Dr. Qin Liu

Associate professor

Department of Biology
University of Akron
Akron,OH
44325-3908
330-972-7558
330-972-8445
qliu@uakron.edu

 

 

My primary research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying fundamental cellular processes in vertebrate neural development. I have chosen to study zebrafish, which in recent years has become one of the most important animal models for studies of vertebrate development. My specific research focus is on the expression and function of cadherin cell adhesion molecules in the development of zebrafish nervous system. In collaboration with Dr. James Marrs at Indiana University, we have studied cadherin expression and function in the olfactory and visual systems of both developing and adult zebrafish. My laboratory is currently collaborating with Dr. Marrs and Dr. Kate Barald (University of Michigan) to determine cadherin function in the formation of zebrafish inner ear, and collaborating with Dr. Deborah Stenkamp (University of Idaho) to study cadherins function in zebrafish photoreceptor differentiation. We are also interested in studying expression and function of newly identified cadherins in the nervous system (in collaboration with Dr. Joel Duff, University of Akron), cadherin expression and function in the cardiovascular system (in collaboration with Dr. Brian Bagatto, University of Akron), pineal organ (in collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Liang, Case Western Reserve University), cranial ganglia and lateral line system (in collaboration with Dr. Richard Londraville, University of Akron).

Education   Research Interests   Teaching   Research Grants   Graduate Students   Publications

 

  Education

 

  Research Interests

  • Anatomy and development of vertebrate central nervous system (CNS)
  • Molecular mechanisms underlying development of vertebrate sensory systems
  • Expression and function of cell adhesion molecule cadherins in the development of vertebrate nervous tissue

 

  Teaching

  • Neurobiology (Fall)
  • Vertebrate embryology (Spring)

 

  Research Grants

  • 2005-2008 Liu, Q. (Co-PI with Brian Bagatto, University of Akron). Title: Role of cadherins in the developing zebrafish cardiovascular system. NIH. ($220,500).
  • 2004-2007 Liu, Q. Title: Cadherins function in the developing retinal ganglion cells. NIH ($147,000).
  • 2004-2007 Liu, Q. Title: Cadherins in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Indiana University/NIH ($177,763). This is a subcontract grant from Dr. James Marrs at the Indiana University.
  • 2002-2005 Liu, Q. Title: Cell adhesion function in the visual system. Indiana University/NIH ($53,457). This is a subcontract grant from Dr. James Marrs at the Indiana University.
  • 2001-2004 Liu, Q. Title: R- and N-cadherin in the development of zebrafish retinal ganglion cells. NIH ($146,000).
  • 2001 Title: R-cadherin function in the pathfinding of zebrafish retinal ganglion cells. University of Akron Summer Faculty Research Grant, $8,000, declined.

 

  Graduate Students

  • Zackary Novince (Master degree, 2002) is a Ph.D. student at Cleveland State University/Cleveland Clinics.
  • Shannon Kortradi (Master degree, 2003) is a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Program at the Case Western Reserve University Medical Center.
  • Russ Ensign (Master degree, 2003) is a medical student at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Amber Kerstetter (Master degree, 2004) is a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Program at the Case Western Reserve University Medical Center.
  • Elaheh Azodi (Master degree, 2004) is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland State University/Cleveland Clinics.
  • Mitsuyo Kohama (2003-2004) is a medical student at the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
  • Bing Zeng (2003-2006) graduated in 2006. A research associate at MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston TX.
  • Amy Wilson (2005-) is expected to graduate in summer 2007.
  • Thomas Mbimba (2006-) is expected to graduate in 2007.

 

