Qize
Wei
Qize
Wei
Assistant Professor
Identification of downstream target genes and signaling pathways for Pitx2a
M.D. 1984,
Youjiang -
Medical College, Guangxi, China
M.S. 1988, Guangxi -
Medical College, Guangxi, China
Ph.D.1994, Peking -
Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Phone: 785-532-6736
Fax: 785-532-7278
Email: weiq@ksu.edu
Office: 172 Chalmers
Pitx2 is a homeodomain transcription factor. Its mutations in humans have been linked to Rieger syndrome (RIEG), which is characterized by abnormalities in the face, limb, heart, teeth, eyes, and pituitary. The identification of Pitx2 downstream target genes and signaling pathways should make it possible to understand the underlying mechanism leading to Rieger syndrome in humans. Toward this goal, we have used a cell line in which Pitx2a, one of the Pitx2 isoforms, is expressed in the presence but not in the absence of doxycycline. This cell line has allowed us to identify several potential Pitx2a downstream target genes, such as PRGAP (Pitx2a-regulating GTPase-activating protein). We are currently investigating these potential Pitx2a downstream target genes using both cell culture and mice as models, in order to understand their roles in mediating Pitx2a functions.
Selected Publications
Asiedu, M., Wu, D., Matsumura, F., and Wei, Q. (2008) Phosphorylation of MyoGEF on Thr-574 by Plk1 Promotes MyoGEF Localization to the Central Spindle. J. Biol. Chem. 283:28392-28400.
Wu, D., Asiedu, M., Adelstein, R.S., and Wei, Q. (2006) A novel guanine nucleotide exchange factor MyoGEF is required for cytokinesis. Cell Cycle 5:1234-1239.
Meshel, A.S., Wei, Q., Adelstein, R.S., and Sheetz, M.P. (2005) Basic mechanism of three-dimensional collagen fibre transport by fibroblasts. Nat Cell Biol. 7:157-64
Wei, Q. (2005) Pitx2a binds to human papillomavirus type 18 E6 protein and inhibits E6- mediated P53 degradation in HeLa cells. J. Biol. Chem. 280:37790-7
Wei, Q. and Adelstein, R.S. (2002). Pitx2a expression alters the actin-myosin cytoskeleton and migration of HeLa cells through Rho GTPase signaling. Mol. Biol. Cell 13:683–697.
Wei, Q. and Adelstein, R.S.(2000) Conditional expression of a truncated fragment of nonmuscle myosin II-A alters cell shape but not cytokinesis in HeLa cells. Mol. Biol. Cell 11:3617-3627.