Email

twensel@bcm.edu

Positions

The Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry

Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States

Addresses

Wensel Lab (Office)

N430/N403 Alkek Bldg.
Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-6994
twensel@bcm.edu

Education

Postdoctoral from Stanford University

02/1988 - Stanford, California, United States

Biophysical Chemistry, Time-resolved fluorescence

Ph.D. from University Of California, Davis

08/1984 - Davis, California, United States

Physical Chemistry

Websites

Selected Publications

• Dosey TL, Wang Z, Fan G, Zhang Z, Serysheva II, Chiu W, Wensel TG. " Structures of TRPV2 in distinct conformations provide insight into role of the pore turret " Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2019 Jan ; 26 (1) : 40-49.
  Pubmed PMID: 30598551.
• Dharmat R, Eblimit A, Robichaux MA, Zhang Z, Nguyen TT, Jung SY, He F, Jain A, Li Y, Qin J, Overbeek P, Roepman R, Mardon G, Wensel TG, Chen R. " SPATA7 maintains a novel photoreceptor-specific zone in the distal connecting cilium " J Cell Biol. 2018 Aug ; 217 : 2851-2865.
  Pubmed PMID: 29899041.
• Agosto MA, Anastassov IA, Wensel TG.. " Differential epitope masking reveals synapse-specific complexes of TRPM1. " Vis Neurosci. 2018 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 29370879.
• Yu B, Egbejimi A, Dharmat R, Xu P, Zhao Z, Long B, Miao H, Chen R, Wensel TG, Cai J, Chen Y.. " Phagocytosed photoreceptor outer segments activate mTORC1 in the retinal pigment epithelium. " Sci Signal. 2018 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 29844054.
• Galaz-Montoya M, Wright SJ, Rodriguez GJ, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG.. " β2-Adrenergic receptor activation mobilizes intracellular calcium via a non-canonical cAMP-independent signaling pathway. " J Biol Chem. 2017 ; 292 (24) : 9967-9974.
  Pubmed PMID: 28442571.
• He F, Agosto MA, Anastassov IA, Tse DY, Wu SM, Wensel TG. " Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate is light-regulated and essential for survival in retinal rods. " Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 1; 6 : 26978.
  Pubmed PMID: 27245220.
• Wensel TG, Zhang Z, Anastassov IA, Gilliam JC, He F, Schmid MF, Robichaux MA.. " Structural and molecular bases of rod photoreceptor morphogenesis and disease. " Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016 Jun 22; in press.
  Pubmed PMID: 27352937.
• Sung YM, Wilkins AD, Rodriguez GJ, Wensel TG, Lichtarge O. " Intramolecular allosteric communication in dopamine D2 receptor revealed by evolutionary amino acid covariation. " Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.. 2016 Mar 29; 113 (13) : 3539-44.
  Pubmed PMID: 26979958.
• Zhang Z, He F, Constantine R, Baker ML, Baehr W, Schmid MF, Wensel TG, Agosto MA.. " Domain organization and conformational plasticity of the G protein effector, PDE6. " J Biol Chem. 2015 May 15; 290 (20) : 12833-43.
  Pubmed PMID: 25809480.
• Kang HJ, Wilkins AD, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG. " Determinants of endogenous ligand specificity divergence among metabotropic glutamate receptors. " J Biol Chem. 2015 Jan ; 290 (5) : 2870-2878.
  Pubmed PMID: 25519912.
• Kang HJ, Menlove K, Ma J, Wilkins A, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG. " Selectivity and Evolutionary Divergence of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors for Endogenous Ligands and G Proteins Coupled to Phospholipase C or TRP Channels " J Biol Chem. 2014 Sep 5; M114.574483.
  Pubmed PMID: 25193666.
• Agosto MA, Zhang Z, He F, Anastassov IA, Wright SJ, McGehee J, Wensel TG. " Oligomeric State of Purified TRPM1, a Protein Essential for Dim Light Vision " J Biol Chem. 2014 Aug 11; M114.593780.
