DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS

Bio

CV

Research

Publications

 

 

 

 

   QIN WANG, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

  Email:  qinwang@uab.edu
  Telephone: 205.996.5099
  Fax: 205.975.9028
  Bldg/Room: MCLM 957
Dr. Qin Wang received her M.D. degree from Beijing Medical University, China.  After traveling to the US, she obtained her Ph.D. degree in December 1999 from University of Iowa.  She then did her postdoc work at Vanderbilt University, where she was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor two years later.  In June 2005, Dr. Wang joined the Department of Physiology and Biophysics as an Assistant Professor.  
 

Research

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a major target for cellular regulation by hormones, neurotransmitters and cytokines, and over 60% of available drugs used clinically act through these receptors.  The long term goal of our research is to reveal novel regulatory pathways controlling GPCR functions at the molecular and cellular levels and to understand how these regulatory mechanisms influence GPCR-elicited physiological functions in vivo, so as to provide new insights for therapeutic strategies. 

 

We use the a2 adrenergic receptor (AR) as a model system for our studies.  Coupled to the Gi/o subfamily of G proteins, the a2AR mediates multiple signaling pathways and elicits a number of physiological responses. These processes are precisely regulated by proteins interacting with the a2AR.  Combining genetically-altered mouse models (gene knockout and knock-in) with complementary molecular and cellular approaches, we will evaluate how a2AR “real-time” trafficking and signaling in native neurons are regulated by interacting proteins, specifically arrestin and spinophilin.  Further, using genetically-altered mouse models, we will determine how a2AR interactions with these proteins adjust the cardiovascular and behavior functions elicited by the a2AR in animals. 

 

Our current projects include: 1) detailed characterization of a2AR trafficking and signaling profiles in native neurons; 2) structure-function analysis of spinophilin in regulating a2AR trafficking and signaling; 3) evaluation of a2AR elicited cardiovascular and behavior responses in various mouse models.

 

Selected Publications

  1. Wang Q, Roujian Lu, Zhao J and Limbird LE (2006) Arrestin determines the temporal and spatial activation G-protein-mediated ERK by endogenous alpha2-adrenergic receptors.  J Biol Chem., 281, 25948-25955. (Wang Q. is the corresponding author, published from UAB).

  2. Brady AE, Wang Q, Rizzo M, Greengard P and Limbird LE (2005)  Alpha2-adrenergic  agonist enrichment of spinophilin at the cell surface involves b¡ subunits of Gi proteins and is preferentially induced by the a2A-subtype.  Mol Pharm.  67, 1690-1696.  (Wang Q. is the corresponding author).

  3. Wang Q, Zhao J, Brady AE, Feng J, Allen PB, Lefkowitz RJ, Greengard P and     Limbird LE (2004)  Spinophilin blocks arrestin actions in vitro and in vivo at G protein- coupled receptors.  Science 304, 1940-1944. (Research Article).

  4. Brady AE, Wang Q, Limbird LE (2004) Study of G-protein-coupled receptor-protein interactions using gel overlay assays and glutathione-S-transferase-fusion protein pull-downs.  Methods Mol Biol., 259, 371-378.

  5. Lin JJ, Grosskurth SE, Jaacks SM, Gustafson-Wagner EA, and Wang Q (2004) Characterization of cis-regulatory elements and transcription factor binding: gel mobility shift assay.  "Cardiac gene expression: Methods and protocols" (eds: J. Zhang and G. Rokosh) The Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, NJ.

  6. Brady AE, Wang Q, Colbran RJ, Allen PB, Greengard P and Limbird LE (2003)     Spinophilin stabilizes cell surface expression of a2B-adrenergic receptors.  J Biol     Chem 278, 32405-32412.

  7. Brady AE, Wang Q and Limbird LE (2003) Study of GPCR interactions using GST-fusion pull-down and gel overlay assays.  "Receptor signal transduction protocols" (ed. G.B. Willars) The Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ.

  8. Wang Q and Limbird LE (2002) Regulated interactions of the a2A-adrenergic receptor with spinophilin, 14-3-3z, and arrestin 3.  J Biol Chem 277, 50589-50596.

  9. Wang Q, Lin JL and Lin JJ (2002) A novel TCTG(G/C) direct repeat binding factor and HMG2 control the cardiac-specific expression of the rat cardiac troponin T gene.  J Mol Cell Cardiol 34, 1667-1679.

  10. Richman JG, Brady AE, Wang Q, Hensel JL, Colbran RJ and Limbird LE (2001) The a2 adrenergic receptor subtypes interact with spinophilin via their third intracellular loops.  J Biol Chem 274, 13462-1346.

  11. Wang Q, Reiter RS, Jin JP, Huang QQ and Lin JJ (2001) Comparative studies on the expression pattern of three  troponin T genes during mouse development. Anat Rec 263, 72-84. (Issue cover).

  12. Wang Q, Sigmund CD and Lin JJ (2000) Identification of cis elements in the cardiac troponin T gene conferring specific expression in cardiac muscle of transgenic mice. Circ Res 86, 478-84.

  13. Lin JJ, Wang DZ, Reiter RS, Wang Q, Lin JL, Williams HS (2000) Differentially expressed genes and cardiac morphogenesis. "Formation of the Heart and its Regulation" (eds. R.J. Tomanek and R.B. Runyan) Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.,  New York, NY.

  14. Wang DZ, Reiter RS, Lin JL, Wang Q, Williams HS, Krob SL, Schultheiss TM, Evans S and Lin JJ (1999) Requirement of a novel gene, Xin, in cardiac morphogenesis. Development 126, 1281-1294.