Rebecca Prosser, Ph.D.

Research Statement

Research in my lab focuses on the cellular mechanisms involved with modulating the mammalian circadian clock, a group of neurons in the brain that generate 24 hour rhythms and control the daily behavioral and physiological rhythms expressed by mammals.  We study these neurons in vitro, after we isolate them in a brain slice preparation, and we monitor their phasing within the 24 h cycle by recording the action potentials they generate.  Current projects in the lab fall into two broad categories:1) investigations of how the cell surface molecule polysialic acid-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) modulates light-induced phase shifts of the circadian clock.  In particular, these experiments are looking at interactions between PSA-NCAM and a growth factor called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and how their interactions may modulate the glutamatergic signaling in the clock cells.  2) investigations of how serotonin phase-shifts the circadian clock.  These experiments include determining which receptors are involved, how receptor function is modulated, and what are the intracellular mechanisms that connect the receptors to the regulation of clock-associated genes.

Selected Publications

Mou, X. , Peterson, C.B., and Prosser, R.A. (2009) Tissue-type plasminogen activator-plasmin-BDNF modulate glutamate-induced phase shifts of the mouse suprachiasmatic circadian clock in vitro. Eur.J.Neurosci. (accepted).

Prosser, R.A., and Glass, J.D. (2009) The mammalian circadian clock exhibits acute tolerance to ethanol. Alcohol.Clin.Expt.Res. (accepted).

Prosser, R.A., McElroy, B., Zakaria, A., and Glass, J.D. (2009) Ethanol modulates mammalian circadian clock phase resetting through extrasynaptic GABA receptor activation. Neuroscience (accepted).

Ruby, C.L., Brager, A.J., DePaul, M.A. Prosser, R.A., and Glass, J.D. (2009) Chronic ethanol disrupts circadian behavior and photic phase-resetting in the hamster. Am.J.Physiol. 297: R729-R737

Ruby, C.L., Prosser, R.A., and Glass, J.D. (2009) Acute Ethanol Impairs Photic and Nonphotic Circadian Phase-Resetting in the Syrian Hamster. Am.J.Physiol 296: R411-R418.

Prosser, R.A. and Glass, J.D. (2008) Acute ethanol modulates glutamatergic and serotonergic phase shifts of the mouse circadian clock in vitro. Neuroscience 152; 837-848

Prosser RA (2003) Serotonin phase-shifts the mouse suprachiasmatic circadian clock in vitro. Brain Res. 966: 110-115.

Prosser RA, Rutishauser U, Ungers G, Fedorkova L and Glass JD (2003) Intrinsic role of polysialylated NCAM in photic phase-resetting of the mammalian circadian clock. J.Neurosci. 23: 652-658.

Prosser RA and Bergeron HE (2003) Leptin phase-advances the suprachiasmatic circadian clock in vitro. Neurosci. Lett. 336: 139-142.

Fedorkova L, Rutishauser U, Prosser RA, Shen H And Glass JD (2002) Removal of polysialic acid from the SCN potentiates non-photic circadian phase-resetting. Physiol.Beh. 77: 361-369.

Jovanovska A and Prosser RA (2002) Translational and transcriptional inhibitors block serotonergic phase advances of the SCN circadian pacemaker in vitro.  J.Biol.Rhythms 17: 137-146.

Prosser RA (2001) Glutamate blocks serotonergic phase advances of the mammalian circadian pacemaker through AMPA and NMDA receptors.  J.Neurosci. 21: 7815-7822.

Prosser RA (2000) Serotonergic actions and interactions on the SCN circadian pacemaker: in vitro investigations. Biol.Rhythms Res. 31: 315-339.

Bergeron HE, Danielson, B, Biggs, KR, and Prosser, RA (1999) Tetrodotoxin blocks in vitro GABAB-induced phase shifts but not GABAA-induced phase shifts of the SCN circadian clock. Brain Res. 841: 193-196.

Biggs KR and Prosser RA (1999) Neuropeptide Y dose-dependently inhibits GABAB -induced phase shifts of the SCN circadian clock in vitro. Brain Res. 821: 461-466.

Prosser RA (1999) Melatonin inhibits in vitro serotonergic phase shifts of the suprachiasmatic circadian clock. Brain Res. 818: 408-413

Contact Information

Office:
Room F-211
Walters Life Sciences
Phone: (865) 974-2722

Lab:
Room A-209
Walters Life Sciences
Phone: (865) 974-8126

Email: rprosser@utk.edu