  Pubmed PMID: 25112866.
• Wang S, Tan KL, Agosto MA, Xiong B, Yamamoto S, Sandoval H, Jaiswal M, Bayat V, Zhang K, Charng WL, David G, Duraine L, Venkatachalam K, Wensel TG, Bellen HJ. " The retromer complex is required for rhodopsin recycling and its loss leads to photoreceptor degeneration " PLoS Biol. 2014 Apr 29; 12 (4) : e1001847.
  Pubmed PMID: 24781186.
• Sandoval IM, Price BA, Gross AK, Chan F, Sammons JD, Wilson JH, Wensel TG. " Abrupt Onset of Mutations in a Developmentally Regulated Gene during Terminal Differentiation of Post-Mitotic Photoreceptor Neurons " PLoS One. 2014 ; 9 (9) : e10835.
  Pubmed PMID: 25264759.
• Arshavsky VY, Wensel TG.. " Timing is everything: GTPase regulation in phototransduction. " Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2013 Nov 21; 54 (12) : 7725-33.
  Pubmed PMID: 24265205.
• Gilliam JC, Chang JT, Sandoval IM, Zhang Y, Li T, Pittler SJ, Chiu W, Wensel TG. " Three-dimensional architecture of the rod sensory cilium and its disruption in retinal neurodegeneration. " Cell. 2012 Nov 21; 151 (5) : 1029-41.
  Pubmed PMID: 23178122.
• Price BA, Sandoval IM, Chan F, Nichols R, Roman-Sanchez R, Wensel TG, Wilson JH. " Rhodopsin gene expression determines rod outer segment size and rod cell resistance to a dominant-negative neurodegeneration mutant. " PLoS ONE. 2012 ; 7 (11) : e49889.
  Pubmed PMID: 23185477.
• Price BA, Sandoval IM, Chan F, Simons DL, Wu SM, Wensel TG, Wilson JH. " Mislocalization and Degradation of Human P23H-Rhodopsin-GFP in a Knockin Mouse Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa. " Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2011 Dec ; 52 (13) : 9728-36.
  Pubmed PMID: 22110080.
• Gilliam JC, Wensel TG. " TRP channel gene expression in the mouse retina. " Vision Res.. 2011 Dec 8; 51 (23) : 2440-52.
  Pubmed PMID: 22037305.
• Chan F, Hauswirth WW, Wensel TG, Wilson JH. " Efficient mutagenesis of the rhodopsin gene in rod photoreceptor neurons in mice. " Nucleic Acids Res.. 2011 Aug 1; 39 (14) : 5955-66.
  Pubmed PMID: 21478169.
• Baehr W, Wensel T, Hageman G, Wu S, Zack D. " Retinal ganglion cells: Development, function, and disease. " Vision Res.. 2011 Jan 28; 51 (2) : 223.
  Pubmed PMID: 21251506.
• Moiseenkova-Bell V, Wensel TG. " Functional and Structural Studies of TRP Channels Heterologously Expressed in Budding Yeast. " Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.. 2011 ; 704 : 25-40.
  Pubmed PMID: 21290288.
• Mojumder DK, Concepcion FA, Patel SK, Barkmeier AJ, Carvounis PE, Wilson JH, Holz ER, Wensel TG. " Evaluating retinal toxicity of intravitreal caspofungin in the mouse eye. " Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2010 Nov ; 51 (11) : 5796-803.
  Pubmed PMID: 20505203.
• Rodriguez GJ, Yao R, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG. " Evolution-guided discovery and recoding of allosteric pathway specificity determinants in psychoactive bioamine receptors. " Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2010 Apr 27; 107 (17) : 7787-92.
  Pubmed PMID: 20385837.
• Budzynski E, Gross AK, McAlear SD, Peachey NS, Shukla M, He F, Edwards M, Won J, Hicks WL, Wensel TG, Naggert JK, Nishina PM. " Mutations of the opsin gene (Y102H and I307N) lead to light-induced degeneration of photoreceptors and constitutive activation of phototransduction in mice. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2010 May 7; 285 (19) : 14521-33.
  Pubmed PMID: 20207741.
• Jeffrey BG, Morgans CW, Puthussery T, Wensel TG, Burke NS, Brown RL, Duvoisin RM. " R9AP stabilizes RGS11-G beta5 and accelerates the early light response of ON-bipolar cells. " Vis. Neurosci.. 2010 Mar ; 27 (1) : 9-17.
  Pubmed PMID: 20100392.
