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Steven J. Fluharty, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Research
Professor of Pharmacology, Psychology, and Neuroscience
118 College Hall
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Phone:
(215) 898-7236
email: vpr@pobox.upenn.edu
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Fluharty's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Regulation of neuropeptide receptor gene expression and signal transduction
in cultured neuronal cells and behaving animals RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Radioligand binding techniques and receptor autoradiography; second messenger production; cell culture techniques; HPLC; receptor solubilization and immunoprecipitation; cDNA techniques; antisense technology; behavioral measurementsRESEARCH SUMMARY
Our research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of angiotensin
II (AngII) action in the brain. In particular, radioligand binding techniques,
quantitative autoradiography, and immunocytochemistry are used to determine
the localization of AngII receptors in the central nervous system, and biochemical
techniques are then used to determine receptor coupling to ion channels
and intracellular effectors such as adenylyl cyclase, nitric oxide syntase
and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, in cultured neurons. Recent efforts
include purification of neuronal AngII receptors, the development of receptor-directed
polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, as well as the cloning of the gene(s)
which encode for these receptors. These molecular tools are then used to
study the transcriptional and post-translational control of AngII receptor
expression as it relates to the behavioral actions of this neuropeptide.
KEY WORDS:
Angiotensin; receptors; protein purification; immunocytochemistry; cDNA cloning; behavior
