Molecules
and Pathways for Pain
Physical contact with the external world is communicated to
the brain by the primary somatosensory system. We have discovered
a family of G-protein-coupled receptors, called Mrgs, that mark
highly specific subsets of primary sensory neurons in dorsal root
ganglia. These neurons project specifically to the skin among
all the possible somatic and visceral targets innervated by sensory
neurons. Our research combines anatomical, behavioral, biochemical,
genetic and physiological approaches (in collaboration with the
Simon laboratory at Caltech and the Basbaum laboratory at UCSF)
to map and functionally dissect the neural circuitry identified
by expression of the Mrgs, and understand its role in coding both
pleasant and unpleasant sensory stimuli.
Recent publications
Zylka, M. J., Rice, F. L., and Anderson, D. J.(2005) Topographic segregation of nociceptive sensory fiber subsets projecting to epidermis and spinal cord revealed by axonal tracers genetically targeted to Mrgprd. Neuron 45, 17-25.
[Pubmed]
Han, S. K., Dong, X., Hwang, J. I., Zylka, M. J., Anderson, D. J. and Simon, M. I. (2002). Orphan G protein-coupled receptors MrgA1 and MrgC11 are distinctively activated by RF-amide-related peptides through the Galpha q/11 pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99, 14740-5.
[Pubmed]
Dong, X., Han, S., Zylka, M. J., Simon, M. I. and Anderson, D. J. (2001). A diverse family of GPCRs expressed in specific subsets of nociceptive sensory neurons. Cell 106, 619-32.
[Pubmed]
