ศ.ดร.วิภาวี หีบแก้ว

Our research group is currently focused on investigating essential biomolecules, including diacylglycerol kinase and fatty acid binding protein (both involved in lipid signaling), vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (involved in GABA and glycine production/release), cannabinoid receptor 1 (a retrograde messenger receptor), and an exchange factor for ADP ribosylation factor 6 (a key molecule in membrane dynamics) in various peripheral organs. These organs include the salivary gland, kidney, ovary, cardiac muscle, striated muscle, peripheral ganglionic supporting cells, and steroidogenic tissues. We specifically examine the expression and localization of these molecules using a range of advanced techniques, such as immunolight microscopy (immune-LM), immuno-DAB transmission electron microscopy (immune-DAB-TEM), immunonanogold-TEM, western blotting, correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), and array tomography with 3D reconstruction. The findings from this research are expected to be critical in further elucidating the functions of each organ and will provide an important foundation for clinically applied research.