Ryan M - Purdue College of Pharmacy - Purdue University

Academic Appointments
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D.
curriculum vitae
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
2011 – present Assistant Professor
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Purdue University
2012 – present Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Indiana University School of Medicine - Lafayette
Education & Training
2010 – 2011 Senior Research Fellow
2006 – 2010 Postdoctoral Scholar
California Institute of Technology
2001 – 2006 Ph.D., Molecular Cell Biology
Washington University
1996 – 2000 B.S., Biology & Cognitive Science-Neuroscience
University of California San Diego
Fellowships & Awards
2013 – 2015 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2010 – 2014 NIH Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) Award
2007 – 2009 Postdoctoral Fellowship: NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research
Service Award
2006 – 2008 Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of California Tobacco Related
Disease Research Program
2006 Postdoctoral Fellowship: NIH NIMH Neurobiology Training Award
2004 – 2006 Predoctoral Fellowship: American Heart Association
2004 – 2006 Washington University Stipend Supplement Award
Invited Lectures (since 2011)
2013 University of Massachusetts School of Medicine
2013 Showalter Selection Committee Annual Meeting, Purdue University
2013 Purdue University Chemistry Department, Biochemistry Division
2013 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
2011 Society for Neuroscience Satellite Symposium
2011 Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana Univ. School of Med.
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 1

Publications and Scholarly Work
Original Manuscripts (*denotes corresponding author)
1. Wang, Y., Lee, J.-W., Oh, G., Grady, S.R., McIntosh, J.M., Brunzell, D.H., Cannon, J.R., and
*Drenan, R.M. (2013) Enhanced synthesis and release of dopamine in transgenic mice with
gain-of-function α6* nAChRs. J. Neurochem. (in press)
2. Henderson, B.J., Srinivasan, R., Nichols, W.A., Dilworth, C.N., Gutierrez, D.F., Mackey,
E.D.W., McKinney, S., Drenan, R.M., Richards, C.I., and *Lester, H.A. (2013) Nicotine
exploits a COPI-mediated process for chaperone-mediated upregulation of its receptors. J.
Gen. Physiol. (in press)
3. Engle, S.E., Shih, P.Y., McIntosh, J.M., and *Drenan, R.M. (2013) α4α6β2* nAChR
activation on VTA DA neurons is sufficient to stimulate a depolarizing conductance and
enhance surface AMPA receptor function. Mol. Pharmacol. 84(3): 393-406.
4. Powers, M.S., Broderick, H.J., *Drenan, R.M., and *Chester, J.A. (2013) Nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits contribute to alcohol reward-related
behaviors. Genes Brain Behav. 12(5): 543-553.
5. Engle, S.E., Broderick, H.J., and *Drenan, R.M. (2012) Local application of drugs to study
nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function in mouse brain slices. J. Vis. Exp. (68), e50034, doi:
10.3791/50034
6. *Drenan, R.M., and Lester, H.A. (2012) Neurobiology of the cholinergic system and nicotine
probed with mice expressing gain-of-function nAChR subunits. Pharmacological Reviews
64(4): 869-79.
7. Mackey, E.D.W., Engle, S.E., Kim, M., O’Neill, H.C., Wageman, C.R., Patzlaff, N.E., Wang,
Y., Grady, S.R., McIntosh, J.M., Marks, M.J., Lester, H.A., and *Drenan, R.M. (2012) α6*
nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and function in a visual salience circuit. J.
Neurosci. 32(30): 10226-10237.
8. Cohen, B.N., Mackey, E.D.W., Grady, S.R., McKinney, S., Patzlaff, N.E., Wageman, C.R.,
McIntosh, J.M., Marks, M.J., Lester, H.A., and *Drenan, R.M. (2012) Nicotinic cholinergic
mechanisms causing elevated dopamine release and abnormal locomotor behavior.
Neuroscience 200: 31-41.
