Su Guo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
of Biopharmaceutical
Sciences and
Pharmaceutical Chemistry



Contact Information:
guos@pharmacy.ucsf.edu
Tel: (415) 502-4949
Fax: (415) 502-8177
1550 4th Street
Rock Hall, Room 484D
Box 2811

Links:
Neuroscience
PIBS
Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction

Publications
Selected

Molecular and pharmacogenetic analysis of dopamine/noradrenaline systems and their related disorders

Our research interest is to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which vertebrate dopamine and noradrenaline systems are established and exert their function. Our approach is to apply the power of molecular genetics, in combination with pharmacological and behavioral analyses to the vertebrate model system for genetics, the zebrafish danio rerio. We have previously isolated a handful of zebrafish mutants that affect subsets of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons. Molecular characterizations of two mutations indicate the importance of transcription regulation in the determination of these neurons. Future work involves further characterization of the existing mutations at molecular, cellular, pharmacological and behavioral levels, and identification of additional mutations that disrupt the normal development and function of dopamine and noradrenaline systems. Our research will not only provide important insights into how these fundamental neurotransmitter systems work, but may also help to define the causes of dopamine/noradrenaline-related disorders such as Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and addictions, and lead to therapeutic interventions for these disorders.

Selected Publications:
Gerlai, R., Lahav, M., Guo, S., and A. Rosenthal (2000). Drinks like a fish: Zebra fish (Brachidanio rerio) as a behavior genetic model to study alcohol effects. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 67, 773-782.

Guo, S., Y. Yamaguchi, S. Schilbach, T. Wada, A. Goddard, J. Lee, D. French, H. Handa, and A. Rosenthal (2000). A regulator of transcriptional elongation, which is required for vertebrate neuronal development. Nature 408, 366-369.

Guo, S., J. Brush, H. Teraoka, A. Goddard, S.W. Wilson, M.C. Mullins, and A. Rosenthal (1999). Development of noradrenergic neurons in the zebrafish hindbrain requires BMP, FGF8 and the homeodomain protein Soulless/Phox2a. Neuron, Vol. 24, 555-566.

Guo, S., W. Driever, and A. Rosenthal (1999). Mutagenesis in zebrafish: studying the brain dopamine systems. Chapter 2.1.8, Handbook of Molecular Genetic Techniques for Brain and Behavior Research, Edited By Crusio and Gerlai. Elsevier Science BV.

Guo, S., S.W.Wilson, S.Cooke, A.B.Chitnis, W. Driever, and A. Rosenthal (1999). Mutations in the zebrafish unmask shared regulatory pathways controlling the development of catecholaminergic neurons. Developmental Biology 208: 473-487.