A5101868192- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Connexins and lens biology
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- RNA modifications and cancer
- RNA Research and Splicing
- RNA regulation and disease
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Metallurgical Processes and Thermodynamics
- Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Circular RNAs in diseases
- Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
- Semiconductor materials and interfaces
Central South University
2024
UConn Health
2012-2024
Shandong Normal University
2024
University of Connecticut
2020-2023
Farmington Community Library
2023
Universidad del Noreste
2023
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2010-2018
Shanghai First People's Hospital
2010-2018
Northeastern University
2014-2015
Dalian Polytechnic University
2014
Tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) plays a vital role in carcinogenesis, yet its precise functional roles and regulation remain unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate biological function clinical significance human colon cancer. We analyzed the expression of TIMP1 both public database (Oncomine TCGA) 94 cases primary cancer matched normal tissue specimens. The underlying mechanisms altered on cell tumorigenesis, proliferation, metastasis were explored vitro vivo. was...
Rab small GTPases are involved in the transport of vesicles between different membranous organelles. RAB-3 is an exocytic that plays a modulatory role synaptic transmission. Unexpectedly, mutations Caenorhabditis elegans exchange factor homologue, aex-3, cause more severe transmission defect as well defecation not seen rab-3 mutants. We hypothesized AEX-3 may regulate second regulates these processes with RAB-3. found another Rab, RAB-27. Here, we show C. RAB-27 localized to synapse-rich...
Abstract Neurons communicate through chemical synapses and electrical (gap junctions). Although these two types of often coexist between neurons, little is known about whether they interact, any interactions them are important to controlling synaptic strength circuit functions. By studying premotor interneurons (AVA) downstream motor neurons (A-MNs) in the Caenorhabditis elegans escape circuit, we found that disrupting either or causes defective response. Gap junctions AVA A-MNs only allow...
Although the neuromuscular system of C. elegans has been studied intensively, little is known about properties muscle action potentials (APs). By combining mutant analyses with in vivo electrophysiological recording techniques and Ca2+ imaging, we have established fundamental molecular determinants body-wall APs. We show that, unlike mammalian skeletal APs, APs occur spontaneous trains, do not require function postsynaptic receptors, are all-or-none overshooting events, rather than graded as...
Activation of voltage-gated calcium channels at presynaptic terminals leads to local increases in and the fusion synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter. Presynaptic output is a function density channels, dynamic properties channel, distance docked vesicles, release probability docking site. We demonstrate that Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junctions two different classes CaV2 CaV1, mediate distinct pools vesicles. are concentrated densely packed clusters ~250 nm diameter with...
A major challenge of neuroscience is to understand the circuit and gene bases behavior. C. elegans commonly used as a model system investigate how various products function at specific tissue, cellular, synaptic foci produce complicated locomotory bending The investigation generally requires quantitative behavioral analyses using an automated single-worm tracker, which constantly records analyzes position body shape freely moving worm high magnification. Many trackers have been developed...
Abstract Little is known about the function of Keratin 80 (KRT80), an epithelial keratin, in cancer. This study investigated role KRT80 prognosis colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and underlying mechanisms involved CRC migration invasion. We analyzed expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas Oncomine databases. Higher was found to be significantly associated with multiple pathological parameters, lower disease-free survival, overall survival patients. Also, independent prognostic indicator for CRC....
Abstract Proper threat-reward decision-making is critical to animal survival. Emerging evidence indicates that the motor system may participate in but neural circuit and molecular bases for these functions are little known. We found C. elegans GABAergic neurons (D-MNs) bias toward reward behavior by retrogradely inhibiting a pair of premotor command interneurons, AVA, control cholinergic avoidance circuit. This function D-MNs mediated specific ionotropic GABA receptor (UNC-49) depends on...
