Selected Publications

Lu P, ElMallah MK, Liu Z, Wu C, Chen J, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Genetic deletion of the Tas2r143/Tas2r135/Tas2r126 cluster reveals that TAS2Rs may not mediate bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. J Cell Physiol. 2021 Feb 8. doi: 10.1002/jcp.30315. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33559206

Lu P, Chen J, Zhang C, Saur D, Baer CE, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. Oscillating calcium signals in smooth muscle cells underlie the persistent basal tone of internal anal sphincter. J Cell Physiol. 2021 Jan 16. doi: 10.1002/jcp.30279. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33452672 

Qu M, Lu P, Bevell K, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Shi F, ZhuGe R. Smooth muscle cell-specific TMEM16A deletion does not alter Ca2+ signaling, uterine contraction, gestation length or litter size in mice†. Biol Reprod. 2019 Jun 07. PMID: 31175367. View in: PubMed

E X, Meraner P, Lu P, Perreira JM, Aker AM, McDougall WM, Zhuge R, Chan GC, Gerstein RM, Caposio P, Yurochko AD, Brass AL, Kowalik TF. OR14I1 is a receptor for the human cytomegalovirus pentameric complex and defines viral epithelial cell tropism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 20. PMID: 30894498. View in: PubMed

Wang Q, Yu MF, Zhang WJ, Liu BB, Zhao QY, Luo X, Xu H, She YS, Zang DA, Qiu JY, Shen J, Peng YB, Zhao P, Xue L, Chen W, Ma LQ, Nie X, Shen C, Chen S, Chen S, Liu Q, Dai J, Qin G, Zheng YM, Wang YX, ZhuGe R, Chen J, Liu QH. Azithromycin inhibits muscarinic 2 receptor-activated and voltage-activated Ca2+ permeant ion channels and Ca2+ sensitization, relaxing airway smooth muscle contraction. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2019 Jan 04. PMID: 30609110. View in: PubMed

Wang P, Zhao W, Sun J, Tao T, Chen X, Zheng YY, Zhang CH, Chen Z, Gao YQ, She F, Li YQ, Wei LS, Lu P, Chen CP, Zhou J, Wang DQ, Chen L, Shi XH, Deng L, ZhuGe R, Chen HQ, Zhu MS. Inflammatory mediators mediate airway smooth muscle contraction through a G protein-coupled receptor-transmembrane protein 16A-voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel axis and contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 Apr; 141(4):1259-1268.e11. PMID: 28754608. View in: PubMed

Zheng K, Lu P, Delpapa E, Bellve K, Deng R, Condon JC, Fogarty K, Lifshitz LM, Simas TAM, Shi F, ZhuGe R. Bitter taste receptors as targets for tocolytics in preterm labor therapy. FASEB J. 2017 May 30. PMID: 28559440. View in: PubMed

Keeler AM, Liu D, Zieger M, Xiong L, Salemi J, Bellve K, Byrne BJ, Fuller DD, ZhuGe R, ElMallah MK. Airway smooth muscle dysfunction in Pompe (Gaa-/-) mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2017 Mar 23; ajplung.00568.2016. PMID: 28336814. View in: PubMed

Lu P, Zhang CH, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Extraoral bitter taste receptors in health and disease. J Gen Physiol. 2017 Jan 04. PMID: 28053191. View in: PubMed

Zhang CH, Wang P, Liu DH, Chen CP, Zhao W, Chen X, Chen C, He WQ, Qiao YN, Tao T, Sun J, Peng YJ, Lu P, Zheng K, Craige SM, Lifshitz LM, Keaney JF, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R, Zhu MS. The molecular basis of the genesis of basal tone in internal anal sphincter. Nat Commun. 2016 Apr 22; 7:11358. PMID: 27101932. View in: PubMed

Lefkowitz JJ, DeCrescenzo V, Duan K, Bellve KD, Fogarty KE, Walsh JV, ZhuGe R. Catecholamine exocytosis during low frequency stimulation in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells is primarily asynchronous and controlled by the novel mechanism of Ca2+ syntilla suppression. J Physiol. 2014 Nov 1; 592(21):4639-55. PMID: 25128575. View in: PubMed

Zhang CH, Lifshitz LM, Uy KF, Ikebe M, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. The cellular and molecular basis of bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. PLoS Biol. 2013; 11(3):e1001501. PMID: 23472053. View in: PubMed

Zhang CH, Li Y, Zhao W, Lifshitz LM, Li H, Harfe BD, Zhu MS, ZhuGe R. The transmembrane protein 16A Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channel in airway smooth muscle contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Feb 15; 187(4):374-81. PMID: 23239156. View in: PubMed

Zhang CH, Chen C, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Zhu MS, ZhuGe R. Activation of BK channels may not be required for bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. Nat Med. 2012 May 04; 18(5):648-50; author reply 650-1. PMID: 22561814. View in: PubMed

Lifshitz LM, Carmichael JD, Lai FA, Sorrentino V, Bellvé K, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. Spatial organization of RYRs and BK channels underlying the activation of STOCs by Ca(2+) sparks in airway myocytes. J Gen Physiol. 2011 Aug; 138(2):195-209. PMID: 21746845. View in: PubMed

