David Zacharias David Zacharias studies lipid modifications of proteins, signal transduction related to the serotonergic nervous system and signal transduction events that regulate coral coloration. Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Investigator, Whitney Labs Training Postdoc - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, CA. Mentor: Roger Y. Tsien Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Neuroscience Track Mayo Graduate School M.Sc. Biology/Neuroscience Andrews University B.S. Zoology Andrews University Contact phone: 904.461.4021 office: Whitney Labs lab: Whitney Labs email:daz@whitney.ufl.edu Whitney lab site Enzymes regulating most forms of protein lipidation have been characterized with the exception of palmitoylation. This form of lipid modification is very interesting as it is dynamic and appears to be modulated much in the same manner as other posttranslational modifications like phosphorylation. I am using gene trapping and high-throughput microscopy to find genes that regulate palmitoylation. My lab is also investigating the contribution of GPCRs to the off-target activities observed with a class of drugs known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. Again, a novel form of high-throughput microscopy that tracks the subcellular localization of beta-arrestin is the readout. Finally my lab is interested in understanding the light-induced signaling events that regulate the expression of GFP-like proteins in corals. Recent Publications Genetically-targeted chromophore assisted light inactivation. Tour O, Meijer RM, Zacharias DA, Adams SR, Tsien RY. Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Dec;21(12):1505-8. Epub 2003 Nov 16. A monomeric red fluorescent protein. Campbell RE, Tour O, Palmer AE, Steinbach PA, Baird GS, Zacharias DA, Tsien RY. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jun 11;99(12):7877-82. Partitioning of lipid-modified monomeric GFPs into membrane microdomains of live cells. Zacharias DA, Violin JD, Newton AC, Tsien RY. Science. 2002 May 3;296(5569):913-6.