Photo of Lixia  Yue, Ph.D.

Lixia Yue, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Calhoun Cardiology Center
Academic Office Location:
Cell Biology
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
Phone: 860-679-3869
Website(s):

Yue Lab

Cell Biology Graduate Program

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
B.S.Sun Yat-sen UniversityBiology
M.S.Sun Yat-sen UniversityCardiovascular Physiology
Ph.D.McGill University School of MedicineCardiac Electrophysiology

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralHarvard Medical SchoolElectrophysiology and Molecular Biology

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
American Heart Association - Scientist Development Grant Award, 2003-2007American Heart Association
Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 1999-2001
Dean’s Honor Award for Excellent Ph.D. Thesis
Studentship Award, 1995-1999Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Neuroscience Search CommitteeEducation CommitteememberUConn HealthUniversity20192020
Graduate student admission committeeEducation CommitteeUniversity2017
Editorial Board Member of Molecular PharmacologyEditorial BoardMemberExternalNational2013
Chartered member of NIH study section (ESTA)Study SectionMember ExternalNational20122016
Faculty of America Heart Association (FAHA)Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberNational2012
Welcome Trust Foundation (United Kingdom)Professional/Scientific OrganizationReviewerExternalNational2009
Founders (R1) study section Study SectionMemberExternalNational2008
National Institutes of Health, ESTA Study Section Study SectionMemberExternalNational2007
National Institutes of Health, ESTA Study Section, Study SectionMemberExternalNational2006
American Heart Association NEA3&4 Professional/Scientific OrganizationReviewerExternalNational20052007

We are interested in Ca2+ signaling mechanisms and their potential roles under physiological and pathological conditions. Calcium is the most common signal transduction element in virtually all cells ranging from bacteria to neurons. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in mediating calcium signals. The mammalian TRP channel superfamily consists of a diverse group of Ca2+ permeable nonselective cation channels that may play a role in pain transduction, thermo-sensation, mechanotransduction, tumor suppression, vasodilatation, and neurodegenerative disorder. More than 25 mammalian TRP channel genes have been cloned since the first TRP channel protein was identified in Drosophila, yet their physiological functions are to be revealed.


We apply a multi-disciplinary approach to study the potential physiological and pathological functions of the Ca2+-permeable TRP channels. We use molecular biology and biochemistry approaches to identify channel proteins and the associated partners; we use patch-clamp to study channel functions and gating mechanisms; and we use in vivo animal models with disrupted or modified channel genes to investigate physiological or pathological functions of the TRP channels.


We currently focus on two major projects. First, we will investigate TRP channels and Ca2+ signaling mechanisms in cardiac fibrogenesis. Cardiac fibrosis is detrimental and is associated with a variety of heart diseases including arrhythmia, hypertrophy, and heart failure. However, Ca2+ signaling mechanism in cardiac fibrogenesis is unknown. This project will reveal potential roles of TRP channels in mediating Ca2+ signals in the cardiac fibroblast’s proliferation, differentiation, and fibrogenesis. Second, we are interested in the gating mechanisms and physiological functions of TRPM7 and TRPM6, the two channel-kinase proteins that exhibit both channel functions and protein kinase activities.

Not Accepting Lab Rotation Students at this time


Lab Rotation Projects
Project #1: Potential physiological functions of TRPM7. We have recently found that TRPM7 is abundantly expressed in the heart (Nat. Cell. Biol. 2002). The goal of this project is to study how TRPM7 contributes to cardiac fibrogenesis, a pathological process that is involved in a variety of heart diseases including hypertrophy, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. For this project, the rotation student will start with studying how TRPM7 affects cardiac fibroblasts’ proliferation and differentiation.


Project #2: Gating mechanisms of TRPM7. A recent study showed that TRPM7 is responsible for neuronal cell death caused by anoxia. We have found that TRPM7 activity can be dramatically potentiated by ischemia related conditions (JGP, 2005. in press). This project is to identify the amino acid residues which determine the permeability, selectivity and gating mechanisms of TRPM7. Recombinant TRPM7 will be expressed in over-expression system and site-directed mutagenesis will be applied in this study. The ultimate goal of this project is to reveal the mechanism by which TRPM7 contributes to ischemic neuronal cell death and stroke.


Project #3: TRPV6 and Ca2+ signaling mechanism. TRPV6 (or CaT1) is the most Ca2+ selective ion channel in the TRP superfamily (Nature, 2001). Activation of TRPV6 requires lowered intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The objective of this project is to study how TRPM6 is gated under physiological conditions and potential roles of TRPV6 in Ca2+ signaling mechanism. Looking for interacting proteins with TRPV6 will be the first step for this project.

