Mary E. Abood, Ph.D.
Email: AboodM@cpmcri.org
Introduction
Our laboratory is investigating recently discovered human and animal compounds called endocannabinoids and their cellular receptors, the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system is thought to play a role in pain control, motor control, learning, and memory. We have cloned the CB receptors and have made progress identifying some of the structural and concomitant functional features of the CB receptor molecules.
These ongoing studies are designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of CB receptor action. One of the leading theories for the cause of motor neuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is excitotoxicity, that is, overstimulation of nerves by glutamate, the neurotransmitter that normally facilitates nerve activity. ALS is one of the most common of the neurodegenerative diseases. We are assessing the role of the endocannabinoid system in retarding progression of ALS by investigating the effects of cannabinoid agonists on glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems in mouse models of ALS.
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Publications
Click here for List of publications from 1977 to present by Mary E Abood in PubMed.
Representative publications include:
Tao, Q., McAllister, S. D., Andreassi, J., Nowell, K., Cabral, G. A., Hurst, D. P., Reggio, P. H. and Abood, M.E. Role of a conserved lysine residue in the CB2 cannabinoid receptor: evidence for subtype specificity. Mol. Pharmacol, 55: 605-613, 1999.
McAllister, SD, Griffin, G., Satin, LS, Abood, ME. Activation and inhibition of G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels by cannabinoids. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 291(2), 616-626, 1999.
Griffin, G., Tao, Q and Abood, M.E. Cloning and Pharmacological Characterization of the Rat CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 292: 886-894, 2000.
Abood M.E., Rizvi, G., Sallapudi, N., McAllister S.D. Activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor protects cultured spinal neurons against excitotoxicity, Neuroscience Letters, 309: 197-201, 2001.
McAllister SD., Rizvi G, Anavi-Goffer, S, Hurst DP, Barnett-Norris J, Lynch D, Reggio PH and Abood, ME. An aromatic microdomain at the cannabinoid CB1 receptor constitutes an agonist/inverse agonist binding region, J. Med. Chem, 46: 5139-5152, 2003.
Raman C, McAllister SD, Rizvi G, Patel SG, Moore DH and Abood, ME. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Delayed disease progression by treatment with a cannabinoid, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and other motor neuron disorders, 5: 33-39, 2004.
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