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OPERATING HOURS

Mon-Thu : 9am to 6pm
Fri : 9am to 5.30pm

CELL SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND FUNCTIONAL PROTEOMICS

Our main research interest is the delineation of cell signal transduction pathways, upon which we hope to develop novel approaches to influence cell signaling events to modify cell physiology. Our major technical platform is functional proteomic analysis.

We are currently analyzing signal transduction pathways involving in the control of cell survival and death. More specifically, the staffs are working on molecular identification and functional assignment of p53 responsive proteins, targeting at novel p53 signaling loops. A second line staff project is the examination of drug-evoked apoptotic signal cascades in cancer cells, and looking for novel strategies (i.e., apoptosis sensitizers) to modify the identified signaling routes to promote drug-elicited cancer cell apoptotic death. Postgraduate students are exploring novel signal mediators in small GTPase signal transduction and the control of mitochondrial release of death factors, in relevance to the regulation of cancer apoptosis, migration and invasion.

Planed projects are centered on the relationship amongst the metabolism of glucose and lipids, protein oxidation and the survival as well as death of various cells (i.e., pancreatic beta cell, renal cell and retina cell). Ultimately, we hope to develop novel methodologies to modify the sensitivity of the cells to toxicity of glucose and/or lipids, which could be beneficial for controlling the development of diabetes and its complications.

The team is supported by NMRC and ARF grants to Dr. Lee Shao Chin.

The current members include:
Lee Shao Chin, PhD (Principle Investigator; contact: nmilsc@nus.edu.sg)
Phoo Meng Seng, BSc (Research Assistant)
Jason Chan (Medical Student Researcher)
Nigel Sim, BSc (Postgraduate Student)
Gregory Mellier, MSc (Postgraduate Student)

PUBLICATIONS

1. Lee SC and Pervaiz S. Apoptosis in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and diabetic microvascular complications. Int J Biochem Cell Biol submitted
2. Lee SC, Chan J, Clement M, Pervaiz S. Functional proteomic analysis of resveratrol-evoked colon cancer cell apoptosis: caspase-6 cleavage of lamin A is a major signalling loop. Proteomics 6:2386-94, 2006
3. Wang Y, Ng MC, Lee SC, So WY, Tong PC, Cockram CS, Critchley JA, Chan JC. Phenotypic heterogeneity and associations of two aldose reductase gene polymorphisms with nephropathy and retinopathy in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 26:2410-2415, 2003
4. Arrigo AP, Firdaus WJ, Mellier G, Moulin M, Paul C, Diaz-latoud C, Kretz-remy C. Cytotoxic effects induced by oxidative stress in cultured mammalian cells and protection provided by Hsp27 expression. Methods. 35:126-38, 2005
5. Ko GT, Lee SC, Pu YB, Ng MC, So WY, Thomas N, Chan WB, Cockram CS, Chan JC. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha promoter gene polymorphism at - 308 (genotype AA) in Chinese subjects with Type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med. 20:167-168, 2003
6. Lee SC, Cooper GJS. Amylin evokes protein p20 phosphorylation and insulin resistance in rat skeletal muscle extensor digitorum longus. Sci China 45:159-165, 2002
7. Ng MC, Lee SC, Ko GT, Li JK, So WY, Hashim Y, Barnett AH, Mackay IR, Critchley JA, Cockram CS, Chan JC. Familial early-onset type 2 diabetes in Chinese patients: obesity and genetics have more significant roles than autoimmunity. Diabetes Care 24:663-671, 2001
8. Lee SC, Wang Y, Ko GTC, Critchley JAJH, Cockram, CS and Chan JCN. Risks factors for cataract in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: Evidence for the influence of the aldose reductase gene. Clin Genet 59:356-359, 2001
9. Lee SC, Ko GTC, Li JKY, Chow CC, Yeung VTF, Critchley JAJH, Cockram CS, Chan JCN. Factors predicting the age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese. Diabetes Care 24:646-649, 2001
10. Lee SC, Hashim, Y. Li JKY, Ko GTC, Critchley JAJH, Cockram CS and Chan JCN. The islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) gene S20G mutation in Chinese subjects: Evidence for associations with Type 2 diabetes and cholesterol levels Clin Endocr 54:541-546, 2001
11. Lee SC, Wang Y, Ko GTC, Critchley JAJH, Ng CY, Tong P, Cockram C and Chan JCN. Association between a microsatellite polymorphism at 5’ of the aldose reductase gene and diabetic retinopathy. Opthal Genet 22:63-67, 2001
12. Chan JCN, Ng M, Critchley JAJH, Lee SC, Cockram CS. Diabetes mellitus-a special medical challenge from a Chinese perspective. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 54 (Suppl 1):19-27, 2001
13. Lee SC, Pu YB, Chow CC, Yeung VTF, Ko GTC, So WY, Li JKY, Chan WB, Ma RCW, Critchley JAJH, Cockram CS and Chan JCN. Diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese: Familial clustering and parental effects. Diabetes Care 23:1365-1368, 2000
14. Lee SC, Pu YB, Thomas NG, Critchley JAJH, Thomlinson B, Cockram CS and Chan JCN. Tumor necrosis factor-? gene G-308A polymorphism in the metabolic syndrom. Metab 49:1021-1024, 2000
15. Jazwinska EC, Pyper WR, Burt MJ, Francis JC, Goldwurm S, Webb SI, Lee SC, Halliday JW and Powell LW. Haplotype analysis in Australian hemochromatosis patients: Evidence for a predominant ancestral haplotype exclusively associated with hemochromatosis. Am J Hum Genet 56:428-433, 1995 Jazwinska EC, Lee SC, Webb SI, Halliday JW and Powell LW. Mapping of hemochromatosis gene to close to D6S105 and HLA-A by linkage analysis. Am J Hum Genet 53:347-352, 1993

PATENTS

1. Lee SC, Ng M, Chan JCN, Critchley JAJH, Cockram CS. A METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE GENETIC RISK OF CATARACT. Patent number: HK1034643. Patent date: 05.10.2001. International patent application of same rights has been lodged in New York
2. Chan JCN, Ng M, Lee SC, Cockram CS Critchley JAJH. A COMBINATION OF GENETIC MARKERS TO INDICATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIABETES IN CHINESE TO FACILITATE DIAGNOSIS AND IMPROVE TREATMENT. Patent number: HK1037100. Patent date: 28.12.2001.
3. Separated international patent applications of the findings have been lodged in New York

CONTACT

Dr. Lee Shao Chin
Email address: nmilsc@nus.edu.sg
Phone: +65 65167635 or +65 91885879