Project Summary

Sang Ki Park, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of Harvard Medical School, proposes studying an aspect of the regulation of the biochemical pathway of the neurotransmitter dopamine, imbalances of which are associated with schizophrenia and drug addiction. Dr. Park plans on focusing on D2DR, one of the dopamine receptors that is a major target of antipsychotics and Parkinson’s disease drugs. He hypothesizes that cdk5, or cyclin-dependent kinase-5, helps regulate dopamine signaling by direct phosphorylation of D2DR. In the proposed study, Dr. Park will investigate the nature of the regulation of D2DR by cdk5 phosphorylation in the context of the organization and maintenance of the integrity of the D2DR-mediated signaling complex. He also will create a quantitative phosphorylation profile of D2DR using phospho-proteomic approaches as a function of various disease states. Results may provide new therapeutic targets for multiple disorders associated with abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmission.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Schizophrenia/Addiction

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