Pharmacology Faculty

Timothy F. Walseth, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology

email me

Publications

Research Interests

Dr. Walseth and colleagues are studying the role of cyclic ADP-ribose in several systems. Cyclic ADP-ribose, a recently discovered metabolite of NAD+, is a potent mediator of intracellular calcium release. The regulation of intracellular concentration of calcium ions is a critical process in all cells. Many hormones and neurotransmitters regulate the intracellular calcium concentrations by a variety of mechanisms, including calcium-induced calcium release, inositol phosphate-induced calcium release, and calcium influx through plasma membrane calcium channels. Pharmacological evidence has implicated cyclic ADP-ribose in the regulation of the calcium-induced calcium release mechanism. One of the goals of the laboratory is to further define the role of CADPR in calcium homeostasis.

Current research efforts are involved in characterizing CADPR metabolism and function in several systems. These efforts are focused on: 1) synthesis and characterization of antagonists of cyclic ADPribose function; 2) purification and characterization of cyclic ADP-ribose binding proteins; 3) purification of ADP-ribosyl cyclase, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cyclic ADP ribose; and 4) examination of agents that regulate the intracellular levels of cyclic ADP-ribose.

The laboratory is also investigating transmembrane signaling events involving guanine nucleotide binding proteins. Specifically, the role of pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding proteins in glucose-induced insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells is being studied.