Lakshmi A. Devi
- DEAN FOR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT
- PROFESSOR Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics
- PROFESSOR Neuroscience
- PROFESSOR Psychiatry
Print Profile
Research Topics
Training Areas
Education
M.Sc., University of Mysore
Biological SciencesPh.D., University of Windsor
BiologyPostdoctoral Fellowship, Addiction Research Foundation
NeurobiologyPostdoctoral Fellowship, Vollum Institute
Molecular Biology
Biography
Dr. Devi is Professor of the Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Psychiatry and Neuroscience departments. She is the Dean for Academic Development and Enrichment as well as Director of the Interdisciplinary Training in Drug Abuse Research Program.
Throughout her career, she has been interested in several lines of research, including receptor dimerization, regulation of peptide biosynthesis and opiate addiction. Part of her research focus is to explore mechanisms underlying opiate and cannabinoid receptor activation using a combination of molecular biological, biochemical, cell biological, pharmacological and behavioral techniques. Some of the projects in her lab also use a combination of classic and modern techniques in molecular pharmacology to explore the novel pharmacology of receptor heterodimers, and/or cutting-edge neuroproteomic techniques to analyze morphine induced changes in the levels of synaptic proteins and neuropeptides.
For more information, please visit the Devi Laboratory website.
In the News
Mount Sinai Researchers Identify New Receptor in Brain Important for Controlling Obesity
Chemical Compound Shows Promise as Alternative to Opioid Pain Relievers
Researchers Identify New Therapeutic Targets to Improve Pain Management After Chronic Morphine Administration
Research
1. Opioid receptor dimerization, pharmacology, and signaling2. Neuroendocrine peptide biosynthesis and processing
3. Neuroproteomics of the synapse and opiate addiction
One of the research projects in the Devi Laboratory is focused on exploring the molecular mechanisms and the functional implications of opioid receptor dimerization. Opioid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin. Recently, we discovered that opioid receptors associate with each other and with other members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. This leads to changes in the pharmacological and signaling properties of the receptors, including ligand affinity, potency, and receptor trafficking. Thus, receptor-receptor interactions represent a novel mechanism for modulating opioid receptor function. We are currently investigating the physiological relevance of dimerization, as well as screening for drugs that target receptor heterodimers. Another research project is directed toward understanding the regulation of neuroendocrine peptide biosynthesis. Most neuroendocrine peptides, including opioid peptides, are synthesized from precursor proteins. Post-translational processing of these precursors is a key step in the production of biologically active peptides. We are studying the regulation of endopeptidases and exopeptidases involved in the biosynthesis of neuroendocrine peptides. In addition, using transgenic animals lacking processing enzymes, we are isolating and identifying novel neuropeptides. Studies to characterize the function of these peptides and their receptors are currently underway. The most recent project in the laboratory involves the use of cutting-edge neuroproteomic and neuropeptidomic techniques to study opiate addiction. Although chronic opiate use is known to produce long-lasting neural adaptations, the mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. We are using modern proteomic techniques (such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, differential isotopic labeling, and MS/MS sequencing) to analyze morphine-induced changes in the levels of synaptic proteins and neuropeptides. This approach will serve as a starting point to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying opiate addiction, as proteins/peptides that are altered by morphine treatment are likely to be involved in opiate-induced plasticity.
Publications
Stockton SD, Devi LA. An integrated quantitative proteomics and systems biology approach to explore synaptic protein profile changes during morphine exposure. Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 Sep;.
Gomes I, Aryal DK, Wardman JH, Gupta A, Gagnidze K, Rodriguiz RM, Kumar S, Wetsel WC, Pintar JE, Fricker LD, Devi LA. GPR171 is a hypothalamic G protein-coupled receptor for BigLEN, a neuropeptide involved in feeding. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2013 Oct; 110(40).
Gomes I, Fujita W, Gupta A, Saldanha AS, Negri A, Pinello CE, Roberts E, Filizola M, Hodder P, Devi LA. Identification of a μ-δ opioid receptor heteromer-biased agonist with antinociceptive activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2013 Jul; 110(29).
Bushlin I, Gupta A, Stockton SD, Miller LK, Devi LA. Dimerization with cannabinoid receptors allosterically modulates delta opioid receptor activity during neuropathic pain. PLoS One 2012; 7(12).
Filizola M, Devi LA. Structural biology: How opioid drugs bind to receptors. Nature 2012 May; 485(7398).
Rozenfeld R, Bushlin I, Gomes I, Tzavaras N, Gupta A, Neves S, Battini L, Gusella GL, Lachmann A, Ma'ayan A, Blitzer RD, Devi LA. Receptor heteromerization expands the repertoire of cannabinoid signaling in rodent neurons. PLoS One 2012; 7(1).
Abul-Husn NS, Annangudi SP, Ma'ayan A, Ramos-Ortolaza DL, Stockton SD, Gomes I, Sweedler JV, Devi LA. Chronic morphine alters the presynaptic protein profile: identification of novel molecular targets using proteomics and network analysis. PLoS One 2011; 6(10).
Miller LK, Hou X, Rodriguiz RM, Gagnidze K, Sweedler JV, Wetsel WC, Devi LA. Mice deficient in endothelin-converting enzyme-2 exhibit abnormal responses to morphine and altered peptide levels in the spinal cord. Journal of Neurochemistry 2011 Dec; 119(5).
Rozenfeld R, Gupta A, Gagnidze K, Lim MP, Gomes I, Lee-Ramos D, Nieto N, Devi LA. AT1R-CB₁R heteromerization reveals a new mechanism for the pathogenic properties of angiotensin II. EMBO Journal 2011 Jun; 30(12).
Gomes I, Ijzerman AP, Ye K, Maillet EL, Devi LA. G protein-coupled receptor heteromerization: a role in allosteric modulation of ligand binding. Molecular Pharmacology 2011 Jun; 79(6).
Gupta A, Mulder J, Gomes I, Rozenfeld R, Bushlin I, Ong E, Lim M, Maillet E, Junek M, Cahill CM, Harkany T, Devi LA. Increased abundance of opioid receptor heteromers after chronic morphine administration. Science Signaling 2010 Jul; 3(131): ra54.
Moron JA, Gullapalli S, Taylor C, Gupta A, Gomes I, Devi LA. Modulation of opiate-related signaling molecules in morphine-dependent conditioned behavior: Conditioned place preference to morphine induces CREB phosphorylation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2010 Mar; 35(4): 955-966.
Gomes I, Grushko JS, Golebiewska U, Hoogendoorn S, Gupta A, Heimann AS, Ferro ES, Scarlata S, Fricker LD, Devi LA. Novel endogenous peptide agonists of cannabinoid receptors. FASEB J 2009 Sep; 23(9): 3020-3029.
Abul-Husn NS, Bushlin I, Moron JA, Jenkins SL, Dolios G, Wang R, Iyengar R, Ma'ayan A, Devi LA. Systems approach to explore components and interactions in the presynapse. Proteomics 2009 June; 9(12): 3303-3315.
Decaillot FM, Rozenfeld R, Gupta A, Devi LA. Cell surface targeting of mu-delta opioid receptor heterodimers by RTP4. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008 Oct; 105(41): 16045-16050.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Devi during 2012 and/or 2013. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Other Activities: Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership.
- Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
Annenberg Building Floor 19 Room 19-90 (Lab)
1468 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10029
Fax: 212-996-7214
Annenberg Building Floor 19 Room 19-84 (Office)
1468 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10029
Fax: 212-996-7214
Annenberg Building Floor 19 Room 19-86 (Lab)
1468 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10029
Fax: 212-996-7214