Ruth A. Ross, Ph.D.
 |
Professor & Chair General Area(s) of Research: Biochemical & Molecular Pharmacology; Drug Addiction; Neuropharmacology/Psychopharmacology; Receptor Pharmacology; Second Messengers & Signal Transduction |
Ruth Ross is engaged in research into the molecular pharmacology of the cannabinoids and related lipid signalling systems. Her research is directed both toward gaining insight into the deleterious effects of cannabis smoking, the potential for cannabis a medicine and the development of small molecules targeting G protein coupled receptors. Together with medicinal chemists she is engaged in the development of novel small molecule therapeutics for major diseases including chronic pain, addiction, cancer and diabetes.
Selected Publications:
Sergiy Sylantyev, Thomas P. Jensen, Ruth A. Ross, Dmitri A. Rusakov (2013). Cannabinoid- and LPI-sensitive receptor GPR55 boosts neurotransmitter release at central synapses. Proc Nat Acad Sci., 110:5193-8.
Baillie GL, Horswill J, Anavi-Goffer S, Reggio PH, Abood ME, Bolognini D, McAllister S, Strange PG, Stephens GJ, Pertwee RG, Ross RA. CB1 Receptor Allosteric Modulators Display both Agonist and Signaling Pathway Specificity. Mol Pharmacol., 2012 November 15, [Epub ahead of print].
Nicoll G, Davidson S, Shanley L, Hing B, Lear M, McGuffin P, Ross R, MacKenzie A. Allele-specific differences in activity of a novel cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene intronic enhancer in hypothalamus, dorsal root ganglia, and hippocampus. J Biol Chem., 2012; 287:12828-34.
Anavi-Goffer S, Greig IR, Irving AJ, Pertwee RG, Ross RA. Modulation of L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol /GPR55 MAP kinase signalling by cannabinoids. J Biol Chem., 2012; 287: 91-104.
Ford LA, Roelofs AJ, Anavi-Goffer S, Mowat L, Simpson DG, Irving AJ, Rogers MJ, Rajnicek AM, Ross RA. A role for L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol and GPR55 in the modulation of migration, orientation and polarisation of human breast cancer cells. Brit J Pharmacol., 2010; 160:762-771.
Whyte LS, Ryberg E, Sims NA, Ridge S, Mackie K, Greasley PJ, Ross RA & Rogers MJ. The putative cannabinoid receptor GPR55 affects osteoclast function in vitro and bone mass in vivo. Proc Nat Acad Sci., 2009; 106:16511-16516.
Ross, RA. The enigmatic pharmacology of GPR55. Trends Pharmacological Sci., 2009; 30(3):156-63.
Henstridge CM, Balenga, NAB, Ford, LA., Ross, RA, Waldhoer M, Irving AJ. The GPR55 ligand L-lysophosphatidylinositol promotes RhoA-dependent Ca2+ signaling and NFAT activation. FASEB J., 2009 ,23:183-193.
Ross, RA. Allosterism and cannabinoid CB1 receptors: the shape of things to come. Trends Pharmacological Sci., 2007; 28(11):567-72.
Berghuis P, Rajnicek AM, Morozov YM, Ross RA, Monory K, Marsicano G, Lutz B, Matteoli M, Canty A, Yanagawa Y, Rakic P, Poo M-M, Mackie K and Harkany T. Hardwiring the brain: endocannabinoids shape neuronal connectivity. Science, 2007 May 25; 316(5828)1212-6.
Price MR, Baillie G, Thomas A. Stevenson LA, Easson M., Goodwin R., Walker G., Westwood P, Marrs J., Mclean A, Mcintosh L., Goodwin G., Thompson F., Cowley P., Christopoulos A., Pertwee RG, & Ross RA. Allosteric Modulation of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor. Mol Pharmacol., 2005; 68 (5):1484-95.
Contact Address: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Room 4207, Medical Sciences Building
1 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1A8
Phone: 416-978-2723
FAX: 416-978-6395
Email: ruth.ross@utoronto.ca