Xing-Zhen Chen

Area of Study / Keywords

Ion channel electrophysiology molecular biology TRP channel xenopus oocyte culture cell zebrafish mouse structure-function-regulation protein-protein interaction intramolecular interaction

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About

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

Professor. 07/2011 –, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Canada.

Associate Professor. 07/2006 – 06/2011, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta.

Assistant Professor. 05/2000 – 06/2006, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta.

Instructor. 05/1999 – 05/2000, Harvard Medical School, USA.

Postdoctoral Fellow. 02/1997 – 05/1999, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

                                  Supervisor: Dr. Matthias A. Hediger.

Instructor. 08/1987 – 08/1991, Department of Biology, Zhejiang University, China.

EDUCATION

PhD in Physics. 09/1991 – 02/1997, Université de Montréal, Canada.

                              Supervisor: Dr. Jean-Yves Lapointe.

MSc in Physics. 09/1984 – 07/1987, Zhejiang University.

BSc in Physics. 02/1982 – 07/1984, Zhejiang University.

License candidate in Physics. 09/1981 – 02/1982, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI, France.

DEUG A in Mathematics. 09/1979 – 07/1981, Université Claude Bernard - Lyon I, France.

French language learning. 02/1979 – 08/1979, Université de Rennes I, France.

BSc candidate in Computing Science. 10/1978 – 02/1979, Zhejiang University.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Senior Scholar, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), 2006-2013.

Senior Scholar research prize, AHFMR, 2006-2013.

Research Award, Canada Foundation for Innovation New Opportunities (CFI NO).

Scholar, AHFMR, 2001-2006.

Scholar research prize, AHFMR, 2001-2006.

New Investigator, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2000-2005.

Postdoctoral fellowship, International Human Frontier Science Program, 1998-2000.

Postdoctoral fellowship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 1998-2001, declined.

Awards of excellence, Université de Montréal, 1993 and 1994.

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Research

Cellular function and regulation of polycystins

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common form of PKD and occurs in 0.1-0.2% of adults. ADPKD is due to mutations in polycystin-1 and -2, which are membrane receptor and ion channel, respectively. ADPKD also leads to cysts in liver, pancreas and spleen, and to non-cystic manifestations, including vascular abnormalities, organ left-right asymmetry development, and hypertension. Other proteins, such as inversin, cystin, polaris, kinesin and tubulin, are also cystogenic in mice. At the cellular level, cystic epithelial cells show abnormalities in proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, polarity, fluid transport and apoptosis. The family of cystoproteins is also associated with other phenotypes, including fertility, mating behavior and muscle contraction, etc. Therefore, studies on polycystins may elucidate common molecular mechanisms underlying distinct physiological functions (phenotypes).

Polycystin-1 possesses a long extracellular N-terminus and acts as a receptor while polycystin-2 exhibits similar membrane organization to voltage-gated cation channels and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Polycystin-2 (also called PKD2 or TRPP2) and its homologue, polycystin-L (also called PKD2L1 or TRPP3), are non-selective cation channels, permeable to Ca, Na and K. Polycystin-L is not related to PKD. Increasing evidence indicates that polycystin-1 and -2 may be part of a mechano-sensor in epithelial cells while polycystin-L may be part of an acid sensor in neurons.

My laboratory studies function and regulation of polycystin-2 and -L, and interaction with other proteins, using molecular biology and cell physiology approaches, such as electrophysiology and protein-protein interaction, in combination with cellular and animal models. In particular, as project #1, we study cross-talk between polycystin-2 and cellular machineries related to translation or responses to stress conditions. As project #2, we try to determine functional roles of polycystin-L, in particular in neurons of retina and brain. 

Techniques

Molecular biology, protein-protein interaction, gene knockdown, immunostaining, mutagenesis, electrophysiology (patch-clamp, two-microelectrode voltage-clamp, and lipid bilayer reconstitution), radiotracer transport measurements, pulse chase, heterologous expression/purification of soluble and membrane proteins (in mammalian cells, E. coli and Xenopus oocytes), cell proliferation and apoptosis assays. Experimental models include Xenopus oocytes, cultured mammalian cells, zebrafish and mouse models

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Teaching

"Molecular and Cellular Physiology", PHYSL 407/507, instructor and coordinator

"Physiology of Transport Systems", PHYSL 545,  instructor and coordinator

"Discovery Learning Pulmonary", DMED 514, facilitator

"Discovery Learning Renal", DMED 517, facilitator

"Undergraduate Research Project", PHYSL 467/468,  instructor and supervisor

"Mammalian and Human Physiology", PHYSL 210/211, instructor 

"Elementary Physiology", PHYSL 161,  instructor 

"Undergraduate Tutorial", PHYSL 466,  instructor 

PHYSL 212 - Human Physiology I

An introduction to human physiology. Part 1, covering: membrane transport mechanisms; intracellular and electrical signaling; the physiology of excitable tissues; the physiology of blood; and the cardiovascular system. Required for students in the Physiology Honors program. Recommended for students in other Honors/Specialization programs. Prerequisites: BIOL 107; CHEM 101 and 102. Pre- or corequisites: CHEM 164 or 261, and 263. Credit may be obtained in only one of PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in ZOOL 241 and/or 242. Students in some Honors/Specialization programs may require PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. See your departmental advisor

