Faculty Profile - UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Professional Summary:

I focus my research on the activation mechanisms of fast neurotransmitter receptors. We seek to define the activation pathway, modulatory mechanisms and structure-function relationships of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor to better understand the roles played by this protein in the brain.
NMDA receptors are the most abundant glutamate-stimulated, Ca2+-conducting ion channels in brain and spinal cord. They are the predominant molecular devices for controlling synaptic development and plasticity and govern memory and learning processes. Understanding the mechanisms that control their activity may lead to more effective strategies to treat neuropathies including stroke, neurodegenerative conditions, chronic pain and addiction as well as mental disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy.

Education and Training:

PhD, Biochemistry, University at Buffalo (1999)
MS, Biochemistry, University of Bucharest (1985)

Employment:

Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, SUNY (2010-present)
Assistant Professor, tenure track, Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, SUNY (2006–2010)
Research Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo (2004–2005)
Post Doctoral Fellow, Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo (2000–2004)

Awards and Honors:

AHA Established Investigator Award (2012)
Public Lecture (2011)
UB Exceptional Scholars – Young Investigator Award (2010)
NIH/NINDS Principal Investigator (2006)
NIH/NIDA NRSA (2001)

Research Expertise:

Affinity and efficacy of small molecule ligands
Biophysics of ion channels
Electrophysiology
Excitotoxicity
Gating mechanisms
Glutamatergic transmission
Ion transport
Ionotropic glutamate receptors
Learning and memory
Ligand gated ion-channels
Markov modeling
Molecular neurophysiology
Molecular neuroscience
Molecular pharmacology
Neurobiology
Neurodegeneration
Neurophysiology
NMDA RECEPTORS
Single-molecule techniques
Synaptic plasticity
Synaptic transmission

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:

January 2012–December 2016
Selective modulation of native NMDA receptor functions
American Heart Association
Role: Principal Investigator
$400,000
April 2011–March 2016
Probing Allosteric Surfaces of NMDA Receptors
NINDS
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,875,000
September 2010–May 2012
REACH-Calcium modulation of synaptic receptors
REACH
Role: Co-Investigator
$30,000
July 2006–April 2011
Allosteric Modulation of NMDA receptor
NINDS/RO1
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,700,000
June 2008–May 2010
NMDA receptors with restricted mobility of ligand-binding domains
NIDA/RO3
Role: Principal Investigator
$144,000
July 2005–June 2009
Modulation of NMDA receptor by neurosteroids
American Heart Association
Role: Principal Investigator
$160,000
August 2001–August 2004
NMDA Receptor: kinetic modeling and mapping of the glutamate-binding domain
NIH/NRSA F32
Role: Principal Investigator
$120,000

See All (7 Total) >

Journal Articles:

