Hao, Nan - University of California, San Diego - Division of Biological Sciences

个人简介

Nan Hao received his Ph.D in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a postdoctoral fellow with Timothy Elston at the University of North Carolina and a postdoctoral fellow with Erin O’Shea at Harvard University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

研究领域

In recent years, genomic sequencing and systematic analysis have revealed many molecular components that control gene expression at multiple levels, and detailed the myriad of interactions among and between these regulatory modules. However, it remains unclear how these molecular networks operate in time and space to carry out diverse cellular functions. The goal of our lab is to understand how network architecture governs the dynamics and function of regulatory responses in the context of stresses, aging, or diseases. Our lab uses multidisciplinary approaches, integrating biology, engineering and computer science, in our studies. We develop and use novel microfluidics and imaging technologies to quantitatively track the dynamics of molecular processes in single living cells and construct computational models to describe and predict cellular behaviors. In particular, our laboratory focuses on the following three major research themes: Decoding the dynamics of stress responses Cells could transmit environmental information and initiate cellular responses through regulating the temporal dynamics of signaling activities. Our current work focuses on understanding: (1) the network structures that encode the environmental information into signaling dynamics; (2) the gene circuits that decode signaling dynamics into functions; (3) the mechanisms that underlie cellular memory of environmental changes. Probing the causes of cellular aging Cellular aging plays an important role in many diseases, such as cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, but the mechanisms that drive the aging process remain largely unclear. We aim to combine transformative microfluidics and single-cell imaging technologies with computational modeling to obtain a quantitative and predictive understanding of the aging process and to develop new strategies to promote longevity. Quantifying the heterogeneity in cancer cells We have expanded our quantitative biology research into mammalian cell systems. We have developed new microfluidic and imaging technologies to track individual mammalian cells over a very long period of time. Our current work focuses on studying the heterogeneous signaling dynamics in cancer cells and how these dynamics influence cancer cell growth.

近期论文

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Li Y, Jin M, O’Laughlin R, Bittihn P, Tsimring LS, Pillus L, Hasty J, Hao N. (2017) Multi-generational silencing dynamics control cell aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Accepted. Shao B, Yuan H, Zhang R, Wang X, Zhang S, Ouyang Q, Hao N*, Luo C*. (2017) Reconstructing the regulatory circuit of cell fate determination in yeast mating response. PLoS Comput Biol. 13(7):e1005671. (* co-correspondence) Jiang Y, AkhavanAghdam Z,Tsimring LS, Hao N. (2017) Coupled feedback loops control the stimulus-dependent dynamics of the yeast transcription factor Msn2. J Biol Chem. 292(30):12366-12372. AkhavanAghdam Z, Sinha J, Tabbaa OP, Hao N. (2016) Dynamic control of gene regulatory logic by seemingly redundant transcription factors. Elife. 5. pii: e18458. Hao N, Budnik BA, Gunawardena J, O’Shea EK. (2013) Tunable signal processing through modular control of transcription factor translocation. Science 339(6118):460-4. Hao N, O'Shea EK. (2011) Signal-dependent dynamics of transcription factor translocation controls gene expression. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 19(1):31-9. Hao N, Nayak S, Behar M, Shanks RH, Nagiec MJ, Errede B, Hasty J, Elston TC, Dohlman HG. (2008) Regulation of cell signaling dynamics by the protein kinase-scaffold Ste5. Mol Cell. 30(5):649-56.