Zhuge R, Bao R, Fogarty KE, Lifshitz LM. Ca2+ sparks act as potent regulators of excitation-contraction coupling in airway smooth muscle. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jan 15; 285(3):2203-10. PMID: 19920135. View in: PubMed

Lefkowitz JJ, Fogarty KE, Lifshitz LM, Bellve KD, Tuft RA, ZhuGe R, Walsh JV, De Crescenzo V. Suppression of Ca2+ syntillas increases spontaneous exocytosis in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells. J Gen Physiol. 2009 Oct; 134(4):267-80. PMID: 19786582. View in: PubMed

Bao R, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Bellvé K, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. A close association of RyRs with highly dense clusters of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels underlies the activation of STICs by Ca2+ sparks in mouse airway smooth muscle. J Gen Physiol. 2008 Jul; 132(1):145-60. PMID: 18591421. View in: PubMed

De Crescenzo V, Fogarty KE, Zhuge R, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Carmichael J, Bellvé KD, Baker SP, Zissimopoulos S, Lai FA, Lemos JR, Walsh JV. Dihydropyridine receptors and type 1 ryanodine receptors constitute the molecular machinery for voltage-induced Ca2+ release in nerve terminals. J Neurosci. 2006 Jul 19; 26(29):7565-74. PMID: 16855084. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, DeCrescenzo V, Sorrentino V, Lai FA, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Lemos JR, Smith C, Fogarty KE, Walsh JV. Syntillas release Ca2+ at a site different from the microdomain where exocytosis occurs in mouse chromaffin cells. Biophys J. 2006 Mar 15; 90(6):2027-37. PMID: 16387759. View in: PubMed

Zhuge R, Fogarty KE, Baker SP, McCarron JG, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Walsh JV. Ca(2+) spark sites in smooth muscle cells are numerous and differ in number of ryanodine receptors, large-conductance K(+) channels, and coupling ratio between them. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2004 Dec; 287(6):C1577-88. PMID: 15306542. View in: PubMed

De Crescenzo V, ZhuGe R, Velázquez-Marrero C, Lifshitz LM, Custer E, Carmichael J, Lai FA, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Lemos JR, Walsh JV. Ca2+ syntillas, miniature Ca2+ release events in terminals of hypothalamic neurons, are increased in frequency by depolarization in the absence of Ca2+ influx. J Neurosci. 2004 Feb 4; 24(5):1226-35. PMID: 14762141. View in: PubMed

Zhuge R, Fogarty KE, Tuft RA, Walsh JV. Spontaneous transient outward currents arise from microdomains where BK channels are exposed to a mean Ca(2+) concentration on the order of 10 microM during a Ca(2+) spark. J Gen Physiol. 2002 Jul; 120(1):15-27. PMID: 12084772. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, Fogarty KE, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Sayar K, Walsh JV. Dynamics of signaling between Ca(2+) sparks and Ca(2+)- activated K(+) channels studied with a novel image-based method for direct intracellular measurement of ryanodine receptor Ca(2+) current. J Gen Physiol. 2000 Dec; 116(6):845-64. PMID: 11099351. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Bellve K, Fay FS, Walsh JV. The influence of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ concentration on Ca2+ sparks and spontaneous transient outward currents in single smooth muscle cells. J Gen Physiol. 1999 Feb; 113(2):215-28. PMID: 9925820. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, Sims SM, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Walsh JV. Ca2+ sparks activate K+ and Cl- channels, resulting in spontaneous transient currents in guinea-pig tracheal myocytes. J Physiol. 1998 Dec 15; 513 ( Pt 3):711-8. PMID: 9824712. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, Li S, Chen TH, Hsu WH. Alpha2-adrenergic receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx and release in porcine myometrial cells. Biol Reprod. 1997 May; 56(5):1343-50. PMID: 9160737. View in: PubMed

Zhuge R, Hsu WH. The caffeine- and ryanodine-sensitive Ca++ store in porcine myometrial cells: its heterogeneity of all-or-none Ca++ release. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1995 Dec; 275(3):1077-83. PMID: 8531066. View in: PubMed

Zhuge R, Li S, Chen TH, Hsu WH. Oxytocin induced a biphasic increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of porcine myometrial cells: participation of a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ pool, and Ca2+ channels. Mol Reprod Dev. 1995 May; 41(1):20-8. PMID: 7619502. View in: PubMed

Yu H, Zhuge R, Hsu WH. Lysine vasopressin-induced increases in porcine myometrial contractility and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations of myometrial cells: involvement of oxytocin receptors. Biol Reprod. 1995 Mar; 52(3):584-590. PMID: 7756452. View in: PubMed

ZhuGe R, Li S, Lee B, Hsu WH. Characterization of freshly dispersed porcine myometrial cells: evidence for voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and regulatory receptors. J Reprod Fertil. 1994 Sep; 102(1):49-55. PMID: 7799325. View in: PubMed