• Mancuso JJ, Qian Y, Long C, Wu GY, Wensel TG. " Distribution of RGS9-2 in neurons of the mouse striatum. " J. Neurochem.. 2010 Feb ; 112 (3) : 651-61.
  Pubmed PMID: 19912469.
• Yao CK, Lin YQ, Ly CV, Ohyama T, Haueter CM, Moiseenkova-Bell VY, Wensel TG, Bellen HJ. " A synaptic vesicle-associated Ca2+ channel promotes endocytosis and couples exocytosis to endocytosis. " Cell. 2009 Sep 4; 138 (5) : 947-60.
  Pubmed PMID: 19737521.
• Mojumder DK, Wensel TG. " Topical mydriatics affect light-evoked retinal responses in anesthetized mice. " Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.. 2010 Jan ; 51 (1) : 567-76.
  Pubmed PMID: 19661232.
• Mojumder DK, Qian Y, Wensel TG. " Two R7 regulator of G-protein signaling proteins shape retinal bipolar cell signaling. " J. Neurosci.. 2009 Jun 17; 29 (24) : 7753-65.
  Pubmed PMID: 19535587.
• Mancuso JJ, Larson AM, Wensel TG, Saggau P. " Multiphoton adaptation of a commercial low-cost confocal microscope for live tissue imaging. " J Biomed Opt. 2009 May ; 14 (3) : 34048.
  Pubmed PMID: 19566340.
• Wensel TG. " Signal transducing membrane complexes of photoreceptor outer segments. " Vision Res.. 2008 Sep ; 48 (20) : 2052-61.
  Pubmed PMID: 18456304.
• Chen CK, Burns ME, He W, Wensel TG, Baylor DA, Simon MI. " Slowed recovery of rod photoresponse in mice lacking the GTPase accelerating protein RGS9-1. " Nature. 2000 Feb 3; 403 (6769) : 557-60.
  Pubmed PMID: 10676965.
• He W, Cowan CW, Wensel TG. " RGS9, a GTPase accelerator for phototransduction. " Neuron. 1998 Jan ; 20 (1) : 95-102.
  Pubmed PMID: 9459445.
• Wensel TG, Gross AK, Chan F, Sykoudis K, Wilson JH. " Rhodopsin-EGFP knock-ins for imaging quantal gene alterations. " Vision Res.. 2005 Dec ; 45 (28) : 3445-53.
  Pubmed PMID: 16139321.
• Angleson JK, Wensel TG. " A GTPase-accelerating factor for transducin, distinct from its effector cGMP phosphodiesterase, in rod outer segment membranes " Neuron. 1993 Nov ; 11 (5) : 939-49.
  Pubmed PMID: 8240815.
• Melia TJ, Cowan CW, Angleson JK, Wensel TG. " A comparison of the efficiency of G protein activation by ligand-free and light-activated forms of rhodopsin " Biophys. J.. 1997 Dec ; 73 (6) : 3182-91.
  Pubmed PMID: 9414230.
• Sowa ME, He W, Wensel TG, Lichtarge O. " A regulator of G protein signaling interaction surface linked to effector specificity. " Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2000 Feb 15; 97 (4) : 1483-8.
  Pubmed PMID: 10677488.
• Wang Q, Zhang X, Zhang L, He F, Zhang G, Jamrich M, Wensel TG. " Activation-dependent hindrance of photoreceptor G protein diffusion by lipid microdomains. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2008 Oct 31; 283 (44) : 30015-24.
  Pubmed PMID: 18713731.
• Hu G, Wensel TG. " Characterization of R9AP, a membrane anchor for the photoreceptor GTPase-accelerating protein, RGS9-1. " Meth. Enzymol.. 2004 ; 390 : 178-96.
  Pubmed PMID: 15488178.
• Hu G, Zhang Z, Wensel TG. " Activation of RGS9-1GTPase acceleration by its membrane anchor, R9AP. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2003 Apr 18; 278 (16) : 14550-4.
  Pubmed PMID: 12560335.
• Melia TJ, Malinski JA, He F, Wensel TG. " Enhancement of phototransduction protein interactions by lipid surfaces. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2000 Feb 4; 275 (5) : 3535-42.
  Pubmed PMID: 10652348.
• Zhang X, Wensel TG, Kraft TW. " GTPase regulators and photoresponses in cones of the eastern chipmunk. " J. Neurosci.. 2003 Feb 15; 23 (4) : 1287-97.
  Pubmed PMID: 12598617.
• Cowan CW, Fariss RN, Sokal I, Palczewski K, Wensel TG. " High expression levels in cones of RGS9, the predominant GTPase accelerating protein of rods. " Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 1998 Apr 28; 95 (9) : 5351-6.
  Pubmed PMID: 9560279.
