I was born in Harbin, the capital of the most northeastern province of China. It is a beautiful city with lots of snow and many Russian-style architectures, and people there are generally genuine and kind-hearted. I spent the first 19 years of my life in my hometown Harbin, and then I went to Tsinghua University in Beijing for four years. I worked in Beijing for a while before I came to US for my Ph.D study. I liked Beijing a lot; I see it as a wonderful tune of historical treasure and modern entertainment and technology.
I came to US for graduate studies because I wanted to explore my research experience in the most advanced place of the area, and also explore my experience of foreign cultures. I am glad with my choice: the department and my supervisor provide me with all the things I need to accomplish my Ph.D degree and become a good researcher. The department is well equipped, and is well organized with all the things such as departmental courses, daily events, student activities, etc. My supervisor is very supportive for me with respect to both course work and research.
Research Interests
My research studies involve the characterization of the structure and function of transporter proteins. Transporter proteins control the selective transport of endo- and xenobiotics across cell membranes, so they are important for the proper function of the cell. My current project focuses on the characterization of the substrate specificity of the human Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP, SLC10A1), and species differences between human NTCP and rat Ntcp. NTCP is a well-characterized member of the SLC10A family of sodium/bile salt cotransporters which contain over 50 members in animal, plant and bacterial species. It is well accepted that NTCP is the major sodium dependent bile acid uptake system in human hepatocytes and transports all kinds of bile acids. Some reports have shown that in addition to bile acids, NTCP is also able to transport additional compounds including endo- and xenobiotics. Thus NTCP might be a multispecific drug transporter, and a potential site of adverse drug-drug interaction. Through a better understanding of the substrate specificity of NTCP/Ntcp, we aim to determine its role in liver injury. To achieve this goal we will 1) establish a computer model that allows us to perform in silico screening and predict new NTCP substrates and/or inhibitors, and 2) identify the substrate binding sites of NTCP/Ntcp using chimeras and site-directed mutagenesis.
Contact Information
Zhonghua Sheng
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics
The University of Kansas Medical Center
MS1018
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: (913) 588-9189
Fax: (913) 588-7501
E-Mail: zsheng @kumc.edu
Updated 9/5/08
©
The University of Kansas Medical Center