Our laboratory is interested in the regulation of synaptic transmission, and the relationship between changes in neurotransmitter release and psychiatric illness. We focus on the function of neurotransmitter transporters, the proteins responsible for transporting classical neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin across biological membranes. Using a variety of molecular and genetic techniques, we study how neurotransmitter transport is regulated in cultured neurons and neuroendocrine cell, with a particular focus on the regulation of transporter trafficking to secretory vesicles. We are also using transporters as probes to screen for novel pathways involved in neurotransmitter release in the model organism Drosophila. Finally, we study how dysregulation of transmitter transport may affect neuropsychiatrically relevant behaviors in mice.

Laboratory Phone: (310)206-8323


Laboratory Staff:

David Patton, Ph.D. (Research Technician) Email:   dearl@ucla.edu	Christina Greer (Research Assistant) Email:   cgreer@ucla.edu	Hui-Yun Chang, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow) Email:   huiyun@ucla.edu

Anna Grygoruk (Graduate Student) Email:   annagryg@ucla.edu

Rafael Romero (Graduate Student) Email:   raromer@ucla.edu

 

David Krantz, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Email:
dkrantz@ucla.edu

Phone:
(310)206-8508