• Malinski JA, Zera EM, Angleson JK, Wensel TG. " High affinity interactions of GTPgammaS with the heterotrimeric G protein, transducin. Evidence at high and low protein concentrations. " J. Biol. Chem.. 1996 May 31; 271 (22) : 12919-24.
  Pubmed PMID: 8662740.
• Zhang Z, Melia TJ, He F, Yuan C, McGough A, Schmid MF, Wensel TG. " How a G protein binds a membrane. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2004 Aug 6; 279 (32) : 33937-45.
  Pubmed PMID: 15173184.
• Zera EM, Molloy DP, Angleson JK, Lamture JB, Wensel TG, Malinski JA. " Low affinity interactions of GDPbetaS and ribose- or phosphoryl-substituted GTP analogues with the heterotrimeric G protein, transducin. " J. Biol. Chem.. 1996 May 31; 271 (22) : 12925-31.
  Pubmed PMID: 8662741.
• Malinski JA, Wensel TG. " Membrane stimulation of cGMP phosphodiesterase activation by transducin: comparison of phospholipid bilayers to rod outer segment membranes. " Biochemistry. 1992 Oct 6; 31 (39) : 9502-12.
  Pubmed PMID: 1327116.
• He F, Seryshev AB, Cowan CW, Wensel TG. " Multiple zinc binding sites in retinal rod cGMP phosphodiesterase, PDE6alpha beta. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2000 Jul 7; 275 (27) : 20572-7.
  Pubmed PMID: 10787404.
• Ramdas L, Disher RM, Wensel TG. " Nucleotide exchange and cGMP phosphodiesterase activation by pertussis toxin inactivated transducin. " Biochemistry. 1991 Dec 17; 30 (50) : 11637-45.
  Pubmed PMID: 1661143.
• Sowa ME, He W, Slep KC, Kercher MA, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG. " Prediction and confirmation of a site critical for effector regulation of RGS domain activity. " Nat. Struct. Biol.. 2001 Mar ; 8 (3) : 234-7.
  Pubmed PMID: 11224568.
• Hu G, Wensel TG. " R9AP, a membrane anchor for the photoreceptor GTPase accelerating protein, RGS9-1. " Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2002 Jul 23; 99 (15) : 9755-60.
  Pubmed PMID: 12119397.
• Krispel CM, Chen D, Melling N, Chen YJ, Martemyanov KA, Quillinan N, Arshavsky VY, Wensel TG, Chen CK, Burns ME. " RGS expression rate-limits recovery of rod photoresponses. " Neuron. 2006 Aug 17; 51 (4) : 409-16.
  Pubmed PMID: 16908407.
• Lyubarsky AL, Naarendorp F, Zhang X, Wensel T, Simon MI, Pugh EN. " RGS9-1 is required for normal inactivation of mouse cone phototransduction. " Mol. Vis.. 2001 Mar 20; 7 : 71-8.
  Pubmed PMID: 11262419.
• Slep KC, Kercher MA, He W, Cowan CW, Wensel TG, Sigler PB. " Structural determinants for regulation of phosphodiesterase by a G protein at 2.0 A. " Nature. 2001 Feb 22; 409 (6823) : 1071-7.
  Pubmed PMID: 11234020.
• Moiseenkova-Bell VY, Stanciu LA, Serysheva II, Tobe BJ, Wensel TG. " Structure of TRPV1 channel revealed by electron cryomicroscopy. " Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2008 May 27; 105 (21) : 7451-5.
  Pubmed PMID: 18490661.
• Wensel TG, He F, Malinski JA. " Purification, reconstitution on lipid vesicles, and assays of PDE6 and its activator G protein, transducin. " Methods Mol. Biol.. 2005 ; 307 : 289-313.
  Pubmed PMID: 15988071.
• Madabushi S, Gross AK, Philippi A, Meng EC, Wensel TG, Lichtarge O. " Evolutionary trace of G protein-coupled receptors reveals clusters of residues that determine global and class-specific functions. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2004 Feb 27; 279 (9) : 8126-32.
  Pubmed PMID: 14660595.
• Angleson JK, Wensel TG. " Enhancement of rod outer segment GTPase accelerating protein activity by the inhibitory subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase. " J. Biol. Chem.. 1994 Jun 10; 269 (23) : 16290-6.
  Pubmed PMID: 8206935.
• He F, Mao M, Wensel TG. " Enhancement of phototransduction g protein-effector interactions by phosphoinositides. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2004 Mar 5; 279 (10) : 8986-90.
