Carrie Haskell-Luevano, PhD

Our laboratory focuses on the understanding of peptide hormone endocrine systems in the brain, and their involvement in feeding behavior, exercise, diabetes, and obesity. We utilize multidisciplinary approaches including chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, and neuroscience to study endocrine systems. The techniques we use to answer different research questions include combinatorial chemistry, peptide design and synthesis, receptor pharmacology and compound analysis, computer assisted molecular modeling (CAMM), NMR spectroscopy, receptor mutagenesis and pharmacology, use of knock-out mice, real-time PCR (qRT-PCR, mRNA expression in the brain), and administration of compounds into mice.

NMR spectroscopy, metabolism, diabetes, neuroendocrine systems

• Peptide Chemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Pharmacology
• Human Receptor Polymorphisms
• Neuroscience
• Voluntary Exercise of Mice
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Feeding Behavior

1. Ericson, M. D.; Koerperich, Z. M.; Freeman, K. T.; Fleming, K. A.; Haskell-Luevano, C. Arg-Phe-Phe d-amino scid stereochemistry scan in the macrocyclic agouti-related protein antagonist scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Xxx-Ala-Phe-DPro] results in unanticipated melanocortin-1 receptor agonist profiles. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2018, 9, 3015-3023.
2. Fleming, K. A.; Freeman, K. T.; Ericson, M. D.; Haskell-Luevano, C. Synergistic multiresidue substitutions of a macrocyclic c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-dPro] agouti-related protein (AGRP) scaffold yield potent and >600-fold MC4R versus MC3R selective melanocortin receptor antagonists. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 7729-7740.
3. Ericson, M. D.; Haskell-Luevano, C. A review of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in orexigenic neuropeptides targeting G protein-coupled receptors. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2018, 9, 1235-1246.
4. Fleming, K. A.; Ericson, M. D.; Freeman, K. T.; Adank, D. N.; Lunzer, M. M.; Wilber, S. L.; Haskell-Luevano, C. Structure-activity relationship studies of a macrocyclic AGRP-mimetic scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro] yield potent and selective melanocortin-4 receptor antagonists and melanocortin-5 receptor inverse agonists that increase food intake in mice. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2018, 9, 1141-1151.
5. Ericson, M. D.; Singh, A.; Tala, S. R.; Haslach, E. M.; Dirain, M. L. S.; Schaub, J. W.; Flores, V.; Eick, N.; Lensing, C. J.; Freeman, K. T.; Smeester, B. A.; Adank, D. N.; Wilber, S. L.; Speth, R.; Haskell-Luevano, C. Human beta-defensin 1 and beta-defensin 3 (mouse ortholog mBD14) function as full endogenous agonists at select melanocortin receptors. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 3738-3744.