 subunits regulates GABAA receptor sensitivity to ethanol and benzodiazepines. J. Biol. Chem. 282:33052-33063, 2007.
Newton PM, Zeng L, Wang V, Connolly J, Wallace MJ, Kim CK, Shin HS, Belardetti F, Snutch TP, Messing RO. A blocker of N- and T-type voltage-gated calcium channels attenuates ethanol-induced intoxication, place preference self-administration and reinstatement. J. Neurosci. 28:11712-11719, 2008.
Chou WH, Wang D, McMahon T, Qi ZH, Song M, Zhang C, Shokat KM, Messing RO. GABAA receptor trafficking is regulated by PKCe andthe N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor. J. Neurosci. 30: 13955-13965, 2010. PMCID: PMC2994917
Lee AM and Messing RO. Protein kinase C epsilon modulates nicotine consumption and reward signals in the nucleus accumbens. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA. 108:16080-16085, 2011. PMCID: PMC3179040
Robert Messing, M.D.
Phone
510-985-3950
Office Location
Ernest Gallo Clinic & Research Center
5858 Horton Street
Suite 200
Emeryville, CA 94608
Other Websites
Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center