The central goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms of neural cell fate specification and differentiation in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). We are interested in the neural stem cell biology and cell fate specification. Using gliogenesis as a model for neural stem cell differentiation, we have identified a number of regulatory genes important for the formation of neurons and glial cells, the major cell types in the CNS.
Our current projects include: (1) Roles of bHLH Olig1 and Olig2 in regulating CNS development and neuroregeneration (2) Transcriptional and epigenetic control of differentiation of myelinating oligodendroglial cells from embryonic stem cells (3) Identification and characterization of novel transcriptional regulators in neural cell fate specification and disease formation (4) Neuropathic pain mechanisms in mice with myelinating disorders (5) Psychological disorders in glia-dysfunction animals
Wang, S., Dulin, J., Wu, H., Hurlock, E., Lee, S., Jansson, K., and Lu., Q. R., "An Oligodendrocyte-Specific Zinc Finger Transcription Regulator Cooperates With Olig2 To Promote Oligodendrocyte Differentiation" Development, 133(17):3389-98 2006
Yue, T., K. Xian, E. Hurlock, M. Xin, S. G. Kernie, L. F. Parada and Lu, Q. R., "A Critical Role for Dorsal Progenitors in Cortical Myelination" J. Neurosci., 26(4):1275-1280 January 2006
Cai J., Chen Y., Cai WH., Hurlock, EC., Wu H., Kernie, SG., Parada LF., Lu QR., "A Crucial Role For Olig2 In White Matter Astrocyte Development" Development, 134:1887-1899, 2007
Chen Y., Balasubramaniyan V., Peng, J., Hurlock EC., Tallquist M., Li J., Lu QR., "Isolation and Culture of Rat and Mouse Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells" Nature Protocols, 2 (5):1044-51, 2007
Lu, Q. R., Balasubramaniyan, V. and Peru, R.L., "Oligodendrocyte Myelination in the Mammalian CNS" Functional Development and Embryology, 1 (2):117-128, 2007
SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS
Lu QR, Cai L, Rowitch D, Cepko CL, Stiles CD., "Ectopic expression of Olig1 promotes oligodendrocyte formation and reduces neuronal survival in developing mouse cortex" Nat Neurosci., 109(1):75-86, 2001
Lu, Q.R., Yuk, D., Alberta, J.A., Zhu, Z., Pawlitzky, I., Chan, J., McMahon, A. P., Stiles, C. D. and Rowitch, D. H., "Sonic Hedgehog-Regulated Oligodendrocyte Lineage Genes Encoding bHLH Proteins in the Mammalian Central Nervous System." NEURON, 25:317-329, 2000
Lu, Q.R., Sun, T., Zhu, Z., Ma, N., Garcia, M., Stiles, C.D. and Rowitch, D., "Common developmental requirement for Olig function indicates a motor neuron/oligodendrocyte connection." Cell, 109:75-86, 2002
Lu, Q.R., Park, J., Noll, E, Chan, J.A., Alberta, J., Yuk, D., Alzamora, M.G., Louis, DN, Stiles, C.D, Rowitch, DH. and Black, PM., "Oligodendrocyte Lineage Genes (OLIG) as Molecular Markers for Human Glial Brain Tumors." Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 98:10851-10856, 2001
Xin, M., T. Yue, Z. Ma, F. Wu, A. Gow, and Lu, Q. R., "Myelinogenesis and Axonal Recognition by Oligodendrocytes in Brain are Uncoupled in Olig1-null Mice" J. of Neurosci., Vol. 25:1354-1366, 2005
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