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| James F. Battey, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator |
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Dr. Battey earned a B.S. from the California Institute of Technology and M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. Following residency training in pediatrics at Stanford he received postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School under the direction of Philip Leder. Dr. Battey came to NIH in 1983 as a Senior Staff Fellow and then Senior Investigator with NCI. In 1988 he moved to the NINDS as Chief of the Molecular Neuroscience Section and in 1992 returned to NCI to head the Molecular Structure Section of the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry. Dr. Battey was appointed Director of Intramural Research for NIDCD in 1995 and chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in 1996. He was appointed Director for NIDCD in 1998. Dr. Battey's laboratory focuses on the molecular genetic analysis of biologic responses mediated by mammalian bombesin-like peptides and their receptors.
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Staff:
- Lori L Hampton, B.S., Research Assistant, (301) 594-0213 hamptonl@nidcd.nih.gov
- Glenn Kroog, M.D., Research Assistant, (301) 594-0213 kroogg@nidcd.nih.gov
- Claudia Lattig, Postdoctoral Fellow, (301) 594-9128 lattig@nidcd.nih.gov
- Eduardo Sainz, B.S., Research Assistant, (301) 594-0213 sainze@nidcd.nih.gov
Research Interests:
Our section is interested in elucidating the structure, function, and regulation of G protein coupled receptors, the largest family of proteins in the genome that mediate intracellular signaling. Our attention is focused primarily on the bombesin receptor subfamily and candidate taste receptors.
BOMBESIN RECEPTOR FAMILY: Mammalian bombesin receptors mediate a wide spectrun of physiologic processes, including hormone release, smooth muscle contraction, and cell division. There are three different bombesin receptors with distinct structural and pharmacologic properties: the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, the neuromedin B receptor, and bombesin receptor subtype 3. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to define structural motifs critical for ligand binding, G protein coupling, and receptor activity. At the present time, we are using gene targeting strategies to determine the function of each receptor in the context of an intact mouse. In addition, we are exploring the role of phosphorylation and additional receptor binding proteins in regulating receptor activity.
TASTE RECEPTORS: We are collaborating with Dr. Susan Sullivan in creating a cDNA library enriched for cDNAs from transcripts selectively expressed in taste cells. About 20,000 clones from this library will be sequenced in an effort to identify novel molecules (receptors, G protein subunits, effectors, channels, etc.) that are selectively expressed in taste receptor cells. Candidate molecules will be assessed for their importance in mediating sense of taste.
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Contact Information:
Dr. James F. Battey
Office of the Director, NIDCD
G-protein Coupled Receptors' Section
Building 31, Room 3C02
9000 Rockville Pike, MSC 2320
Bethesda, MD 20892-2320
Telephone: (301) 402-0900 (office),
(301) 402-0900 (laboratory),
(301) 402-1590 (fax)
Email: batteyj@nidcd.nih.gov
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