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

Associate Professor

Department of Pharmacology

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine

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, McMillan J, Parrill AL, Dopico AM. Structural determinants of monohydroxylated bile acids to activate beta 1 subunit-containing BK channels. J Lipid Res. 2008 Jul 23; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18650555
• Liu J, Vaithianathan T, Manivannan K, Parrill A, Dopico AM. Ethanol modulates BKCa channels by acting as an adjuvant of calcium. Mol Pharmacol. 2008 Sep;74(3):628-40. Epub 2008 Jun 13. PMID: 18552122
• Patil S, Bukiya AN, Li W, Dopico AM, Miller D. Design and synthesis of hydroxy-alkynoic acids and their methyl esters as novel activators of BK channels. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2008 Jun 1;18(11):3427-30. Epub 2008 Apr 8. PMID: 18462939
• Bukiya AN, Vaithianathan T, Toro L, Dopico AM. The second transmembrane domain of the large conductance, voltage- and calcium-gated potassium channel beta(1) subunit is a lithocholate sensor. FEBS Lett. 2008 Mar 5;582(5):673-8. Epub 2008 Jan 31. PMID: 18242174
• Dopico AM, Tigyi GJ. A glance at the structural and functional diversity of membrane lipids. Methods Mol Biol. 2007;400:1-13. Review. PMID: 17951723
• Brodie MS, Scholz A, Weiger TM, Dopico AM. Ethanol interactions with calcium-dependent potassium channels. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Oct;31(10):1625-32. Review. PMID: 17850640

view complete list of references (pubmed link)