Shiyong
Wu, Ph.D.
Associate
Professor-Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Principal
Investigator-Edison
Biotechnology Institute
Member-Molecular & Cellular Biology Program
Konneker
Research Labs, The Ridges
Ohio
University, Athens, OH
Our laboratory is investigating the roles of small molecules, such
as free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane lipids in
regulation of protein functions.
One objective of our current studies is to elucidate the mechanisms that
regulate UVR-induced apoptosis via nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mediated
signaling pathways and to determine the roles of nitric oxide (NO•)/peroxynitrite
(ONOO−) in UV-induced translation regulation and apoptosis. Our recent findings indicate that NO•
production mediates UVR-induced activations of eIF2a kinases. We are also showing that the time to
produce NO•/ONOO− plays a critical role in the determination
of fate of the UV-irradiated cells.
Another
objective of our UVR studies is to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate
UVR-induced apoptosis via Fas aggregation mediated pathways and to determine
the roles of major components of membrane raft domains in UVR-induced Fas
aggregation. My laboratory has
shown that UVR induces a rapid change of the rafts components, which plays
important roles in regulation of activities of membrane receptors. UV-induced elevation of cholesterol
and/or ceramide mediates UVR-induced Fas aggregation through changing the
structure of the raft domains. We
have proposed to further study the mechanism of UVR-induced regulation of
cholesterol synthesis and its role in induction of Fas aggregation and
apoptosis. The extent of effect of
UVR-induced elevation of cholesterol/ceramide on structure-function of membrane
raft domains and protein aggregation will also be studied by using MALDI-TOF
and atomic force microscope (AFM).
Based
on the above research, we recently developed a multidisciplinal collaborative
research project to determine the extent of effect of
UVR and nitric oxide-releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NO-NSAID) on surface
protein expression and adhesion of melanoma cells. The role of UV-induced deregulation of cholesterol in
protein expression and cell adhesion is also under investigation.
Last modified:
Jan, 2010