Research Interests
The objective of my current research is to elucidate the function of Oatp1a1 and 1a4 in mouse liver. A primary function of the liver is extraction and detoxification of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds from blood. There are many transporters responsible for uptake of endogenous and exogenous chemicals into liver, within them, the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide (Oatp) family of transporters play important roles in the distribution of chemicals into hepatocytes. Mouse Oatp1a1 and Oatp1a4 are highly expressed in liver. It is conventional wisdom that the major function of these two transporters is the uptake of xenobiotics into the liver, surprisingly, my studies suggest that these transporters may also play important roles in the homeostasis of bile acids, lipids and hormones. With the knowledge obtained from in vitro and in vivo experiments, especially with our newly developed knockout mice models, my research goal is to determine the in vivo function of Oatp1a1 and Oatp1a4, and identify the possible regulatory mechanisms of these two transporters.
Contact Information
Youcai Zhang
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics
The University of Kansas Medical Center
MS1018
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: (913) 588-9248
Fax: (913)588-7501
E-Mail: yzhang2@kumc.edu
Updated 6/24/09
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The University of Kansas Medical Center