Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics

Michaela Jansen, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics

Pharm.D. 1997

Ph.D. 2001

both Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany

Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3601 4th Street, STOP 6551
Lubbock, Texas 79430
Phone: (806) 743-4059
FAX: (806) 743-1512
Email: Michaela.Jansen@ttuhsc.edu

Jansen Laboratory

Papers in Press

Goyal R, Salahudeen A, Jansen M. Engineering a prokaryotic Cys-loop receptor with a third functional domain. J Biol Chem 2011 In Press

Research Interests

Research in the Jansen laboratory currently focuses on structure and function studies of ligand-gated ion channels and transporters. We are especially interested in the so called Cys Loop receptors. These receptors function mainly as neurotransmitter receptors, transforming the chemical signal contained in the neurotransmitter into an electrical signal. The superfamily of Cys Loop receptors has a variety of members, that are named after the ligand that opens (gates) them. Cys Loop receptors are targeted by a variety of clinically used drugs.

Receptor:	Ligand:	Clinically targeted for:
nAChR	Acetylcholine	Treatment of Nicotine addiction, Alzheimer's Disease
GABA_A	gamma-Aminobutyric acid	Treatment of Epilepsy, Anaesthesia, Muscle spasms, Anxiolytics
5-HT_3A	5-hydroxytryptamine = serotonine	Treatment of Depression, Nausea in Chemotherapy

Funding

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to reduce the burden of neurological disease - a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.

The purpose of the South Plains Foundation research grant program is to encourage medical research focused on some aspect of health care or human services.

Recent Publications

	Goyal R, Salahudeen A, Jansen M. Engineering a prokaryotic Cys-loop receptor with a third functional domain. J Biol Chem 2011 In Press
	Bauman A, Piel M, Hohnemann S, Krauss A, Jansen M, Solbach C, Dannhardt G, Rosch F. Synthesis, labelling and evaluation of hydantoin-substituted indole carboxylic acids as potential ligands for PET-Imaging of the glycine binding site of the NMDA-receptor. J Label Compd. Radiopharm 2011 In Press.
	Bali M, Jansen M, Akabas MH. GABA-induced intersubunit conformational movement in the GABAA receptor alpha1M1-beta2M3 transmembrane subunit interface: experimental basis for homology modeling of an intravenous anesthetic binding site. J Neurosci 2009 Mar 11; 29(10): 3083-3092
	Wiltfong RE, Jansen M. Probing Protein Packing Surrounding the Residues in and Flanking the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor M2M3 Loop. J Neurosci 2009 Feb 11; 29(6): 1626-1635
	Jansen M, Rabe H, Strehle A, Dieler S, Debus F, Dannhardt G, Akabas MH, Luddens H. Synthesis of GABAA Receptor Agonists and Evaluation of their alpha-Subunit Selectivity and Orientation in the GABA Binding Site.J Med Chem 2008 Aug 14; 51(15):4430-4448. Supporting Info
	Zhao R, Qiu A, Tsai E, Jansen M, Akabas MH, Goldman ID. The proton-coupled folate transporter: impact on pemetrexed transport and on antifolates activities compared with the reduced folate carrier.>Mol Pharm 2008 Sep; 74(3):854-862.
	Jansen M, Bali M, Akabas MH. Modular Design of Cys-loop Ligand-Gated Ion Channels: Functional 5-HT3 and GABA rho1 Receptors Lacking the Large Cytoplasmic M3-M4 Loop. J Gen Physiol 2008 Feb; 131(2):137-146
	Qiu A, Min S, Jansen M, Malhotra U, Tsai E, Cabelof DC, Matherly L, Zhao R, Akabas MH, Goldman ID. Rodent intestinal folate transporters (SLC46A1): secondary structure, functional properties, response to dietary folate restriction. Am J Physiol - Cell Physiol 2007 Nov; 293(5):C1669-78.
	Qiu A, Jansen M, Sakaris A, Min SH, Chattopadhyay S, Tsai E, Sandoval C, Zhao R, Akabas MH, Goldman ID. Identification of an intestinal folate transporter and the molecular basis for hereditary folate malabsorption. Cell 2006 Dec 1;127(5):917-28.
	Jansen M, Akabas MH. State-dependent cross-linking of the M2 and M3 segments: functional basis for the alignment of GABA_A and acetylcholine receptor M3 segments. J Neurosci 2006 Apr 26;26(17):4492-9.
	Reeves DC, Jansen M, Bali M, Lemster T, Akabas MH. A Role for the beta₁-beta₂ Loop in the Gating of 5-HT3 Receptors. J Neurosci 2005 25 (41); 9358-9366.