Lixia Yue

Research interests:

We are interested in calcium signaling mechanisms and their potential roles under physiological and pathological conditions. Calcium is the most common signal transduction element in virtually all cells ranging from bacteria to neurons. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in mediating calcium signals. The mammalian TRP channel superfamily consists of a diverse group of calcium permeable nonselective cation channels that may play a role in pain transduction, thermo-sensation, mechanotransduction, tumor suppression, vasodilatation, and neurodegenerative disorder. More than 25 mammalian TRP channel genes have been cloned since the first TRP channel protein was identified in Drosophila , yet their physiological functions are to be revealed.

We apply a multi-disciplinary approach to study the potential physiological and pathological functions of the calcium -permeable TRP channels. We use molecular biology and biochemistry approaches to identify channel proteins and the associated partners; we use patch-clamp to study channel functions and gating mechanisms; and we use in vivo animal models with disrupted or modified channel genes to investigate physiological or pathological functions of the TRP channels.

Our current research projects include:

1) TRP channels and calcium signaling mechanisms in cardiac fibrogenesis.

2) Gating mechanism and physiological functions of TRPM7 and TRPM6, the two channel-kinase proteins that exhibit both channel functions and protein kinase activities.

Recent publications

Du J, Xie J, Yue L. Intracellular calcium activates TRPM2 and its alternative spliced isoforms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 107 (17) 1239-44.
Li M, Du J, Jiang J, Ratzan W, Su L-T, Runnels LW, Yue L. Molecular Determinants of Mg2+ and Ca2+ Permeability and pH Sensitivity in TRPM6 and TRPM7. J. Biol. Chem. 2007; 282(35):25817-25830.
Li M, Jiang J, Yue L. Functional characterization of homo- and heteromeric channel kinases TRPM6 and TRPM7. J Gen Physiol. 2006 May;127(5):525-37.
Su L, Agapito M, Li, Simpson W, Huttenlocher A, Habas R, Yue L, Runnel R. TRPM7 regulates cell adhesion by controlling the calcium-dependent protease calpain. J Biol Chem. 2006 Apr 21;281(16):11260-70. Epub 2006 Jan 25.
Jiang J, Li M, Yue L. Potentiation of TRPM7 inward currents by acidosis. Journal of General Physiology. 2005; 126 (2) 137-150.
*Runnels L, *Yue L, Clapham D. The TRP-Plik channel is inactivated by PIP2 hydrolysis. Nature Cell Biology. 2002; 4(5):329-36. *Co-first author
Yue, L, Navarro B, Ren D, Clapham D. The cation selectivity filter of the bacterial sodium channel, NaChBac. Journal of General Physiology. 2002; 120 (6): 845-53.
Yue L, Peng J-B, Hediger M A, Clapham D.E. CaT1 Manifests the pore properties of the calcium release activated calcium channel. Nature. 2001; 410, 705-709. [see News and Views. Nature 2001 410:648-9].
*Ren D, *Navarro B, *Xu H, *Yue L, Shi Q, Clapham. A prokaryotic voltage-gated sodium channel. Science. 2001 294(5550):2372-5. [see News and Views. Science 2001 294: 2306-2308]. *Co-first author.
Runnels L, Yue L, Clapham D. TRP-PLIK, a bifunctional protein with kinase and ion channel activities (Orginally published in Science Express as 10.1126/science. 1058519 on January 18, 2001). Science. 2001; 291(5506):1043-1047.
Yue L, Wang Z, Rindt H, Nattel S. Molecular evidence for a role of Shaw (Kv3) potassium channel subunits in potassium currents of dog atrium. Journal of Physiology. 2000; 527 (3): 467-478.
Nattel S, Li D, Yue L. "Basic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation-very new insights into very old ideas. Annual Review of Physiology. 2000; 62: 51-77.
Yue L, Melnyk P, Gaspo R, Wang Z, Nattel S. The molecular mechanisms underlying ionic remodelling in a dog model of atrial fibrillation. Circulation Research. 1999; 84:776-784.
Yue L, Feng J, Wang Z, Nattel S. Adrenergic modulation of the ultra-rapid delayed K+ current (IKur.d) in canine atrial myocytes. Journal of Physiology. 1999; 516: 385-398.

Department of Cell Biology Faculty