Lakshmi A Devi | Mount Sinai

About Me

Dr. Devi is Professor of the Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Psychiatry and Neuroscience departments. She is the Dean for Academic Development and Enrichment as well as Director of the Interdisciplinary Training in Drug Abuse Research Program.

Throughout her career, she has been interested in several lines of research, including receptor dimerization, regulation of peptide biosynthesis and opiate addiction. Part of her research focus is to explore mechanisms underlying opiate and cannabinoid receptor activation using a combination of molecular biological, biochemical, cell biological, pharmacological and behavioral techniques. Some of the projects in her lab also use a combination of classic and modern techniques in molecular pharmacology to explore the novel pharmacology of receptor heterodimers, and/or cutting-edge neuroproteomic techniques to analyze morphine induced changes in the levels of synaptic proteins and neuropeptides.

For more information, please visit the Devi Laboratory website.

In the News

Mount Sinai Researchers Identify New Receptor in Brain Important for Controlling Obesity
Chemical Compound Shows Promise as Alternative to Opioid Pain Relievers
Researchers Identify New Therapeutic Targets to Improve Pain Management After Chronic Morphine Administration

Language

English

Position

PROFESSOR | Pharmacological Sciences, PROFESSOR | Neuroscience, PROFESSOR | Psychiatry

Research Topics

Addiction, Enzymology, Hormones, Neural Networks, Neuropeptides, Opioid/Cannabinoid Receptors, Post-Transcriptional Processing, Protein Trafficking & Sorting, Proteomics, Signal Transduction

Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas

Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT), Neuroscience [NEU]

Education

MSc, University of Mysore

PhD, University of Windsor

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Addiction Research Foundation

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vollum Institute

Research

1. Opioid receptor dimerization, pharmacology, and signaling

2. Neuroendocrine peptide biosynthesis and processing

3. Neuroproteomics of the synapse and opiate addiction

One of the research projects in the Devi Laboratory is focused on exploring the molecular mechanisms and the functional implications of opioid receptor dimerization. Opioid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin. Recently, we discovered that opioid receptors associate with each other and with other members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. This leads to changes in the pharmacological and signaling properties of the receptors, including ligand affinity, potency, and receptor trafficking. Thus, receptor-receptor interactions represent a novel mechanism for modulating opioid receptor function. We are currently investigating the physiological relevance of dimerization, as well as screening for drugs that target receptor heterodimers. Another research project is directed toward understanding the regulation of neuroendocrine peptide biosynthesis. Most neuroendocrine peptides, including opioid peptides, are synthesized from precursor proteins. Post-translational processing of these precursors is a key step in the production of biologically active peptides. We are studying the regulation of endopeptidases and exopeptidases involved in the biosynthesis of neuroendocrine peptides. In addition, using transgenic animals lacking processing enzymes, we are isolating and identifying novel neuropeptides. Studies to characterize the function of these peptides and their receptors are currently underway. The most recent project in the laboratory involves the use of cutting-edge neuroproteomic and neuropeptidomic techniques to study opiate addiction. Although chronic opiate use is known to produce long-lasting neural adaptations, the mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. We are using modern proteomic techniques (such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, differential isotopic labeling, and MS/MS sequencing) to analyze morphine-induced changes in the levels of synaptic proteins and neuropeptides. This approach will serve as a starting point to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying opiate addiction, as proteins/peptides that are altered by morphine treatment are likely to be involved in opiate-induced plasticity.