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Qing Richard Lu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department Developmental Biology
Eugene Mc Dermott Scholar in Biomedical Research, UT Southwestern

Personal Overview

Office: (214) 648-7410
FAX: (214) 648-7343
Building NB, Room 5.110
Email:QRichard.Lu@UTSouthwestern.edu

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 neural fate specification and neuroregeneration in the CNS

(2) Transcriptional and epigenetic control of differentiation in 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

Award & Honors:

Eugene Mc Dermott Scholar in Biomedical Research, UT Southwestern
Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar
Basil O Conner Scholar

Selected Publications:

1. Lu, QR, Sun, T., Zhu, Z., Ma, N., Garcia, M., Stiles, CD and Rowitch, D. (2002) " Common developmental requirement for Olig function indicates a motor neuron/oligodendrocyte connection " CELL, 109, 75-86.

2. Lu, QR, Cai, L., Rowitch, D., Cepko, CL. and Stiles, CD. (2001) "Ectopic Expression of Olig1 Promotes Oligodendrocyte Formation and reduces Neuronal Survival in Developing Mouse Cortex" Nature Neuroscience., 4, 973-974.

3. Lu, QR, Park, J., Noll, E, Chan, JA, Alberta, J., Yuk, D., Alzamora, MG, Louis, DN, Stiles, CD, Rowitch, DH. and Black, PM. (2001) "Oligodendrocyte Lineage Genes (OLIG) as Molecular Markers for Human Glial Brain Tumors". Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA , 98, 10851-10856.

4. Lu, QR, Yuk, D., Alberta, JA., Zhu, Z., Pawlitzky, I., Chan, J., McMahon, AP., Stiles, CD. and Rowitch, DH. (2000) “Sonic Hedgehog–Regulated Oligodendrocyte Lineage Genes Encoding bHLH Proteins in the Mammalian Central Nervous System” NEURON, 25, 317–329

5. Xin, M., T. Yue, Z. Ma, F. Wu, A. Gow, and Lu, QR. (2005) "Myelinogenesis and axonal
recognition by oligodendrocytes in brain are uncoupled in Olig1-null mice." J. Neurosci,
25,1354-1366.

6. Yue, T., Xian, K., Hurlock, E., Xin, M., Kernie, S., Parada, L.F. and Lu, QR (2006). “A
Critical Role of Dorsal Progenitors for Cortical Myelination". J. of Neurosci., 26(4). 1275-1280.

7. Wang, S., Dulin, J., Wu, H., Hurlock, E., Lee, S., Jansson, K., and Lu, QR. (2006). "An
Oligodendrocyte-Specific Zinc Finger Transcription Regulator Cooperates With Olig2 To
Promote Oligodendrocyte Differentiation" Development, 2006;133(17):3389-98.

8. Cai, J., Chen Y., Cai, W., Hurlock, E., Wu, H., Kernie, S. G., Parada L. F. and Lu, QR.
(2007). " A Crucial Role For Olig2 In White Matter Astrocyte Development" Development,
134, 1887-1899 (2007).

9. Chen, Y., V. Balasubramaniyan, M. Tallquist, J. Li and Lu, QR (2007) Isolation and Culture of Rat and Mouse Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells. Nature Protocols, 2, 1044-1051, 2007.

10. Lu, QR., Balasubramaniyan, V. and Peru, R.L., (2007) "Oligodendrocyte Myelination in the Mammalian CNS" Functional Development and Embryology, 1 (2):117-128.

11. Peru RL, Mandrycky N, Nait-Oumesmar B, Lu QR. (2008) Paving the Axonal Highway: From Stem Cells to Myelin Repair. Stem Cell Rev. 4(4):304-18.

12. Chen,Y., Miles, D., Hoang, J., Shi, J., Kernie, S.G. and Lu, QR (2008). “The bHLH Gene
Olig2 Is Required for Reactive Astrocyte Proliferation After Cortical Injury”. J. Neurosci.
2008, 28(43):10983-9.

13. Ye, F., Chen, Y., Hoang, J. Montgomery, R., Zhao, X., Bu, H., Taketo, M., van Es, J.,     Clevers, H., Hsieh, J., Bassel-Duby, R., Olson, E., and Lu, QR (2009) " Histone     Deacetylases 1 and 2 Regulate Oligodendrocyte Differentiation By Disrupting b-Catenin     TCF Interaction". Nat Neurosci. 2009 Jul;12(7):829-38.

14. Chen Y., Wu, H., Wang, S., Hu, T., Cai, J., Hoang, J., Escobar, SS., Arnett, HA., Trapp, BD., Karandikar, N., Hsieh, J. and Lu, QR (2009) “The oligodendrocyte-specific G-protein     coupled receptor GPR17 is a cell-intrinsic timer of myelination” Nat. Neurosci. 2009 Nov;12(11):1398-406.

 To access any of the publications referenced on this website please visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed