Chuang Lab

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Chuang Lab

Chuang Lab Research

Left-Right Asymmetry in Brain Development
The Chuang lab studies how left-right asymmetry of the developing nervous system is established using the simple nervous system in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, composed of just 302 neurons, to uncover fundamental mechanisms that are likely to be used in the human brain.
Left-right differences in anatomical structures and functions of the central nervous system are present throughout the animal kingdom. Left-right asymmetry has been implicated as an important aspect of normal brain development and function in humans; reduction or reversal of brain asymmetry has been linked to neurological disorders including developmental dyslexia, schizophrenia, depression and autism. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the brain asymmetry are unclear.
Join the Lab
Graduate students are invited to work on potential projects that include cell biological study of retrograde signaling in axons, gene expression profiling in an innexin gap junction network, and identification of new regulators in the signaling pathways that create neuronal diversity using forward (EMS mutagenesis) and reverse (RNAi) genetic approaches. Contact Chiou-Fen Chuang, chiou-fen.chuang@cchmc.org, if you are interested in our work.
Awards and Honors

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2001-Present

National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow, 2012
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, 2010-present
Whitehall Foundation Research Award, 2008-2012
CCHMC Trustee Grant Award, 2008-2010
Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2001-2004
Lab Publications

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2013

Zou Y^†, Chiu H^†, Zinovyeva A, Ambros V, Chuang C-F*, Chang C*. Developmental decline in neuronal regeneration by the progressive change of two intrinsic timers. Science 340: 372-376 ^†Equal contribution *Senior authors contributed equally. 2013.

2012

Schumacher JA, Hsieh, Y-W, Chen, S, Pirri, JK, Alkema, MJ, Li, W-H, Chang, C, Chuang, C.-F. Intercellular calcium signaling in a gap junction-coupled cell network establishes asymmetric neuronal fates in C. elegans. Development, 139, 4191-4201. 2012.
Hsieh Y-W, Chang, C, Chuang, C-F. The microRNA mir-71 inhibits calcium signaling by targeting the TIR-1/Sarm1 adaptor protein to control stochastic L/R neuronal asymmetry in C. elegans. PLoS Genet. 8(8): e1002864.Epub Aug 2 2012.
Lobikin M, Wang G, Xu J, Hsieh, Y-W, Chuang C-F, Lemire JM, Levin,M. Early, nonciliary role for microtubule proteins in left-right patterning is conserved across kingdoms. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109: 12586-12591. 2012.
Zou Y, Chiu H, Domenger D, Chuang C-F*, Chang C*. The lin-4 microRNA targets the LIN-14 transcription factor to inhibit netrin-mediated axon attraction.Science Signaling 5, research article ra43, 2012. *Senior authors contributed equally.

2011

Chiu H, Alqadah A, Chuang C-F, Chang, C. C. elegans as a genetic model to identify novel cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system regeneration. Cell Adhesion & Migration; 5: 387-394. 2011.
Chang C, Hsieh Y-W, Lesch BJ, Bargmann CI, Chuang C-F. Microtubule-based localization of a synaptic calcium signaling complex is required for left-right neuronal asymmetry in C. elegans. Development. 138:3509-3518. 2011.

2010

Taylor R*, Hsieh Y-W*, Gamse J, Chuang C-F.Making a difference together: reciprocal interactions in C. elegans and zebrafish asymmetric neural development. Development. 137:681-91. 2010. *Authors contributed equally.

2008

Gabel CV, Antonie F, Chuang C-F, Samuel AD, Chang C. Distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms mediate initial axon development and adult-stage axon regeneration in C. elegans. Development. 135:1129-36. 2008.

Other Significant Publications

Chuang C-F, VanHoven MK, Fetter RD, Verselis VK, Bargmann CI. An innexin-dependent cell network establishes left-right neuronal asymmetry in C. elegans. Cell. 129:787-99. 2007.
Chuang C-F, Bargmann CI. A Toll-interleukin 1 repeat protein at the synapse specifies asymmetric odorant receptor expression via ASK1 MAPKKK signaling. Genes & Dev. 19:270-81. 2005.
Chuang C-F, Meyerowitz EM. Specific and heritable genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 97:4985-90. 2000.
Chuang C-F, Running MP, Williams RW, Meyerowitz EM. The PERIANTHIA gene encodes a bZIP protein involved in the determination of floral organ number in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genes & Dev.13:334-44. 1999.

Chiou-Fen Chuang, PhD
Foundation Funding

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Whitehall Foundation

American Cancer Society (Postdoctoral Fellowship to Jen Tucker)

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