Sue Wonnacott

Personal profile

Research interests

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated cation channels that as so-called because they are activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the tobacco alkaloid nicotine. A gene family generates 16 subunits in mammals that combine to form a diversity of subtypes of nAChR, finely tuned for different cellular and physiological functions. The distinct subtypes that are expressed in the brain have elicited interest in understanding their roles in normal brain function and their contributions to diseases, including addiction, Alzheimers’s and Parkinson’s diseases and schizophrenia, where they are potential therapeutic targets. Although much remains to be discovered nAChRs are important modulators of synaptic activity, through the presynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic modulation of local calcium concentrations, for example. Thus nAChRs, notably the alpha7 subtype, can impact on synaptic mechanisms of information processing and memory storage such as long term potentiation.

We study the molecular and cellular mechanisms governed by nAChRs in neuronal systems, often in the context of a behavioural paradigm (such as conditioned place preference as a model of drug-paired learning). This interdisciplinary research is highly collaborative, currently with Dr Chris Bailey (Dept of Pharmacy and Pharmacology) and Prof David Heal (RenaSci, Nottingham). We also have a long-standing interest in the discovery and characterisation of novel ligands for nAChRs, in collaboration with Prof Tim Gallagher (University of Bristol).

From 2010-2017 Prof Wonnacott was Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Science.

Education/Academic qualification

Biochemistry, Doctor of Philosophy, King's College London

1972 → 1975

Award Date: 1 Nov 1975

Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, University College London

1968 → 1971

Award Date: 1 Jul 1971

Neurochemistry, Master of Science, King's College London

1971 → 1972

External positions

Parkinson's UK College of Experts, Parkinson's Disease Society

2019 → 2022

Advanced Grant Panel, European Research Council

2016 → 2021

Studentship Panel, NC3Rs

2016 → 2018

Reader for L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science Fellowships.

2016 → 2019

Senior Editor, British Journal of Pharmacology

2012 → 2018

Keywords

neuroscience
nicotine
addiction
receptors
brain

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Projects

1 Active
9 Finished

NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership

Wonnacott, S.

1/09/14 → 31/08/22

Project: Research-related funding

COMPARISON OF NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS WITH RESPECT TO VOKE INHALER

Wonnacott, S.

10/09/18 → 23/11/18

Project: Other

Motivational memory: role of nicotinic receptors in synaptic plasticity

Bailey, C., Palandri, J., Wonnacott, S. & Heal, D. J.

1/10/14 → 30/09/18

Project: Research council

α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: regulation of plasticity and network activity in the prelimbic cortex

Bailey, C., Udakis, M. & Wonnacott, S.

1/10/12 → 30/09/16

Project: Research council

APPLICATION OF MESOSCALE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF M ULTIPLE BIOMARKERS TO EXPLORE MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR PROCESS

Ward, S., Mackenzie, A., Tosh, D., Watts, A., Welham, M. J. & Wonnacott, S.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

17/04/08 → 16/04/09

Project: Research council

Research Output

108 Article
5 Editorial
3 Chapter
3 Meeting abstract
1 More
- 1 Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary

Nicotinic Receptors

Wonnacott, S., 12 May 2020, Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Offermann, S. & Rosenthal, W. (eds.). Springer, 7 p.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary

A General Mechanism for Signal Propagation in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Family

Oliveira, A. S. F., Edsall, C. J., Woods, C. J., Bates, P., Nunez, G. V., Wonnacott, S., Bermudez, I., Ciccotti, G., Gallagher, T., Sessions, R. B. & Mulholland, A. J., 26 Dec 2019, In : Journal of the American Chemical Society. 141, 51, p. 19953-19958 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

1 Citation (Scopus)

Identification of the Initial Steps in Signal Transduction in the α4β2 Nicotinic Receptor: Insights from Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Simulations

Oliviera, S., Shoemark, D. K., Rego Campello, H., Wonnacott, S., Gallagher, T., Sessions, R. B. & Mulholland, A. J., 2 Jul 2019, In : Structure. 27, 7, p. 1171-1183.e3 17 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

1 Citation (Scopus)