Research Interests

Biology: My general research interests center on understanding signal transduction mechanisms, in particular related to calcium and phosphoinositides. Examples are quantitative experimental and modeling studies of signaling networks in neuronal cells, such as the nonlinear response and spatial modulation of calcium signaling, and the regulation of IP3 receptor activity.

Computer Science: My general interest is focused on the design and development of computational cell biology software tools geared towards the biologist, non-mathematical expert, user. I have been involved since 1998 in theVirtual Cell project, and I am currently responsible for the design and development of the biological user interface and data export and analysis tools. Another recent project, in collaboration with Bill Mohler, is automated and/or interactive processing and VR visualization of 4D fluorescence microscopy data (gene expression during C. elegans embryonic development).

I oversee our Computational Facility, which provides High Performance Computing support to the National Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, the Technology Center for Polarity in Networks and Pathways, the CCAM Microscopy Facility, and other research projects of individual CCAM faculty members.

Honors

1981 First Prize, International Mathematical Competition (Germany)

1981 Third Prize, International Mathematical Olympiad (USA)

1985-88 National Scholarship (Romania)

1986 Senate Award, National Conference on Student Medical Research (Davila University)

1988 Mariana Constantinescu Memorial Award for Medical Excellence (Davila University)

1991-93 John E. Fogarty Research Fellowship (NIH)

1996 Young Investigator Award, Scientific Conference on the Molecular Biology of the Normal, Hypertrophied, and Failing Heart (AHA)

Selected Publications

L.M. Popescu, M. Popescu, and I.I. Moraru. Phospholipase C contracts visceral smooth muscle. Europ. J. Pharmacol. (1986) 131, 149-52.

I.I. Moraru, L.M. Popescu, C. Vidulescu, and C. Tzigaret. Antibodies against phospholipase C inhibit smooth muscle contraction induced by acetylcholine and histamine. Europ J. Pharmacol. (1987) 138, 427-431.

I.I. Moraru, L. Ciotaru, M. Manciulea, M. Isac, C. Tzigaret, and L.M. Popescu. Phospholipase C is a transmembrane protein: immunocytochemical evidence. Acta Histochem. Cytochem. (1988) 21, 481-488.

L.M. Popescu, C. Cernescu, I.I. Moraru, S.N. Constantinescu, F. Baltã, M. Manciulea, E. Brãiloiu, and L. Buzilã. Cell-membrane phospholipase C is involved in inducing the antiviral effect of interferon. Biosci. Rep. (1989) 9, 531-539.

I.I. Moraru, M. Laky, T. Stãnescu, and L.M. Popescu. Protein kinase C controls Fc receptor-mediated endocytosis in human neutrophils. FEBS Lett. (1990) 274, 93-95.

M.R. Prasad, L.M. Popescu, I.I. Moraru, X. Liu, S. Maity, R.M. Engelman, and D.K. Das. Role of phospholipases A2 and C in myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury, Am. J. Physiol. (1991) 260, H877-H883.

X. Liu, R.M. Engelman, I.I. Moraru, J.A. Rousou, J.E. Flack III, D.W. Deaton, N. Maulik, and D.K. Das. Heat shock: a new approach for myocardial preservation in cardiac surgery, Circulation (1992) 86, II258-II363.

I.I. Moraru, L.M. Popescu, N. Maulik, X. Liu, and D.K. Das. Phospholipase D signaling in ischemic heart. Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1992) 1139, 148-154.

D. Lu, N. Maulik, I.I. Moraru, D.L. Kreutzer, and D.K. Das. Molecular adaptation of vascular endothelial cells to oxidative stress, Amer. J. Physiol. (1993) 264, C715-C722.

I.I. Moraru, L.M. Popescu, X. Liu, R.M. Engelman, and D.K. Das. Role of phospholipase A2, C, and D activities during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (1994) 723, 328-332.

D. Benevolensky, I.I. Moraru, and J. Watras. Micromolar calcium reduces affinity of inositol trisphosphate receptor in vascular smooth muscle. Biochem. J. (1994) 299, 631-636.

J. Watras, I.I. Moraru, D.J. Costa, and L.A. Kindman. Two inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding sites in rat basophilic leukemia cells: relationship between receptor occupancy and calcium release, Biochemistry (1994), 33, 14359-14367.

D.K. Das, N. Maulik, and I.I. Moraru. Myocardial gene expression after acute injury. Response to ischemia, hypoxia, hyperthermia, and oxidative stress, J. Molec. Cell. Cardiol. (1995), 27, 181-193.

I.I. Moraru, D.T. Engelman, R.M. Engelman, J.A. Rousou, J.E. Flack III, D.W. Deaton, D.K. Das. Myocardial ischemia triggers rapid expression of mitochondrial genes, Surg. Forum (1995), 40, 315-317.

I.I. Moraru, R.M. Jones, L.M. Popescu, R.M. Engelman, and D.K. Das. Prazosin reduces myocardial ischemia/re¬perfu¬sion-induced Ca2+ overloading in rat heart by inhibiting phosphoinositide signaling, Biochem. Biophys. Acta (1995), 1268, 1-8.

I.I. Moraru, S. Syrbu, K. Michaels, D.H. Kim, D. Malchoff, J. Watras. Pressure overload induces overexpression o annexins II and V in aortic-banded rats, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (1998), 853, 329-332.

I.I. Moraru, S. Syrbu, N. Zecevic, W.D. Hager, J. Watras, F. Messineo. An antibody to annexin V blocks Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in human failing hearts, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (1998), 853, 333-337.

I.I. Moraru, E.J. Kaftan, B.E. Ehrlich, J. Watras. Regulation of type 1 InsP3-gated calcium channels by InsP3 and calcium: simulation of single channel kinetics based on ligand binding and electrophysiological analysis, J. Gen. Physiol. (1999), 113, 837-849.

C.C. Fink, B. Slepchenko, I.I. Moraru, J. Schaff, J. Watras, and L.M. Loew: Morphological control of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signals, J. Cell Biol. (1999) 147, 929-935.

J. Watras, R. Orlando, and I.I. Moraru: An endogenous sulfated inhibitor of neuronal inositol trisphosphate receptors, Biochemistry (2000) 39, 3452-3460.

C.C. Fink, B. Slepchenko, I.I. Moraru, J. Watras, J.C. Schaff, and L.M. Loew: An image-based model of calcium waves in differentiated neuroblastoma cells, Biophys. J. (2000) 79, 163-183.

C.A. Mannella, D.R. Pfeiffer, P.C. Bradshaw, I.I. Moraru, B. Slepchenko, L.M. Loew, C.E. Hsieh, K. Buttle, and M. Marko. Topology of the mitochondrial inner membrane: dynamics and bioenergetic implications, IUBMB Life (2001) 52:93-100.

I.I. Moraru, J.C. Schaff, B.M. Slepchenko, and L.M. Loew. The Virtual Cell: An Integrated Modeling Environment for Experimental and Computational Cell Biology, Ann. NY Acad. Sci. (2002) 971: 589-594.

J. Wagner, C.P.Fall, F. Hong, C.E. Sims, N.L. Allbritton, R.A. Fontanilla, I.I. Moraru, L.M. Loew, and R. Nuccitelli. Wave of IP3 production accompanies the fertilization Ca2+ wave in the egg of the frog, Xenopus laevis: theoretical and experimental support, Cell Calcium (2004) 35:433-447.

I.I. Moraru and L.M. Loew. Intracellular signaling: Spatial and Temporal Control, Physiology (2005) 20, 169-179.