research

Professor Jun-Ping Liu

contact details

  Professor Jun-Ping LiuJun -Ping Liu
  Molecular Signalling
  Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
  Royal Children's Hospital
  Flemington Road
  Parkville Victoria 3052

  T +61 4 1705 9187
  E junping.liu@mcri.edu.au

biography

Jun-Ping Liu graduated with medical degree (1980) and master degree in Medical Science (1985) from Bethune Medical University, China. He studied for PhD at Prince Henry's Hospital and Monash University in 1987-1991. He was a Research Officer/Senior Research Officer at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW in 1992-1994, a Senior Scientific Officer at Newcastle Mater Hospital in 1995, an ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow at the Baker Medical Research Institute in 1996-2000, Senior Research Fellow of NHMCR in 1999, and Senior Lecturer in 2002 and Associate Professor in 2004-2010 at Monash University. In January 2011, Jun-Ping Liu is the Group Leader of Molecular Signalling Laboratory at MCRI and Professor of Department of Genetics University of Melbourne.

achievements

Beckman Coulter Discovery Science Award 2009, Australia Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Servier Award from the Endocrine Society of Australia, 1996
Inaugural NARF Post-doctoral Investigator Award from the National Association of Research Fellows, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, 1995
Australian Life Sciences Research Award from Today's Life Science and Beckman Instruments, 1995
A. W. Campbell award from the Australian Neuroscience Society, 1994

research focus & interest

Prof Jun-Ping Liu's research has been largely on molecular mechanisms of cellular signal transduction in mammalian cell function and malfunction. It focuses on two major areas that are cellular organelle homeostasis by nucleotide binding proteins especially ATP13A2, and telomere (chromosome end) integrity and function by telomerase and other binding proteins:
Prof Jun-Ping Liu and his colleagues showed that the GTP-binding protein dynamin is phosphorylated by protein kinase C and dephosphorylated by calcineurin, which are coupled to synaptic polarisation and depolarisation. In addition, it showed dynamin II mediates secretory vesicle biogenesis from the trans-Golgi membrane of neuroendocrine cells. Prof Liu and his colleagues have recently cloned a novel brain-specific human ATP-binding protein and is currently characterising its function in molecular trafficking and neurodegenerative disease at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels in mice.
Working on the mechanisms of cellular maintenance of telomeres, Prof Liu and his colleagues showed that protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reversibly regulate the enzyme telomerase activity in telomere maintenance in cancer. They also showed that telomerase maintenance of the telomeres is involved in abnormal vascular cell proliferation in rat genetic hypertension, and that telomerase without its catalytic activity also maintains telomeres in cancer cells. In addition, TGF-beta family cytokines induce telomere shortening, tumour cell ageing, and tumour growth inhibition in mice. The current research further investigates different modes of telomere maintenance and remodelling in order to find strategies to treat cancer.

