Dr. Talbot's research interests lie in understanding how cells in the nervous system communicate. Many clinically important drugs, hormones, and neurotransmitters function by activating receptors present on the surface of nerve cells that couple to G proteins. The effects of these agents are determined by the extent to which these receptors and their G protein partners are activated. Recently, it was discovered that Regulators of G protein Signaling (RGS) Proteins are an essential mechanism by which the body controls this process. A major focus of our research is determining how RGS proteins influence the activity two important classes of drugs: (1) opioid pain relievers, such as morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), and oxycodone (Oxycontin) and (2) serotonin-related drugs that alter mood and anxiety such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram (Celexa). To do this we have developed genetically-modified or "transgenic" mice that are otherwise normal yet lack RGS protein regulation. Our current studies involve characterizing how these mice respond to opioid and serotonin drugs in assays testing analgesic (pain relief), addictive, and antidepressant drug properties.
Current Course Curriculum:
PHBS 443 - Biomedical Sciences I
PHBS 444 - Biomedical Sciences II
PHBS 545 - Drugs of Abuse
BSPC 441 - Cardiovascular System Module
BSPC 543 - Central Nervous System Module
BSPC 545 - Oncology/G.I. System Module
- B.S. Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 1995
- Ph.D. Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2004
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan Medical School, 2006
Drugs of abuse, mechanisms of G Protein signaling.
Talbot JN and Traynor JR. (2008) The Regulation of Cellular Mechanisms in Antinociception and Dependency, in Pain and Chemical Dependency, Edited by Howard Smith and Steven Passik, Oxford University Press
Murrin, LC and Talbot JN. (2007) RanBPM, a scaffolding protein in the immune and nervous systems. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 2(3):290.
Roman DL, Talbot JN, Roof RA, Sunahara RK, Traynor JR, Neubig RR. (2007) High throughput flow cytometry protein interactions assay (FCPIA): Identification of small molecule inhibitors of Regulator of G-protein Signaling 4 (RGS4). Molecular Pharmacology 71(1):169.
Talbot JN, Happe HK, and Murrin LC. (2005) Mu Opioid Receptor Coupling to Gi/o Protein Increases During Postnatal Development in Rat Striatum. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 314:596.
Eudy JD, Spiegelstein O, Barber RC, Wlodarczyk BJ, Talbot J, and Finnell RH. (2000) Identification and characterization of the human and mouse SLC19A3 gene: a novel member of the reduced folate family of micronutrient transporter genes. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 71:581.
Yang S, Buxton IL, Probert CB, Talbot JN, Bradley ME. (1996) Evidence for a discrete UTP receptor in cardiac endothelial cells. Br J Pharmacol 117(7):1572.