9. Xiao, C., Srinivasan, R., Drenan, R.M., Mackey, E.D., McIntosh, J.M., and Lester, H.A.
(2011) Characterizing functional α6β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vitro: Mutant β2
subunits improve membrane expression, and fluorescent proteins reveal responsive cells.
Biochemical Pharmacology 82(8):852-61.
10. Gunapala, K.M., Chang, D., Hsu, C.T., Manaye, K., Drenan, R.M., Switzer, R.C., and
Steele, A.D. (2010) Striatal pathology underlies prion infection-mediated hyperactivity in
mice. Prion 4(4): 1-14.
11. Drenan, R.M., Grady, S.R., Steele, A.D., McKinney, S., Patzlaff, N.E., McIntosh, J.M.,
Marks, M.J., Miwa, J., and Lester, H.A. (2010) Cholinergic modulation of locomotion and
striatal dopamine release is mediated by α6α4* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J.
Neurosci. 30(29): 9877-9889.
12. Grady, S.R., Drenan, R.M., Breining, S.R., Yohannes, D., Wageman, C.R., Fedorov, N.B.,
McKinney, S., Whiteaker, P., Bencherif, M., Lester, H.A., and Marks, M.J. (2010) Structural
differences determine the relative selectivity of nicotinic compounds for native α4β2*, α6β2*,
α3β4*, and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neuropharmacology 58(7): 1054-66.
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 2

13. Drenan, R.M., Grady, S.R., Whiteaker, P., McClure-Begley, T., McKinney, S., Miwa, J.,
Bupp, S., Heintz, N., McIntosh, J.M., Bencherif, M., Marks, M.J., and Lester, H.A. (2008) In
vivo activation of midbrain dopamine neurons via sensitized, high-affinity α6* nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors. Neuron 60(1): 123-136.
**Previewed in Neuron 60(1): 4-6 (2008).
14. Drenan, R.M., Nashmi, R., Imoukhuede, P., Just, H., McKinney, S.L., and Lester, H.A.
(2008) Subcellular trafficking, pentameric assembly and subunit stoichiometry of neuronal
nicotinic ACh receptors containing fluorescently-labeled α6 and β3 subunits. Mol.
Pharmacol. 73(1): 27-41.
15. Osei-owusu, P., Sun, X., Drenan, R.M., Steinberg, T.H., Blumer, K.J. (2007) Regulation of
RGS2 and second messenger signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells by cGMPdependent
protein kinase. J. Biol. Chem. 282(43): 31656-65.
16. Drenan, R.M., Doupnik, C.A., Jayaraman, M., Buchwalter, A.L., Kaltenbronn, K.M.,
Huettner, J.E., Linder, M.E., and Blumer, K.J. (2006) R7BP augments the function of
RGS7/Gβ5 complexes by a plasma-membrane targeting mechanism. J. Biol. Chem.,
281(38): 28222-31.
17. Drenan, R.M., Doupnik, C.A., Boyle, M.P., Muglia, L.J., Huettner, J.E., Linder, M.E., and
Blumer K.J. (2005) Palmitoylation regulates plasma membrane-nuclear shuttling of R7BP, a
novel membrane anchor for the RGS7 family. J. Cell Biol. 169(4): 623-33.
**Featured in Science STKE 294: 38 (2005).
18. Drenan, R.M., Liu, X., Bertram, P.G., Zheng, X.F. (2004) FKBP12-rapamycin associated
protein or mammalian target of rapamycin (FRAP/mTOR) localization in the endoplasmic
reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. J. Biol. Chem., 279(1): 772-8.
19. Tsang, C.K., Bertram, P.G., Ai, W., Drenan, R., and Zheng, X.F. (2003) Chromatinmediated
regulation of nucleolar structure and RNA Pol I localization by TOR. EMBO J.,
22(22): 6045-56.
