About Us:
Liu
Zhi-Jie group current research is focused on the study of
human G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) and related cell
signal transductions. GPCRs constitute the largest protein
family in human body, they are responsible for about 80%
of the cell surface signal transductions, play important roles
in many physiological activities and related to many diseases.
More than 30% of marketed drugs target GPCRs. However, GPCRs
are only responsible for the initial step of cell surface
signal transductions, there are more than 200 downstream
signaling pathways participated in the cell functional
modulations which we know very little about. The long term
research focus will be shifted from GPCR structural biology to
GPCR mediated signaling transduction mechanism in neuron cells
by integrating different imaging and functional analysis
methods. Our special interest is GPCR biased signaling which
is important for developing effective and side effect free
drugs.
