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| Name: | Zixu Mao |
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| Position: |
Associate Professor of Pharmacology Associate Professor of Neurology |
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| Degree: |
M.D., Southeast University School of Medicine, 1982 Ph.D., Duke University, 1992 |
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| Programs: |
NS,
Full Member MSP, Full Member |
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| Phone: | 404 712-8582 | |
| Address: | 505L Whitehead Res Bldg, 615 Michael St, 1941-001-1AG | |
| Email: | zmao@emory.edu | |
| Research Descriptions: | ||
| Short: | Molecular and cellular signaling mechanisms of nuclear factor-dependent process in neuronal survival, growth, and degeneration. | |
| Long: |
We study the critical decision processes by which neuronal cells control survival vs. death and differentiation vs. proliferation during cellular development and in more mature stages. We are particularly interested in the roles of nuclear factors in regulating these central processes. In this context, we want to determine how neurons process specific signals, how these signals are relayed to the nucleus by mediators, and how nuclear proteins are modulated in response. Specifically, we are investigating the role and regulatory mechanisms of a transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) in neurons. Our work shows that MEF2 is required for neuronal survival and is a target of cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), a protein that has been implicated in neurodegeneration. More recently, we have demonstrated that the mechanism by which Cdk5 negatively regulates MEF2 is via a phosphorylation-dependent caspase-mediated degradation. In addition to elucidating the basic mechanisms underlying the processes, one of our goals is to understand how de-regulation of these signaling networks may contribute to neurological disorders including Alzheimer¿s and Parkinson¿s diseases. |
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