Pierce Laboratory Research

AVP and OT analog pharmacological signatures at OTR and V1aR

​ Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are neuropeptides that bind to G-protein coupled receptors and influence social behavior. Integrative studies of behavior, genetics and ligand-receptor interaction are crucial for translating signaling activation at the cellular level to effects of AVP and OT ligands on social behavior.

PROTOCOLS
SH-SY5Y Culture Protocol
hOTR-CHO Culture Protocol
FLIPR Fluo8-AM Working Protocol
FLIPR FMP Blue Working Protocol

Marine Natural Products and Drug Discovery

Approximately half of all current drugs are derived from natural products, demonstrating their potential for drug discovery. I assess the pharmacological effects of marine natural products on calcium, sodium and potassium ions in primary cortical cultures, using high throughput screening methodology.

​PROTOCOLS
Calcium Influx & Oscillations

MiRNAs in neurosensory
development,
​maintenance, and function

The miR-183 family gene cluster including miR-183, miR-96, and miR-182 is highly conserved among vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, and the miRNAs are coordinately expressed with marked specificity in sensory neurons and sensory epithelial cells. I study the role of this microRNA family in development, maintenance and function.

​PROTOCOLS
​DIG-labeling LNA probes
In situ hybridization-LNA probes
Generating Riboprobes
​In situ hybridization-riboprobes