Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science
Undergraduate Institution: University of Tennessee,
Knoxville
Major: Biology and Zoology
Degree Program at FSU (MS or PhD) :PhD
Major Professor: Dr. Debra Fadool
Research Interests: Mice deficient in Kv1.3, a voltage-gated potassium channel normally highly expressed in the olfactory bulb, and to a lesser extent in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, fat tissue, and lymphocytes have recently been shown have some resistance to high fat diets and have an extraordinary sense of smell. I am interested in how brain Kv1.3 modulates metabolism, olfaction and normal brain function.
Reasons for Selecting Florida State University:
The FSU Program in Neuroscience has a wonderful history
in the chemical senses and a very strong core of prominent
scientists that study chemical senses. Dr. Debra Fadool
has an interesting angle on olfaction. She studies modulation
of olfactory information processing at the ion channel level.
I selected FSU to study in particular with her and to have
the extra benefit of the rich chemical senses community
here at FSU.
Other Interests: I have a 4 year old son and a husband
that are the light of my life and when I had spare time
(way back in the day) I loved going to Science Fiction movies
and reading.
Publications
Fadool, D.A., K. Tucker, J.J. Phillips, and J.A. Simmen. 2000. Brain insulin receptor causes activity-dependent current suppression in the olfactory bulb through multiple phosphorylation of Kv1.3. J. Neurophysiol. 83: 2332-2348.
Murphy, F.A., K. Tucker, and D.A. Fadool. 2001. Sexual dimorphism and developmental expression of signal transduction machinery in the vomeronasal organ. J. Comp. Neurol. 432: 61-74.
Tucker, K. and D.A. Fadool. 2002. Neurotrophin modulation of voltage-gated potassium channels in rat through TrkB receptors is time and sensory-experience dependent. J. Physiol. 542(2): 413-429.
Fadool, D.A, K. Tucker, R. Perkins, G. Fasciani, R.N. Thompson, AD. Parsons, J.M. Overton, P.A. Koni, R.A. Flavell, and L.K. Kaczmarek. 2004. Kv1.3 channel gene-targeted deletion produces"Super-Smeller Mice" with altered glomeruli, interacting scaffolding proteins, and biophysics. Neuron. 41: 389-404.
Colley, B., K. Tucker and D.A. Fadool. 2004. Comparison of modulation of KV1.3 channel by two receptor tyrosine kinases in the olfactory bulb of rodents. Receptors Channels. 10(1): 25-36.
Sorota, S., X-S. Zhang, M. Margulis, K. Tucker
and T. Priestley. 2005. Characterization of a hERG Screen
Using the IonWorks HT: Comparison to a hERG Rubidium Efflux
Screen. ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies. 3(1): 47-57.
Abstracts/Poster Presentations at Meetings
Phillips, J.J., F.A. Murphy, K. Tucker, and D.A. Fadool. 1998. Localization of the insulin receptor in the olfactory bulb of rat. Alabama Academy of Sciences (AAS), Mobile, AL.
D.A. Fadool and K. Tucker. 1998. Enzymes in partnership with ion channels; phosphorylation in the olfactory bulb. Alabama Academy of Sciences, Mobile, AL.
Phillips, J.J., K. Tucker, and D.A. Fadool 1998. Insulin receptor kinase functionally modulates and co-localizes with Kv1.3 channels in defined neurons of the olfactory bulb. Soc. for Neuroscience (SFN), Los Angeles, CA..
Murphy, F., K. Tucker, E. E. Morrison, J. C. Dennis, V. Vodyanoy, D. Srikumar, J. H. Kehrl, and D. A. Fadool. 1999. Electrophysiological properties and GTP-bindings proteins putatively involved in vomeronasal signal transduction. Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Tucker, K., J. A. Simmen,, and D. A. Fadool. 1999. Neuromodulation of Kv1.3 by insulin receptor kinase in the olfactory bulb during sensory deprivation. Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Fadool, D.A., K. Tucker, K.K. Whaley, B. Rimel, and S. Wazeerud-Din. 2000. Multiple tyrosine phosphorylation and sensory-dependent neuromodulation of Kv1.3 by insulin receptor kinase. Biophysical Society, New Orleans, LA.
Tucker, K., D.J. Person, and D.A. Fadool. 2000. Chronic and acute stimulation with neurotrophins differentially modulates olfactory bulb neuron current. Southeast Nerve Net (SENN). St. Augustine, FL.
Fadool, D.A., F. Murphy, D.J. Person, and K. Tucker. 2000. Sexual dimorphism and developmental expression of signal transduction machinery in the vomeronasal organ. Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Tucker, K., D.J. Person, and D.A. Fadool. 2000. Time-dependent neuromodulation of olfactory bulb neurons by receptor-linked tyrosine kinases and related growth factors. Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Fadool, D.A. and K. Tucker. 2000. BDNF and insulin modulate ion channel activity in the olfactory bulb linked with development, sensory experience, and food intake. International Smell and Taste (ISOT), Brighton, England.
Fadool, D.A., K. Tucker, K.K. Whaley, B. Rimel, and S. Wezeerud-Din. 2000. Multiple tyrosine phosphorylation and sensor-dependent neuromodulation of Kv1.3 by insulin receptor kinase. Summer Research Forum, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
Tucker, K. and D.A. Fadool. 2001. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates electrical properties of olfactory bulb neurons. Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Tucker, K., D.J. Person, and D.A. Fadool. 2001. Acute and chronic brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates voltage-gated potassium current in the olfactory bulb. Southeast Nerve Net (SENN), Wakulla Springs, FL.
Cook, K.K., K. Tucker, and D.A. Fadool. 2002.
Adaptor proteins modulate protein-protein interactions and
biophysical properties of an olfactory bulb K+ channel.
Association for Chemical Sciences (AChemS), Sarasota, FL.
Meeting Presentations
K. Tucker and D. A. Fadool. 1999. Neuromodulation of Kv1.3 ion channel by insulin receptor kinase and SH2-containing adaptor proteins. South Eastern Nerve Net (SENN), Gainesville, FL.
Publications
- Marks DR, Tucker K, Cavallin MA, Mast TG, Fadool DA. Awake intranasal insulin delivery modifies protein complexes and alters memory, anxiety, and olfactory behaviors. J Neurosci. 29(20):6734-51. (2009) PDF | Abstract
- Tucker K, Overton JM, Fadool DA. Kv1.3 gene-targeted deletion alters longevity and reduces adiposity by increasing locomotion and metabolism in melanocortin-4 receptor-null mice. Int J Obesity. 32(8): 1222-123. (2008) PDF
- Fadool DA, Tucker K, Perkins R, Fasciani G, Thompson RN, Parsons AD, Overton JM, Koni PA, Flavell RA, Kaczmarek LK. Kv1.3 channel gene-targeted deletion produces "super-smeller mice" with altered glomeruli, interacting scaffolding proteins, and biophysics. Neuron. 41(3): 389-404. (2004)