ALEX M. DOPICO, M. D., Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Pharmacology

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Address

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

874 Union Avenue

Memphis, TN 38163

Tel: (901) 448-3822 (office) 448-1695 (lab); Fax: (508) 448-7206;

Lab: 201 Crowe Research Building

Education

Ph.D. Institution: University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Postdoctoral: University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Department of Physiology; University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Department of Pharmacology

Research Interests

The laboratory is interested in determining the molecular mechanism of the action of alcohol and other small amphiphiles on ion channel function, and its modulation by membrane lipids. We explore drug action on the function of channels in freshly isolated cells, following heterologous expression of channel proteins cloned from brain and cerebrovascular vessels, and/or incorporating ion channels into artificial lipid bilayers, where lipid composition can be controlled. Electrophysiological studies of mutagenized channel proteins allow us to probe selective regions of the channel as specific recognition sites for drug action.

Links

Pharmacology - Alex M. Dopico

Recent Publications

• Bukiya AN, Vaithianathan T, Toro L, Dopico AM. Channel beta2-4 subunits fail to substitute for beta1 in sensitizing BK channels to lithocholate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Oct 21; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19852931
• Bukiya AN, Liu J, Dopico AM. The BK channel accessory beta1 subunit determines alcohol-induced cerebrovascular constriction. FEBS Lett. 2009 Sep 3;583(17):2779-84. Epub 2009 Jul 17. PMID: 19616547
• Cheng X, Pachuau J, Blaskova E, Asuncion-Chin M, Liu J, Dopico AM, Jaggar JH. Alternative splicing of Cav1.2 channel exons in smooth muscle cells of resistance-size arteries generates currents with unique electrophysiological properties. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Aug;297(2):H680-8. Epub 2009 Jun 5. PMID: 19502562
• Mulholland PJ, Hopf FW, Bukiya AN, Martin GE, Liu J, Dopico AM, Bonci A, Treistman SN, Chandler LJ. Sizing up ethanol-induced plasticity: the role of small and large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Jul;33(7):1125-35. Epub 2009 Apr 9. Review. PMID: 19389201
• Dopico AM, Lovinger DM. Acute alcohol action and desensitization of ligand-gated ion channels. Pharmacol Rev. 2009 Mar;61(1):98-114. Epub 2009 Mar 6. Review. PMID: 19270242
• Bukiya AN, McMillan J, Parrill AL, Dopico AM. Structural determinants of monohydroxylated bile acids to activate beta 1 subunit-containing BK channels. J Lipid Res. 2008 Nov;49(11):2441-51. Epub 2008 Jul 23. PMID: 18650555

view complete list of references (pubmed link)