  Publications

  • Babb-Clendenon, S.G., Y. Shen, Q. Liu, K.E. Turner, M.S. Mills, K.F. Barald, and J.A. Marrs. Cadherin-2 controls morphogenesis of the zebrafish inner ear. J. Cell Sci., in press.
  • Liu, Q., R.A. Frey, S.G. Babb-Clendenon, B. Liu, J. Francl, A.L. Wilson, J.A. Marrs, and D.L. Stenkamp. 2007. Differential expression of photoreceptor-specific genes in the retina of a zebrafish cadherin-2 mutant glass onion and zebrafish cadherin-4 morphants. Exp. Eye Res., in press.
  • Liu, B., R.J. Duff, R.L. Londraville, J.A. Marrs, and Q. Liu. 2006. Cloning and expression analysis of cadherin7 in the central nervous system of the embryonic zebrafish. Gene Expr. Patt., in press.
  • Liu, Q. R.J. Duff, B. Liu, A.L. Wilson, S.G. Babb-Clendenon, J. Francl and J.A. Marrs. 2006. Expression of cadherin-10, a type II classic cadherin gene, in the nervous system of the embryonic zebrafish. Gene Expr. Patt., in press.
  • Bagatto, B., B. Liu, J. Francl, and Q. Liu. 2006. Cadherin-2 plays an essential role in zebrafish cardiovascular development. BMC Developmental Biology, 6:23.
  • Liu, Q. J.R. Duff, B. Liu, A.L. Wilson, S.G. Babb-Clendenon, J. Francl and J.A. Marrs. 2006. Expression of cadherin-10, a type II classic cadherin gene, in the nervous system of the embryonic zebrafish. Gene Expr. Patterns, in press.
  • Liu, Q. B. Liu, A.L. Wilson, and J. Rostedt. 2006. cadherin-6 message expression in the nervous system of developing zebrafish. Dev. Dynamics, 235:272-278.
  • Babb, S.G., S.M. Kotradi, B. Shah, C. Chiappini-williamson, L.N. Bell, G. Schmeiser, E. Chen, Q. Liu, and J.A. Marrs. 2005. Zebrafish R-cadherin (Cdh4) controls visual system development and differentiation. Dev. Dynamics, 233:930-945.
  • Liu, Q., J.A. Marrs, E. Azodi, A.E. Kerstetter, S.G. Babb, and L. Hashimi. 2004. Differential expression of cadherins in the developing and adult zebrafish olfactory system. J. Comp. Neurol., 478:269-281.
  • Liu, Q., E. Azodi, A.E. Kerstetter, and A.L. Wilson. 2004. Cadherin-2 and cadherin-4 in developing, adult and regenerating zebrafish cerebellum. Dev. Brain Res., 150:63-71.
  • Kerstetter, A., E. Azodi, J.A. Marrs, and Q. Liu. 2004. Cadherin-2 function in the cranial ganglia and lateral line system of developing zebrafish. Dev. Dynamics, 230:137-143.
  • Liu, Q., and R.L. Londraville. 2003. Using adult zebrafish visual system to study cadherin-2 expression during central nervous system regeneration. Methods in Cell Science, 25:71-78.
  • Liu, Q., A. Kerstetter, E. Azodi, and J.A. Marrs. 2003. Cadherin-1, -2 and –11 expression and cadherin-2 function in the pectoral limb bud and fins of developing zebrafish. Dev. Dynamics, 228:734-739.
  • Liu, Q., R.D. Ensign, and E. Azodi. 2003. Cadherin-1, -2, and -4 expression in the cranial ganglia and lateral line system of developing zebrafish. Gene Expression Patterns, 3:653-658.
  • Novince, Z.M., E. Azodi, J.A. Marrs, P.A. Raymond, and Liu, Q. 2003. Cadherin expression in the inner ear of developing zebrafish. Gene Expression Patterns, 3:337-339.
  • Liu, Q., R.L. Londraville, E. Azodi, S. G. Babb, C. Chiappini-williamson, J.A. Marrs, and P.A. Raymond. 2002. Up-regulation of cadherin-2 and cadherin-4 in regenerating visual structures of adult zebrafish. Exp. Neurol., 177:396-406.
  • Liu, Q., S.G. Babb, Z.M. Novince, J.A. Marrs, and P.A. Raymond. 2001. Differential expression of cadherin-2 and cadherin-4 in the developing zebrafish visual system. Vis. Neurosci., 18:923-933.
  • Liu , Q., J.A. Marrs, J.C. Chuang and P.A. Raymond. 2001. R-cadherin expression in the zebrafish central nervous system and regulation by ventral midline signaling. Dev. Brain Res., 131:17-29.
  • Babb, S.G., J. Barnett, A.L. Doedens, N. Cobb, Q. Liu, B.C. Sorkin, P.C. Yelick, P.A. Raymond, W.J. Gallin, and J.A. Marrs. 2001. Zebrafish E-cadherin: phylogenic analysis, expression during early embryogenesis and regulation during midbrain hindbrain boundary formation. Dev. Dynamics, 221:231-237.
  • Liu , Q., J.A. Marrs, and P.A. Raymond. 1999b. Spatial correspondence between R-cadherin expression domains and retinal ganglion cell axons in developing zebrafish. J. Comp. Neurol. 410:290-302.
  • Liu , Q., K.L. Sanborn, N. Cobb, P.A. Raymond, and J.A. Marrs. 1999a. R-cadherin expression in the developing and adult zebrafish visual system. J. Comp. Neurol. 410:303-319.
  • Yang, L., Q. Liu and G.D. Pollak. 1996. Afferent connections to the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus of the mustache bat: evidence for two functional subdivisions. J. Comp. Neurol. 373:575-592.
  • Liu, Q. and E.A. Debski. 1996. Optic nerve dependent changes in adult frog tectal phenotypes. J. Neurobiology. 29:517-534.
  • Debski, E.A., Q. Liu and A. Chapman. 1995. Non-uniform distribution of cellular phenotypes in the optic tectum of the leopard frog. J. Comp. Neurol. 360:671-684.
  • Liu, Q. and E.A. Debski. 1995. Origins of serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the optic tectum of Rana pipiens. J. Comp. Neurol. 352:280-296.
  • Liu, Q. and E.A. Debski. 1993. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the adult and developing retina of the leopard frog Rana pipiens. J. Comp. Neurol. 338:391-404.
  • Liu, Q. and L.S. Demski. 1993. Clasper control in the round stingrays, Urolophus Halleri: lower sensorimotor pathways. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 38:219-230.

 

 

 

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