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Vassilios Papadopoulos, D.Pharm., Ph.D., F.A.A.S. Director, Research Institute of the McGill Univ. Health Centre; Professor, Dept. of Medicine Lab: Montreal General Hospital 1650 Cedar Ave, Room C10-148 Mtl., QC H3G 1A4 Canada Tel: 514-934-1934, ext. 44580 Fax: 514-934-8439 vassilios [dot] papadopoulos [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Email) |
Research
Research in my laboratory focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the initiation and maintenance of steroid biosynthesis in the adrenal, gonads and brain, in health and disease. We also examine the regulation of steroid biosynthesis, intracellular compartmentalization and homeostasis by hormones, chemicals, drugs, natural products and environmental factors. Our goal is to understand the pathophysiology of steroidogenesis and develop new tools for the treatment of diseases related to elevated or low steroid levels or alter subcellular steroid compartmentalization as a means to block disease acquisition and/or progression. In these studies we are using biochemical, pharmacological, and molecular methods as well animal models of disease to identify the physiological role of critical components of the steroidogenic pathway and identify pathological situations created by changes in the expression of these components in animals and humans. Drug design methods and molecular modeling help us modify existing chemical entities and generate novel ones targeted at key elements of the steroidogenic machinery. Our research has direct applications in reproduction and development, cancer, stress-related disorders, aging and brain related dysfunction, such as Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Representative publications:
Fan J, Liu J, Culty M, Papadopoulos V (2010) Acyl-coenzyme A binding domain containing protein ACBD3 (GCP60/PAP7): a new emerging signaling molecule. Progress in Lipid Research, in press.
Lecanu L, McCourty A, Sidahmed EK, Greeson J, Papadopoulos V (2010) Caprospinol reduces amyloid deposits and restores cognitive function. Neuroscience, 165:427-435.
Martinez–Arguelles DB, Culty M, Zirkin BR, Papadopoulos V (2009) In utero exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate decreases mineralocorticoid receptor expression in the adult testis. Endocrinology, 150:5575-5585.
Fan J, Rone MB, Papadopoulos V (2009) Translocator Protein 2 (TSPO2) is involved in cholesterol redistribution during erythropoiesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284:30484-30497.
Rone MB, Young JC, Liu J, Blonder J, Veenstra T, Papadopoulos V (2009) Targeting and insertion of the cholesterol-binding Translocator Protein (18-kDa) into the outer mitochondrial membrane. Biochemistry, 48:6909-6920.
Batarseh A, Giatzakis C, Papadopoulos V (2008) Phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate acting through protein kinase Cε induces translocator protein (18-kDa) Tspo gene expression. Biochemistry, 47:12886-12899.
Patchev VK, Bachurin SO, Fritzemeier K-H, Albers M, Papadopoulos V (2008) Neurotropic estrogens: Essential profile and endpoints for drug discovery. Drug Discovery Today, 13:734-747.
Culty M, Thuillier R, Li W, Wang Y, Martinez-Arguelles DB, Benjamin CG, Triantafillou KM , Zirkin BR, Papadopoulos V (2008) In utero exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exerts both short-term and long-lasting suppressive effects on testosterone production. Biology of Reproduction, 78:1018-1028.