Gender	Female
E-mail	ivone.gomes@mssm.edu
Education and Training	Ph.D., All India Institute of Medical Sciences
	M.Sc., Bombay University
	B.Sc., Bombay University
Awards	1987 - 1992 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Ph.D. Fellowship

View Additional Publications and Presentations (pdf)

Education and Training	Ph.D., All India Institute of Medical Sciences
	M.Sc., Bombay University
	B.Sc., Bombay University

Exploration of the functional implications of the heterodimerization between opioid receptors and other G-protein coupled receptors
My primary research interests include the investigation of G-protein coupled receptor cross-talk and mechanisms involved in G-protein coupled receptor heterodimerization/oligomerization. We have shown that two functional receptors- mu and delta opioid receptors- associate with each other (i.e. heterodimerize) to form complexes with pharmacological and signaling properties quite distinct from each individual receptor. Occupancy of the delta opioid receptor with a low non-activating dose of selective delta drugs increases the binding and signaling properties of agonists acting at the mu receptors. This work provides a model for the development of a new generation of narcotic analgesics which would have a lower tendency to induce side-effects such as addiction and tolerance. We have also shown that mu opioid receptor signaling can be modulated by heterodimerization with either alpha 2A or CB1 cannabinoid receptors. We are currently investigating the mechanisms involved as well as the physiological relevance of receptor heterodimerization.

Jordan BA, Gomes I, Rios C, Filipovska J, Devi LA. Functional interactions between mu opioid and alpha 2A-adrenergic receptors. Mol Pharmacol 2003 Dec; 64(6): 1317-1324.

Filipovska J, Gomes I, Xu W, Chen C, Liu-Chen LY, Devi LA. Recombinant opioid receptors. Structure-function relationship. Methods Mol Med 2003; 84: 185-203.

Gomes I, Filipovska J, Devi LA. Opioid receptor oligomerization. Detection and functional characterization of interacting receptors. Methods Mol Med 2003; 84: 157-183.

Gomes I, Sharma SK. Uptake of liposomally entrapped adenosine-3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate in mouse brain. Neurochem Res 2004 Feb; 29(2): 441-446.

Gomes I, Gupta A, Filipovska J, Szeto HH, Pintar JE, Devi LA. A role for heterodimerization of mu and delta opiate receptors in enhancing morphine analgesia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004 Apr 6; 101(14): 5135-5139.

Taylor C, Fricker AD, Devi LA, Gomes I. Mechanisms of action of antidepressants: from neurotransmitter systems to signaling pathways [review]. Cell Signal 2005 May; 17(5): 549-557.

Abul-Husn NS, Gupta A, Devi LA, Gomes I. Modulation of receptor pharmacology by G-protein coupled receptor dimerization. In: Devi LA, editor. The G-Protein Coupled Receptors Handbook. Totowa, NJ, Humana Press; 2005. pp323-345.

Fricker AD, Rios C, Devi LA, Gomes I. Serotonin receptor activation leads to neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 2005 Aug 18; 138(2): 228-35.

He JC, Gomes I, Nguyen T, Jayaram G, Ram PT, Devi LA, Iyengar R. The Galpha o/i coupled cannabinoid receptor mediated neurite outgrowth involves Rap regulation of Src and Stat3. J Biol Chem 2005 Sep 30; 280(39): 33426-34.

Jordan JD, He JC, Eungdamrong NJ, Gomes I, Ali W, Nguyen T, Bivona TG, Philips MR, Devi LA, Iyengar R. Cannabinoid receptor induced neurite outgrowth is mediated by Rap1 activation through Galphao/I-triggered proteasomal degradation of Rap1GAPIL. J Biol Chem 2005 Mar 25; 280(12): 11413-11421.