Bingwei Lu
Title
Assistant Professor
Department
Pathology
Research Interests
Neural stem cell biology and mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
bingwei@stanford.edu
Phone
849-0373
Fax
858-3999
Address
Building 100, B4-101, VAPAHCS
Mail Code: 127
Faculty Research Description
Our laboratory is interested in understanding how the diverse neuronal cell types are generated and maintained in the nervous system. We are taking a combined molecular, cellular, genetic, and genomic approach in the model organism Drosophila to address these questions. To study how neuronal diversity is generated, we focus on investigating the mechanisms of asymmetric division of neural stem cell that produces daughter cells with different developmental potentials. To study how neurons are properly maintained after they are integrated into neural networks, we are creating neurodegenerative phenotypes in Drosophila similar to that observed in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases in humans. We are employing the power of fly genetics to identify genetic modifiers that can suppress or enhance these disease phenotypes. Given the unanticipated high level conservation of signaling pathways, regulatory mechanisms, and physiological processes between flies and mammals, our research promises to provide insights into fundamental mechanisms that control the generation and maintenance of neuronal diversity in humans.
Nishimura, I., Yang, Y-F., and Lu, B. (2004). PAR-1 Kinase plays an initiator role in a temporally ordered phosphorylation process that confers tau toxicity in Drosophila. Cell 116, 671-682.
Yang, Y-F., Nishimura, I., Imai, Y., Takahashi, R., and Lu, B. (2003). Parkin suppresses dopaminergic neuron-selective neurotoxicity induced by Pael-R in Drosophila. Neuron 37, 911-924.
Lu, B., Roegiers, F., Jan , L.Y., and Jan Y.N. (2001). Adherens junctions inhibit asymmetric divisions in the Drosophila epithelium. Nature 409, 522-525.
Lu, B., Ackerman, L., Jan L.Y., and Jan Y.N. (1999). Modes of protein movement that lead to the asymmetric localization of Partner of Numb during neuroblast division in Drosophila. Molecular Cell 4, 883-891.
Lu, B., Rothenberg, M., Jan L.Y., and Jan Y.N. (1998). Partner of Numb colocalizes with Numb during mitosis and directs Numb asymmetric localization in Drosophila neural and muscle progenitors. Cell 95, 225-235.
Areas of StudyCellular Neurobiology
Molecular Neurobiology
Developmental Neurosciences