Contact Information

Office: 2-250 BSB
Phone: 319-384-4562
Faculty Profile

Brief description of current research:

Research in my laboratory is aimed at elucidating the signaling mechanisms of G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) and G proteins in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including immune response, metabolism and tumorigenesis. One particular area of our research studies how GPCR and G protein signaling is regulated by a group of novel Gbg-interacting WD40 repeat-containing proteins, including WDR26 and RACK1, and how dysregulation of G protein signaling by these interacting proteins contributes to tumor growth and metastasis, and diabetes. 

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications:

• Sun Z, Tang X, Lin F, Chen S.:  The WD40-repeat protein WDR26 binds Gbg and promotes Gbg-dependent signal transduction and leukocyte migration. J. Biol. Chem. 286:43902-43912, 2011.  PMCID: PMC3243526
• Runne C, Chen S. PLEKHG2 promotes heterotrimeric G protein βγ-stimulated lymphocyte migration via Rac and Cdc42 activation and actin polymerization. Mol Cell Biol. 33:4294-4307. 33:4294-4307, 2013. PMCID: PMC3811901 * Recommended by Faculty 1000
• Ye Y, Sun Z, Guo A, Song L, Grobe J, Chen S. Ablation of the Gb3 gene does not affect blood pressure or metabolism, but cause bradycardia in mice. Cell Signal. 26(11):2514-2520, 2014.  PMCID: PMC4160384

Quote:

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your bests today—H. Jackson Brown, Jr.