Xin Sun
Associate Professor of Medical Genetics
Ph.D., Yale University, 1997
Postdoctoral Research: University of California, San Francisco, 1997-2001
Lab Website: http://sun.genetics.wisc.edu/
Address: 5264 Genetics/Biotech
Telephone: 265-5405
E-mail: xsun@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Animal pattern formation; Genetic basis of organ formation, homeostasis, repair and diseases Human and
Research Fields:
Human and Mammalian
Developmental Genetics
Mouse Genetics
Molecular Genetics
Research Description:
Vertebrate organogenesis follows stereotypic cellular
programs, indicating precise genetic controls. Deviations from these programs
result in birth defects. We study the
molecular mechanisms of organogenesis using advanced mouse genetic, genomic,
organ culture and imaging approaches. To
grasp the general principles of organ formation, we have studied a number of
tissues, including both external organs and internal organs. A current focus is on the lung, which is
vital starting at the first day of life.
The mammalian lung initiates as simple buds, which then undergo
elaborate branching morphogenesis and cell differentiation to form a
respiratory tree with specialized cell types and vast surface area to
facilitate air passage and gas exchange.
Postnatally, lung matures into one of the principal organs that combat
air-bourn pathogens. Despite its
importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying many aspects of lung development,
maturation and response to injury are poorly understood and are the subjects of
our study. Based on emerging
similarities between cellular events in embryonic organ formation and adult
organ homeostasis/regeneration, findings in organogenesis have prompted
parallel investigations in lung stem/progenitor cell maintenance and
activation. We anticipate that our
research on lung will contribute to the understanding of the vast array of lung
diseases including lung cancer and asthma.
Representative Publications:
Domyan, E.T.,
Ferretti, E., Throckmorton, K., Mishina, Y., Nicolis, S.K. and Sun, X. (2011) Signaling through BMP
receptors promotes respiratory identity in the foregut via repression of Sox2. Development 138(5):
971-981.
Zhang, Z., Sui, P., Dong, A., Hassell, J., Cserjesi, P., Chen, Y.T.,
Behring, R.R. and Sun, X. (2010)
Preaxial Polydactyly, interactions among ETV, TWIST1 and HAND2 control
anterior-posterior patterning of the limb. Development 137(20), 3417-3426.
Zhang, Z., Verheyden, J.V., Hassell, J.A., and Sun, X. (2009) FGF-regulated Etv genes
are essential for repressing Shh
expression in mouse limb buds. Developmental Cell 16, 607-613.
Harris-Johnson, K.S., Domyan, E.T.,
Vezina, C.M. and Sun, X. (2009) b-Catenin
promotes respiratory progenitor identity in mouse foregut. PNAS 106(38), 16287-92.
Verheyden, J.V. and Sun, X. (2008)
An Fgf/Gremlin Inhibitory feedback loop triggers termination of limb bud
outgrowth. Nature 454, 638-641.
Associate Professor of Medical Genetics
Ph.D., Yale University, 1997
Postdoctoral Research: University of California, San Francisco, 1997-2001
Address: 5264 Genetics/Biotech
Telephone: 265-5405
E-mail: xsun@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Animal pattern formation; Genetic basis of organ formation, homeostasis, repair and diseases Human and
Research Fields:
Human and Mammalian
Developmental Genetics
Mouse Genetics
Molecular Genetics
Vertebrate organogenesis follows stereotypic cellular programs, indicating precise genetic controls. Deviations from these programs result in birth defects. We study the molecular mechanisms of organogenesis using advanced mouse genetic, genomic, organ culture and imaging approaches. To grasp the general principles of organ formation, we have studied a number of tissues, including both external organs and internal organs. A current focus is on the lung, which is vital starting at the first day of life. The mammalian lung initiates as simple buds, which then undergo elaborate branching morphogenesis and cell differentiation to form a respiratory tree with specialized cell types and vast surface area to facilitate air passage and gas exchange. Postnatally, lung matures into one of the principal organs that combat air-bourn pathogens. Despite its importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying many aspects of lung development, maturation and response to injury are poorly understood and are the subjects of our study. Based on emerging similarities between cellular events in embryonic organ formation and adult organ homeostasis/regeneration, findings in organogenesis have prompted parallel investigations in lung stem/progenitor cell maintenance and activation. We anticipate that our research on lung will contribute to the understanding of the vast array of lung diseases including lung cancer and asthma.
Domyan, E.T., Ferretti, E., Throckmorton, K., Mishina, Y., Nicolis, S.K. and Sun, X. (2011) Signaling through BMP receptors promotes respiratory identity in the foregut via repression of Sox2. Development 138(5): 971-981.
Zhang, Z., Sui, P., Dong, A., Hassell, J., Cserjesi, P., Chen, Y.T., Behring, R.R. and Sun, X. (2010) Preaxial Polydactyly, interactions among ETV, TWIST1 and HAND2 control anterior-posterior patterning of the limb. Development 137(20), 3417-3426.
Zhang, Z., Verheyden, J.V., Hassell, J.A., and Sun, X. (2009) FGF-regulated Etv genes are essential for repressing Shh expression in mouse limb buds. Developmental Cell 16, 607-613.
Harris-Johnson, K.S., Domyan, E.T., Vezina, C.M. and Sun, X. (2009) b-Catenin promotes respiratory progenitor identity in mouse foregut. PNAS 106(38), 16287-92.
Verheyden, J.V. and Sun, X. (2008) An Fgf/Gremlin Inhibitory feedback loop triggers termination of limb bud outgrowth. Nature 454, 638-641.