  Pubmed PMID: 14699118.
• Dharmat R, Eblimit A, Robichaux MA, Zhang Z, Nguyen TT, Jung SY, He F, Jain A, Li Y, Qin J, Overbeek P, Roepman R, Mardon G, Wensel TG, Chen R.. " SPATA7 maintains a novel photoreceptor-specific zone in the distal connecting cilium " J Cell Biol. 2018 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 29899041.
• He F, Nichols RM, Kailasam L, Wensel TG, Agosto MA. " Critical Role for Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Vps34/PIK3C3 in ON-Bipolar Cells " Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019 Jul ; 60 (8) : 2861-2874.
  Pubmed PMID: 31260037.
• Agosto MA, Anastassov IA, Robichaux MA, Wensel TG. " A Large Endoplasmic Reticulum-Resident Pool of TRPM1 in Retinal ON-Bipolar Cells " eNeuro. 2018 ; 10.1523/ENEURO.0143-18.2018 [doi].
  Pubmed PMID: 30027108.
• Agosto, M.A., Wensel, T.G.. " LRRTM4 is a member of the transsynaptic complex between rod photoreceptors and bipolar cells " J. Comp. Neurol.. 2020 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 32390181.
• Go YM, Zhang J, Fernandes J, Litwin C, Chen R, Wensel TG, Jones DP, Cai J, Chen Y.. " MTOR-initiated metabolic switch and degeneration in the retinal pigment epithelium " FASEB J.. 2020 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 32721041.
• Wensel, T. G.. " Phosphoinositides in Retinal Function and Disease " Cells. 2020 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 32252387.
• Terrón-Díaz ME, Wright SJ, Agosto MA, Lichtarge O, Wensel TG.. " Residues and residue pairs of evolutionary importance differentially direct signaling bias of D2 dopamine receptors. " J. Biol. Chem.. 2019 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 31676688.
• Tang J, Robichaux MA, Wu KL, Pei J, Nguyen NT, Zhou Y, Wensel TG, Xiao H.. " Single-Atom Fluorescence Switch: A General Approach toward Visible-Light-Activated Dyes for Biological Imaging. " J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 2019 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 31450884.
• Huh E, Agosto MA, Wensel TG, Lichtarge O.. " Coevolutionary signals in metabotropic glutamate receptors capture residue contacts and long-range functional interactions " J Biol Chem.. 2033 Feb 17; 299 (4) : 103030.
  Pubmed PMID: 36806686.
• Salinas SA, et al.. " An ELF4 hypomorphic variant results in NK cell deficiency. " JCI Insight. 2022 ; 7 (223) : e155481.
  Pubmed PMID: 36477361.
• Robichaux MA, Nguyen V, Chan F, Kailasam L, He F, Wilson JH, Wensel TG.. " Subcellular localization of mutant P23H rhodopsin in an RFP fusion knock-in mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. " Dis Model Mech.. 2022 ;
  Pubmed PMID: 35275162.
• Potter VL, Moye AR, Robichaux MA, Wensel TG.. " Super-resolution microscopy reveals photoreceptor-specific subciliary location and function of ciliopathy-associated protein CEP290 " JCI Insight. 2021 ; 6 (20) : e145256.
  Pubmed PMID: 34520396.
• Rajala A, He F, Anderson RE, Wensel TG, Rajala RVS.. " Loss of Class III Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Vps34 Results in Cone Degeneration. " Biology (Basel). 2020 ; 9 (11) : 12502-12520.
  Pubmed PMID: 33171845.
• Huh E, Gallion J, Agosto MA, Wright SJ, Wensel TG, Lichtarge O.. " Recurrent high-impact mutations at cognate structural positions in class A G protein-coupled receptors expressed in tumors. " Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 ; 118 (51) : e2113373118.
  Pubmed PMID: 34916293.
• Agosto MA, Adeosun AAR, Kumar N, Wensel TG.. " The mGluR6 ligand-binding domain, but not the C-terminal domain, is required for synaptic localization in retinal ON-bipolar cells. " J Biol Chem.. 2021 ; 297 (6) : 101418.
  Pubmed PMID: 34793838.

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