1981-1985 BS in Biochemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China 1987-1992 PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences at Houston
Training:
1992-1995 Postdoctoral fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Research interests
The mammalian retina and inner ear are two of the most common places of genetic diseases
that cause blindness and deafness due to the degeneration of retinal and inner ear
neurons. In order to understand the disease processes, it is crucial to elucidate
the fundamental mechanisms regulating the normal development and maintenance of these
neurons at the molecular level. My research is centered on identifying genes required
for neuron differentiation and survival, investigating the genetic pathways involved
in these processes, and developing therapies for blindness and deafness via gene therapy
and regeneration.
Current projects
Transcriptional cascade in the development and maintenance of retinal ganglion cells. Transcriptional control of neuronal subtype and circuitry formation in the retina. LIM-codes in the development of neurons and sensory organs of the inner ear.
Selected publications:
Joshi, P.S., Molyneaux, B.J., Feng, L., Xie, X., Macklis, J., and Gan, L. (2008).
Bhlhb5 Regulates the Post-Mitotic Acquisition of Area Identities in Layers II-V of
the Developing Neocortex. Neuron 60, 258–272.
Ding, Q. Joshi, P.S., Xie, Z., Xiang, M., and Gan, L. (2012). BARHL2 transcription
factor regulates the ipsilateral/contralateral subtype divergence in postmitotic dI1
neurons of the developing spinal cord. Proc. Natl. Sci. Acad., USA.109:1566-1571.
Luo, X., Deng, M., Xie, X., Huang, L., Wang, H., Jiang, L., Liang, G., Hu, F., Tieu,
R., Chen, R., and Gan, L. (2013). GATA3 controls the specification of prosensory domain
and neuronal survival in the mouse cochlea.Hum. Mol. Genet.22, 3609-3623. (cover photograph).
Luo, X., Li, M., Huang, L., Steinberg, S., Mattheisen, M., Donohoe, G., Shi, Y., Chen,
C., Yue, W., Alkelai, A., Lerer, B., Li, Z., Yi, Q., Rietschel, M., Cichon, S., Collier,
D.A., Tosato, S., Suvisaari, J., Rujescu, D., Golimbet, V., Silagadze, T., Durmishi,
N., Milovancevic, M.P., Stefansson, H., Schulze, T.G., Nöthen, M.M., Chen, C., Lyne,
R., Morris, D.W., Gill, M., Corvin, A., Zhang, D., Dong, Q., Moyzis, R.K., Sigurdsson,
E., Stefansson, K., Hu, F., MooDS SCZ Consortium, Su, B., and Gan, L. (2014). Convergent
lines of evidence support CAMKK2 as a schizophrenia susceptibility gene. Molecular Psychiatry. 19, 774-83. (Selected for F1000Prime).
Deng, M., Luo, X., Pan, L., Yang, H., Xie, X., Liang, G., Huang, L., Hu, F., Kiernan,
A., and Gan, L. (2014). LMO4 functions as a negative regulator of sensory organ formation
in the mammalian cochlea. J. Neurosci. 34, 10072-7. (Selected for F1000Prime).
Dong X, Yang H, Zhou X, Xie X, Yu D, Guo L, Xu M, Zhang W, Liang G,Gan L (2020). LIM-Homeodomain Transcription Factor LHX4 Is Required for the Differentiation of
Retinal Rod Bipolar Cells and OFF-Cone Bipolar Subtypes. Cell Rep. 2020 Sep 15;32(11):108144. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108144.
