TRENT J. VOLZ
Trent Volz
email: trent.volz@utah.edu		 Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Neurobiology of Disease
Cellular Neuroscience
Molecular Neuroscience

B.S. 1997, University of Alaska Fairbanks; M.S. 2000, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Ph.D. 2005, Washington State University; Postdoctoral Fellow 2005-2007, University of Utah.

RESEARCH:

Bioanalytical chemistry, neuropharmacology, and enzyme kinetics to study neurotransmitter transporter proteins

Dr. Volz's current research interests include dopaminergic neurotransmission, transporter proteins, enzyme kinetics, bioanalyticalchemistry, neuropharmacology, and mechanisms of neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.

Research in our laboratory investigates the neuropharmacological effects of both therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse on the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2). The VMAT-2 is a protein that transports cytoplasmic dopamine into synaptic vesicles inside neuronal cells for storage and subsequent release. The VMAT-2 is the sole transporter protein responsible for sequestering cytoplasmic dopamine into vesicles and alterations in VMAT-2 function may thus regulate both intra- and extra-neuronal dopamine levels as well as dopaminergic neurotransmission. The VMAT-2 also protects dopaminergic neurons from intracellular dopamine-associated oxidative damage which may be involved with both Parkinson's disease and methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. Studying the VMAT-2 can thus provide insight into the regulation of vesicular dopamine sequestration and may have important implications regarding the treatment of disorders involving abnormal dopamine neurotransmission including Parkinson's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and substance abuse.

Our laboratory utilizes a variety of enzyme kinetics approaches to quantify VMAT-2-mediated dopamine transport and dopamine release in real-time. High performance liquid chromatography is used to measure biogenic amine concentrations in the brain. Western blotting techniques are employed to examine vesicle trafficking.

Selected Publications

Volz, T.J., Farnsworth, S.J., Rowley, S.D., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. Age-Dependent Differences in Dopamine Transporter and Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Function and Their Implications for Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity. Submitted for publication.

Volz, T.J., Farnsworth, S.J., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. Methylphenidate-Induced Increases in Vesicular Dopamine Sequestration and Dopamine Release in the Striatum: the Role of Muscarinic and Dopamine D2 Receptors. Submitted for publication.

Volz, T.J., Farnsworth, S.J., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. Methylphenidate-Induced Alterations in Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking and Activity: Functional Consequences and Therapeutic Implications. Annal. New York Acad. Sci., in press.

Volz, T.J., Farnsworth, S.J., King, J.L., Riddle, E.L., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. (2007) Methylphenidate Administration Alters Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Function in Cytoplasmic and Membrane-Associated Vesicles. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 323(2):738-745.

Bjorklund, N.L., Volz, T.J., and Schenk, J.O. (2007) Differential Effects of Zn2+ on the Kinetics and Cocaine Inhibition of Dopamine Transport by the Human and Rat Dopamine Transporters. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 565(1-3):17-25.

Volz, T.J., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. (2007) The Role of the Plasmalemmal Dopamine and Vesicular Monoamine Transporters in Methamphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Deficits. J. Neurochem., 101(4):883-888.

Volz, T.J., Fleckenstein, A.E., and Hanson, G.R. (2007) Methamphetamine-Induced Alterations in Monoamine Transport: Implications for Neurotoxicity, Neuroprotection, and Treatment. Addiction, 102(Suppl. 1):44-48.

Fleckenstein, A.E., Volz, T.J., Riddle, E.L., Gibb, J.W., and Hanson, G.R. (2007) New Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Amphetamines. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 47:681-698.

Volz, T.J., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. (2006) Kinetic Analysis of Developmental Changes in Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Function. Synapse, 60(6):474-477.

Rau, K.S., Birdsall, E., Volz, T.J., Riordan, J.A., Baucum, A.J. II, Adair, B.P., Bitter, R., Gibb, J.W., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. (2006) Methamphetamine Administration Reduces Hippocampal Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Uptake. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 318(2):676-682.

Volz, T.J., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E. (2006) Measurement of Kinetically Resolved Vesicular Dopamine Uptake and Efflux using Rotating Disk Electrode Voltammetry. J. Neurosci. Methods, 155(1):109-115.

Volz, T.J. and Schenk, J.O. (2005) A Comprehensive Atlas of the Topography of Functional Groups of the Dopamine Transporter. Synapse, 58(2):72-94.

Volz, T.J., Bjorklund, N.L., and Schenk, J.O. (2005) Methylphenidate Analogs with Behavioral Differences Interact Differently with Arginine Residues on the Dopamine Transporter in Rat Striatum. Synapse, 57(3):175-178.

Robinson, D.L., Volz, T.J., Schenk, J.O., and Wightman, R.M. (2005) Acute Ethanol Decreases Dopamine Transporter Velocity in Rat Striatum: in vivo and in vitro Electrochemical Measurements. Alcoholism: Clin. Exp. Res., 29(5):746-755.

Volz, T.J., and Schenk, J.O. (2004) L-Arginine Increases Dopamine Transporter Activity in Rat Striatum via a Nitric Oxide Synthase-Dependent Mechanism. Synapse, 54(3):173-182.

Volz, T.J., Kim, M., and Schenk, J.O. (2004) Covalent and Non-Covalent Chemical Modifications of Arginine Residues Decrease Dopamine Transporter Activity. Synapse, 52(4):272-282.

Volz, T.J., Rock, D.A., and Jones, J.P. (2002) Evidence for Two Different Active Oxygen Species in Cytochrome P450 BM3 Mediated Sulfoxidation and N-Dealkylation Reactions. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 124(33):9724-9725.

Volz, T.J., and Clausen, T.P. (2001) Tannins in Puccinellia arctica: Possible Deterrents to Herbivory by Canada Geese. J. Chem. Ecol., 27(4):725-732.

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