Dr. Laurie Sutton
Assistant Professor · Tenure-Track
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
She/Her/Hers/Herself
About
I am a neuroscientist and pharmacologist whose work spans from the cellular actions of neuropsychiatric drugs to the circuit-level mechanisms by which opioid systems shape mood and motivation. I received my B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo and completed my Ph.D. in Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario, where I investigated the cellular mechanisms of antipsychotic drugs. I then pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Marc Caron at Duke University and Dr. Kirill Martemyanov in the Neuroscience Department at The Scripps Research Institute. During this time, my research uncovered a behavioral role for the orphan G protein–coupled receptor GPR158 in depression-related phenotypes. My laboratory now investigates how activation of the opioid system induces dysphoria and aversive responses, with the goal of understanding how neuromodulatory circuits contribute to affective state and motivated behavior.
Research interests
My laboratory investigates how opioid signaling induces dysphoric and aversive states, with the goal of elucidating how this neuromodulatory system shapes emotion and affective behaviors.
Teaching interests
Cell biology, Neuroscience
Education
-
Ph D, Anatomy and Cell Biology
— University of Western Ontario (2011) Regulation of Akt and Wnt signalling by the dopamine D2 receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3
- MS, Anatomy and Cell Biology — University of Western Ontario (2005)
- BS, Biochemistry — University of Waterloo (2003)
Publications
- NF1-cAMP signaling dissociates cell type-specific contributions of striatal medium spiny neurons to reward valuation and motor control. 2019
- The signaling proteins GPR158 and RGS7 modulate excitability of L2/3 pyramidal neurons and control A-type potassium channel in the prelimbic cortex. 2019
- Homeostatic cAMP regulation by the RGS7 complex controls depression-related behaviors. 2019
- Orphan receptor GPR158 controls stress-induced depression. 2018
- NF1 Is a Direct G Protein Effector Essential for Opioid Signaling to Ras in the Striatum. 2016
- Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 7 Regulates Reward Behavior by Controlling Opioid Signaling in the Striatum. 2016
- Essential role of D1R in the regulation of mTOR complex1 signaling induced by cocaine. 2015