[Research Interests] [Representative Publications] [Lab Members] RESEARCH INTERESTSEpigenetic regulation of Drosophila germ cell differentiation from a stem cell lineage A broad definition for “epigenetic phenomenon” refers to
effects on gene expression or function that are heritable through many
cell divisions without altering the primary DNA sequences. Epigenetic
regulation can act through different mechanisms, including
post-translational modifications of histones and localization of the
chromatin modifiers to particular subnuclear regions. Failure in
appropriate epigenetic regulation may lead to abnormalities in
development and may also underlie early steps in cancer genesis. During normal development, the mechanisms that regulate
differentiation of cells from undifferentiated precursors play key
roles in tissue/organ development and maintenance, such as
gametogenesis. Precursor germ cells must commit to differentiate at the
right place and with the right timing to generate and maintain the
pools of functional gametes. The maintenance of the precursor germ
cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state and the subsequent
reversal of these controls to allow terminal differentiation are both
critical to continuous production of gametes throughout lifetime. The Drosophila male germ line provides a powerful model system for studying the mechanisms that regulate differentiation in adult stem cell lineages. My laboratory will utilize it as a model system to study how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms interplay to ensure proper gene expression during spermatogenesis. The roles of PcG components
in precursor cell proliferation vs. differentiation Epigenetic mechanisms that
regulate the switch from transit-amplifying precursor cells to
differentiating cells REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONSChen, X. 2008. Stem cells- what can we learn from flies? Invited review for Fly. FLY 2-1: 19- 28. Krishnamoorthy, T., Chen, X., Govin, J., Cheung, W.L., Dorsey, J., Schindler, K., Winter, E., Allis, C. D., Khochbin, S., Fuller, M. T., and Berger, S. L. 2006. Phosphorylation of histone H4 Ser1 regulates sporulation in yeast and is conserved in fly and mouse spermatogenesis. Genes and Development. 20: 2580–2592. Chen, X., Hiller, M., Sancak, Y. and Fuller, M. T. 2005. Tissue specific TAFs counteract Polycomb to turn on terminal differentiation. Science. 310: 869- 872. Hiller, M., Chen, X., Pringle, M.J., Suchorolski, M., Sancak, Y., Viswanathan, S., Bolival, B., Marino, S. and Fuller, M.T. 2004. Testis-specific TAF homologs collaborate to control a tissue-specific transcription program. Development. 131: 5297-5308. Overstreet, E., Chen, X., Wendlend, B., and Fischer, J. A. 2003. Either part of a Drosophila Epsin protein, divided after the ENTH domain, functions in endocytosis of Delta in the developing eye. Current Biology. 13: 854-860. Chen, X., Zhang, B. and Fischer, J. A. 2002. A specific protein substrate for deubiquitinating enzyme: Liquid facets is the substrate of Fat facets. Genes and Development. 16: 289-294. One of the cover stories. Chen, X. and Fischer, J. A. 2002. A P element transformation vector for high levels of gene expression in germline cells of the ovary and undifferentiated cells in the developing eye of Drosophila. Plasmid. 47: 61- 65. Chen, X. and Fischer, J. A. 2000. In vivo structure/function analysis of the Drosophila fat facets deubiquitinating enzyme gene. Genetics. 156: 1829-1836 Chen, X.*, Li, Q.* and Fischer, J. A. 2000. Genetic analysis of the Drosophila DNAprim gene: The function of the 60-kD primase subunit of DNA polymerase opposes the fat facets signaling pathway in the developing eye. Genetics 156: 787-1795. (* indicating authors of equal contribution.) Chen, X., Overstreet, E., Wood, S. A. and Fischer, J. A. 2000. On the conservation of function of the Drosophila Fat facets deubiquitinating enzyme and Fam, its mouse homolog. Dev. Genes Evol. 210: 603- 610. Lab Members Postdoctoral
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