Gregg E. Homanics, Ph.D.
Professor, Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Chemical Biology- Ph.D. North Carolina State University (1991)
- Office: 6060 Biomedical Science Tower-3
- Telephone:412-648-8172
- Fax:412-383-5267
- E-mail: HomanicsGE@anes.upmc.edu
- Website:
Mechanisms of alcohol and anesthetic action.
Research Summary:
Dr. Homanics' laboratory utilizes the latest techniques in molecular genetics and embryo biotechnology to genetically engineer mice with precise modifications in genes of interest. Using gene targeting in embryonic stem cells, he is able to create mice with specific mutations in any known gene. Mice such as these are being used to model complex human diseases and to understand basic issues in biology. Investigations are currently focused on mice with defined mutations in genes involved in the GABA and glycine neurotransmitter pathways. These mice are providing novel insights into the mechanism(s) of action of alcohol and general anesthetics.
Trainees in Dr. Homanics' laboratory have the opportunity to use molecular biology and embryonic stem cell culture techniques to create genetically engineered mice. Such mice are subsequently analyzed using molecular biology, pharmacology, histology, and numerous whole animal behavioral assays.
Selected Publications:
Chandra. D., Werner, D.F., Olsen, R.W., Harrison, N.L. and Homanics, G.E. Normal acute behavioral responses to moderate/high dose ethanol in GABAA receptor α4 subunit knockout mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 32: 10-18, 2008.
Sonner, J.M., Werner, D.F., Elsen, F.P., Xing, Y., Liao, M., Harris, R.A., Harrison, N.L., Fanselow, M.S., Eger, E.I. and Homanics, G.E. Effect of isoflurane and other potent inhaled anesthetics on minimum alveolar concentration, learning, and the righting reflex in mice engineered to express α1 γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors unresponsive to isoflurane. Anesthesiology 106: 107-113, 2007.
Glykys, J., Peng, Z., Chandra, D., Homanics, G.E., Houser, C.R. and Mody, I. A novel naturally occuring GABAA receptor partnership with high sensitivity to ethanol. Nat Neurosci 10: 40-48, 2007.
Ferguson, C., Hardy, S.L., Werner, D.F., Hileman, S.M., DeLorey, T.M. and Homanics, G.E. New insight into the role of the β3 subunit of the GABAA-R in development, behavior, body weight regulation, and anesthesia revealed by conditional gene knockout. BMC Neurosci: 85, 2007.
Chandra, D., Jia, F., Liang, J., Peng, Z., Suryanarayanan, A., Werner, D.F., Spigelman, I., Houser, C.R., Olsen, R.W., Harrison, N.L. and Homanics, G.E. GABAA receptor α4 subunits mediate extrasynaptic inhibition in thalamus and dentate gyrus and the action of gaboxadol. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103: 15230-15235, 2006.