Education:
BA 1970 Biology- Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
PhD 1975 Biophysics - University of Rochester, New York
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:
1975-1976 Yale University, New Haven, Conneticut
1976-1980 Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusettes
Started at USC: 1980
Research Topics: Membranes & Transport, Protein Chemistry/Enzymology, Cellular Neurobiology, Physiology
Research Description
Our lab is interested in proteins that facilitate the transport of ions and solutes across cell membranes. We are particularly interested to understand how the structures of these transport proteins define the mechanisms of transport. Much of our work concerns the structure and mechanism of the P-type ATPases such as the Na,K-ATPase, Ca-ATPase, and the gastric H,K-ATPase, proteins that utilize energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to actively transport Na+, K+, Ca2+, and H+ across cell membranes. We are also investigating the properties of the Na+- and Cl- -coupled serotonin transporter (SERT). SERT removes serotonin from synapses to terminate serotoninergic transmission in the nervous system, and is also the receptor for drugs like Prozac, cocaine, and ecstasy. SERT displays properties of both an alternating access transport mechanism and a channel, and we are working to determine the structural basis for these observations. The third transporter under investigation in our lab is the intestinal oligopeptide transporter PepT1. PepT1 recognizes and transports all combinations of dipeptide and tripeptide substrates and certain drugs such as ?-lactam antibiotics. Because of its broad substrate specificity, PepT1 represents a potential route for the oral uptake of peptide-linked pharmaceuticals, and information about its structure and mechanism of transport will be important to design these new drugs.
Selected Publications
Pyrko P, Kardosh A, Liu YT, Soriano N, Xiong W, Chow RH, Uddin J, Petasis NA, Mircheff AK, Farley RA, Louie SG, Chen TC, Schönthal AH. - Calcium-activated endoplasmic reticulum stress as a major component of tumor cell death induced by 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib, a non-coxib analogue of celecoxib. - Mol Cancer Ther [ 2007 ] Apr;6(4):1262-1275 . PubMed
Nagy AK, Kane DJ, Tran CM, Farley RA, Faller LD. - Evidence calcium pump binds magnesium before inorganic phosphate. - J Biol Chem [ 2005 ] Mar 4;280(9):7435-43 . PubMed
Xu G, Kane DJ, Faller LD, Farley RA. - The role of loop 6/7 in folding and functional performance of Na,K-ATPase. - J Biol Chem [ 2004 ] Oct 29;279(44):45594-602 . PubMed
Gukasyan HJ, Kim KJ, Kannan R, Farley RA, Lee VH. - Specialized protective role of mucosal glutathione in pigmented rabbit conjunctiva. - Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [ 2003 ] Oct;44(10):4427-38 . PubMed
Faller LD, Nagy AK, Kane DJ, Farley RA. - Mechanism of phosphoryl group transfer. - Ann N Y Acad Sci [ 2003 ] Apr;986:275-7 . PubMed
Xu G, Farley RA, Kane DJ, Faller LD. - Site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in the cytoplasmic loop 6/7 of Na,K-ATPase. - Ann N Y Acad Sci [ 2003 ] Apr;986:96-100 . PubMed
