Project 1: function
and action mechanism of PITX2 in development and disease
Pituitary homeobox 2
(PITX2), a Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor and a known
downstream effector of β-catenin signaling, has been shown to play
substantial roles in the development of multiple
organs, including the heart, lung, eye, tooth, and pituitary gland.
Nonetheless, the mechanism by which PITX2 influences cell cycle progression
and cell fate specification remains to be defined. Cell culture, transfection, gene
silence, among other traditional techniques in molecular and cellular
biology, are employed in this research.
Project 2: molecular
mechanisms of gametogenesis
Mammalian
gametogenesis is a highly ordered, precisely orchestrated developmental
process in which germ cells undergo self-renewal, apoptosis, proliferation
and differentiation. The final products of this process are functional
gamete cells, sperm and egg. We utilize a broad spectrum of approaches in
this research, such as gene knockout and microscopic imaging.
The genes we are looking at now are Ptchd3, Pten
and Ptip.
Project 3: molecular mechanisms of sperm-egg
membrane binding and fusion
At a critical moment
of mammalian fertilization, the plasma membranes of sperm and egg bind and
fuse together to initiate the development of a new organism. The molecular
mechanisms underlying this fascinating process, however, are still elusive.
For this study , we employ a variety of approaches
in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and
pharmacology, e.g., in vitro fertilization assay,
microinjection and RNA interference.
Project 4: stem
cell proteins PIWILs in human cancer
Stem cells are immature, unspecialized
cells that are capable of renewing themselves and of undergoing
differentiation into one or more specialized cell
types. There are diverse types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells, adult
stem cells, germ-line stem cells, and cancer stem cells. Piwi family proteins are mainly expressed in germ-line
stem cells, and thus are considered as stem cell proteins. It is thought
that some human cancers are derived from cancer stem cells and, therefore,
may express one or more stem cell proteins. We have recently initiated a
study to evaluate Piwi-like (PIWIL) proteins as
potential human cancer biomarkers.
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