Dali Liu
Loyola University Chicago, IL·Biochemistry
GABA is the main chemical signal neurons use to quiet one another in the brain, and problems with GABA signaling are linked to depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and autism. Studying these signals requires tools that can follow changes in GABA levels in real time.
- Fields
Biochemistry
Neuroscience
Chemistry
- Topics
gamma-aminobutyric acid
biosensors
fluorescent sensors
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Aug 2028
What they work on
- Improve the stability and sensitivity of genetically encoded GABA sensors built from the bacterial regulator GabR, using the natural fluorescence of its bound PLP (a vitamin B6–derived cofactor) and FRET signals excited from PLP.
- Optimize semisynthetic GabR sensors that are chemically labeled with dyes, tuning their colors and response speed for deep-tissue imaging and real-time GABA detection.
- Apply the new GABA sensors to monitor changing GABA levels in live cells, brain slices and in vitro assays.
More about the research
This project aims to build such tools from an unusual source: GabR, a bacterial protein that controls which genes are switched on.
Why it matters
Reliable real-time GABA sensors could help scientists study the brain's inhibitory signaling in conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and autism. They could also be used in drug discovery to screen compounds that change GABA levels, and could eventually support research on living animals in neuropharmacology.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
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The school
Loyola University Chicago: 8 labs on PI Pages, $61M a year on research, 156 research doctorates a year.
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