Mechanically gated ion channels play essential roles in transforming mechanical forces into cellular signals, a biological process referred to as mechanosensation. The focus of Dr. Shi’s research is to explore mechanisms by which ion channels of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)/degenerin family are regulated by mechanical forces. She uses the two expression systems, Xenopus oocytes and C. elegans worms, to perform systematic structure-function studies, and then translates her findings into a whole animal setting. She discovered that the C. elegans degenerin channel was activated by shear stress and the two pore-forming subunits, MEC-4 and MEC-10 had distinct roles in this response. She is currently working on identifying key domain or sites within the degenerin channel required for the channel’s activation by shear stress. She is also studying how accessory proteins, such as MEC-6 and its mammalian homology PON-2 regulate the channel activity and gating.
- BS, Nankai University, China, 1999
- MS, Nankai University, China, 2002
- PhD, University of Rochester, 2010
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pittsburgh, 2013
Education & Training
Shujie Shi, Thomas R. Kleyman. Gamma subunit second transmembrane domain contributes to epithelial sodium channel gating and amiloride block. American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology. 2013; 305(11): 1585-1592.
Shujie Shi, Marcelo D. Carattino, Rebecca P. Hughey, Thomas R. Kleyman. ENaC regulation by proteases and shear stress. Current Molecular Pharmacology. 2013; 6 (1): 28-34.
Shujie Shi, Marcelo D. Carattino, Thomas R. Kleyman. Role of the Wrist Domain in the Response of the Epithelial Sodium Channel to External Stimuli. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012; 287(53): 44027-44035.
Shujie Shi, Brandon M. Blobner, Ossama B. Kashlan, Thomas R. Kleyman. Extracellular finger domain modulates the response of the epithelial sodium channel to shear stress. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012; 287(19): 15439-15444.
Shujie Shi, Dipon D. Ghosh, Sora Okumura, Marcelo D. Carattino, Ossama B. Kashlan, Shaohu Sheng, Thomas R. Kleyman. Base of the thumb domain modulates epithelial sodium channel gating. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011; 286(17): 14753-14761.
Tania Abi-Antoun, Shujie Shi, Lindsey A. Tolino, Thomas R. Kleyman, Marcelo D. Carattino. Second transmembrane domain modulates epithelial sodium channel gating in response to shear stress. American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology. 2011; 300(5): 1089-1095.
Shujie Shi, Cliff J. Luke, Mark T. Miedel, Gary A. Silverman, Thomas R. Kleyman. Activation of the Caenorhabditis elegans degenerin channel by shear stress requires the MEC-10 subunit. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2016; 291(27): 14012-22.
Shi, S, Carattino, M.D. Expression and Analysis of Flow-regulated Ion Channels in Xenopus Oocytes. Bio-protocol. 2017; 7(8): e2224.
- Battelle Foundation Award, Society of Toxicology, 2009
- Robert N. Infurna Award for the Best Scientific Publication in Toxicology, 2010
- American Heart Association Post-doctoral Fellowship Award, 2010
- American Physiological Society Research Recognition Award, 2011
- American Heart Association Post-doctoral Fellowship Award, 2012
- Junior Investigator Travel Award to attend the Epithelial Physiology and Cell Biology Symposium, 2014
- Peter Salamon Award for Young Scientists, Telluride Science Research Center, 2014
- Symposium Award at the 68th Society of General Physiologists Annual Meeting, 2014
