Susan Epstein Leeman

Research focuses on the two peptides, substance P (SP) and neurotensin, that were isolated and chemically defined in this laboratory. Projects underway relating to the biochemistry and pharmacology of SP includes studies probing the functional domains of the SP receptor using photoactivatable derivatives of SP and photoactivatable antagonists of SP; the role of SP in inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract using non-peptide SP antagonists to inhibit intestinal responses to Clostridium difficile Toxin A; the characterization of calcium signals generated by administration of SP to CHO cells transfected with mRNA encoding the full-length of SP receptor and a truncated form of the SP receptor missing the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail; the effects of selected steroids and cannabinoids on these calcium generated signals.