20. Choi, J.H., Bertram, P.G., Drenan, R., Carvalho, J., Zhou, H.H., and Zheng, X.F. (2002) The
FKBP12-rapamycin associated protein (FRAP) is a CLIP-170 kinase. EMBO Rep., 3(10):
988-94.
21. Ostrom, R.S., Gregorian, C., Drenan, R.M., Xiang, Y., Regan, J.W., and Insel, P.A. (2001)
Receptor number and caveolar co-localization determine receptor coupling efficiency to
adenylyl cyclase. J Biol. Chem., 276(45): 42063-9.
22. Ostrom, R.S., Gregorian, C., Drenan, R.M., Gabot, K., Rana, B.K., and Insel, P.A. (2001)
Key role for constitutive cyclooxygenase 2 of MDCK cells in basal signaling and response to
released ATP. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol., 281(2): C524-31.
Abstracts and Presentations
1. Wang, Y., Lee, J.-W., Oh, G., McIntosh, J.M., Brunzell, D.H., Cannon, J.R., and Drenan,
R.M. Increased activity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing alpha6 subunits
promotes dopamine tissue content and enhances dopamine release in nucleus accumbens.
Society for Neuroscience, 2013.
2. Parker, R.L., O’Neill, H.C., Grady, S.R., Steele, A.D., Drenan, R.M., Lester, H.A., and Miwa,
J.M. Modulation of dopaminergic neuron function through lynx1/α6 nAChR interactions.
Society for Neuroscience, 2013.
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 3

3. Engle, S.E., McIntosh, J.M., and Drenan, R.M. Activation of α4α6β2* nAChRs on VTA DA
neurons is sufficient for depolarization and enhanced function of AMPA receptors on the cell
surface. Society for Neuroscience, 2013.
4. Lester, H.A., Marks, M.J., Grady, S.R., Dilworth, C., Wang, Y., Mackey, E.D.W., Penton,
R.E., Xiao, C., Henderson, B.J., Deshpande, P., Oh, G., Miwa, J.M., Leonard, S., Freedman,
R., and Drenan, R.M. Mouse strains carrying fluorescent nicotinic receptor subunits: Review
and progress report. Society for Neuroscience, 2013.
5. Drenan, R.M., Engle, S.E., Lester, H.A., McIntosh, J.M., and Brunzell, D.H. Activation of
α6β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is sufficient for nicotine reward-like behavior in mice.
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 2013.
6. Powers, M.S., Broderick, H., Drenan, R.M., and Chester, J.A. Involvement of hypersensitive
α6 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the modulation of alcohol intake
and preference. Chronic Disease Research Poster Session, Purdue College of Health and
Human Sciences, 2013.
7. Engle, S.E., Stafford, A., Brunzell, D.H., and Drenan, R.M. Selective activation of α6*
nAChRs is sufficient for activation of VTA DA neurons, the induction of synaptic plasticity,
and nicotine reward behavior. Chronic Disease Research Poster Session, Purdue College of
Health and Human Sciences, 2013.
8. O’Neill, H.C., Wageman, C.R., Baddick, C., Parker, R.L., Drenan, R.M., McIntosh, J.M.,
Miwa, J.M., and Grady, S.R. Effect of Lynx1 genotype on synaptosomal activity of α6β2*
nAChRs. Society for Neuroscience, 2012.
9. Parker, R.L., Grady, S.R., Steele, A.D., Drenan, R.M., Lester, H.A., and Miwa, J.M.
Modulation of dopaminergic neuron function through lynx1/α6 nAChR interactions. Society
for Neuroscience, 2012.
10. Henderson, B.J., Mackey, E.D.W., McKinney, S., Drenan, R.M., and Lester, H.A. α6-
containing neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: effects of chronic nicotine treatment
and inclusion of β3 subunits. Society for Neuroscience, 2012.
11. Drenan, R.M., Engle, S.E., Lester, H.A., McIntosh, J.M., and Brunzell, D.H. Activation of
α6β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is sufficient for nicotine reward. Society for
Neuroscience, 2012.
