- University of British Columbia Hon. B.Sc. Biochemistry, 2002-2007
- University of British Columbia, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D., 2007-2013
- Oregon Health & Science University, Vollum Institute Postdoctoral training, 2013-2020
Education & Training
Mittal, A., Martin, M.F., Levin, E.J., Adams, C., Yang, M., Provins, L, Hall, A., Procter, M., Ledecq, M., Hillisch, A., Wolff, C., Gillard, M., Horanyi, P.S.**, Coleman, J.A.**. (2024). Structures of synaptic vesicle protein 2A and 2B bound to anticonvulsants. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41594-024-01335-1
Dalton, M.P., Cheng, M.H., Bahar, I., Coleman, J.A.. (2024). Structural mechanisms for VMAT2 inhibition by tetrabenazine. eLife, 12, RP91973 https://elifesciences.org/articles/91973
Dalton, M.P., Cheng, M.H., Bahar, I., Coleman, J.A. Structural Mechanisms for VMAT2 inhibition by tetrabenazine. bioRxiv
Coleman, J.A.*, Navratna, V.*, Antermite D., Yang, D, Bull, J.A., Gouaux, E. (2020). Chemical and structural investigation of the paroxetine-human serotonin transporter complex. eLife, 9:e56427
Coleman, J.A.*, Yang, D.*, Zhao, Z., Wen, P., Yoshioka, C., Tajkhorshid, E., Gouaux, E. (2019). Serotonin transporter–ibogaine complexes illuminate mechanisms of inhibition and transport. Nature 569, 141-145.
Coleman J.A., Green E.M., Gouaux E. (2016). X-ray structures and mechanism of the human serotonin transporter. Nature 532 (7599), 334-339.
(*equal contribution)
The aim of my research is to elucidate the molecular function, architecture, and high-affinity drug binding sites of synaptic vesicle transporters in neurons by studying their function using biochemical techniques and determining their structures using single particle cryo-EM. I am particularly interested in understanding the conformational changes and mechanism associated with transport. I have developed methods for large-scale expression, stabilization by drugs, and for the production of antibodies which recognize these transporters. The use of transporter-antibody complexes is essential in order to provide mass and molecular features to assist in cryo-EM reconstructions because these transporters are small membrane proteins which are largely ensconced within membrane. Atomic structures of transporters in complex with therapeutic drugs are essential for the design of better small-molecule therapeutics with higher specificity and fewer side-effects and will also advance efforts toward understanding the function of these transporters.
Brain & Behavior Young Investigator Award (2021).