Faculty

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Zhe Lu, MD, PhD

Professor of Physiology

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Department: Physiology

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1f Graduate Group Affiliations 8

46 Contact information
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664 Clinical Research Building
3b 415 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6085

30 Office: (215) 573-7711
34 Fax: (215) 573-1940
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Email:
zhelu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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18 Publications
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26 Search PubMed for articles c

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13 Education:
21 9 M.D. c
33 Beijing Medical University, 1986.
21 9 M.S. 17 (Physiology) c
30 University of Wisconsin, 1989.
21 a Ph.D. 17 (Physiology) c
30 University of Wisconsin, 1992.
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Links
116 Search PubMed for articles
42 Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
4f Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics graduate group faculty webpage.
3b Neuroscience graduate group faculty webpage.
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Description of Research Expertise

2b Research Interests
44 Mechanism of ion channels and pathogenesis of channelopathy
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73 Key words: Ion channels, cystic fibrosis, regulation of insulin secretion, phospholipase, inhibitor.
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26 Description of Research
2b2 Our laboratory investigates both the fundamental mechanisms of ion channels and the pathogenesis of ion channel-based genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and diabetes, and develops novel pharmacological agents to control the activity of specific types of ion channels. Ion channels are a class of highly specialized membrane proteins that allow ions to flow across the cell membrane in a selective manner. The opening and closing of ion channels are precisely regulated by the intricate cell signaling system. Ionic currents through ion channels generate electrical voltage across the cell membrane which underlies the electrical impulses in nerve, muscle and endocrine cells.
4ee Currently, we are studying three types of ion channels, i.e., potassium channels, the cGMP-gated cation channel, and the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator chloride channel. Using a combined structural and functional approach, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the ability of potassium channels to perform various important biological tasks, such as generating action potentials, modulating the communications between neurons, controlling the rate of the cardiac pacemaker, and coupling the blood glucose level to insulin secretion. We also examine the mechanisms that enable the cGMP-gated channel to mediate visual photo-transduction in the eye. Recently, we have ventured into the area of how phospholipases regulate ion channel function, a venture that has provided us with new insight into the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. Another area of our research is to develop novel protein inhibitors for various types of biologically important ion channels through both passive screening and active protein design-and-engineering. Using the thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis, we examine the molecular mechanisms of channel inhibition, mechanisms that give rise to the molecular specificity between a given inhibitor and its targeting channel.
20 Rotation Projects
207 Rotating students will participate in the investigations of structure-function of ion channels and pathogenesis of channelopathy. The projects will involve molecular biological, protein-biochemical and electrophysiological techniques such as single-channel patch-clamping, single-molecule fluorescence-imaging, membrane protein crystallography, isothermal titration calorimetry, expression of recombinant membrane proteins, gene construction and mutagenesis, histopathology, and/or transgenic animal studies.
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1e Lab personnel:
27 David Combs, M.D., Ph.D student
2a Valentina Dimitrova, Ph.D. student
31 John Lewis, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Associate
31 Victor Pau, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Associate
32 Yajamana Ramu, Ph.D. Research Investigator
30 Marriane Shin, Ph.D. Research Specialist
35 Andrew Thomson, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Associate
35 Yanping Xu, M.D., Ph.D. Research Investigator
31 Jayden Yamakaze, M.S. Research Technician
2e Fenny Zhou, Ph.D. Research Investigator
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Selected Publications

fd Xu, Y. Ramu, Y, Shin, H.-G., Yamakaze, J, Lu, Z: Energetic role of the paddle motif in voltage gating Shaker K+ channels. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 20: 574-581, 2013.

fd Lin, C.-C. Baek, K, Lu, Z.: Apo and InsP3-bound crystal structures of the ligand-binding domain of an InsP3 receptor. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 18: 1172–1174, 2011.

bc Xu, Y., Ramu, Y., Lu., Z.: A Shaker K+ Channel with a Miniature Engineered Voltage Sensor. Cell 142: 580-589, 2010.

124 Xu, Y., Szép, S., Lu, Z.: The antioxidant role of thiocyanate in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis and other inflammation-related diseases. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (U.S.A.) 106: 20515-20519, 2009.

f6 Xu, Y., Shin, H. Szép, S., Lu, Z.: Physical determinants of strong voltage sensitivity of K+ channel block. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 16: 1252 – 1258, 2009.

10e Ramu, Y., Xu, Y., Lu, Z.: Engineered specific and high-affinity inhibitor for a subtype of inward-rectifier K+ channels. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (U.S.A.) 105: 10774-10778, 2008.

db Xu, Y., Ramu, Y., Lu, Z.: Removal of phospho-head groups of membrane lipids immobilizes voltage sensors of K+ channels. Nature 451: 826-829, 2008.

106 Ramu, Y., Xu, Y., Lu, Z.: Inhibition of CFTR Cl- channel function caused by enzymatic hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (U.S.A.) 104: 6448-6453, 2007.

b0 Ramu, Y., Xu, Y., Lu, Z.: Enzymatic activation of voltage-gated K+ channels. Nature 442: 696-699, 2006.

b6 Lu, Z., Klem, A.M., Ramu, Y.: Ion conduction pore is conserved among K+ channels. Nature 413: 809-813, 2001.

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