12. Powers, M.S., Broderick, H.J., Drenan, R.M., and Chester, J.A. Involvement of
hypersensitive α6 subunit containing neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the
modulation of alcohol intake and preference. Research Society on Alcoholism, 2012.
13. Drenan, R.M., Mackey, E.D.W., Grady, S.R., Patzlaff, N.E., Wageman, C.R., McIntosh,
J.M., Marks, M.J., and Lester, H.A. α6* nAChR expression and function in brain areas
influencing DA transmission probed with α6-GFP transgenic mice. Society for Neuroscience
Satellite Symposium-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as Therapeutic Targets: Emerging
Frontiers in Basic Research & Clinical Science, 2011.
14. Drenan, R.M., Cohen, B.N., Mackey, E.D.W., Grady, S.R., McKinney, S., Patzlaff, N.E.,
Wageman, C.R., McIntosh, J.M., Marks, M.J., and Lester, H.A. Nicotinic cholinergic
mechanisms causing pathological dopamine release and locomotor hyperactivity. Society
for Neuroscience, 2011.
15. Wieskopf, J.S., Austin, J.-S., Slepian, P., Sorge, R., Su, A., Mathur, J., Uzzell, V., Janes, J.,
Drenan, R.M., McIntosh, J.M., Maskos, U., Changeux, J.-P., Devor, M., Lester, H., Belfer, I.,
Diatchenko, L., Patapoutian, A., and Mogil, J.S. The role of chrna6 in chronic pain. Society
for Neuroscience, 2011.
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 4

16. Drenan, R.M., Grady, S.R., Steele, A.D., McKinney, S., Patzlaff, N.E., McIntosh, J.M.,
Marks, M.J., Miwa, J.M., and Lester, H.A. Cholinergic modulation of locomotion and striatal
dopamine release is mediated by α6α4* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Society for
Neuroscience, 2010.
17. Mackey, E., Drenan, R.M., and Lester, H.A. Investigating the upregulation of the α6 nAChR
subunit in response to chronic nicotine using a modified bacterial artificial chromosome
(BAC). Caltech Annual Report, 2010.
18. Drenan, R.M., Grady, S.R., Marks, M.J., Steele, A., Xiao, C., Miwa, J.M., and Lester, H.A.,
Critical role of α4 subunits in α6* nicotinic ACh receptor function in regulating striatal
dopamine release and locomotor behaviors in mice. Caltech Annual Report, 2009.
19. Drenan, R.M., Grady, S.R., Whiteaker, P., McClure-Begley, T., McKinney, S., Miwa, J.,
Bupp, S., Heintz, N., McIntosh, J.M., Bencherif, M., Marks, M.J., and Lester, H.A. Specific in
vivo activation of midbrain dopamine neurons via sensitized, high-affinity nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits. Society for Neuroscience, 2008.
20. Kadambi, S., Cohen, B.N., Tapper, A., Just, H., Salminen, O., Drenan, R., and Lester, H.
Block of (α4L9′A)β2 mutant nicotinic receptors by quinpirole results in Parkinson’s diseaselike
symptoms in L9’A knock-in mice. Society for Neuroscience, 2008.
21. Drenan, R.M., Xiao, C., Whiteaker, P., Grady, S.R., Bupp, S., Heintz, N., Marks, M.J., and
Lester, H.A. Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) Transgenic Mice Expressing
Hypersensitive α6 L9’S Nicotinic ACh Receptors: Isolation and Amplification of
Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses. Society for Neuroscience, 2007.
22. Drenan, R.M., Nashmi, R., Imoukhuede, P.I., Just, H., and Lester, H.A. Subcellular
Trafficking, Pentameric Assembly and Subunit Stoichiometry of Neuronal Nicotinic ACh
Receptors Containing Fluorescently-Labeled α6 and β3 Subunits. Society for Neuroscience
Satellite Symposium-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as Therapeutic Targets: Emerging
Frontiers in Basic Research & Clinical Science, 2007.
