My research focuses on the molecular pharmacology of human alpha2-adrenoceptors and octopamine receptors of the barnacle Balanus improvisus.

Octopamine receptors of insects represent counterparts of the adrenoceptors in vertebrate animals. The alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine, known as a veterinary sedative agent, was discovered to inhibit the settling process of barnacles by inducing hyperactivity in the barnacle larvae. Our goal is to find compounds that activates only octopamine receptors of the Balanus improvisus but not the alpha2-adrenoceptors of vertebrates. These compounds could act as an antifouling agents. For this purpose we have developed novel cell-based screening and profiling assays to identify selective compounds for these receptors.

In addition, our interest is to study the ligand binding properties at human alpha2-adrenoceptors. For this purpose we have cell lines expressing the three subtypes of human alpha2-adrencoeptors.