The Booth lab focuses on elucidation of structural chemical requirements and biochemical events associated with activation of G protein-coupled monoaminergic neurotransmitter receptors (dopamine, histamine) that may lead to novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies in neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, addiction) and neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease). Studies focus on elucidation of biochemical events initiated by novel heterocyclic amine compounds that activate brain receptor systems (e.g., adenosine, dopamine, histamine, sigma). These studies include structure-activity relationships for ligand recognition and functional characterization of receptor subtypes using novel radioligands developed in the Neuromedicinal Chemistry Laboratory. The synthetic organic chemistry program of the lab has produced interesting molecules for neuropharmacological studies that yield data useful in computer-assisted molecular modeling studies of brain receptor systems. Molecular characterization of signal transduction mechanisms, brain receptor mapping studies, and functional effects associated with known and novel brain receptor subtypes are key programs in the lab.



Current Projects:
        The novel compound (±)-trans-1-phenyl-3-N,N-dimethylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (H2-PAT) was synthesized and the racemic mixture was resolved to afford the active (-)-trans-enantiomer, that was subsequently radiolabeled to yield [3H]-(-)-trans-H2-PAT. This novel radioligand was used to map the distribution of histamine H1-type receptors in the brain that are hypothesized to regulate synthesis of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter important in psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, depression, addiction) and degenerative disorders (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease).



Bovine Rhodopsin GPCR - the only known crystal structure of a GPCR.

To obtain a current listing from the NCBI of Dr. Booth's publications.