Tsung Ping Su, Ph.D.

The Cellular Pathobiology section examines the cellular and molecular biological mechanisms whereby addictive processes might be formed. Specifically, the laboratory studies how psychostimulants might utilize signaling molecules at the protein synthesizing organelle the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the cellular powerhouse mitochondria (MITO) to alter neuronal infrastructures and morphometries that ultimately favor the formation of addictive processes. The laboratory uses three levels of living systems to address and test relevant hypotheses: cell lines, primary neuronal systems, and rodents. The rodent studies are from collaborative efforts with other sections at the institute. The techniques employed in the laboratory include molecular biological manipulation of proteins, FRET, Ca2+ dynamics assays and imaging, protein trafficking studies with fluorescence imaging and pulse-chase experiments, neuronal morphometric studies with confocal microscope, and bio-signal engineerings. The laboratory currently focuses on a protein called the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) that resides specifically at the ER-MITO interface of cells and is implicated in alterations of neuronal structures and in the addiction of cocaine and methamphetamine. Ongoing projects include: (1) mechanisms of action of Sig-1Rs as ligand-regulated molecular chaperones in bioenergenetics and cell survival; (2) roles of Sig-1Rs in lipid raft formation; (3) metabolic engineering on intracellular signaling pathways; (4) roles of Sig-1Rs in the regulation of ER stress; (5) Sig-1R regulation of dendritic spine and axon formations in the brain; and (6) roles of Sig-1Rs in the self-administration of cocaine and methamphetamine in the rat.