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Robert Elde, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neuroscience
E-mail: elde@umn.edu |
Research Interests:
Research in my laboratory aims to understand some of the cellular
and molecular mechanisms that underlie neurotransmission. Synaptic
neurotransmission is spatially precise and rapid in time course.
In contrast, non-synaptic neurotransmission is less focal and is
slower. In each case, neurons organize and deliver to the appropriate
region of their plasma membrane the molecular machinery required
for neurotransmitter packaging and release. Similarly, receptors
and signal transduction molecules are delivered to appropriate regions
of the plasma membrane of recipient neurons.
We study models that represent each of these forms of neurotransmission.
In the case of synaptic neurotransmission we have focused on the
neurons that package adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into vesicles
and release it to act upon neurons that express the P2X family of
ATP-gated ion channels. We investigate non-synaptic neurotransmission
through out studies of the packaging and release of the opioid peptides
and their action on neurons that express opioid receptors. Our general
approach is to generate antibodies that recognize transmitters,
receptors, and other molecules involved in neurotransmission, and
to use these antibodies to monitor the trafficking of the molecules
in question.
Most Cited Publications:
(For a comprehensive list of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.)
Zhu Y, King MA, Schuller AG, Nitsche JF, Reidl M, Elde RP, Unterwald
E, Pasternak GW, Pintar JE. Retention of supraspinal delta-like
analgesia and loss of morphine tolerance in delta opioid receptor
knockout mice. Neuron 1999 Sep;24(1):243-52
Gurwell JA, Duncan MJ, Maderspach K, Stiene-Martin A, Elde RP,
Hauser KF. Kappa-opioid receptor expression defines a phenotypically
distinct subpopulation of astroglia: relationship to Ca2+ mobilization,
development, and the antiproliferative effect of opioids. Brain
Res 1996 Oct 21;737(1-2):175-87
Pettersson E, Herrera-Marschitz M, Rodriguez-Puertas R, Xu ZQ,
You ZB, Hughes J, Elde RP, Ungerstedt U, Hokfelt T. Evidence for
aspartate-immunoreactive neurons in the neostriatum of the rat:
modulation by the mesencephalic dopamine pathway via D1-subtype
of receptor. Neuroscience 1996 Sep;74(1):51-66
Former Graduate Students:
Joe Fullmer (Ph.D. 2004,
Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Therissa Libby (Ph.D. 2005,Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Timothy Olson (Ph.D. 2000,
Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Samuel Shuster (Ph.D. 1999,
Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Lawrence Silvermintz (Ph.D.
2002, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Laura Stone (Ph.D. 1999, Neuroscience,
University of Minnesota).
Lyudmila Vulchanova (Ph.D. 1998, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Shannon Wright (Ph.D. 2002, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Wei Wu (Ph.D. 1992, Neuroscience,
University of Minnesota). |
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