Research Interests:
Our research concerns the proteins involved in neurotransmitter recycling responsible for the reuptake of serotonin and other biogenic amines. We are interested in how these proteins operate on a molecular level to couple ion gradients to substrate transport. The transporters are responsible for the reuptake process which terminates the action of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine released into the synaptic cleft. They are the molecular targets for cocaine, antidepressant drugs like imipramine, and amphetamine and its analogues, such as MDMA (ecstasy). Current efforts in the laboratory include the identification of residues in the serotonin transporter that are involved in substrate and cocaine binding. We are also investigating the role of hydrophilic loop regions in this transporter to understand their role in transport and their topological orientation. Other projects involve the coupling of ion gradients to catecholamine transport and the sorting of transporters to specific target plasma membrane domains.

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