Gurevich, Eugenia, Department of Pharmacology

Eugenia Gurevich, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology
Preston Research Building Room 417C
615-936-2720 (office)
eugenia.gurevich@vanderbilt.edu

I am interested in the regulation of dopaminergic signaling in the normal and diseased brain. My current studies are focused on the proteins mediating homologous desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), arrestins and G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK). These proteins are very important for the normal functioning of the brain, because they determine the intensity and duration of the GPCRs response to stimulation. If the desensitization process is compromised, neurotransmitter receptors, many of which belong to the GPCR family, often become supersensitive. Conversely, if desensitization is facilitated, the response could be completely lost. We are currently studying the role of GRKs and arrestin in regulating the signaling of dopamine receptors in the striatum in Parkinson’s disease and in response to L-DOPA therapy. We are also interested in how GRKs and arrestins regulate dopaminergic responsiveness to psychostimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine and the role these proteins play in drug addiction. To answer these questions, we use virus-mediated gene transfer to increase or decrease the concentration of GRKs or arrestin in the brain of living animals and measure alterations in behavior.

For more information, please visit the lab website.