Laboratory of Molecular Signaling (LMS)

Hee Yong Kim, PhD, Chief

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

National Institutes of Health

5625 Fishers Lane, Room 3N07:MSC9410

Bethesda MD 20892-9410

telephone: +1 301 402 8746

fax: +1 301 594 0035

e-mail: hykim@mail.nih.gov

Mission Statement

The Laboratory of Molecular Signaling investigates the mechanistic roles of polyunsaturated lipids in neuronal development and function. The specific aims of this laboratory are:

1. To understand biochemical mechanisms by which polyunsaturated lipids and ethanol modify cell membrane structure and function

2. To examine the impact of biomembrane modification on neuronal development and function

3. To characterize molecular and cellular signaling mechanisms involved

4. To develop modern mass spectrometric techniques for application to biomediator metabolism and molecular interactions of lipids and proteins

Current staff

		Gary Palmer Administrative Lab Manager 301-443-0277 gpalmer@mail.nih.gov Serves as the Administrative Officer for the LMS, NIAAA. Reviews and approves personnel, travel, training, procurement and other vital functions of the Laboratory.
		Michelle Johnson Administrative Lab Manager 301-594-0236 johnsonm@mail.nih.gov Serves as the Administrative Officer for the LMS, NIAAA. Process all travel, personnel, procurement and other vital functions of the Laboratory.
		Mohammed Akbar, PhD Staff Scientist 301.435.2282 akbarm@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Assessing the protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in neuronal survival, and modulation by ethanol. Elucidating the underlying signaling mechanisms using biochemical, molecular biological and microscopic approaches. Examining the role of phosphatidylserine synthases (PSS) in DHA-dependent and/or ethanol-dependent PS modulation in neuronal cells.
		Frances Calderon, PhD Research Fellow 301.435.2282 fcaldero@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Investigating the role DHA and ethanol in neuronal differentiation, maturation and apoptosis using hippocampal primary cultures. Methodological approaches involve morphometric analyses and biochemical techniques. Studying molecular mechanisms by which DHA modulate neuronal function by examining localization and kinetics of fluorescence-tagged proteins and functional mutants as well as transcriptional activities by reporter assays.
		Bill Huang, PhD Research Fellow 301.435.2416 bhuang@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Applying the state-of-the-art techniques of mass spectrometry in conjunction with chemical cross-linking and/or various biochemical methods (1) to probe the conformational changes of signaling proteins during activation processes, (2) to elucidate the interactions between signaling proteins and plasma membrane, particularly the role of phosphatidylserine (PS) on Akt activation, and (3) to characterize the post-translational modifications of relevant proteins including PSS under docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)- or alcohol-treated conditions.
		Jeongrim Lee, PhD Research Fellow 301.435.2282 leejeongrim@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Investigating the involvement of racemic (R/S) salsolinol, the product of non-enzymatic condensation of dopamine and acetaldehyde, in alcoholism. Developing sensitive analytical methods for the enantiomeric determination of salsolinol in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Studying biosynthesis and metabolism of salsolinol in animal models using mass spectrometry and stable isotopes.
		Jong Seong Kang, PhD Guest Researcher 301.435.2416 kangjon@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Structural elucidation of oxygenated metabolites of DHA using chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches. Identification of active metabolites of DHA in neuronal cultures. Preparation of characterized metabolites for testing further biological activities in neuronal cells.
		Kei Hamazaki, MD PhD Visiting Fellow 301.435.2282 hamazakike@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Investigating preventive and/or therapeutic potential of DHA in brain injury. Establishing an animal model to test the protective effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) against neuronal apoptosis in various brain regions including hippocampal CA1 region. Assessing in living animals whether neuronal accumulation of PS by DHA intake can support the neuronal survival, especially under a challenged condition such as experimental brain ischemia.
		Fenhong Song, PhD Contractor/MedData 301.435.2282 fenhong@mail.nih.gov Current projects: Investigating interaction of signaling proteins in vivo using chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry, as well as biochemical and molecular biological techniques.

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Section Alumni

Collaborators

Selected Recent Publications

Huang XB and Kim HY. Interdomain conformational changes in AKT activation revealed by chemical cross-linking and tandem mass spectrometry. Mol. Cell. Proteom. 5, 1045-1053, 2006. [PDF]

Akbar M, Baick J, Calderon F, Wen Z and Kim HY. Ethanol promotes neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting phosphatidylserine accumulation. J. Neurosci. Res. 83(3):432-440, 2006. PubMed

Akbar M. Calderon F, Wen Z, Kim HY. Docosahexaenoic acid: a positive modulator of Akt signaling in neuronal survival. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102(31):10858-10863, 2005. PNAS

Huang XB, Dass C and Kim HY. Probing conformational changes of human serum albumin due to unsaturated fatty acid binding by chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. Biochem J. 387:695-702, 2005. PubMed

Kim HY, Bigelow J, Kevala JH. Substrate preference in phosphatidylserine biosynthesis for docosahexaenoic acid containing species. Biochemistry 43(4):1030-1036, 2004. PubMed

Wen Z and Kim HY. Alterations in hippocampal phospholipid profile by prenatal exposure to ethanol. J Neurochem. 89(6):1368-1377, 2004. PubMed

Calderon F and Kim HY. Docosahexaenoic acid promotes neurite growth in hippocampal neurons. J Neurochem. 90(4):979-988, 2004. PubMed

Kim YS, Zhang H and Kim HY. Profiling neurosteroids in cerebrospinal fluids and plasma by gas chromatography/electron capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Anal. Biochem. 277(2):187-195, 2000. PubMed

Kim HY, Akbar M, Lau A and Edsall L. Inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3): Role of phosphatidylserine in antiapoptotic effect. J. Biol. Chem. 275(45):35215-35223, 2000. PubMed

Garcia M, Ward G, Ma YC, Salem N Jr, Kim HY. Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on the synthesis of phosphatidylserine in rat brain microsomes and C6 glioma cells. J. Neurochem 70(1):24-30, 1998. PubMed

Garcia M, Kim HY. Mobilization of arachidonate and docosahexaenoate by stimulation of the 5-HT2A receptor in rat C6 glioma cells. Brain Res. 768(1-2):43-48, 1997. PubMed

Alcohol publications can also be found using ETOH Database.

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NIH Research and Training Opportunities

Last updated: November 2006