Dar-Chone Chow

Dar-Chone Chow
Assistant Professor
	Office: 229 Fleming Phone: (713) 743-1798 Email: dchow3@uh.edu Education B.S., California State University, Hayward, 1983 M.S., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1985 Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1992 Homepage

Research Interests

One research goal in our laboratory is to understand the basis of conformational changes in the function of a protein. Our group will study two model systems that both have distinct conformational states during their functional processes. One of these systems is the assembly of cytokine/receptor complexes of the family of gp130 cytokines, also called IL-6 cytokines. Numerous cytokines and the corresponding receptors have been identified in the family. Based on recent progress that has elucidated some structural and biophysical features of the IL-6 signaling complex assembly, our lab is 1) further studying the structural basis of the receptor-induced conformational changes within the IL-6 cytokine, and 2) expanding these studies to other cytokines to understand their signaling complex assemblies.
The other model system for research is the gastric H,K-ATPase. We will try to characterize the thermodynamics and kinetics of substrate-bindings and substrate-induced conformational changes in the pumping cycle. In parallel, the laboratory will undertaking the structural studies of the H,K-ATPase. The long-term goal is to elucidate the structural and thermodynamics basis of the conformational changes during the pumping cycle, thus the pumping mechanism.

Recent Publications

Thangarajah, H., Wong, A., Chow, D., Crothers, J.M., Jr., and Forte, J.G. (2001) Gastric H,K-ATPase and acid-resistant surface proteins. Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver Physio.) in press.

He, X., Chow, D., Martick, M.M., and Garcia K.C. (2001) Allosteric Activation of a Spring-Loaded Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Dimer by Hormone. Science 293: 1657-62.

Chow, D., Ho, J., Pham, T.L.N., Rose-John, S., and Garcia K.C. (2001) in vitro reconstitution of recognition and activation complexes between interleukin-6 and gp130. Biochemistry 40: 7593-603.

Chow, D., He, X., Snow, A.L., Rose-John, S., and Garcia K.C. (2001) Structure of an extracellular gp130-cytokine receptor signalling complex. Science 291: 2150-5.

Okamoto, C.T., T., Chow, D., and Forte, J.G. (2000) Interaction of α- and β-subunits in native H,K-ATPase and cultured cells transfected with H,K-ATPase β-subunit. Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Phyiol.) 278: C727-38.

Urushidani, T., Chow, D., and Forte, J.G. (1999) Redistribution of a 120 kDa phosphoprotein in the parietal cell associated with stimulation. J. Membr. Biol. 168: 209-20.

Lee, A., Chow, D., Haus, B., Tseng, W., Evans, D., Fleiszig, S., Chandy, G., and Machen, T. (1999) Airway epithelial tight junctions and binding and cytotoxicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.) 277: L204-17.

Rong, Q., Utevskaya, O., Ramilo, M., Chow, D., and Forte, J.G. (1998) Nucleotide metabolism by gastric glands and H⁺-K⁺ATPase-enriched membranes Am.. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver Physio.) 274: G103-G10.

Peng, X.R., Yao, X., Chow, D.C., Forte, J.G., and Bennett, M.K. (1997) Association of syntaxin 3 and vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) with H⁺/K⁺-ATPase-containing tubulovesicles in gastric parietal cells. Molecular Biology of the Cell 8: 399-407.

Crothers, J.M., Chow, D., Scalley, M.L., and Forte, J.G. (1995) In vivo trafficking of nascent H,K-ATPase in the rabbit parietal cell. Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver Physio.) 269: G883-G891.

Tyagarajan, K., Chow, D., Smolka, A., and Forte, J.G. (1995) Structural interactions between α- and β-subunits of the gastric H,K-ATPase. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1236: 105-13.

Chow, D. and Forte, J.G. (1995) Functional significance of the β-subunit for heterodimeric P-type ATPase. J. Exp. Biol. 198:1-17.

Forte, J.G. and Chow, D. (1994) Structural and functional integrity of H,K-ATPase depends on its β-subunit. In NATO ASI series, Vol. H 89. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of H⁺ Transport. Ed B.H. Hirst. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg 27-35.

Chow, D. and Forte, J.G. (1993) The Characterization of the β-subunit of the gastric H,K-ATPase by an inhibitory monoclonal antibody. Am. J. Physiol. 265 (Cell Physiol. 34): C1562-1570.

Crothers, J.M. Jr., Chow, D., and Forte, J.G. (1993) Omeprazole decreases H,K-ATPase protein and increases permeability of oxyntic secretory membranes in the rabbit. Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver Physio.) 265: G231-241.

Weitzhandler, M., Kadlecek, D., Avdalovic, N., Forte, J.G., Chow, D., and Townsend, R.R. (1993) Monosaccharide and oligosaccharide analysis of proteins transferred to polyvinylidene fluoride membranes after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. J. Biol. Chem. 268: 5121-30.

Forte, J.G. and Chow, D. (1993) Structural and functional significance of the gastric H,K-ATPase. In The Stomach: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment Ed W. Domschke & S. Konturek. Springer Verlag, Berlin. 22-37.

Chow, D., Browning, C. M., and Forte, J. G. (1992) Gastric H,K-ATPase activity is inhibited by reduction of disulfide bonds in β-subunit. Am. J. Physiol. 263: C39-46.

Horisberger, J.-D., Jaunin, P., Reuben, M.A., Lasater, L.S., Chow, D., Forte, J.G., Sachs, G., Rossier, B.C., and Geering, K. (1991) The H,K-ATPase β-subunit Can Act as a Surrogate for the β-subunit of Na,K-pumps. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 19131-4

Canfield, V.A., Okamoto, C.T., Chow, D., Dorfman, J., Gros, P., Forte, J.G., and Levenson, R. (1991) Identification and Characterization of a Gene for the H,K-ATPase β-subunit. Society of General Physiologists Series. 46: 89-98

Forte, J.G., Canfield, V.A., Okamoto, C.T., Chow, D., Dorfman, J., Gros, P., and Levenson, R. (1991) Specialization of the Apical Surface of Parietal Cells, Identification and Characterization of a β-subunit of the Gastric H,K-ATPase. In Mechanisms of Injury, Protection and Repair of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. Edited by A. Garner and P.E. O'Brien, P 187-198.

Canfield, V.A., Okamoto, C.T., Chow, D., Dorfman, J., Gros, P., Forte, J.G., and Levenson, R. (1990) Cloning of the H,K-ATPase β-subunit. Tissue-specific expression, chromosomal assignment, and relationship to Na,K-ATPase beta subunits. J. Biol. Chem. 265: 19878-84.

Forte, J. G., Hanzel, D.K., Okamoto, C., Chow, D., and Urushidani, T. (1990) Membrane and Protein Recycling Associated with Gastric HCl Secretion. Journal of Internal Medicine 228 Suppl. 1:17-26.

Bridges, F. and Chow, D. (1985) Observation of a microwave transition from an on-center to off-center ionic configuration. Physical Review Letters 54: 1532-5.