Shiqiang Wang, Ph.D.
Cheung Kong Scholar Professor, School of Life Sciences, Peking University
Co-director, State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology
Professor, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University
tel :
86 -
10 -
6275-5002
fax :
86 -
10 -
6276-3556
New Life Science Building, Peking University, Summer Palace Road No. 5, Beijing, P. R. China
100871
Research Interests
We have three major lines of research: the microscopic aspects and underlying molecular mechanisms of
intracellular Ca2+ signaling, the molecular basis and biomedical engineering of heart diseases, and the sensory
input-directed development of cortical neural network.
Ca2+ is the most ancient and versatile intracellular messenger. Based on confocal microscopy and patch-clamp
electrophysiology, we have developed state-of-the-art technologies for optical single-channel recording and
intermolecular Ca2+ signaling. By combine these powerful tools with molecular biology, functional protomics and
electron microscopy, we are probing the microscopic basis of the initiation, amplification, termination and
regulation of intracellular Ca2+ signals.
Ca2+ signaling plays a central role in the excitation-contraction coupling of the heart. Miss-handling of
intracellular Ca2+ results in fatal heart diseases, including heart failure and arrhythmia. As a breakthrough,
we recently found that intermolecular failure of Ca2+ signaling well precedes cellular and global modification
of heart function. A key related molecular event is the decreased expression of junctophilin, a protein
anchoring sarcoplasmic reticulum to the cell membrane system. We are now going on to dissect the molecular
mechanisms underlying the modifications, and develop new technologies for early diagnosis and treatment of heart
failure.
Brain and heart are both the most important organs of vertebrates, fulfilling their functions by generating and
transmitting excitation. Driven by their interests in the “synfire chains” neural circuitry theory, a group of
students in our lab are probing how the construction of cortical neural network is guided by sensory experience.
Utilizing the electrophysiology facility and data processing capacity in our lab, they are making encouraging
progress in relating the neuronal firing patterns to the nature of sensory inputs.
other site: http://www.aais.pku.edu.cn/Fellow_Show.asp?FellowID=14