23. Drenan, R.M., McKinney, S., Goldflam, I., Anamudu, E.H., and Lester, H.A. Screening
nicotinic ligands for smoking cessation therapy using acute hypothermic responses in α4 L9’A
knock-in mice. Caltech Annual Report, 2007.
24. Drenan, R.M., Heintz, N., and Lester, H.A. α6* Nicotinic ACh Receptors: Role in Nicotine
Addiction. Caltech Annual Report, 2006.
25. Drenan, R.M., Huettner, J.E., and Blumer, K.J. Intracellular targeting of the RGS7 family
specified by R7BP and R9AP. Society for Neuroscience, 2005.
26. Drenan, R.M., Doupnik, C.A., Buchwalter, A.L., Croke, M.R., Huettner, J.E., Linder, M.E.,
and Blumer, K.J. R7BP controls R7/Gβ5 GAP function and localization via a novel
palmitoylation switch mechanism. Washington University Molecular Oncology / Cell Biology
and Physiology Work in Progress, 2005.
27. Drenan, R.M., Doupnik, C.A., Linder, M.E., and Blumer K.J. A novel plasticity mechanism
controlling GPCR signaling in the central nervous system: Identification of a palmitoylated
membrane anchor for the RGS7 family of G protein regulators. Washington University
Molecular Oncology / Cell Biology and Physiology Work in Progress, 2004.
28. Ostrom, R.S., Gregorian, C., Drenan, R.M., Gustafsson, A., Brunton, L.L., Printz, M.P., and
Insel, P.A. Cardiac fibroblasts express seven isoforms of adenylyl cyclase but only AC3 and
AC5/6 localize in caveolin-rich membrane fractions. FASEB J, 16(5):A1160, 2002.
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 5

29. Ostrom, R.S., Liu, X., Gregorian, C., Drenan, R.M., Seasholtz, T.M., and Insel, P.A. Cellspecific
compartmentation of adenylyl cyclase regulation in cardiomyocytes and vascular
smooth muscle cells. Circulation, 104(17) II-7, 2001.
30. Ostrom, R.S., Drenan, R.M., Gregorian, C., and Insel, P.A.. P2Y 2 receptor-mediated
activation of cytosolic PLA 2 at the nuclear membrane: signaling into then out of caveolae.
FASEB J, 15(4): A218, 2001.
Dissertation
Cloning and characterization of R7BP, a novel signaling protein regulating neuronal G
protein coupled receptor signal transduction. Washington University, 2006.
Professional & Service Activities (since 2011)
Teaching
PHRM 845: Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Purdue University
MCMP 544: Drug Classes and Mechanisms, Purdue University
PHRM 844: Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Purdue University (2013 – present)
MCMP 408: Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacology, Purdue University (2012 – 2013)
LCME 511: Medical Pharmacology, IU School of Medicine (2013 – present)
Mentoring
Graduate students (thesis research): Hilary Broderick (PULSe), Staci Engle (MCMP), Gyeon Oh
(MCMP)
Graduate rotation students: Evan Pratt, Maria Sandra Carbajal de Nava, Jessica Page, Ehab
Moussa, Marcus Weera, Meridith Robins
Postdoctoral fellows: Yuexiang Wang, Pei-Yu Shih
Research technicians: Mi Ran Kim
Peer Review
The Journal of Neuroscience
Journal of Neurophysiology
Molecular Pharmacology
British Journal of Pharmacology
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
Brain Research
Professional Associations
Society for Neuroscience (2005-present)
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2012-present)
Other Experience
Intellectual Property
Registered Patent Agent; United States Patent and Trademark Office (reg. #64339)
Sabbatical (2009): patent prosecution
Ryan M. Drenan, Ph.D. drenan@purdue.edu 6