Yu H, Popescu GK. Inhibition of GluN2A-containing NMDA Receptors by 2-Naphthoic Acid. Mol Pharmacol. 2013.
Maki BA, Cole R, Popescu GK. Two serine residues on GluN2A C-terminal tails control NMDA receptor current decay times. Channels (Austin). 2013; 7(2).
Borschel WF, Myers JM, Kasperek EM, Smith TP, Graziane NM, Nowak LM, Popescu GK. Gating reaction mechanism of neuronal NMDA receptors. J Neurophysiol. 2012; 108(11).
Amico-Ruvio SA, Paganelli MA, Myers JM, Popescu GK. Ifenprodil Effects on GluN2B-Containing Glutamate Receptors. Mol Pharmacol. 2012; 82(6).
Maki BA, Aman TK, Amico-Ruvio SA, Kussius CL, Popescu GK. C-terminal Domains of N-Methyl-D-aspartic Acid Receptor Modulate Unitary Channel Conductance and Gating. J Biol Chem. 2012; 287(43).
Murthy SE, Shogan T, Page JC, Kasperek EM, Popescu GK. Probing the activation sequence of NMDA receptors with lurcher mutations. J Gen Physiol. 2012; 140(3).
Popescu GK. Modes of glutamate receptor gating. J Physiol. 2012; 590(Pt 1).
Borschel WF, Murthy SE, Kasperek EM, Popescu GK. NMDA receptor activation requires remodelling of intersubunit contacts within ligand-binding heterodimers. Nat Commun. 2011; 2.
Amico-Ruvio SA, Murthy SE, Smith TP, Popescu GK. Zinc effects on NMDA receptor gating kinetics. Biophys J. 2011; 100(8).
Popescu GK Murthy, SE Borschel, WF. Allosteric inhibitors of NMDA receptor functions. Pharmaceuticals. 2010.
Kussius CK Popescu GK. NMDA receptors with locked ligand-binding clefts open with high efficacy. J Neuroscience. 2010.
Popescu GK, Amico-Ruvio SA. Stationary gating patterns of GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptors in intact membrane patches. Biophysical Journal. 2010; 98(7).
Popescu GK, Popescu AM, Kussius CL. Agonist-specific Action at NMDA Receptors. Channels (Austin). 2010; 4(2).
Kussius CL, Popescu GK. Kinetic basis of partial agonism at NMDA receptors. Nat Neurosci. 2009; 12(9).
Kussius CL, Kaur N, Popescu GK. Pregnanolone sulfate promotes desensitization of activated NMDA receptors. J Neurosci. 2009; 29(21).
Wei Zhang, James. R. Howe, Gabriela K. Popescu. Distinct gating modes determine the biphasic relaxation of NMDA receptor currents. Nature Neuroscience. 2008.
Popescu G. Principles of NMDA receptor allosteric modulation. Molecular Pharmacology. 2005; 68(4).
Popescu G. Mechanism-based targeting of NMDA receptor functions. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 2005; 62(18).
Popescu G, Robert A, Howe JR, Auerbach A. Reaction mechanism determines NMDA receptor response to repetitive stimulation. Nature. 2004; 430(7001).
Popescu G, Auerbach A. The NMDA receptor gating machine: lessons from single channels. Neuroscientist. 2004; 10(3).
Popescu G, Auerbach A. Modal gating of NMDA receptors and the shape of their synaptic response.. Nature Neuroscience. 2003.
Peng H, Myers J, Fang X, Stachowiak EK, Maher PA, Martins GG, Popescu G, Berezney R, Stachowiak MK. Integrative nuclear FGFR1 signaling (INFS) pathway mediates activation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene by angiotensin II, depolarization and protein kinase C. J Neurochem. 2002; 81(3).
Popescu G, Napoli JL. Analysis of rat cytosolic 9-cis-retinol dehydrogenase activity and enzymatic characterization of rat ADHII. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000; 1476(1).
Chai X, Zhai Y, Popescu G, Napoli JL. Cloning of a cDNA for a second retinol dehydrogenase type II. Expression of its mRNA relative to type I. J Biol Chem. 1995; 270(47).

See All (24 Total) >

Professional Memberships:

AAMC, American Association of Medical Colleges (2012)
ASPET, America Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2012)
IBRO, International Brain Research Organization (2000)
SfN, Society for Neuroscience (1999)
BPS, Biophysical Society (1999)
AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science (1999)
UBAA, UB Alumni Association

Presentations:

"New inhibitory interface in NMDA receptors" GRC/Ion Channels (2012)
"Glutamate Receptors: "The workhorses of your memory"" Public Lecture, UB Summer Lecture Series (2011)
"Modes of NMDA receptor gating" Symposium on Membrane Proteins, GEPROM (2011)

Service Activities:

Faculty Senate; School Representative (2013–2016)
Faculty Senate Executive Committee; Member (2013–2016)
School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Admissions Committee; Member (2011–2014)
School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Graduate Education Policies in Biomedical Science; Member (2010–2012)

Biophysical Society Career Conversations; Panel Member (2012)
CPOW, Committee on Professional Opportunities for Women; Member (2011–2014)
PPBS steering commettee; Member (2010–2012)
Search Committee, HJKRI founding director; Member (2009–2010)
Society for Neuroscience, Buffalo Chapter; President (2009–2010)
Society for Neuroscience Buffalo Chapter; Vice President (2008–2009)
Search Committee for Pharmacology Faculty; Member (2008–2009)
Biochemistry Seminar Coordinator; Coordinator (2007–2008)
MRBS Coordination Committee; Chair (2007–2008)
UB Neuroscience Program Steering Committee; Member (2007–2011)
UB Committee on post-doctoral education; Member (2005–2008)

Gabriela K. Popescu PhD

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