John Gray, M.D., Ph.D.

Our laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in synapse development and plasticity throughout the brain. In particular, we study the regulation of the NMDA-type glutamate receptors that play crucial roles in synapse development and synaptic plasticity. Because of these important functions, dysregulation of NMDA receptors has been implicated in a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and ischemia. By combining innovative genetic approaches with electrophysiology, imaging, and biochemistry to gain a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of NMDA receptors and synapses, we are striving to open new frontiers for the development of disease-modifying therapeutic approaches for complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

• Vargas MV, Dunlap LE, Dong C, Carter SJ, Tombari RJ, Jami SA, Cameron LP, Patel SD, Hennessey J, Saeger HN, McCorvy JD, Gray JA, Tian L, and Olson DE (2023). Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors, Science, 379(6633): 700-706. (PMID: 36795823)
• Cameron LP, Patel SD, Vargas MV, Barragan EV, Saeger HN, Warren HT, Chow WL, Gray JA, and Olson DE (2023). 5-HT2ARs mediate therapeutic behavioral effects of psychedelic tryptamines, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 14(3): 351-358. (PMID: 36630260)
• Jami SA, Cameron S, Wong JM, Daly ER, McAllister AK, and Gray JA (2021). Increased excitation-inhibition balance and loss of GABAergic synapses in the serine racemase knockout model of NMDA receptor hypofunction. Journal of Neurophysiology, 126(1): 11-27. (PMID: 34038186)
• Wong JM, Folorunso O, Barragan EV, Berciu C, Harvey TL, Coyle JT, Balu DT, and Gray JA (2020). Postsynaptic serine racemase regulates NMDA receptor function. Journal of Neuroscience, 40(50): 9564-9575. (PMID: 33158959)
• Wong JM and Gray JA (2018). Long-term depression is independent of GluN2 subunit composition. Journal of Neuroscience, 38(19): 4462-4470. (PMID: 29593052)
• Ly C, Greb AC, Cameron LP, Wong JM, Barragan EV, Wilson P, Burbach KF, Dunlap LE, Zarandi SS, Sood A, Paddy MR, Duim WC, Dennis MY, McAllister AK, Ori-McKenney KM, Gray JA, and Olson DE (2018). Psychedelics promote structural and functional neural plasticity. Cell Reports, 23(11): 3170-3182. (PMID: 29898390)
• Gray JA, Shi Y, Usui H, During MJ, Sakimura K, Nicoll RA (2011). Distinct modes of AMPA receptor suppression at developing synapses by GluN2A and GluN2B: single-cell NMDA receptor subunit deletion in vivo. Neuron, 71(6): 1085-1101. (PMID: 21943605)
• Berger M, Gray JA, and Roth BL (2009). The expanded biology of serotonin. Annual Review of Medicine, 60: 355-366. (PMID: 19630576)
• Gray JA, Bhatnagar A, Gurevich VV, and Roth BL (2003). The interaction of a constitutively active arrestin with the arrestin-insensitive 5-HT2A receptor induces agonist-independent internalization. Molecular Pharmacology 63(5): 961-972. (PMID: 12695524)
• Gray JA and Roth BL (2001). Paradoxical trafficking and regulation of 5-HT2A receptors by agonists and antagonists. Brain Research Bulletin 56(5): 441-451. (PMID: 11750789)

Affiliations

Center for Neuroscience

Department of Neurology

Neuroscience Graduate Group

Pharmacology and Toxicology (PTX) Graduate Group

Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group