Education:

Ph.D., 1992. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thesis title: “The Mechanisms of Quisqualic Acid Induced Sensitization of Hippocampal Slices to Depolarization by L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid”

B.S., 1982. St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota

Experience:

My laboratory is interested in the structure and function of ligand gated ion channels.  Long term goals of the laboratory include elucidation of structural features responsible for ligand binding, channel opening and stabilization of different conformations of these receptors.  We are currently focusing on the ligand binding domain of the 5-HT3 receptor.  Mutagenesis studies of these receptors have identified several amino acids that appear to interact with ligands, however, specific functional group interactions have not been confirmed.  Our research is aimed at identifying the specific amino acids that bind each functional group on the ligand.  In collaboration with Dr. Karen Kirschbaum's laboratory, we have developed a series of novel compounds that enable us to probe these interactions.  We have successfully identified amino acids that interact with two functional groups of 5-HT3R antagonists and are in the process of refining our knowledge of these interactions.  Our future goal is to utilize molecular modelling techniques to determine the 3 dimensional relationships between different interacting amino acids.
(This work is supported by a grant from the Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association).

A second area of interest centers on the action of general anesthetics on ligand gated ion channels.  It is has been demonstrated that many of the effects attributed to general anesthetics are due to their direct interaction with this class of receptor proteins.  General anesthetics exhibit a wide range of effects on ligand gated ion channels including alterations in desensitization rates, ion conductance and agonist affinities.  Determination of the specific molecular mechanism of general anesthetics will increase our knowledge about the basic functional properties of ligand gated ion channels and provide more insight into potential complications resulting from administration of these commonly used drugs.  This research will also provide drug developers with important information that can be used to develop better drugs with fewer side effects, thus reducing the risks to patients.
(This work is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation).
  

Research in our laboratory incorporates a broad spectrum of techniques including:  cloning, site directed mutagenesis, construction of chimeric receptors, PCR techniques, DNA sequencing,  mammalian cell culture, receptor binding, whole cell patch clamp, single channel recording and extracellular electrophysiology.  Students in the lab are exposed to many of these techniques in the course of their research and are encouraged to participate in laboratory discussions and meetings.  UAF students interested in participating in our research should contact Dr. Schulte (ffmks@uaf.edu).  We encourage participation from secondary education teachers.  Through support from the National Science Foundation, our laboratory offers summer research stipends for interested undergraduates, high school students and science teachers. (If you are a science teacher and wish to participate in a summer research project in our laboratory at UAF, please contact Dr. Schulte for more information.)

Asha Suryanarayanan:  Graduate Research Assistant  (Ph. D. Candidate)
Prasad Joshi:  Graduate Research Assistant    (Ph.D. Candidate)