Project Summary

Frank Jangsup Lee, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto, proposes studying in detail the regulation of the dopamine transporter (DAT), a target of many antipsychotic medications because the protein regulates the amount of dopamine in neurons. Dr. Lee has evidence that the dopamine D2 receptor may be able to modulate DAT function by two separate means: an inhibitory effect through Gi-dependent signaling and an up-regulatory effect through the direct protein-protein interaction between D2 receptor and DAT. He also has evidence that this interaction between the D2-DAT is altered in schizophrenics. In the project, he hopes to further study if the alteration in the D2-DAT interaction underlies the neurochemical dopamine imbalance seen in schizophrenia. If so, results might provide a new therapeutic target by which to treat this disease.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Molecular

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