Prof. Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México visited IHB on May 24, 2019. 

Prof. Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre is a famous reproductive endocrinologist and academician of Academia Mexicana de Ciencia working at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Prof. Yaxiong Tao is a famous physiologist from department of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, Auburn University, USA. They paid a visit to Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of Chinese Academy of Sciences on May 24, 2019. During their visit, they gave two academic lectures with the title of “Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor misfolding and disease” and “Monogenic obesity: Towards personalized medicine”.   

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is the most important neuropeptide involving reproductive activities regulation in vertebrate. The deficiency of gonadotropin releasing hormone or misfolding of its receptor leads to human diseases such as reproductive defects. Prof. Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre discovered multiple mutation sites in human GnRH receptor and revealed the mechanism of protein misfolding. A variety of small molecule drugs have been developed to correct the wrong folding of GnRH receptor. These founding is expected to provide effective treatment for human reproductive diseases.   

Obesity is becoming a serious threat to human health. Melanocortin signaling plays an important role in regulating energy metabolism and fat deposition. Since 2003, Prof. Yaxiong Tao has conducted systematic studies on the molecular structure of melanocortin receptors (MC3R and MC4R) and how they affect fat deposition in human. Chemical components were used to induce maturation of melanocortin receptors which have defect in some sites. It will be used in treatment of obesity caused by melanocortin receptors defect.    

Both Prof. Alfredo and Prof. Tao are internationally renowned biologist. Their visiting to IHB promoted academic communication and established closer international cooperation relationship in the field of endocrinology. 

   
Prof. Yaxiong Tao from Auburn University visited IHB on May 24, 2019.