W. Han
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Weiping Han, Ph.D.
Address:
Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine
Singapore Bioimaging Consortium
Helios #01-02, 11 Biopolis Way
Singapore 138667
Telephone: (65) 6478-8723
Fax: (65) 6478-9957
Email: weiping_han@sbic.a-star.edu.sg
Date of Birth: October 27, 1968 in Liaoning, China
Family:
Married with two children
Education:
1992-1996
1986-1991
Ph. D. in Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
B.S. in Medical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
Research and Work Experience:
2007-
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore, Singapore
2005-
Deputy Head
Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium
Biomedical Science Institutes/A*STAR, Singapore
Investigating molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion using knockout mice and
insulin-secreting cell lines.
Investigating links between metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases.
2003-2005
Assistant Professor (Research Track)
Center for Basic Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Investigated gene functions in neurotransmission and synaptogenesis.
Investigated gene functions in the regulation of insulin secretion using knockout mice
and insulin-secreting cell lines.
HHMI Associate
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Center for Basic Neuroscience
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Generated and characterized transgenic mice expressing GFP-tagged synaptic proteins.
Characterized synaptotagmin 7 gene, and studied its functions in neurotransmission.
Studied molecular mechanisms determining vesicular targeting of synaptotagmin 1 and
functional significance of its proper localization.
Research Associate
Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Developed a method to visualize secretory granules and to follow neuropeptide release
in real time using fluorescence imaging techniques including confocal and total internal
reflection fluorescence microscopy.
Studied mechanisms of neuropeptide release from neuroendocrine cells using GFPtagged ANF (Atrial Natriuretic Factor) and live cell imaging.
Graduate Student Researcher
Department of Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Studied biophysical properties of a potassium channel (Ito) in the chronic stage of a
canine model of Chagas’ disease.
Studied cellular mechanisms of Ito’s down-regulation during acute stage of Chagas’
disease, and reversal of the down-regulation by norepinephrine treatment.
Research Assistant
Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
Studied cardiac triggered activities (a cause for cardiac arrhythmia) and their
prevention/termination using electrophysiological methods on feline heart.
Characterized high-frequency electrocardiograms in diabetic patients.
Current Research Funding:
A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) Intramural Support:
FY 2006: S$1,100,000; FY2007: S$3,200,000; FY2008: S$5,000,000.
Invited Talks:
1. Molecular mechanisms mediating calcium control of neurotransmitter release. 55th Harden Conference
“Dynamics of Membrane Traffic”, Ambleside, U.K., 25-30th, August 2002.
2. Ca2+ regulation of neurotransmitter release: Ca2+ channels vs. Ca2+ sensors. FASEB Summer
Research Conferences “Calcium and Cell Function”, Snowmass, CO. 5-10th, June 2004.
3. Ca2+ sensing during neurotransmitter release. Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, July 2004.
4. Molecular regulation of insulin secretion. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Shanghai, China, July 2004.
5. Molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion. University of Alabama, AL, February 2005.
6. Calcium regulation of neurotransmitter and hormone secretion. College of Life Sciences, Nankai
University, Tianjin, China, March 2005.
7. Synaptotagmins in neurotransmission and beyond. Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, April 2005.
8. Calcium regulation of neurotransmitter and hormone secretion. Department of Biochemistry, Hong
Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China, April 2005.
9. Synaptotagmins in neurotransmission and endocrine secretion. Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, July 2005.
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10. Institute of Molecular Medicine, Beijing University, China, November 2007
11. College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, China, November 2007
12. Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, November 2007
Patents:
2007
Animal models for obesity and neurodegenerative diseases, W. Han (Pending, 11/828,832)
Peer-Reviewed Research Articles:
Gustavsson N, Lao Y, Maximov A, Chuang J-C, Kostromina E, Repa J, Li C, Radda GK, Südhof TC, Han
W: Impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance in synaptotagmin-7 null mutant mice. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (in press, 2008)
Schoch S, Mittelstaedt T, Kaeser PS, Padgett D, Feldmann N, Chevaleyre V, Castillo PE, Hammer RE, Han
W, Schmitz F, Lin W, Südhof TC: Redundant functions of RIM1alpha and RIM2alpha in Ca2+-triggered
neurotransmitter release. The EMBO Journal 25(24):5852-5863, 2006.
Sun J, Bronk P, Liu X, Han W, and Südhof TC: Synapsins regulate use-dependent synaptic plasticity in the
calyx of Held by a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent pathway. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
of the United States of America 103:2880-2885, 2006.
Han W, Rhee J, Lin W, Hammer RE, Rosenmund C, and Südhof TC: Crowding out synaptotagmin 1: Cterminal ECFP-fusion inactivates synaptotagmin 1 function. The Journal of Biological Chemistry
280(6):5089-5100, 2005.
