Jean Chen Shih Ph.D.
University Professor
Boyd & Elsie Welin Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Cell and Neurobiology
Keck School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy
Contact Address:
University of Southern California
Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology
1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 518
Los Angeles, California 90089-1921
Tel:323 442 1441 Fax:323 224 7473
Education:
1964 - B.Sc. National Taiwan University (Honour), Taipei, REP. of CHINA
Department of Biochemistry
1968 - Ph.D. University of California, Riverside, USA
University of California, Los Angeles, USA (Joint program)
Department of Biochemistry
Research experiences:
1968 - 1970 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
In 1974, Dr. Shih joined the School of Pharmacy faculty at USC.
Dr. Shih has received numerous honors. She received two Research Scientist Awards and two MERIT awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), each providing a 10-year support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. The MERIT award is given to the top 1% investigators of the country.
Dr. Shih has received numerous honors. She received two Research Scientist Awards and two MERIT awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), each providing a 10-year support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. The MERIT award is given to the top 1% investigators of the country.
Dr. Shih is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology; a Fellow of Academia Sinica, Taiwan; a recipient of the Volwiler Research Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP); a Distinguish Series Kaiser Lecturer and the USC Associates Award for Creativity in Research and Scholarship; among many others.
She is a member of the NIH study sections (Psycho Clinical Biology, 1984-88; Neurobiology, 1990-94; NICHD Mental Retardation Committee, 1997-2001). She is also a member of the International Brain Research Committee of the National Academy of Sciences (1995-present). She is a current member and past president of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.
She is a member of the NIH study sections (Psycho Clinical Biology, 1984-88; Neurobiology, 1990-94; NICHD Mental Retardation Committee, 1997-2001). She is also a member of the International Brain Research Committee of the National Academy of Sciences (1995-present). She is a current member and past president of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.
Research Field:
My research objectives are to understand the functions of monoamine neurotransmitters on transcriptional regulation of gene expression, signally transduction pathways and ultimately to behaviors. These studies will not only provide new knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of brain functions but also help us understand the molecular basis of mental disorders such as bipolar depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
This information will be useful for designing novel therapeutic agents and early diagnosis of these diseases.
Our research projects are focused on the regulation, structure and functions of monoamine oxidase isoenzymes and serotonin receptors. We are currently using DNA chips, proteomics and bioinformatic approaches to study the role of serotonin in the regulation of transcription factors and other gene expression in a series of MAO gene knock-out and transgenic mice, which exhibit different behaviors including anxiety and aggression. This information will be linked to human databases and help identify polymorphism and SNP in genes related to mental disorders.
Our research projects are focused on the regulation, structure and functions of monoamine oxidase isoenzymes and serotonin receptors. We are currently using DNA chips, proteomics and bioinformatic approaches to study the role of serotonin in the regulation of transcription factors and other gene expression in a series of MAO gene knock-out and transgenic mice, which exhibit different behaviors including anxiety and aggression. This information will be linked to human databases and help identify polymorphism and SNP in genes related to mental disorders.
Selected Publications:
Shih, J.C. Monoamine Oxidases: From Tissue Homogenates to Transgenic Mice. Neurochem Res. 2007.
Chen, K., Cases, O., Rebrin, I., Wu, W., Gallaher, T.K., Seif, I. & Shih J.C. Forebrain-specific expression of monoamine oxidase a reduces neurotransmitter levels, restores the brain structure, and rescues aggressive behavior in monoamine oxidase A-deficient mice. J Biol Chem. 282(1): 115-23. (2007)
Guo, G., Roettger, M.E., Shih, J.C. Contributions of the DAT1 and DRD2 genes to serious and violent delinquency among adolescents and young adults. Hum Genet. (2006)
Yin, H.S., Chen, K., Kalpana, S. & Shih, J.C. Differential effects of chronic amphetamine and baclofen administration on cAMP levels and phosphorylation of CREB in distinct brain regions of wild type and monoamine oxidase B-deficient mice. Synapse 60(8):573-84. (2006)
Agatsuma, S., Lee, M., Zhu, H., Chen, K., Shih, J.C., Seif, I., Hiroi, N. Monoamine oxidase A knockout mice exhibit impaired nicotine preference but normal responses to novel stimuli. Hum Mol Genet. 15(18):2721-31 (2006)
Ou, X.M., Chen, K. & Shih, J.C. Monoamine oxidase A and repressor R1 are involved in apoptotic signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 103(29):10923-8. (2006)
Ou, X.M., Chen, K. & Shih, J.C. Glucocorticoid and androgen activation of monoamine oxidase A is regulated differently by R1 and Sp1. J Biol Chem. 281(30):21512-25. (2006)
Squires, L.N., Jakubowski, J.A., Stuart, J.N., Rubakhin, S.S., Hatcher, N.G., Kim, W.S., Chen, K., Shih, J.C., Seif, I., Sweedler, J.V. Serotonin catabolism and the formation and fate of 5-hydroxyindole thiazolidine carboxylic acid. J Biol Chem. 281(19):13463-70. (2006)
Chen, K., Holschneider, D.P., Wu, W., Rebrin, I. & Shih, J.C. A spontaneous point mutation produces monoamine oxidase A/B knock-out mice with greatly elevated monoamines and anxiety-like behavior. J Biol Chem. 279(38):39645-52. (2004)
Chen, K., Shih, J.C. Regulation of MAO-A and MAO-B gene expression. Curr Med Chem. (15):1995-2005. (2004)
Lee, M., Chen, K., Shih, J.C., Hiroi, N. MAO-B knockout mice exhibit deficient habituation of locomotor activity but normal nicotine intake. Genes Brain Behav. 3(4):216-27. (2004)
Grimsby J, Toth M, Chen K, Kumazawa T, Klaidman L, Adams JD, Karoum F, Gal J, Shih JC. Increased stress response and beta-phenylethylamine in MAOB-deficient mice. Nat. Genet. 17(2):206-10. (1997)
Cases, O., Seif, I., Grimsby, J., Gaspar, P., Chen, K., Pournin, S., Muller, U., Aguet, M., Babinet, C. & Shih, J.C. Aggressive behavior and altered amounts of brain serotonin and norepinephrine in mice lacking MAOA. Science. 268(5218):1763-6. (1995)
© 2007 Alzheimer's Association
