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Cell
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Duke
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Duke
Medical Center
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Fan
Wang, Ph.D.
(Neurobiology, Columbia University)
Assistant
Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Neurobiology
Duke University Program in Genetics
Cell and Molecular Biology Program
Developmental Biology Training Program
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I.
My lab uses mouse trigeminal sensory neurons as a model
to study the molecular mechanisms govern the precise
neural circuit assembly and information coding in the
somatosensory system that mediates sensations of pain,
temperature, touch, and body postures. The main aims
are to understand how do newly generated naïve
sensory neurons gradually acquire both position and
sensory modality identities during development, and
how do distinct classes of touch sensory neurons form
specific circuits inside the brain that encode the
nature of tactile stimuli.
Specification of Trigeminal
Sensory Neuron Identities.
Using mouse as a model system, we have begun to uncover the molecular differences
among trigeminal neurons at different developmental stages. We have identified
certain peripheral target-derived signals that can control gene expression profiles
in trigeminal neurons. We have evidence indicating that retrograde regulation
of sensory neurons differentiation by target-derived signals is one of the key
principles governing the development and maturation of somatic sensory neurons.
Currently, we are actively investigating the exact molecular programs that specify
both the positional and modality identities of trigeminal neurons.
Functional
assembly of the tactile neural circuit by trigeminal neurons.
Rodents
use whiskers as their tactile sensors. Each individual whisker is innervated
by several different subtypes of mechanosensory neurons that each can sense
subtle differences in amplitude, velocity, orientation, duration etc of a touch
stimulus. All neurons representing the same whisker project together to form
a synaptic structure in the brain termed barrelette. We are in the process
of dissecting the micro-circuit within each barrelettes in order to understand
the integration and coding of touch information.
II. My lab also works on the role
of the bulk membrane trafficking process during neuronal
morphogenesis and neurodegeneration. We are combining live
imaging, EM and genetic dissections to study how membranes
are added and recycled during axonal and dendritic growth. |
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Email
F.Wang@cellbio.duke.edu
Nanaline Duke Bldg., Box 3709
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Telephone:
919-684-3682
Visit
the Wang
Lab Website
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Selected
Publications
Hodge, L.K., Klassen, M., Han, B.X., Yiu, G., Hurrell,
J., Howell, A., Rousseau, G., Lemaigre, F., Tessier-Lavigne,
M., and Wang, F. (2007) Retrograde BMP signaling regulates trigeminal sensory neuron identities and the formation of precise face maps. Neuron 55: 572-586. -PDF-
Hasegawa, H., Abbott, S., Han, B.X., Qi., Y., and Wang,
F. (2007) Analyzing somatosensory axon projections with the sensory neuron-specific Advillin gene. J Neurosci: 27(52): 14404-14. -PDF-
Zhou, X, Babu, J.R., da Silva, S., Shu, Q., Tani,
T., Oliver, T., Tomoda, T., Graef, I.A., Wooten, M.W.,
and Wang, F. (2007). Ulk1/2-mediated endocytic process
regulates filopodia extension and branching of sensory
axons. PNAS 104 (14): 5842-5847.
Wang, F. (2004). Steering Growth Cones with a CaMKII/Calcineurin
Switch. Neuron 43 (6): 760-762.
Graef, I.A.*, Wang, F.*, Charron, F., Chen L., Tessier-Lavigne,
M., and Crabtree, G.R. (2003) Neurotrophins
and netrins require calcineurin/NFAT signaling to stimulate
outgrowth of embryonic axons. Cell 113:
657-70. (* These authors contributed equally.)
Lin, D,M., Wang, F., Lowe, G., Gold, G.H., Axel, R.,
Ngai, J., and Brunet, L.. (2000) Formation of precise
connections in the olfactory bulb occurs in the absence
of odorant-evoked neuronal activity. Neuron 26: 69-80.
Bulfone, A., Wang, F., Hevnor, R., Anderson, S., Cutforth,
T., Chen, S., Meneses, J., Pedersen, R., Axel, R. and
Rubenstein, J.L.R. (1998) An olfactory sensory map develops
in the absence of normal projection neurons or GABAergic
interneurons. Neuron 21: 1273-1282.
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Wang, F., Nemes, A., Mendelsohn, M. and Axel, R. (1998) Odorant receptors govern
the formation of a precise topographic map. Cell 93: 47-60.
Mombaerts, P., Wang, F., Dulac, C., Chao, S.K., Nemes, A., Mendelsohn, M., Edmondson,
J. and Axel, R. (1996) Visualizing an olfactory sensory map. Cell 87: 675-686.
Mombaerts, P. Wang, F., Dulac, C., Vassar, R., Chao, S.K., Nemes, A., Mendelsohn,
M., Edmondson, J. and Axel, R. (1996) The molecular biology of olfactory perception.
Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Qualitative Biology, V LXI: 135-145. |
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