Overview
Dr. Makriyannis is the founder and director of the Center for Drug Discovery. The center focuses on the discovery and development of novel compounds mainly targeting CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors as well as the enzymes modulating the function.
Specializations
- Drug Discovery and Development
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Drug Design
- Biophysical Methods for Drug Discovery
Courses Taught
- Chemistry and Biology of Drug Abuse (PHSC 6222)
- Behavioral Pharmacology in Drug Abuse (PHSC 6224)
- Biophysical Methods in Drug Discovery (PHSC 6290)
Awards
2018 CPDD Nathan B. Eddy Memorial Award
2015 AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award
2013 ACS Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame
2012 Annual NU Award for Excellence in Research and Creativity
2012 ACS Research Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicinal Chemistry
2007 Kenneth E. Avis Award in Medicinal Chemistry
2007 Distinguished Patent Award, University of Connecticut
2006 Mechoulam Life Achievement Award in Cannabinoid Research (ICRS)
Grants
Source: NIDA: P01DA009158-20
Title: Endocannabinoid Active Sites as Therapeutic Targets – Program Project (Animals)
Source: NIDA: R01DA040520
Title: Structure and Function of CB2 Receptor
Source: NIDA: N32DA055553
Title: Training Program on Development of Medications for Substance Abuse Disorder
Source: 5R37DA003801
Title: Molecular Basis of Cannabinoid Activity
Publications
Desai. R. I., B. D. Kangas, O. T. Luc, E. Solakidou, E. C. Smith, M. H. Dawes. X. Ma. A. Makriyannis, S. Chatterjee, M. A. Dayeh, A. Muñoz-Jaramillo, M. I. Desai, C. L. Limoli, (2023), Complex 33-beam simulated galactic cosmic radiation exposure impacts cognitive function and prefrontal cortex neurotransmitter networks in male mice, Nature Communications, 14(1). PMID:38012180, PMCID: PMC10682413
Sadybekov A.A., A.V. Sadybekov, Y. Liu, C. Iliopoulos-Tsoutsouvas, X. Huang, J. Pickett, B. Houser, N. Patel, N. Tran, F. Tong, N. Zvonok, M. Jain, O. Savych, D. Radchenko, S.P. Nikas, N. Petasis, Y. Moroz, B. Roth, A. Makriyannis, V. Katritch, (2022), Synthon-based ligand discovery in virtual libraries of over 11 billion compounds. Nature, 601(7893): 452-459. PMID: 34912117 PMCID: PMC9763054
Hua T., X. Li, L. Wu, C. Iliopoulos-Tsoutsouvas, Y. Wang, M. Wu, L. Shen, C. Johnston, S. Nikas, F. Song, X. Song, S. Yuan, Q. Sun, Y. Wu, S. Jiang, O. Benchama, E.L. Stahl, N. Zvonok, S. Zhao, L.M. Bohn, A. Makriyannis, Z. Liu, (2020). Activation and Signaling Mechanism Revealed by Cannabinoid Receptor-Gi Complex Structures. Cell, 176(3), 459-467.e13. PMID: 32004463; PMCID: PMC7898353.
Li X., T. Hua, K. Vemuri, J.H. Ho, Y. Wu, L. Wu, P. Popov, O. Benchama, N. Zvonok, K. Locke, L. Qu, G.W. Han, M.R. Iyer, R. Cinar, N.J. Coffey, J. Wang, M. Wu, V. Katritch, S. Zhao, G. Kunos, L.M. Bohn, A. Makriyannis, R.C. Stevens, Z.J. Liu, (2019), Crystal structure of the human cannabinoid receptor CB2. Cell, 176(3), 459-467. PMID: 30639103 PMCID: PMC6713262
Janero D.R., A. Korde, A. Makriyannis, (2017), Ligand-assisted protein structure (LAPS): An experimental paradigm for characterizing cannabinoid-receptor ligand-binding domains. Methods Enzymol., 593:217-235. PMID:28750804
Hua T., K. Vemuri, S.P. Nikas, R.B. Laprairie, Y, Wu, L. Qu, M. Pu, A. Korde, S. Jiang, J.H. Ho, Han G.W., Ding K.., Li X., Liu H., M.A. Hanson, S. Zhao, L.M. Bohn, A. Makriyannis, R.C. Stevens, Z.J. Liu, (2017), Crystal structures of agonist-bound human cannabinoid receptor CB1. Nature, 547(7664):468-471. PMID: 28678776 PMCID: PMC5793864
Hua T., K. Vemuri, M. Pu, L. Qu, G.W. Han, Y. Wu, S. Zhao, W. Shui, S. Li, A. Korde, R.B. Laprairie, E.L. Stahl, J. Ho, N. Zvonok, H. Zhou, I. Kufareva, B. Wu, Q. Zhao, M.A. Hanson, L.M. Bohn, A. Makriyannis, R.C. Stevens, Z. Liu, (2016), Crystal structure of the human cannabinoid receptor CB1. Cell, 167(3), 750-762. PMID: 27768894 PMCID: PMC5322940
Makriyannis A., (2014), 2012 Division of medicinal chemistry award address: Trekking the cannabinoid road: A personal perspective. J. Med. Chem., 57(10), 3891-3911. PMID: 24707904 PMCID: PMC4064474
Sharma R., S.P. Nikas, C.A. Paronis, J.T. Wood, A. Halikhedkar, J.J. Guo, G.A. Thakur, S. Kulkarni, O. Benchama, J.G. Raghav, R.S. Gifford, T.U. Järbe, J. Bergman, A. Makriyannis, (2013), Controlled-deactivation cannabinergic ligands. J. Med. Chem., 56(24), 10142-10157. PMID: 24286207 PMCID: PMC3905450
Nasr M.L., X. Shi, A.L. Bowman, M. Johnson, N. Zvonok, D.R. Janero, V.K. Vemuri, T.E. Wales, J.R. Engen, A. Makriyannis, (2013), Membrane phospholipid bilayer as a determinant of monoacylglycerol lipase kinetic profile and conformational repertoire. Protein Sci. 22(6), 774-787. PMID: 23553709 PMCID: PMC3690717
