Areas of Interest
Research in the lab focuses on brain development in mammals,
with an emphasis on the questions of how the identity of neural
cell types is specified and how neurons establish their
connections with each other during normal development. We use
mouse genetics combined with molecular, biochemical and genomic
studies to investigate the mechanisms for normal brain
development and the pathology of developmental defects, which
underlie devastating neurological conditions. Furthermore, we
attempt to exploit our knowledge of the developmental control of
neural differentiation to direct differentiation of embryonic
stem cells, which would facilitate our search for new or
improved strategies for these devastating brain disease.
Lab Rotation Projects
Details of research projects can be found on the Li
Laboratory web page:
Publications
Selected Publications
Guo, Q.X. and Li, J.Y.H. (2007). Distinct functions of the
major Fgf8 spliceform, Fgf8b, before and during mouse
gastrulation. Development 134, 2251-60.
Li, J.Y.H*., Lao, Z., and Joyner, A.L. (2005). New Regulatory
Interactions and Cellular Responses in the Isthmic Organizer
Region Revealed by Altering Gbx2 Expression. Development 132,
1971-81. (*Corresponding author)
Olsen, S.K., Li, J.Y.H., Bromleigh, V.C., Elseenkova, A.V.,
Ibrahimi, O.A., Zhang, F.,Linhardt, R.J., Joyner, A.L.,
Mohammadi, M. (2005). Structural Basis for the Modulation of
FGF8 Mid-Hindbrain Patterning By Alternative Splicing. Gene &
Development 20, 185-98.
Sparwasser, T., Gong, S., Li, J.Y.H. and Eberl, G. (2003). A
General Method for the Modification of Different BAC Types and
the Rapid Generation of BAC Transgenic Mice. Genesis 38,
39-50.
Liu, A., Li, J.Y.H., Bromleigh, V.C., Lao, Z, Niswander,
L.A., and Joyner, A.L. (2003). FGF17b and FGF18 have different
midbrain regulatory properties from FGF8b or activated FGF
Receptors. Development 130, 6175-85.
Li. J. Y.H., Lao, Z., and Joyner, A. L. (2002). Changing
requirements for Gbx2 in development of the cerebellum and
maintenance of the mid/hindbrain organizer. Neuron 36,
31-43.
Li. J. Y.H., and Joyner, A.L. (2001). Otx2 and Gbx2 are
required to define the spatial expression of genes at the
mid-hindbrain junction, not their induction. Development
28, 4979-91. |
