The Laboratory of Biochemistry of Cell Signaling is localized at LAPIC, Chemistry Institute of the University of São Paulo and has as a main goal understand the signal transduction pathways involved in pain for the development of new non-opioid analgesics.
Analyzing mutations in TrkA the tyrosine kinase coupled e high affinity NGF receptor, in patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), and thus these patients don't feel pain, we identified the PLCg pathway activated by TrkA as a key pathway for pain signaling. We developed a peptide that inhibits this signaling pathway. This peptide has an analgesic effect in animal models of inflammatory pain. Using multidisciplinary approaches that involve structural biology, physiology, embryology, biochemistry, chemistry and cell biology and several collaborators in Brazil and world wide we are looking at the effects of this peptide in other animal pain models, understanding how mutations in TrkA can affect the development of the peripheral nociceptive nervous system and identifying other signaling pathways that may be affected by the peptide, and characterizing the effect of this pathway in pain. We are also developing strategies to find small molecules that can act like the peptide and can serve as leads to develop new analgesics.
We are a laboratory that values diversity, working together to achieve our goals.
We have opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students as well as post-docs to join us deborah@iq.usp.br
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https://lapic.iq.usp.br/en/bioquimica-da-sinalizacao-celular2.html
Ellam, E.A.; Alberto, E.J.; Mercau, M.E.; Pramio, D.T.; Bhat, K.M.; Philbrick , W.M. Schechtman, D.; Rothlin, C.V. & Ghosh, S.Functional roles of neural aPKCs in mouse brain development and survival
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