Cullen L. Schmid

B.S. in Biochemistry, Messiah College 

Thesis Advisor:  Laura M. Bohn

E-Mail:  schmid.45@osu.edu

Research:

A major focus of the lab is to understand the role G protein coupled receptor regulation and signaling in opiate-mediated responses.  Two proteins that play a role in the desensitization and internalization of the mu opioid receptor are ßarrestin2 and GRKs.  In order to determine the role that these proteins play in the regulation of the receptor, ßarrestin2 and GRK KO mice have been generated.  Mice lacking ßarrestin2 have shown dramatically different behavioral and physiological responses to morphine, including enhanced analgesia and attenuated tolerance.  However, the ßarrestin2 KO mice exhibit the same degree of physical dependence as their WT counterparts.  The aim of my project is to assess the role, if any, that ßarrestin2 plays in opiate-induced physical dependence.  It is believed that cAMP signaling components and the MAP kinase cascade play a role in opiate dependence, therefore I plan on assessing the neurochemical differences in brain regions of wild type and ßarrestin2 KO mice following treatment with opiates.  Specifically, I will be looking at the phosphorylation state of ERK and CREB in the brainstem and striatum of ßarrestin2 WT and KO mice following treatment with morphine, methadone and fentanyl.  I also plan on looking at the trafficking of the mu opioid receptor in primary neuronal cultures following treatment with different opiate receptor agonists and antagonists.

Publications:

Schmid CL, Raehal KM, Bohn LM (2008) Agonist-directed signaling of the serotonin 2A receptor depends on beta-arrestin-2 interactions in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:1079-1084.

Kenney SP, Lochmann TL, Schmid CL, Parent LJ (2008) Intermolecular interactions between retroviral Gag proteins in the nucleus. J Virol 82:683-691.

Presentations at National Meetings:

Schmid CL, Raehal KM, Bohn LM. Serotonin signaling vs. hallucinogen actions at the 5-HT2A receptor: a determining role for beta-arrestins in vivo. The College on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 2008.

Schmid CL, Raehal KM, Bohn LM. Role of ß-arrestin2 in regulating serotonin 2A receptor responsiveness. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, November 2007.