Mark Connor
Professor
Pharmacology
Macquarie University
Australia
Biography
My lab focuses on the receptors and ion channels that are the target of drugs which relieve pain or other neurological conditions, or which are otherwise (mis)used for their psychoactive properties. In particular, my lab focuses on the molecular actions of cannabinoids, including the constituents of marijuana and novel illicit synthetic cannabinoids. We are also interested in how therapeutic opioids act at common variants of the human µ-opioid receptor. We study the signaling and regulation of receptors, and are keen to in identify novel actions of currently used drugs, or new compounds that act at important drug targets. We primarily use electrophysiology and high throughput fluorescent assays to study the effects of drugs on recombinant human proteins in living cells.
Research Interest
Opioid and cannabinoid receptor signalling Effects of natural variants of opioid receptors on drug action Molecular targets of cannabis constituents Illicit synthetic cannabinoids Opioid receptors in cancer
Publications
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The pharmacology of indole and indazole synthetic cannabinoid designer drugs AB-FUBINACA, ADB-FUBINACA, AB-PINACA, ADB-PINACA, 5F-AB-PINACA, 5F-ADB-PINACA, ADBICA and 5F-ADBICA.
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Distinct Temporal Fingerprint for Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) Signalling of Indole-2-carboxamides as Allosteric Modulators of the Cannabinoid Receptors.
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Identification of N-arachidonoyl dopamine as a highly biased ligand at cannabinoid CB1 receptors.
