Karen Liu

Karen Liu

Professor

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Personal profile

Research interests

In any intricate developmental process, the encoded genes are interpreted as myriad intercellular and intracellular interactions, all of which must occur at the right time and place. With this in mind, we are developing new methods to block or alter the activities of individual proteins in a drug-dependent manner. Our goal is to expand the repertoire of molecular tools available to developmental biologists.

The biological problem that we are interested in is the development of the neural crest and its derivatives, including the craniofacial skeleton. At present, we are developing chemical tools to study the roles of GSK-3 and Wnt signaling in the neural crest. We are using two model systems, the frog Xenopus laevis and the mouse.

Xenopus embryos are abundant and live in an aquatic environment, allowing easy manipulation and drug accessibility; thus, we are using Xenopus to study early patterning and to rapidly test new tools. We then adapt these tools to mammalian systems.

In the mouse, we are currently studying the development of the bony skull, using conventional and drug-dependent alleles of GSK-3&#946.

 

Research interests (short)

Signal transduction in developmental biology; small molecules; post-translational control.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley

Award Date: 1 Jan 2003

Bachelor of Arts, Columbia University

Award Date: 1 Jan 1994

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