David R. Sibley, Ph.D.

Senior Investigator

Molecular Neuropharmacology Section

NINDS

Building 35, Room 3A201
35 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-3723

301-496-9316

sibleyd@ninds.nih.gov

Research Topics

The long-term goal of the Molecular Neuropharmacology Section is the characterization of neurotransmitter receptor-mediated information transduction, and its regulation, across neuronal membranes. The primary model systems under investigation are those neurotransmitter receptors that are linked to their signal transduction pathways via guanine nucleotide binding regulatory (G) proteins with specific emphasis on dopamine receptor subtypes. Specific G proteins have been shown to link these receptors to the activation and inhibition of various nucleotide cyclases, phospholipases, and several ion channels. In order to characterize these receptors at the biochemical and molecular levels and study their regulation, there are several ongoing interrelated lines of research. Such projects include investigating receptor structure/function/pharmacology relationships, receptor-effector coupling mechanisms, G protein and beta-arrestin interactions, and molecular mechanisms of receptor desensitization and intracellular trafficking. We are also interested in using high throughput screening approaches to develop novel ligands for modulating dopamine receptor expression and signaling. Novel modulator compounds have been identified for D1, D2, and D3 receptor subtypes and are in various stages of development into drug candidates. These compounds may prove useful for novel pharmacological therapies for treating numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with aberrant dopaminergic signaling.

Biography

Dr. Sibley received his B.S. degree in Biology from San Diego State University and his Ph.D. in Physiology/Pharmacology from the University of California, San Diego where he worked with Ian Creese studying the ligand binding properties of dopamine receptors. He subsequently carried out postdoctoral work with Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University where he characterized adrenergic receptor regulatory mechanisms. Dr. Sibley moved to the NINDS in 1987 and was appointed Chief of the Molecular Neuropharmacology Section in 1992. His laboratory is currently investigating the molecular, cellular and biochemical properties of dopamine receptors and their role in neuronal signaling.

Selected Publications

  1. Free RB, Nilson AN, Boldizsar NM, Doyle TB, Rodriguiz RM, Pogorelov VM, Machino M, Lee KH, Bertz JW, Xu J, Lim HD, Dulcey AE, Mach RH, Woods JH, Lane JR, Shi L, Marugan JJ, Wetsel WC, Sibley DR. Identification and Characterization of ML321: A Novel and Highly Selective D(2) Dopamine Receptor Antagonist with Efficacy in Animal Models That Predict Atypical Antipsychotic Activity. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2023;6(1):151-170.
  2. Free RB, Cuoco CA, Xie B, Namkung Y, Prabhu VV, Willette BKA, Day MM, Sanchez-Soto M, Lane JR, Laporte SA, Shi L, Allen JE, Sibley DR. Pharmacological Characterization of the Imipridone Anticancer Drug ONC201 Reveals a Negative Allosteric Mechanism of Action at the D(2) Dopamine Receptor. Mol Pharmacol. 2021;100(4):372-387.
  3. Sanchez-Soto M, Verma RK, Willette BKA, Gonye EC, Moore AM, Moritz AE, Boateng CA, Yano H, Free RB, Shi L, Sibley DR. A structural basis for how ligand binding site changes can allosterically regulate GPCR signaling and engender functional selectivity. Sci Signal. 2020;13(617).
  4. Moritz AE, Free RB, Weiner WS, Akano EO, Gandhi D, Abramyan A, Keck TM, Ferrer M, Hu X, Southall N, Steiner J, Aubé J, Shi L, Frankowski KJ, Sibley DR. Discovery, Optimization, and Characterization of ML417: A Novel and Highly Selective D(3) Dopamine Receptor Agonist. J Med Chem. 2020;63(10):5526-5567.
  5. Luderman KD, Conroy JL, Free RB, Southall N, Ferrer M, Sanchez-Soto M, Moritz AE, Willette BKA, Fyfe TJ, Jain P, Titus S, Hazelwood LA, Aubé J, Lane JR, Frankowski KJ, Sibley DR. Identification of Positive Allosteric Modulators of the D(1) Dopamine Receptor That Act at Diverse Binding Sites. Mol Pharmacol. 2018;94(4):1197-1209.

Related Scientific Focus Areas

This page was last updated on Friday, July 28, 2023