publications

Craig Nichools, He Li, Jian-Qiu Wang, Jun-Ping Liu (2011) Molecular regulations of telomerase in aging. Protein & Cell, in press (accepted on the August 30 2011).
Craig Nicholls, He Li, Jun-Ping Liu (2011) GAPDH: a common enzyme with uncommon functions. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, (in press).
Ya-He Liu, Sui-Lin Mo, Hui-Chang Bi, Bin-Fang Hu, Chun Guang Li, Yi-Tao Wang, Ling Huang, Min Huang, Wei Duan, Jun-Ping Liu, Ming Qian Wei, Shu-Feng Zhou (2011) Regulation of human pregnane X receptor and its target gene cytochrome P450 3A4 by Chinese herbal compounds and a molecular docking study. Xenobiotica, 41(4): 259-280. (IF = 2.8)
Shi-Ming Chen, Jun-Ping Liu, Jun-Xu Zhou, Chen Chen, Yu-Qin Deng, Yan Wang and Ze-Zhang Tao (2011) Suppression of the Notch Signaling Pathway by γ-Secretase Inhibitor GSI Inhibits Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Proliferation. Cancer Letters, 306: 76-84 (IF=3.74)
Sharyn Bayne, He Li, Margaret E.E. Jones, Alex R. Pinto, Michelle van Sinderen, Ann Drummond, Evan R. Simpson and Jun-Ping Liu (2011) Estrogen deficiency reversibly induces telomere shortening in mouse granulosa cells and ovarian aging in vivo. Protein & Cell, 2: 333-346
Huseyin Sumer, Craig Nicholls, Jun Liu, Pollyanna A. Tat, Jun-Ping Liu and Paul J. Verma (2011) Comparison of reprogramming ability of mouse ES and iPS cells measured by somatic cell fusion. Int J Dev Biol 54: 1723-1728. (IF=3.27)
Alex Pinto, He Li Craig Nicholls and Jun-Ping Liu (2011) Telomere protein complexes and interactions with telomerase in telomere maintenance. Frontiers in Bioscience, 16, 187-207 (IF=3.3).
Lin-Lin Wang, An-Kui Yang, Yong Lia, Jun-Ping Liu, Shu-Feng Zhou (2010) Phenotype prediction of deleterious nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in human alcohol metabolism-related genes: a bioinformatics study. Alcohol, 44(5): 425-438
Shu-Ming He, Xin-Sheng Lai, Chun Guang Li, Fu-Qi Xing, Jun-Ping Liu, Eli Chan, Wei Duan, Shu-Feng Zhou (2010) Disposition Pathways and Pharmacokinetics of Herbal Medicines in Humans. Curr Med Chem, 17(33): 4072-4113. (IF = 5.387).
An-Kui Yang, Zhi-Wei Zhou, Min Qian Wei, Jun-Ping Liu and Shu-Feng Zhou (2010) Modulators of multidrug resistance proteins in the management of anticancer and antimicrobial drug resistance and the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 10(17): 1732-1756. (IF= 4.473).
Jun-Ping Liu, He Li (2010) Telomerase in the ovary. Reproduction, 140:215-222. (IF = 3.073).
Wei Chen, Bo-Kui Xiao, Jun-Ping Liu, Shi-Ming Chen and Ze-Zhang Tao (2010) Alternative lengthening of telomeres in hTERT inhibited laryngeal cancer cells. Cancer Science, 101: 1769-1776. (IF=3.77). 
An-Kui Yang, Shu-Ming He, Liang Liu, Jun-Ping Liu, Ming Qian Wei, Shu-Feng Zhou (2010) Herbal Interactions with Anticancer Drugs: Mechanistic and Clinical Considerations. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 17(16): 1635-1678 (IF = 5.3).
Jun-Ping Liu, Shi-Ming Chen, Yu-Sheng Cong, Craig Nicholls, Shu-Feng Zhou, Ze-Zhang Tao and He Li (2010) Regulation of telomerase activity by apparently opposing elements. Ageing Research Reviews, 9:245-256. (IF=6.2)
Lucy Cassar, He Li, Fang-Xu Jiang and Jun-Ping Liu (2010) TGF-beta induces telomerase-dependent pancreatic tumor cell cycle arrest. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 320: 97-105 (IF = 3.74).
Huseyin Sumer §, Craig Nicholls, Alexander R. Pinto, Dinesh Indraharan, Jun Liu, Mei Ling Lim, Jun-Ping Liu § and Paul J. Verma (2010) Chromosomal and telomeric reprogramming following ES-somatic cell fusion. Chromosoma, 119: 167-176. (IF = 5.111) (§: corresponding authors)
Shufeng Zhou, Bo Wang, Li-Ping Yang, Jun-Ping Liu (2010) Structure, function, regulation and polymorphism and the clinical significance of human cytochrome P450 1A2. Drug Metab Rev, 42(2): 268-354 (IF = 5.6).
Jun-Ping Liu and Shufeng Zhou (2010) 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine awarded on an enzyme in cancer. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37:75-77. (IF=2.19).
Jun-Ping Liu, Weisan Chen, Anthony Schwarer, and He Li (2010) Telomerase in cancer immunotherapy. BBA - Reviews on Cancer, 1805: 35-42. (IF = 11.685).
