Dr Liping Liu

Liping Liu is a postdoctoral research fellow in Prof David Fairlie’s group (IMB, UQ). Through many years of research, she has developed a deep understanding of cell biology, inflammation, and anti-cancer therapy. Her expertise extends to a diverse range of techniques, including microscopy, flow cytometry, molecular cloning, protein production, gene-silencing, animal testing, and more.

MAIN RESEARCH:

1. Understanding cell uptake of small cyclic cell-penetrating peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short peptides capable of translocating themselves or linked drug cargos into cells through the plasma membrane, thus having huge potential in the treatment of multiple diseases. However, the key structures that drives cell permeability and the mechanisms by which CPPs enter cells has not been completely understood. As a postdoctoral researcher, I am working on this specific area, mainly focusing on endocytic pathways and endosomal escape. The findings might help to design CPPs that possess enhanced drug delivery capacity.

2. PROTAC compounds targeting GPCRs for use in cancer therapeutics

Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology holds promise in modulating disease-linked protein levels and addressing the 'undruggable' proteome. Unlike inhibitors, PROTACs not only inhibit enzymatic function but also disrupt scaffolding roles of target proteins. While PROTACs have shown extensive success with kinases and nuclear factors, targeting membrane-associated proteins poses a challenge due to their cellular localization. Collaborating with our chemistry team, who develop novel GPCR-targeting PROTACs, I conduct cellular assays to assess the anti-cancer potential of these compounds.