Freitas, Duarte

Degrees

B.Sc. with First Class Honors, 1979, Imperial College, University of London, UK
Ph.D., 1984, University of California, Los Angeles

Research Interests

Lithium salts are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. We focus on two Mg²⁺-dependent protein systems, G-proteins and GSK-3β, which are key components of signal transduction pathways believed to malfunction in this mental illness. Our approach incorporates a battery of biophysical methods, including fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance. Using this methodology, we probe the Li⁺ and Mg²⁺ binding and competition properties, and the folding of these proteins.

Selected Publications

Mota de Freitas, D.; Leverson, B.D.; Goossens, J.L.: Lithium in Medicine: Mechanism of Action. In The Alkali Metal Ions: Their Role in Life; Metal Ions in Life Sciences, vol. 16; Sigel, A.; Sigel, H.; Sigel, R.K.O.; Eds. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2016, pp. 557-584

Najor, M.S., Olsen, K.W., Graham, D.J., and Mota de Freitas: .  Protein Sci. 2014, 23, 1392-1402.

Malarkey, C.S., Wang, W., Ballicora, M.A., and Mota de Freitas, D.: . Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2008, 372, 866-869.

Mota de Freitas, D., Castro, M.M.C.A., and Geraldes, C.F.G.C.:  Acc. Chem. Res. 2006, 39, 283-291

Layden. B.T., Abukhdeir, A.M., Malarkey, C.M., Oriti, L.A., Salah, W., Stigler, C., Geraldes, G.F.G.C., and Mota de Freitas, D.: . Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2005, 1741, 339-349.

Montezinho, L.P., Duarte, C.B., Fonseca, C.P., Glinka, Y., Layden, B., Mota de Freitas, D., Geraldes, C.F.G.C., and Castro, M.M.C.A.: . J. Neurochem. 2004, 90, 920-930.

Srinivasan, C., Toon, J., Amari, L., Abukhdeir, A.M., Hamm, H., Geraldes, C.F.G.C., Ho, Y., and Mota de Freitas, D.: . J. Inorg. Biochem . 2004, 98, 691-701.

Layden, B.T., Minadeo, N., Suhy, J., Abukhdeir, A.M., Metreger, T., Foley, K., Borge, G., Crayton, J.W., Bryant, F.B., and Mota de Freitas, D.: . Bipolar Disord. 2004, 6, 53-61.

Layden B.T., Abukhdeir A.M., Williams N., Fonseca C.P., Carroll L., Castro M.M.C.A., Geraldes C.F.G.C., Bryant F.B., Mota de Freitas D.: . Biochem. Pharmacol. 2003, 66, 1915-1924.

Minadeo, N., Layden, B.T., Suhy, J., Metreger, T., Foley, K., Abukhdeir, A.M., Borge, G., Crayton, J., Bryant, F.B., and Mota de Freitas, D.: Testing Competing Path Models Linking the Biochemical Variables in Red Blood Cells from Li⁺-Treated Bipolar Patients Bipolar Disord. 2003, 5, 320-329.

Abukhdeir, A.M.; Layden, B.T.; Minadeo, N.; Bryant, F.B.; Stubbs, Jr., E.B.; Mota de Freitas, D.: Effect of Chronic Li+ Treatment on Free Intracellular Mg2+ in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells. Bipolar Disord., 2003, 5, 6-13.