Research Interests:
Plasticity of dendritic spines, which are mostly excitatory glutamatergic synapses, plays important roles in learning and memory. Addiction is believed to be a pathological form of learning. Our studies reveal that MORs modulate the stability of dendritic spines. We are focusing on the molecular and cellular mechanism underlying opioid addiction, particularly opioid-induced changes in the morphology and function of dendritic spines.
Selected Publications:
Liao D, Grigoriants OO, Wang W, Wiens K, Loh HH, Law PY. Distinct effects of individual opioids on the morphology of spines depend upon the internalization of mu opioid receptors.
Mol Cell Neurosci. 2007 Jul;35(3):456-69.
Liao D, Grigoriants OO, Loh HH, Law PY. Agonist-dependent postsynaptic effects of opioids on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in cultured hippocampal neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Feb;97(2):1485-94.
Wiens KM, Lin H, Liao D. Rac1 induces the clustering of AMPA receptors during spinogenesis. J Neurosci. 2005 Nov 16;25(46):10627-36.
Liao D., Lin, H., Law, P-Y, and Loh, H.H. (2005). Mu opioid receptors modulate the stability of dendritic spines. PNAS 102, 1725-1730.
Lin, H., Huganir, R., and Liao, D. (2004). Two forms of dendritic plasticity after activation of NMDA receptors. BBRC 316, 501-511.
Liao, D ., Scannevin, R., and Huganir, R.L. (2001). Activation of postsynaptic silent synapses through rapid recruitment of AMPA receptors. J. Neurosci. 21, 6008-6017
Ye, B., Liao, D., Zhang, X., Zhang, P., Dong, H., and Huganir, R. L. GRASP-1: a neuronal rasGEF associated with the AMPA receptor/GRIP complex. Neuron 2000;26:603-617
Ye, B., Liao, D., Zhang, X., Zhang, P., Dong, H., and Huganir, R. L. GRASP-1: a neuronal rasGEF associated with the AMPA receptor/GRIP complex. Neuron 2000;26:603-617
Former Graduate Students:
Katie Wiens
(Ph.D. 2006, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota). |
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