Biosketch Top
Dr. Liu earned his M.D. degree in Shanghai, China in 1985. After completing his residency in a university hospital, he then went to Japan for his basic research training. In 1996, Dr. Liu received his Ph.D. degree in cell biology from Nagoya University School of Medicine. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Pharmacology of the University of California at San Diego. Since 2000, Dr. Liu has been a faculty member of UT Southwestern Medical Center in the Center for Basic Neuroscience.
Research Top
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Microscopy has become increasingly important for analysis of neurons and neuronal function. Correlative microscopy in which a fluorescence signal is reconciled with a signal from the electron microscope is an important tool that can provide powerful information for cellular analysis. Our current studies are focused on understanding the function of a family of Alzheimer’s disease related proteins, Mints, by combining confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy in neuron culture, rodent brain and human Alzheimer’s brain tissue.
The b-amyloid peptide (Ab), a proteolytic cleavage product from amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a critical element in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Mints have been shown to interact with APP by slowing APP processing and reducing cellular Ab secretion. However, the exact function of Mints and their role in Alzheimer's disease are largely unknown. We are trying to immunocytochemically characterize the Mint proteins both in vivo and in vitro. The outcome of the experiments may help us to understand further about the protein function and its role in Alzheimer’s disease.
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Recent Publications Top
Primary Research Articles
Liu X, Ondek B and Williams DS: Mutant myosin VIIa causes defective melanosome distribution in the RPE of shaker-1 mice. Nature Genetics,19:117-118, 1998.
Liu X, Udovichenko I, Brown S, Steel K and Williams DS: Myosin VIIa participates in opsin transport through the photoreceptor cilium. Journal of Neuroscience,19: 6267-6274, 1999.
Marszalek J, Liu X, Roberts E, Chui D, Marth J, Williams DS and Goldstein LSB: Genetic evidence for selective transport of opsin and arrestin by kinesin-II in mammalian photoreceptors. Cell, 102:175-187, 2000.
Liu X and Williams DS: Coincident onset of expression of myosin VIIa and opsin in the cilium of the developing photoreceptor cell. Experimental Eye Research,72:351-355, 2001.
Walenta, J, Didier, A, Liu X and Kramer H: The Golgi-associated Hook3 protein is a member of a novel family of microtubule-binding proteins. Journal of Cell Biology,152:923-934, 2001.
Sugita S, Han W, Butz S, Liu X, Fernandez-Chacon R, Lao Y and Südhof TC: Synaptotagmin VII as a plasma membrane Ca2+-sensor in exocytosis. Neuron, 30:459-473, 2001.
Mozhayeva M, Sara, Y, Liu X and Kavalali E: Development of vesicle pools during maturation of hippocampal synapses. Journal of Neuroscience, 22(3): 654-665, 2002.
Sara Y, Mozhayeva M, Liu X and Kavalali E: Fast vesicle recycling supports neurotransmission during sustained stimulation at hippocampal synapses. Journal of Neuroscience, 22(5): 1608-1617, 2002.
Biederer T, Cao X, Südhof TC, and Liu X: Regulation of APP-dependent transcription complexes by Mint/X11s: differential functions of Mint isoforms. Journal of Neuroscience, 22(17):7340–7351, 2002.
Biederer T, Sara Y, Mozhayeva M, Atasoy D, Liu X, Kavalali E and Südhof TC: SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly. Science, 297:1525-1531, 2002.
Wang Y, Liu X, Biederer T and Südhof TC: A family of RIM-binding proteins regulated by alternative splicing: Implications for the genesis of synaptic active zones. PNAS, 99: 14464-14469, 2002.
Current Lab Staff Top
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