Chih-Lueh Albert Wang, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Hypertension, asthma, indigestion, miscarriages
Email: wang at bbri.org

Research Summary
Our research activities focus on the regulatory mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction that controls the function of many of our vital organs such as blood vessels, airway, G-I tract and reproductive system.  We are particularly interested in the actin-based regulation and its interplay with the more established myosin-based regulation.  One of the targets is caldesmon, which acts as a molecular brake.  We use a variety of biochemical, biophysical, cell biology and genetic methods involving recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, antibodies and small interference RNAs.  We aim to better understand how normal smooth muscle works and thereby to find cures for smooth muscle related diseases, such as hypertension, asthma, indigestion and miscarriages.

Selected Publications
Gu Z, Kordowska J, Williams GL, Wang CL, Hai CM. Erk1/2 MAPK and caldesmon differentially regulate podosome dynamics in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells. Exp Cell Res. 2007, 313(5):849-866.

Huang R, Cao GJ, Guo H, Kordowska J, Wang CLA. Direct interaction between caldesmon and cortactin. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2006, 456(2):175-182.

Kordowska J, Huang R, Wang CL. Phosphorylation of caldesmon during smooth muscle contraction and cell migration or proliferation. J Biomed Sci. 2006, 13(2):159-172.

Hoffman LM, Jensen CC, Kloeker S, Wang CL, Yoshigi M, Beckerle MC. Genetic ablation of zyxin causes Mena/VASP mislocalization, increased motility, and deficits in actin remodeling. J Cell Biol. 2006, 172(5):771-782.

Huang R, Wang CL. A caldesmon peptide activates smooth muscle via a mechanism similar to ERK-mediated phosphorylation. FEBS Lett. 2006, 580(1):63-66.

Kordowska J, Hetrick T, Adam LP, Wang CL. Phosphorylated l-caldesmon is involved in disassembly of actin stress fibers and postmitotic spreading. Exp Cell Res. 2006, 312(2):95-110.

PubMed:
Click here for a list of publications (searches the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.)