Professor Yao, Xiaoqiang | Academic Staff

 

 

 

Room: 305A, BMSB

Office: 2609 6877

Email: yao2068@cuhk.edu.hk

YAO, XiaoQiang

Professor

B.S. (1982) Hangzhou University
M.S. (1985) Chinese Academy of Science
Ph.D.(1992) State University of New York at Buffalo

Research Interests: Molecular physiology of ion channel

Ion channels are essential for a variety of fundamental cell processes. The primary focus of our laboratory is to study Ca2+-permeable channels in vascular cells and in over-expression system.

1. TRP (transient receptor potential) channels in vascular cells and mammalian over-expression system

We have revealed the presence of TRPC1,3-6 in human arteries across all vascular beds. One main goal of our current research is to clarify the function of TRPC, TRPV, and TRPP channels in cardiovascular systems. These functions include agonist-induced vascular response, flow-induced vascular response, and blood pressure regulation. We are also investigating the modulation of TRP channels by phosphorylation, cyclic nucleotides, genistein, and other agents.

2. CNG (cyclic nucleotide-gated) nonselective cation channels.

CNG channels are known to play an important role in sensory signal transduction and in long-term memory. Our studies have identified the expression and functional role of CNGA1 and CNGA2 in human vascular tissues. CNGA2 are found to mediate adenosine- and beta-adrenergic agonist-mediated Ca2+ influx in endothelial cells and its subsequent vascular dilation.

3. Interaction among different TRP isoforms and between TRP and other proteins

TRP channels in vivo are mostly heteromultimers. Interaction between different TRP isoforms has important functional role in Ca2+ signaling and membrane potential control. We are currently investigating the interaction among TRP isoforms. Recently we have also identified a physical interaction between TRPC1 and BKca. Such an interaction appears to play an important role in membrane potential control.

Various techniques are currently used to study the molecular physiology of ion channels. These include confocal Ca2+ image system, patch clamp, molecular cloning, in situ hybridization, in vitro transcription, DNA sequencing, RNA inference, immunostaining, immunoprecipitation, myograph, etc.

 

1. Functional role of different TRP isoforms in vascular endothelial cells (from Yao X, Garland CJ: 2005 Circ Res. 97:853-863)

           

2. Epinephrine (through beta-adrenergic receptors)-induced Ca rise in endothelial cells of mouse aortic strips (from Shen B et al., 2008 J Mol Cell Cardiol. 45:437-445)

       

Representative publications:

* Kwan HY, Shen B, Ma X, Kwok YC, Huang Y, Man YB, Yu S, Yao X. (2009) TRPC1 Associates With BKCa Channel to Form a Signal Complex in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Circulation Research 2009 (in print).

* Cheng KT, Leung YK, Shen B, Kwan HY, Kwok YC, Wong CO, Ma X, Huang Y, Yao X (2008) CNGA2 channels mediate adenosine-induced Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells. Arterioscleroisis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 28:913-918

* Shen B, Cheng KT, Leung YK, Kwok YC, Kwan HY, Wong CO, Chen ZY, Huang Y, Yao X (2008) Epinephrine-induced Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells is mediated by CNGA2 channels. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 45:437-445.

* Li X, Shen B, Yao X, Yan D (2007) A small synthetic molecule forms chloride channels to mediate chloride transport across cell membrane. Journal of American Chemical Society 129:7264-7265.

* Liu CL, Ngai CY, Huang Y, Ko WH, Wu M, He GW, Garland CJ, Dora KA, Yao X. (2006) Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores enhances flow-induced vascular dilatation in rat small mesenteric artery. British Journal of Pharmacology 147:506-515.

* Yao X, Garland CJ (2005) Recent development in endothelial TRP channels. Circulation Research 97:853-863 (Invited Review) 97:853-863.

* Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X (2004) Regulation of canonical transient receptor potential channel isoforms 3 (TRPC3) by protein kinase G. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 101:2625-2630.

* Yao X, Huang Y (2003) From nitric oxide to endothelial cytosolic Ca2+, a negative feedback control. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. (Review)24:263-266.

* Kwan HY, Leung PC, Huang Y, Yao X (2003) Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores sensitizes the flow-induced Ca2+ influx in rat endothelial cells. Circulation Research 92:286-292.
* Cheng CH, Yew DTW, Kwan HY, Zhou Q, Huang Y, Liu T, Chan WY, Yao X (2002) An endogenous RNA transcript antisense to CNGa1 cation channel mRNA. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 13:3696-3705.
* Yao X, Tian S, Chan HY, Biemesderfer D, Desir GV (2002) Expression of the KCNA10, a voltage-gated K+ channel, in glomerular endothelium and at the apical membrane of the renal proximal tubule. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 13:2831-2839 (One Figure was chosen as Cover page of the Journal).

* Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X (2000) Store-operated Ca++ entry in vascular endothelial cells is inhibited by cGMP via a protein kinase G-dependent mechanism. Journal of Biological Chemistry 275:6758-6773.

* X Yao, WM Liu, SL Tian, H Rafi, AS Segal, GV Desir (2000) Close association of the amino terminus of Kv1.3 with the pore region. Journal of Biological Chemistry 275:10859-10863.

* Yao X, Kwan HY, Chan FL, Chan NWK, Huang Y (2000) A protein kinase G-sensitive channel mediates flow-induced Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells. FASEB Journal 14: 932-938.

Current Grants

  1. Hong Kong RGC Earmarked Grant: “Functional role of ROS-sensitive TRP channels in vascular cells”.
  2. Hong Kong RGC Earmarked Grant: “Interaction of TRPC channels with large conductance Ca2+-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells”.
  3. Hong Kong RGC central allocation: “Peptidomimetics for Drug Discovery: Design, Synthesis and Biological Applications”.
  4. University Focused Strategic Scheme C: Calcium homeostasis in vascular endothelial cells.