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PHYSL 407 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology

The molecular and cellular aspects of physiological processes. Main areas include the structure and functions of plasma membranes (emphasizing transport processes, their regulation and methods of study) and the mechanism of action of hormones (hormonereceptor interactions, receptor regulation and interactions of intracellular mediators). The physiological significance of these processes will be stressed throughout. Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.

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PHYSL 507 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology

The molecular and cellular aspects of physiological processes. Main areas include the structure and functions of plasma membranes (emphasizing transport processes, their regulation and methods of study) and the mechanism of action of hormones (hormonereceptor interactions, receptor regulation and interactions of intracellular mediators). The physiological significance of these processes will be stressed throughout. Prerequisites: consent of the Department. Priority given to students registered in a graduate program. Note: this course is not open to students with credit in the corresponding PHYSL 400 level course.

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PHYSL 545 - Physiology of Transport Systems

A consideration of transport mechanisms primarily from the physiological rather than biochemical viewpoint. Major models considered are the erythrocyte and a variety of epithelia from vertebrates. Designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210, or ZOOL 241 and 242.

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Browse more courses taught by Xing-Zhen Chen

Huang Y., Li S., Liu Q., Wang Z., Li S., Liu L., Zhao W., Wang K., Zhang R., Wang L., Wang M., William Ali D., Michalak M., Chen X.Z., Zhou C., Tang J.

Cell Death and Disease. 2022 June; 13 (6) 10.1038/s41419-022-04977-5

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Pan M., Nguyen K.C.T., Yang W., Liu X., Chen X.Z., Major P.W., Le L.H., Zeng H.

Chemical Engineering Journal. 2022 April; 434 10.1016/j.cej.2021.134418

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65st Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences Annual Meeting. 2022 April;

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Yang W., Pan M., Zhang J., Zhang L., Lin F., Liu X., Huang C., Chen X.Z., Wang J., Yan B., Zeng H.

Advanced Functional Materials. 2022 February; 32 (8) 10.1002/adfm.202109989

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American Society of Nephrology (ASN) annual meeting Kidney Week 2021. 2021 November;

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Cai R., Tang J., Chen X.Z.

iScience. 2021 November; 24 (12) 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103395

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Zhou C., Liang Y., Zhou L., Yan Y., Liu N., Zhang R., Huang Y., Wang M., Tang Y., Ali D.W., Wang Y., Michalak M., Chen X.Z., Tang J.

Autophagy. 2021 October; 17 (10):3175-3195 10.1080/15548627.2020.1826689

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Cai R., Wang L., Liu X., Michalak M., Tang J., Peng J.B., Chen X.Z.

Communications Biology. 2021 August; 4 (1) 10.1038/s42003-021-02521-3

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Cai R., Wang L., Liu X., Michalak M., Tang J., Peng J.B., Chen X.Z.

Commun Biol. 2021 August; 4 (1) 10.1038/s42003-021-02521-3

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FASEB Science Research Conference (SRC)-- The Ion Channel Regulation Conference - VIRTUAL. 2021 June;

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Huang Y., Li S., Jia Z., Li S., He W., Zhou C., Zhang R., Xu R., Sun B., Ali D.W., Michalak M., Chen X.Z., Tang J.

J Cell Physiol. 2021 April; 236 (4):2934-2949 10.1002/jcp.30065

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Yang W., Hu W., Zhang J., Wang W., Cai R., Pan M., Huang C., Chen XZ., Yan B., Zeng H.

Chemical Engineering Journal. 2021 February; 405 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126629

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Huang Y., Li S., Jia Z., Zhao W., Zhou C., Zhang R., Ali D.W., Michalak M., Chen X.Z., Tang J.

Frontiers in Oncology. 2020 December; 10 10.3389/fonc.2020.573127

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Wang Q., Paskevicius T., Filbert A., Qin W., Kim H.J., Chen X.Z., Tang J., Dacks J.B., Agellon L.B., Michalak M.

Scientific Reports. 2020 December; 10 (1):18115 10.1038/s41598-020-75097-3

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Paskevicius T., Jung J., Pujol M., Eggleton P., Qin W., Robinson A., Gutowski N., Holley J., Smallwood M., Newcombe J., Zochodne D., Chen X.Z., Tang J., Kraus A., Michalak M., Agellon L.B.

FASEB J. 2020 December; 34 (12):16662-16675 10.1096/fj.202001539RR