Melatonin is known to promote sleep, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using CBA/CaJ mice, a strain capable of melatonin synthesis, we explored the roles BK channel (Slo1) and receptor MT1 in regulating sleep behavior action potentials suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Global knockout Slo1 or reduced REM NREM increased wakefulness, broadened while abolishing afterhyperpolarization SCN neurons. These effects were primarily exclusively observed during subjective...
Electrical signaling across distinct populations of brain cells underpins cognitive and emotional function; however, approaches that selectively regulate electrical between two cellular components a mammalian neural circuit remain sparse. Here, we engineered an synapse composed connexin proteins found in Morone americana (white perch fish), connexin34.7 connexin35, to accomplish modulation. By exploiting protein mutagenesis, devising new vitro system for assaying hemichannel docking,...
Analyses of the effect ryanodine in vertebrate brain slices have led to conclusion that presynaptic receptors (RYRs) may several functions synaptic release, including causing large-amplitude miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) by promoting concerted multivesicular release. However, role RYRs release is controversial. To better understand we analyzed RYR mutation on mPSCs and evoked (ePSCs) at Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Amplitudes varied greatly C. NMJ....
Although Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is enriched at the presynaptic nerve terminal, its role in neurotransmitter release poorly defined. We assessed function of CaMKII and tested hypothesis that BK channel a mediator by analyzing miniature evoked postsynaptic currents Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction. Both loss-of-function ( lf ) gain-of-function gf unc-43 , gene encoding CaMKII, inhibited release. The inhibitory effect unc-43(gf) was reversed mutation...
Active zone proteins play a fundamental role in regulating neurotransmitter release and defining sites. The functional roles of active components are beginning to be elucidated; however, the mechanisms protein localization unknown. Studies have shown that glutamine, leucine, lysine, serine-rich (ELKS), recently defined member complex, acts localize Rab3a-interacting molecule (RIM) regulates synaptic transmission cultured neurons. Here, we test function ELKS vivo . Like mammalian ELKS,...
SummaryIn C. elegans, loss-of-function (lf) mutations of the stomatin-like protein (SLP) UNC-1 and innexin UNC-9 inhibit locomotion [1, 2] modulate sensitivity to volatile anesthetics [3, 4]. It was unknown why unc-1(lf) unc-9(lf) mutants have similar phenotypes. We tested hypothesis that is a regulator gap junctions formed by UNC-9. Analyses junctional currents between body-wall muscle cells showed electrical coupling inhibited degree in unc-1(lf), unc-9(lf), unc-1(lf);unc-9(lf) double...
Invertebrate innexins and their mammalian homologues, the pannexins, are gap junction proteins. Although a large number of such proteins have been identified, few junctions that they form characterized to provide combined information biophysical properties, coupling pattern, molecular compositions. We adapted dual whole cell voltage clamp technique in situ analysis electrical Caenorhabditis elegans body-wall muscle. found muscle cells were electrically coupled highly organized specific...
Significance Melatonin (Mel) promotes sleep through G protein-coupled Mel receptors. However, the downstream molecular target(s) of receptors to produce effect remains enigmatic. The study shows that a potassium channel, BK plays role in and by activating this channel specific receptor.
The BK channel is a Ca²+- and voltage-gated potassium with many important physiological functions. To identify proteins to its function in vivo, we screened for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants that suppressed lethargic phenotype caused by expressing gain-of-function (gf) isoform of the α-subunit SLO-1. BKIP-1 (for interacting protein), small peptide no significant homology any previously characterized molecules, was thus identified. SLO-1 showed similar expression subcellular localization...
Rectifying electrical synapses (RESs) exist across animal species, but their rectification mechanism is largely unknown. We investigated why RESs between AVA premotor interneurons and A-type cholinergic motoneurons (A-MNs) in Caenorhabditis elegans escape circuit conduct junctional currents (Ij) only the antidromic direction. These consist of UNC-7 innexin UNC-9 A-MNs. has multiple isoforms differing length sequence amino terminus. In a heterologous expression system, one isoform, UNC-7b,...