Shin OH, Han W, Wang Y, and Südhof TC: Evolutionarily conserved multiple C2-domain proteins with two
transmembrane regions (MCTPs) and unusual Ca2+-binding properties. The Journal of Biological
Chemistry 280(2):1641-1651, 2005.
Han W, Rhee J, Maximov A, Lao Y, Mashimo T, Rosenmund C, and Südhof TC: N-glycosylation is
essential for vesicular targeting of synaptotagmin 1. Neuron 41:85-99, 2004.
Lee SF, Shah S, Yu C, Wigley C, Li H, Lim M, Pedersen K, Han W, Thomas P, Lundkvist J, Hao YH, and
Yu G. A conserved GXXXG motif in APH-1 is critical for assembly and activity of the γ-secretase complex.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry 279(6):4144-4152, 2004.
Virmani T, Han W, Liu X, Südhof TC, and Kavalali ET: Synaptotagmin 7 splice variants differentially
regulate synaptic vesicle recycling. The EMBO Journal 22(20):5347-5357, 2003.
Ng YK, Lu X, Gulacsi A, Han W, Saxton MJ, and Levitan ES: Unexpected mobility variation among
individual secretory vesicles produces an apparent refractory neuropeptide pool. Biophysical Journal
84(6):4127-34, 2003.
Lee S-F, Shah S, Li H, Yu C, Han W, and Yu G: Mammalian APH-1 interacts with presenilin and nicastrin,
and is required for intramembrane proteolysis of APP and Notch. The Journal of Biological Chemistry
277(47):45013-9, 2002.
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Han W, Li D, and Levitan ES: A new green fluorescent protein construct for localizing and quantifying
peptide release. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 971:627, 2002.
Sugita S, Shin O, Han W, Lao Y, and Südhof TC: Synaptotagmins form a hierarchy of exocytotic Ca2+
sensors with distinct Ca2+ affinities. The EMBO Journal 21(3):270-280, 2002.
Yin XY, Landay MF, Han W, Levitan ES, Watkins SC Levenson RM, Farkas KL, and Prochownik EV.
Dynamic in vivo interactions among Myc network members. Oncogene 20(34):4650-4664, 2001.
Sugita S, Han W, Butz S, Liu X, Fernandez-Chacon R, Lao Y, and Südhof TC: Synaptotagmin VII as a
plasma membrane Ca2+ sensor in exocytosis. Neuron 30(2):459-473, 2001.
Pearce LL, Gandley RE, Han W, Wasserloos K, Stitt M, Kanai AJ, McLaughlin MK, Pitt BR, and Levitan
ES: Role of Metallothionein in nitric oxide signaling as revealed by a green fluorescent fusion protein.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97(1):477-482, 2000.
Han W, Ng YK, Axelrod D, and Levitan ES: Neuropeptide release by efficient recruitment of diffusing
cytoplasmic secretory vesicles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America 96(25):14577-14582, 1999.
Yin XY, Gupta K, Han W, Levitan ES, and Prochownik EV: Mmip-2, a novel RING finger protein that
interacts with mad members of the Myc oncoprotein network. Oncogene 18(48):6621-6634, 1999.
Han W, Li D, Stout AK, Takimoto K, and Levitan ES: Ca2+-induced deprotonation of peptide hormones
inside secretory vesicles in preparation for release. Journal of Neuroscience 19(3):900-905, 1999.
Burke NA, Takimoto K, Li D, Han W, Watkins SC, and Levitan ES: Distinct Structural requirements for
clustering and immobilization of K+ channels by PSD-95. Journal of General Physiology 113:71-80, 1999.
Vasudevan C, Han W, Tan Y, Nie Y, Li D, Shome K, Watkins SC, Levitan ES and Romero GG: The
distribution and translocation of the G protein ADP-ribosylation factor 1 in live cells is determined by its
GTPase activity. Journal of Cell Science 111:1277-1285, 1998.
Burke NV*, Han W*, Li D, Takimoto K, Watkins SC and Levitan ES: Neuronal peptide release is limited
by secretory granule mobility. Neuron 19(5):1095-1102, 1997. (* contributed equally)
Han W, Barr SC, Pacioretty LM and Gilmour RF Jr.: Restoration of the transient outward potassium current
by noradrenaline in chagasic canine epicardium. Journal of Physiology 500(1):75-83, 1997.
Barr SC, Han W, Andrews NW, Lopez JW, Ball BA, Pannabecker TL and Gilmour RF Jr.: A factor from
Trypanosoma cruzi induces repetitive cytosolic free calcium transients in isolated primary canine cardiac
myocytes. Infection and Immunity 64(5):1770-1777, 1996.
Pacioretty LM, Barr SC, Han W and Gilmour RF Jr.: Reduction of the transient outward potassium current
in a canine model of Chagas’ disease. American Journal of Physiology 268:H1258-1264, 1995.
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