Research Interests
Identifying mechanisms involved in the trafficking and targeting of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Learning more about the structure/function of muscarinic receptors.
Funding
2008-2011
Effects of a Small Muscarinic M1 Receptor Domain on Internalization, AREA grant, NINDS (1R15NS057742)
2008
Dimerization of Muscarinic M1 Receptors. Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Sciences Intramural Grant (CHS-0803)
2007
Internalization of Muscarinic M1 Receptors. Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Sciences Intramural Grant
2003-2006
Trafficking and Signaling of Muscarinic Receptors. Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology Health Research Grant (HR03-107S)
2000-2001
Labeling and Neuroactive Steroid Site of GABA Receptors. NIH-NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (1F32NS11015-01)
1999
Regent’s Dissertation Fellowship
Awards
1999
Henry Wood Elliot Award
2007
INRC Young Investigator Travel Award
Representative Publications & Presentations
Brasel, C.M., Sawyer, G.W., and Stevens, C.W. A pharmacological comparison of the cloned frog and human mu opiod receptors reveals differences in opioid affinity and function. European Journal of Pharmacology 599: 36-43, 2008.
Sawyer, G.W., Ehlert, F.J., and Shults, C.A. Cysteine Pairs in the Third Intracellular Loop of the Muscarinic M1 Acetylcholine Receptor Play a Role in Agonist-Induces Internalization. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 324:196-205, 2008.
Li, G.D., Chiara, D.C., Sawyer, G.W., Husain, S.S., Olsen, R.W., and Cohen, J.B. Identification of a GABAA receptor anesthetic binding site at subunit interfaces by photolabeling with an etomidate analog. Journal of Neuroscience. 26(45):11599-605, 2006.
Sawyer, G.W., Ehlert, F.J., and Hart, J.P. Determination f the Rate of Muscarinic M1 Receptor Plasma Membrane Delivery Using a Regulated Secretion/Aggregation System. Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods. 53(3):219-33, 2006.
Olsen, R.W. and Sawyer, G.W. GABAA receptor proteins. Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry. W.J. Lennarz and M.D. Lane, eds. Elsevier, Oxford, Vol. 2., pp 162-166
Sawyer, G.W., Chiara, D.C., Olsen, R.W., Cohen, J.B. Identification of the bovine gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor alpha subunit residues photolabeled by the imidazobenzodiazepine [3H]Ro15-4513. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 277(51):50036-45,2002.
Nymann-Andersen, J., Sawyer, G.W., Olsen, R.W. Interaction between GABAA receptor subunit intracellular loops: Implications for higher order complex formation. Journal of Neurochemistry. 83(5):1164-71,2002.
Ehlert, F.J., Ansari, K.Z., Shehnaz, D., Sawyer, G.W., and Griffin, M.T. Acetylcholine-induced desensitization of the muscarinic contractile response in guinea pig ileum is inhibited by pertussis toxin-treatment. J. Pharmacol. Ex. Ther ., 299: 1126-1132, 2001.
Sawyer, G.W., Lambrecht, G. and Ehlert, F.J. 2000. Functional role of muscarinic M2 receptors in a a,b-methylene ATP-induced, neurogenic contracts in guinea pig ileum. Br. J. Pharmacol. 129:1458-1464.
Sawyer, G.W. and Ehlert, F.J. 1999. M3 receptor inactivation reveals a pertussis toxin-sensitive contractile response in the guinea pig colon: Evidence for M2/M3 receptor interactions. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 289:464-476.
Ehlert, F.J., Griffin, M.T., Sawyer, G.W., and Bailon, R. 1999. A simple method for estimations of agonist activity at receptor subtypes: Comparison of native and cloned M3 muscarinic receptors in guinea pig ileum and transfected cells. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 289:981-992.
Ehlert, F.J., Sawyer, G.W. and Esqueda, E.E. 1999. Contractile role of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. Life Sci. 64:387-394.
Sawyer, G. and Ehlert, F. 1999. Pertussis toxin increases isoproterenol-induced relaxation in field-stimulated ileum. European J. Pharmacol. 367:81-84.
Sawyer, G.W. and Ehlert, F.J. 1998. Contractile roles of the M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors in the guinea pig colon. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 284:269-277.
Ehlert, F.J., Ostrom, R.S. and Sawyer, G.W. 1997. Subtypes of the muscarinic receptor in smooth muscle. Life Sci. 61:1729-1740.
