Ronald Alkana
Professor
Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology
School of Pharmacy
Research Topics
- Signal Transduction
- Cellular Neurobiology
- Learning & Memory
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Research Overview
Dr. Alkana uses a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the mechanisms of action of psychoactive drugs at the cellular and molecular levels. His overall goal is to increase understanding of the neurochemical basis of brain function and behavior in order to develop new prevention and treatment strategies for alcoholism, drug abuse and psychological disorders. Current techniques in the laboratory include: Behavioral Loss of righting reflex, locomotor activity, convulsant-anticonvulsant effects, learning and memory, aggression and anxiety. Biochemical chloride ion uptake, high affinity binding, gas chromatographic drug analyses. Electrophysiological 2-electrode voltage clamp. Molecular -- Xenopus oocyte expression system. Hyperbaric (increased atmospheric pressure) novel ethanol antagonist and selective uncoupler of allosteric modulation of ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs). These studies are carried out in collaboration with Dr. Daryl Davies in the Alcohol and Brain Research Laboratory at USC.Contact Information
- Web Site:
- Home Page
- E-mail:
- alkana@usc.edu
- Mailing Address:
- 9121 HSC
- Office Location:
- PSC 506
- Office Phone:
- (323) 442-1429
- Fax:
- (323) 442-1704
Education
- PharmD 1970 Pharmacy - University of Southern California
- PhD 1975 Psychobiology - University of California, Irvine
Selected Publications
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Ostrovskaya O,Asatryan L,Wyatt L,Popova M,Li K,Peoples RW,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Ethanol Is a Fast Channel Inhibitor of P2X4 Receptors. - J Pharmacol Exp Ther [2011] Apr;337(1):171-9 -PubMed
Asatryan L,Popova M,Perkins D,Trudell JR,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Ivermectin antagonizes ethanol inhibition in purinergic P2X4 receptors. - J Pharmacol Exp Ther [2010] Sep 1;334(3):720-8 -PubMed
Perkins DI,Trudell JR,Crawford DK,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Molecular targets and mechanisms for ethanol action in glycine receptors. - Pharmacol Ther [2010] Jul;127(1):53-65 -PubMed
Popova M,Asatryan L,Ostrovskaya O,Wyatt LR,Li K,Alkana RL,Davies DL - A point mutation in the ectodomain-transmembrane 2 interface eliminates the inhibitory effects of ethanol in P2X4 receptors. - J Neurochem [2010] Jan;112(1):307-17 -PubMed
Perkins DI,Trudell JR,Crawford DK,Asatryan L,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Loop 2 structure in glycine and GABA(A) receptors plays a key role in determining ethanol sensitivity. - J Biol Chem [2009] Oct 2;284(40):27304-14 -PubMed
Crawford DK,Perkins DI,Trudell JR,Bertaccini EJ,Davies DL,Alkana RL - Roles for loop 2 residues of alpha1 glycine receptors in agonist activation. - J Biol Chem [2008] Oct 10;283(41):27698-706 -PubMed
Asatryan L,Popova M,Woodward JJ,King BF,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Roles of ectodomain and transmembrane regions in ethanol and agonist action in purinergic P2X2 and P2X3 receptors. - Neuropharmacology [2008] Oct;55(5):835-43 -PubMed
Perkins DI,Trudell JR,Crawford DK,Alkana RL,Davies DL - Targets for ethanol action and antagonism in loop 2 of the extracellular domain of glycine receptors. - J Neurochem [2008] Aug;106(3):1337-49 -PubMed
Crawford DK,Trudell JR,Bertaccini EJ,Li K,Davies DL,Alkana RL - Evidence that ethanol acts on a target in Loop 2 of the extracellular domain of alpha1 glycine receptors. - J Neurochem [2007] Sep;102(6):2097-109 -PubMed
Davies DL,Kuo ST,Alkana RL - Differential effects of propofol and ethanol on P2X4 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. - Int Congr Ser [2005] Nov;1283():285-287 -PubMed