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • Regulation of Presynaptic Calcium Channels.
    Zong, Pengyu; Yue, Lixia Advances in neurobiology 2023 Jan;171-202
  • Regulation of Orai/STIM channel activities by pH
    Albert S. Yu, Zhichao Yue, Jianlin Feng, Lixia Yue* Calcium Entry Channels in Non-Excitable Cells 2018 Oct;
  • Lipid Regulation of Cardiac Ion Channels in Heart Disease
    Lixia Yue, Zhichao Yue, Jia Xie Cardiovascular Diseases 2013 Jan;

Editorials

Reviews

  • TRP Channels in Stroke.
    Zong, Pengyu; Li, Cindy X; Feng, Jianlin; Cicchetti, Mara; Yue, Lixia Neuroscience bulletin 2023 Nov;
  • Targeting TRPM2- and TRPM4-extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor coupling in ischemic stroke.
    Zong, Pengyu; Li, Cindy X; Feng, Jianlin; Yue, Lixia Neural regeneration research 2023 Nov;18(11):2383-2384
  • The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2023/24: Ion channels.
    Alexander, Stephen P H; Mathie, Alistair A; Peters, John A; Veale, Emma L; Striessnig, Jörg; Kelly, Eamonn; Armstrong, Jane F; Faccenda, Elena; Harding, Simon D; Davies, Jamie A; Aldrich, Richard W; Attali, Bernard; Baggetta, Austin M; Becirovic, Elvir; Biel, Martin; Bill, Roslyn M; Caceres, Ana I; Catterall, William A; Conner, Alex C; Davies, Paul; De Clerq, Katrien; Delling, Markus; Di Virgilio, Francesco; Falzoni, Simonetta; Fenske, Stefanie; Fortuny-Gomez, Anna; Fountain, Samuel; George, Chandy; Goldstein, Steve A N; Grimm, Christian; Grissmer, Stephan; Ha, Kotdaji; Hammelmann, Verena; Hanukoglu, Israel; Hu, Meiqin; Ijzerman, Ad P; Jabba, Sairam V; Jarvis, Mike; Jensen, Anders A; Jordt, Sven E; Kaczmarek, Leonard K; Kellenberger, Stephan; Kennedy, Charles; King, Brian; Kitchen, Philip; Liu, Qiang; Lynch, Joseph W; Meades, Jessica; Mehlfeld, Verena; Nicke, Annette; Offermanns, Stefan; Perez-Reyes, Edward; Plant, Leigh D; Rash, Lachlan; Ren, Dejian; Salman, Mootaz M; Sieghart, Werner; Sivilotti, Lucia G; Smart, Trevor G; Snutch, Terrance P; Tian, Jinbin; Trimmer, James S; Van den Eynde, Charlotte; Vriens, Joris; Wei, Aguan D; Winn, Brenda T; Wulff, Heike; Xu, Haoxing; Yang, Fan; Fang, Wei; Yue, Lixia; Zhang, Xiaoli; Zhu, Michael British journal of pharmacology 2023 Oct;180 Suppl 2S145-S222
  • A Systemic Review of the Integral Role of TRPM2 in Ischemic Stroke: From Upstream Risk Factors to Ultimate Neuronal Death.
    Zong, Pengyu; Lin, Qiaoshan; Feng, Jianlin; Yue, Lixia Cells 2022 Jan;11(3):
  • THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2021/22: Ion channels.
    Alexander, Stephen Ph; Mathie, Alistair; Peters, John A; Veale, Emma L; Striessnig, Jörg; Kelly, Eamonn; Armstrong, Jane F; Faccenda, Elena; Harding, Simon D; Pawson, Adam J; Southan, Christopher; Davies, Jamie A; Aldrich, Richard W; Attali, Bernard; Baggetta, Austin M; Becirovic, Elvir; Biel, Martin; Bill, Roslyn M; Catterall, William A; Conner, Alex C; Davies, Paul; Delling, Markus; Virgilio, Francesco Di; Falzoni, Simonetta; Fenske, Stefanie; George, Chandy; Goldstein, Steve A N; Grissmer, Stephan; Ha, Kotdaji; Hammelmann, Verena; Hanukoglu, Israel; Jarvis, Mike; Jensen, Anders A; Kaczmarek, Leonard K; Kellenberger, Stephan; Kennedy, Charles; King, Brian; Kitchen, Philip; Lynch, Joseph W; Perez-Reyes, Edward; Plant, Leigh D; Rash, Lachlan; Ren, Dejian; Salman, Mootaz M; Sivilotti, Lucia G; Smart, Trevor G; Snutch, Terrance P; Tian, Jinbin; Trimmer, James S; Van den Eynde, Charlotte; Vriens, Joris; Wei, Aguan D; Winn, Brenda T; Wulff, Heike; Xu, Haoxing; Yue, Lixia; Zhang, Xiaoli; Zhu, Michael British journal of pharmacology 2021 Oct;178 Suppl 1S157-S245
  • THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2019/20: Ion channels.
    Alexander, Stephen P H; Mathie, Alistair; Peters, John A; Veale, Emma L; Striessnig, Jörg; Kelly, Eamonn; Armstrong, Jane F; Faccenda, Elena; Harding, Simon D; Pawson, Adam J; Sharman, Joanna L; Southan, Christopher; Davies, Jamie A; CGTP Collaborators British journal of pharmacology 2019 Dec;176 Suppl 1S142-S228