Signal Transduction and Clinical Proteomics Laboratory

The focus of this laboratory is on signaling through G protein-coupled receptors and clinical proteomics. These goals are currently being realized through three major projects: (1) Mechanism of signal transduction through substance P receptor in human glioblastomas; (2) Effect of age and diabetes on cardiac G protein-coupled receptors; and (3) Molecular basis of postoperative delirium in the elderly. Our studies use state-of-the-art techniques in protein biochemistry and molecular biology including DNA microarrays. A major goal of project #3 is to identify biomarkers of delirium in plasma using a proteomic approach including analyses by 2D-gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry,SELDI/TOF (protein-chip), and protein microarrays.

Representative publications:

1. Yamaguchi K, Richardson MD, Bigner DD, and Kwatra MM. Signal Transduction through Substance P Receptor in Human Glioblastoma Cells: Roles for Src and PKCδ. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2005;56(6):585-593.
2. Kilts JD, Grocott HP, and Kwatra MM. Gα q-coupled receptors in human atrium function through protein kinase C ε and δ. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2005;38:267-276.
3. Richardson MD, Kilts JD, and Kwatra MM. Increased expression of G i-coupled muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and G i in atrium of elderly diabetic subjects. Diabetes. 2004;53:2392-2396.
4. Richardson MD, and Kwatra MM. Tachykinin/Substance P Receptors. In: Lennarz WJ and Lane MD, eds. Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry. Oxford, UK. Elseveir: 2004;(4):152-157.
5. Kilts JD, Akazawa T, Richardson MD, and Kwatra MM. Age increases cardiac G?I expression, resulting in enhanced coupling to G protein-coupled receptors. J of Biol Chem. 2002;277:31257-31262.

Madan Kwatra, PhD

Associate Professor in Anesthesiology
Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behaviorial Sciences
Associate Professor in Nursing
Director, Signal Transduction and Clinical Proteomics Laboratory
Office: (919) 681-4775

Laboratory staff members:

Jason Kilts, PhD
Mark Richardson, PhD
Sylvia Hill, MS, Research Associate
Elizabeth Fuller, BS, Staff Assistant/Research Tech