He Li, Evan Simpson, Jun-Ping Liu (2010) Estrogen, telomerase, ovarian aging and cancer. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37: 78-82. (IF=2.19).
Jun-Ping Liu, Craig Nicholls, Shi-Ming Chen, He Li, Ze-Zhang Tao (2010) Strategies of treating cancer by cytokine regulation of chromosome end remodelling. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37: 88-92. (IF=2.19).
Ying Tang, He Li, Jun-Ping Liu (2010) Niemann-pick disease type C: from molecule to clinic. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37: 132-140. (IF=2.19).
Julie Dwyer, Jun-Ping Liu (2010) Ets2 transcription factor, telomerase activity and breast cancer. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37: 83-87. (IF=2.19).
Jun-Ping Liu, Ying Tang, Shufeng Zhou, Ban Hock Toh, Catriona McLean and He Li (2010) Cholesterol involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Mol Cell Neuroscience, 43: 33-42. (IF=4.339).
Xin-Sheng Lai, Li-Ping Yang, Xiao-Tian Li, Jun-Ping Liu, Zhi-Wei Zhou, and Shu-Feng Zhou (2009) Human CYP2C8: Structure, substrate specificity, inhibitor selectivity, inducers and polymorphisms. Current Drug Metabolism, 10(9): 1009-1047 (IF=4.6).
Yuan Ming Di, Eli Chan, Ming Qian Wei, Jun-Ping Liu, Shu-Feng Zhou (2009) Prediction of deleterious non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of human uridine diphosphate clucuronosyltransferase genes. AAPS Journal, 11: 469-480 (IF=3.756)
Jun-Ping Liu (2009) From molecules and cells to diseases: West meets East for medical research in Tianjin. Cell Research, 19: 924-928. (IF=4.53)
Indzi Katik, Charley Mackenzie-Kludas, Craig Nicholls, Fangxu Jiang, Shufeng Zhou, He Li, Jun-Ping Liu (2009) Activin inhibits telomerase activity in cancer. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 389: 668-672. (IF=2.74)
Shu-Feng Zhou, Jun-Ping Liu, Xin-Sheng Lai (2009) Substrate specificity, inhibitors and regulation of human cytochrome P450 2D6 and implications in drug development. Curr Med Chem, 16(21): 2661-2805 (IF=4.944).
Shu-Feng Zhou, Jun-Ping Liu, Balram Chowbay (2009) Polymorphism of human cytochrome P450 enzymes and the clinical impact. Drug Metab Rev, 41(2): 89-295. (IF=5.6).
Jun-Ping Liu (2009) New functions of cholesterol binding proteins. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 303 (1-2): 1-6. (IF=3.6)
Weishi Zhang, Adam Smith, Jun-Ping Liu, Nam Sang Cheung, Shufeng Zhou, Ke Liu, Qiu-Tian Li and Wei Duan (2009) GSK3b modulates PACAP-induced neuritogenesis in PC12 cells by acting downstream of Rap1 in a caveolae-dependent manner. Cellular Signalling, 21: 237-245. (IF=4.15)
Lucy Cassar, He Li, Alex Pinto, Craig Nicholls, Sharyn Bayne, Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Bone morphogenetic protein-7 induces telomere shortening and tumor growth arrest in mice. Cancer Research, 68: 9157-66. (IF=7.67)
Sharyn Bayne, Margaret Jones, He Li, Alex Pinto, Evan Simpson, Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Estrogen deficiency induces telomerase inhibition, telomere shortening and reduced cell proliferation in the adrenal gland of mice. Cell Research, 18(11): 1141-50. (IF=4.53)
Wee Guan Lim, Xiao Chen, Jun-Ping Liu, Bee Jen Tan, Shufeng Zhou, Liansheng Hou, Fukang Gu, Xi Yong Yu, Yaomin Du, Derek Smith, Chandra Verma, Ke Liu and Wei Duan (2008) The C-terminus of PRK2/PKN is required for optimal activation by RhoA in a GTP-dependent manner. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol 479 (2): 170-178 (IF=2.578).
Dakang Xu, Julie Dwyer, He Li, Wei Duan, Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Ets2 maintains hTERT gene expression and breast cancer cell proliferation by interacting with c-myc. J Biol Chem, 283 (35): 23567-23580. (IF=5.58)
Yan Wang, Ze-Zhang Tao, Shi-Ming Chen, Bo-Kui Xiao, Xu-Hong Zhou and Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Application of combination of short hairpin RNA segments for silencing VEGF, TERT and Bcl-xl expression in laryngeal squamous carcinoma. Cancer Biology & Therapy 7(6): 896-901. (IF=2.78)
Dakang Xu, He Li, Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Inhibition of Telomerase by Targeting MAP Kinase Signaling. Methods Mol Biol, 405: 147-165.
He Li, Indzi Katik, Jun-Ping Liu (2008) Uses of telomerase peptides in anti-tumor immune therapy. Methods Mol Biol, 405: 61-86.