title: The role of glutamate in my professional life: from molecular neuroplasticity to the relief of suffering.
abstract: This invited address is offered in celebration of the career of Dr. William T. Greenough, especially the mentorship aspect of this illustrious career. It details how glutamate has been a thread throughout my professional career, including in my training with Bill. Our investigations of the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in synaptic plasticity, specifically in relation to the fragile-X mental retardation protein, are described. I then discuss how glutamate has played a role in my current professional life as a psychiatrist working in palliative care. Finally, I end with some words about how the training I received from Bill has had, and continues to have, an impact on my professional development.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. sirwin@sdhospice.org
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate