Dr. Lee, Eminy H.Y. 's publons link picture

Dr. Lee, Eminy H.Y.

Distinguished Research Fellow
  • 02-27899125 (Lab) (Room No: 308)
  • 02-27829224 (Fax)
Specialty:
  • Pathogenesis of and Neuroprotection against Alzheimer's Disease
  • Molecular Mechanism of Mammalian Long-Term Memory Formation
Education and Positions:

  • Ph.D. Univ. of California, San Diego

One of our research interests is to study the pathogenesis of and neuroprotection against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we have found that galectin-3 promotes neuroinflammation and contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of AD. The expression level of galectin-3 is increased in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice at very early stage and could be considered as a biomarker and novel therapeutic target for AD. In studying the neuroprotection against AD, we have found that protein SUMOylation plays an important role in this process. For example, SUMOylation of Elk-1 decreases GADD45α expression and reduces the number of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. SUMOylation of AICD increases AICD nuclear translocation, increases the expression of neprilysin and transthyretin and enhances amyloid-beta degradation in APP/PS1 mice. We are currently examining the neuroprotective role and molecular mechanism of APP SUMOylation. We also aim at identifying endogenous stimuli that induce APP SUMOylation. Moreover, we are exploring other endogenous protection mechanisms against AD. These results together should provide novel insights and therapeutic strategies against AD.

 

In addition, we are also interested in studying the neural and molecular mechanisms of mammalian long-term memory formation. Upon identification of a novel candidate gene, we further study the expression, signaling pathway and regulation mechanism of this gene involved in memory formation. By using the differential display PCR (DD-PCR) strategy, we have previously identified the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (sgk) gene and the protein inhibitor of activated STAT1 (pias1) gene involved in memory processing. Identification of the sgk gene provides novel molecular mechanism underlying glucocorticoid-induced memory facilitation in humans and animals. Identification of the pias1 gene reveals that protein SUMOylation is a novel and important mechanism underlying long-term memory formation. By using the same DD-PCR strategy, we have recently indentified other candidate genes that play novel roles in regulating long-term memory formation in rats and mice. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these regulations.

Our Team
Team photo

Journal 68 Book 0

  1. Liu Y.C., Hsu W.L., Ma Y.L. and Lee E.H.Y.* Melatonin induction of APP intracellular domain 50 SUMOylation alleviates Alzheimer\'s disease through enhanced transcriptional activation and Abeta degradation Molecular Therapy 29, 376-395 (2021-01) [JCR] [WOS]
  2. Hsu W.L., Ma Y.L., Liu Y.C., Tai D.J.C. and Lee E.H.Y.* Restoring Wnt6 signaling ameliorates behavioral deficits in MeCP2 T158A mouse model of Rett syndrome Scientific Reports 10, 1074 (2020-02) [JCR] [WOS]
  3. Tao C.C., Cheng K.M., Ma Y.L., Hsu W.L., Chen Y.C., Fuh J.L., Lee W.J., Chao C.C. and Lee E.H.Y.* Galectin-3 promotes Aβ oligomerization and Aβ toxicity in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease Cell Death and Differentiation 27(1),192-209 (2020-01) [JCR] [WOS]
  4. Liu S.Y., Ma Y.L., Hsu W.L., Chiou H.Y. and Lee E.H.Y.* Protein inhibitor of activated STAT1 Ser503 phosphorylation‐ mediated Elk‐1 SUMOylation promotes neuronal survival in APP/PS1 mice British Journal of Pharmacology 176(11),1793-1810 (2019-06) [JCR] [WOS]
  5. Hsu W.L., Ma Y.L., Liu Y.C. and Lee E.H.Y.* Smad4 SUMOylation is essential for memory formation through upregulation of the skeletal myopathy gene TPM2 BMC Biology 15(1), 112. (2017-11) [JCR] [WOS]
  6. Chen Y.C., Ma Y.L., Lin C.H., Cheng S.J., Hsu W.L. and Lee E.H.Y.* Galectin-3 negatively regulates hippocampus-dependent memory formation through inhibition of integrin signaling and galectin-3 phosphorylation Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00217,10, 1-15 (2017-07) [JCR] [WOS]
  7. Tao C.C., Hsu W.L., Ma Y.L., Cheng S.J. and Lee E.H.Y.* Epigenetic regulation of HDAC1 SUMOylation as an endogenous neuroprotection against Abeta toxicity in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease Cell Death and Differentiation 24, 597-614 (2017-04) [JCR] [WOS]
  8. Tai J.C.§, Liu Y.C.§, Hsu W.L.§, Ma Y.L., Cheng S.J., Liu S.Y. and Lee E.H.Y.* MeCP2 SUMOylation rescues Mecp2 mutant-induced behavioral deficits in a mouse model of Rett syndrome Nature Communications 7, 10552 (2016-02) [JCR] [WOS]
  9. Lin C.H., Liu S.Y. and Lee E.H.Y.* SUMO-modification of Akt enhances global SUMOylation and substrate SUMOylation specificity through Akt phosphorylation of Ubc9 and SUMO1 Oncogene 35, 595-607 (2016-02) [JCR] [WOS]
  10. Chen Y.C.§, Hsu W.L.§, Ma Y.L., Tai J.C. and Lee E.H.Y.* CREB SUMOylation by the E3 ligase PIAS1 enhances spatial memory J. Neuroscience 34, 9574-9589 (2014-07) [JCR] [WOS]
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