A5000138402- Connexins and lens biology
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Analytical Chemistry and Sensors
- Trace Elements in Health
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Pharmacological Receptor Mechanisms and Effects
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Congenital heart defects research
- Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
University of South China
2025
Guiyang Medical University
2025
Sichuan University
2018-2024
Zhejiang University
2024
The University of Western Australia
2021
Xiamen University
2021
Creative Research Enterprises (United States)
2021
Edith Cowan University
2021
Jackson and Tull (United States)
2021
Beihua University
2021
In the vertebrate retina, horizontal cells generate inhibitory surround of bipolar cells, an essential step in contrast enhancement. For last decades, mechanism involved this synaptic pathway has been a major controversy retinal research. One hypothesis suggests that connexin hemichannels mediate negative feedback signal; another is mediated by protons. Mutant zebrafish were generated lack 55.5 cells. Whole cell voltage clamp recordings made from isolated and cones flat mount retinas....
Using a genetic mouse model that faithfully recapitulates DISC1 alteration strongly associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, we examined the impact of this mutation within prefrontal cortex. Although cortical layering, cytoarchitecture, proteome were found to be largely unaffected, electrophysiological examination mPFC revealed both neuronal hyperexcitability alterations in short-term synaptic plasticity consistent enhanced neurotransmitter release. Increased...
Identification of protective loss-of-function (LoF) mutations holds great promise for devising novel therapeutic interventions, although it faces challenges due to the scarcity LoF alleles in human genome. Exploiting detailed mechanistic characterization animal models validated disease offers an alternative. Here, we provide insights into protective-variant biology based on our a model 22q11.2 deletion, strong genetic risk factor schizophrenia (SCZ). Postnatal brain up-regulation
Abstract The sigma-1 receptor (σ 1 R) is a non-opioid transmembrane which has been implicated in many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. After more than forty years of research, substantial progress made understanding this unique receptor, yet the molecular mechanism its ligand entry pathway remains uncertain. Published structures human σ R reveal homotrimeric organization cupin-fold β-barrel body that contains binding site, carboxy-terminal V-shaped two-helix...
Given its high penetrance, clearly delineated and evolutionary conserved genomic structure, mouse models of the 22q11.2 deletion provide an ideal organism-based cell-based model this well-established disease mutation for schizophrenia. In study we examined development changes in intrinsic properties, action potential firing synaptic transmission using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings cultured embryonic cortical neurons from Df(16)A +/- WT mice at DIV7 DIV14, respectively. Compared to...
Expounding bioaccumulation pathways of nanoplastics in organisms is a prerequisite for assessing their ecological risks the context global plastic pollution. Invertebrate uptake preference toward key initial step nanoplastic food chain transport that controls biosafety, while biological regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Here, we reveal preferential involving active avoidance by Caenorhabditis elegans and demonstrate relationship between characteristics. Nanoplastics with 100 nm size or...
Abstract The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) is a non-opioid membrane receptor, which responds to diverse array of synthetic ligands exert various pharmacological effects. Meanwhile, candidates for endogenous σ1R have also been identified. However, how bind remains unknown. Here, we present crystal structures from Xenopus laevis (xlσ1R) bound two neurosteroid ligands, progesterone (a putative antagonist) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) agonist), at 2.15-3.09 Å resolutions. Both...
Abstract Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) belongs to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), and mediates cytoplasmic packaging into presynaptic vesicles. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of VMAT2, with a frog VMAT2 adopting canonical MFS fold an engineered sheep non-canonical fold. Both proteins mediate uptake selective fluorescent substrate cells. Molecular docking, binding transport analysis reveal potential mechanism in VMAT2. Meanwhile, caution is advised when...
Hemi-gap-junction (HGJ) channels of retinal horizontal cells (HCs) function as transmembrane ion that are modulated by voltage and calcium. As an endogenous neuromodulator, zinc, which is coreleased with glutamate at photoreceptor synapses, plays important role in shaping visual signals acting on postsynaptic HCs vivo. To understand more fully the regulation HC HGJ channels, we examined effect Zn(2+) channel currents bass HCs. Hemichannel elicited depolarization Ca(2+)-free medium 1 mM...
Apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) retrieves acids from the small intestine and plays a pivotal role in enterohepatic circulation. Currently, high-resolution structures are available for two bacterial ASBT homologs (ASBT NM Neisseria meningitides Yf Yersinia frederiksenii ), which an elevator-style alternating-access mechanism has been proposed substrate transport. A key concept this model is that binds to central cavity of so elevator-like motion can expose bound...
The neurotransmitter:sodium symporter (NSS) homolog LeuT from Aquifex aeolicus has proven to be a valuable model for studying the transport mechanism of NSS family. Crystal structures have captured in key conformations visited during cycle, allowing construction nearly complete transport, with much conformational dynamics studied by computational simulations. Here, we report crystal representing new intermediate between outward-facing open and occluded states. These structures, combined...
Connexin channels mediate electrical synaptic transmission when assembled as cell-to-cell pores at gap junctions and can transmembrane currents expressed in plasma membranes hemichannels. They are widely the vertebrate retina where synapses they critical for of visual signals. While roles connexins well-studied, function connexin hemichannels nervous system less well understood. Genetic deletion zebrafish (Cx) 55.5 alters horizontal cell feedback to cones, spectral responses, behavior. Here,...
Despite the controversy regarding existence and physiological relevance of class A G protein-coupled receptor dimerization, there is substantial evidence for functional interactions between dopamine D2 (D2R) adenosine A2A (A2AR). A2AR-D2R complexes have been detected in rodent brains by proximity ligation assay; however, their human brain has not demonstrated. In this study, we used Brightfield assay, combined with a systematic sampling parameter-free naive Bayesian classifier, demonstrated...
The membrane (M) protein is the most abundant structural of coronaviruses including MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, plays a central role in virus assembly through its interaction with various partner proteins. However, mechanistic details about how M interacts others remain elusive due to lack high-resolution structures. Here, we present first crystal structure betacoronavirus from Pipistrellus bat coronavirus HKU5 (batCOV5-M), which closely related SARS-CoV-2 Furthermore, an analysis...