B.S., Jiangsu University, CHINA
Faculty Advisor: Dr. John Auchampach Email: lidu@mcw.edu Phone: (414) 456-4828
Research Interest
Adenosine is a product of the metabolism of ATP and regulates multiple physiologic processes by activating a family of G protein coupled receptors named A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptors. Our laboratory studies the physiological function and signaling mechanisms of the two most recently identified adenosine receptor subtypes, the A2B and A3 adenosine receptors.
My specific project involves characterizing newly developed allosteric enhancers for the A3 adenosine receptor. Allosteric enhancers of G protein-coupled receptors are ligands that have no direct agonist activity, but alternatively enhance the actions of the orthosteric ligand (i.e., adenosine for adenosine receptors) by interacting at a topographically distinct binding site within the receptor. Through activation of the allosteric binding site, allosteric enhancers can increase the affinity and/or the intrinsic activity of the orthosteric agonist. My project involves characterizing the molecular actions of new allosteric enhancers for the A3 adenosine receptor and also involves indentifying the allosteric enhancer binding site using human/mouse chimeric receptors and site-directed mutagenesis. Finally, I am investigating the potential efficacy of A3 adenosine receptor allosteric enhancers in animal models of ischemia/reperfusion injury and acute inflammation.