Li Niu
Department Chair and Professor
Chemistry
University at Albany
United States of America
Biography
Chemistry Professor Li Niu explores the design and discovery of novel molecules to regulate protein function in nerve systems, using combinatorial libraries, biosensor, molecular biology, and biophysical methods. Niu's lab conducts research on cells that harbor the special family of proteins called glutamate ion channel receptors, which are indispensable to brain function such as memory and learning. Abnormal function of these proteins is implicated in neurological disorders and diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and stroke. Niu's research seeks to find inhibitors as potential drug candidates for treatments of these diseases. His long-term goal is to understand the structure and function of these receptors, and to design better inhibitors as potential drug candidates for new therapies. Niu's work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Research Interest
Structure/conformation and mechanisms of action of membrane proteins in signal transmission and transduction. Protein-protein and protein-drug interactions. Design and discovery of novel molecules to regulate protein function in nerve systems, using combinatorial libraries, biosensor, molecular biology, and biophysical methods.
Publications
-
Lin, Chi-Yen, et al. "Enhancing protein expression in HEK-293 cells by lowering culture temperature." PloS one 10.4 (2015): e0123562.
-
Huang, Zhen, et al. "One RNA aptamer sequence, two structures: a collaborating pair that inhibits AMPA receptors." Nucleic acids research 37.12 (2009): 4022-4032.
-
Li, Gang, and Li Niu. "How fast does the GluR1Qflip channel open?." Journal of Biological Chemistry 279.6 (2004): 3990-3997.
