Cellular and Structural Biology | Faculty
Department of Cellular & Structural Biology

CSB Faculty

 

Photo of Dr. Dong Lily Q. Dong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

 

Iowa State University, 1991

 

(210) 567-4849
dongq@uthscsa.edu

 

Dr. Dong joined the Department of Cellular & Structural Biology in September 2002. She is a recipient of Career Development Award (2004-2009) and Travel Award (2005) from American Diabetes Association. She has served on multiple NIH study sections including NIDDK/CADO, NIDDK/IPOD and NIDDK/ZDK1 GRB-W (M1). Dr. Dong also participates in graduate student teaching. She is co-director of the Cell Biology Module in the Graduate Core Course (Fundamental of Biomedical Science). She received the Departmental Graduate Teaching Award in 2008.
Research Interest:
Insulin resistance is a primary contributing factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. This condition is characterized by the loss of insulin sensitivity in tissue, resulting in an impairment of glucose breakdown in cells, an unregulated production of glucose in hepatic cells, and a reduction of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, which causes a greatly increased glucose level in the bloodstream. Recently a new hormone has been identified in the human body known as adiponectin. This hormone is secreted by adipose tissue and is released into the bloodstream. The serum concentration of adiponectin is significantly reduced in type 2 diabetic and obese patients. A number of studies have shown that adiponectin is an insulin sensitizer by enhancing insulin sensitivity, which has the potential to be used therapeutically in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, the molecular mechanism governing adiponectin action is largely unknown.

 

Our research interest is focused on 1) the elucidation of the molecular pathway(s) mediating adiponectin signaling in cells, 2) the investigation of the molecular mechanism regulating adiponectin levels in the human body, and 3) the molecular mechanism of the cross-talk between insulin signaling pathway and adiponectin signaling pathway. We have found that APPL1, an adaptor protein with multiple function domains, is a signaling molecule immediate binding to adiponectin receptors, and positively mediate adiponectin signaling in muscle cells (Figure 1) (Mao et al., 2006, Nat. Cell Biol., 8: 516-523).

 

Mao et al., 2006, Nat. Cell Biol., 8: 516-523

 

Our recent study has shown that APPL2, an isoform of APPL1, negatively regulates adiponectin signaling and APPL1/APPL2 isoforms function as an integrated "Yin-Yang" regulator in adiponectin signaling (Figure 2) (Wang et al., 2009, JBC, online, PMID:19661063). The findings from our studies will provide potential mechanisms behind insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes.

 

Wang et al., 2009, JBC, online, PMID:19661063

 

Research Techniques:
General techniques in signal transduction, yeast two-hybrid system, cell culture, confocal optical imaging, lipid and glucose assays, in vivo metabolism assay.

 

PUBLICATIONS:
(Publications before 1997 were under the name of Dong, Q.)

 

*Wang C, *Xin X, Xiang R, Ramos FJ, Liu M, Lee HJ, Chen H, Mao X, Kikani CK, Liu F, Dong LQ. (2009) "Yin-Yang" regulation of adiponectin signaling by APPL isoforms in muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 2009 Aug 6.
(* These two authors contributed equally to this work).

 

*Zhou L, *Deepa SS, Etzler JC, Ryu J, Mao X, Fang Q, Liu DD, Torres JM, Jia W, Lechleiter JD, Liu F, Dong LQ. (2009) Adiponectin activates AMPK in muscle cells via APPL1/LKB1- and PLC/Ca2+/CaMKK-dependent pathways. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jun 11;284:22426-22435. (* These two authors contributed equally to this work).

 

Deepa SS, Dong LQ. (2009) APPL1: role in adiponectin signaling and beyond. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jan;296(1):E22-36.

 

Liu X, Liu M, Zhang J, Bai X, Ramos F, Van Remmen H, Richardson A, Liu FY, Dong LQ, Liu F. (2009) Downregulation of Grb2 contributes to the insulin-sensitizing effect of calorie restriction. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009 May;296(5):E1067-75.

 

Zhou L, Zhang J, Fang Q, Liu M, Liu X, Jia W, Dong LQ, Liu F. Autophagy-mediated Insulin Receptor Down-regulation Contributes to ER Stress-induced Insulin Resistance. Mol Pharmacol. 2009 Jun 18.

 

Wang C, Liu M, Riojas RA, Xin X, Gao Z, Zeng R, Wu J, Dong LQ, Liu F. (2009) Protein kinase C theta (PKCtheta)-dependent phosphorylation of PDK1 at Ser504 and Ser532 contributes to palmitate-induced insulin resistance. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan 23;284(4):2038-44.

 

Mao X, Kikani CK, Riojas RA, Langlais P, Wang L, Ramos FJ, Fang Q, Christ-Roberts CY, Hong JY, Kim RY, Liu F, Dong LQ. (2006) APPL1 binds to adiponectin receptors and mediates adiponectin signalling and function.
Nat Cell Biol. 2006 May;8(5):516-23.1. (High lighted article on cover page) (Research Highlight Commentary in Cell Metabolism (2006), 4, 5-6)