J Amin
University of South Florida, USA
Biography
J Amin laboratory has a primary interest in GABAA and NMDA receptor-channels. We have studied the structure/function relationship of subtypes of GABAA receptors to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of sedative/hypnotic drugs. By co-expression of wild-type with anesthetic-sensitive subunits of GABAA receptors, we have determined the minimal number of subunits required for orthosteric- versus allosteric-dependent activation of GABAA receptor channels. The laboratory is also focused on drug discovery with particular interest in ketamine. In the last several years, we have synthesized a number of ketamine analogues and characterized their molecular actions on the NMDA and GABAA receptors. One oxime analogues of ketamine has shown great promise in terms of molecular signature on NMDA and GABAA receptors and in an animal model test for antidepressants.