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Faculty

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Xiaolu Yang, Ph.D.

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Professor of Cancer Biology
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Department: Cancer Biology
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46 Contact information
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654 BRB II/III
1b 421 Curie Boulevard
55 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160
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30 Office: (215) 573-6739
34 Fax: (215) 573-6725
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18 Publications
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13 Education:
21 a B.Sc. 1f (Physical Chemistry) c
3c Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 1985.
21 9 M.A. 23 (Genetics & Development) c
3b Columbia University, New York, NY , 1990.
21 c M.Phil. 23 (Genetics & Development) c
3a Columbia University, New York, NY, 1992.
21 a Ph.D. 23 (Genetics & Development) c
3a Columbia University, New York, NY, 1994.
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b6 > Perelman School of Medicine   > Faculty   > Details a
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Description of Research Expertise

2b Research Interests
61 The molecular and cellular mechanisms that protect against cancer and neurodegeneration.
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1a Key words:
8c Cancer biology, p53, tumor suppression, metabolism, autophagy, stem cells, protein quality control, aging, neurodegenerative disease
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26 Description of Research
6d Our lab studies cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Our current projects focus on two broad areas:
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28f (1) The tumor suppressor p53, metabolism, and autophagy. We are interested in the regulation and functions of the preeminent tumor suppressor p53. Our results have revealed a role for p53 in modulating metabolic pathways that are critical for biosynthesis and redox balance. We are investigating the function of p53 as both a sentinel and a regulator for metabolic activities. We are also identifying and characterizing metabolic alterations that drive tumor initiation and progression. A recent extension of this research area is to define the role of metabolism and autophagy in stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and cancer stem cells.
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2ac (2) Protein quality control, aging, and neurodegeneration. Our lab recently identified two protein quality control (PQC) systems, which consist of tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins and poly-Asp/Glu (polyD/E) proteins, respectively. Unlike canonical PQC systems, these new systems are independent of ATP and are unique for animals (the TRIM system) or eukaryotes (the polyD/E system). Both systems are multifunctional and highly effective. We are investigating their mechanisms of action; their roles in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and their utility in treating these diseases.
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1e Lab personnel:
2d Lyndsey Makinen - Program Coordinator
3a Kenzo Lacuarta - Research Specialist / Lab Manager
31 Jiale Wu, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
37 Zi-Yang Zhang - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
35 Yujin Xiang - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
35 Jiajia Wang - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
36 Ruifang Wang - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
34 Sixiang Yu - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
33 Kai Huang - Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Researcher
36 Rachel Ou – Undergraduate Student Researcher
36 Steven Su – Undergraduate Student Researcher
38 Megan Zhang – Undergraduate Student Researcher
37 Hong Yu Liu – Undergraduate Student Researcher
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Selected Publications

125 Zhang Z.-Y., Harischandra D.S., Wang R., Ghaisas S., Zhao J.Y., McMonagle T.P., Zhu G., Lacuarta K.D., Song J., Trojanowski J.Q., Xu H., Lee V. M.-Y., Yang X.: TRIM11 protects against tauopathies and is down-regulated in Alzheimer’s disease 62 Science 381: eadd6696, 2023 Notes: Comment in Science 381: 377-378, 2023.

12e Zhang Y., Xu Y., Lu W., Li J., Yu S., Brown E.J., Stanger B.Z., Rabinowitz J.D., Yang X.: G6PD-mediated increase in de novo NADP+ biosynthesis promotes antioxidant defense and tumor metastasis. Science Advances 8: eabo0404, 2022.

e1 Zhu, G., Herlyn M., and Yang X.: TRIM15 and CYLD regulate ERK activation via lysine-63-linked polyubiquitination. Nature Cell Biology 23: 978-991, 2021.

139 Zhang Y., Xu Y., Lu W., Ghergurovich J.M., Guo L., Blair I.A., Rabinowitz J.D., and Yang X.: Upregulation of antioxidant capacity and nucleotide precursor availability suffices for oncogenic transformation. Cell Metabolism 33: 94-109, 2021.

f6 Huang L., Agrawal T., Zhu G., Yu S., Tao L., Lin J., Marmorstein R., Shorter J., Yang X.: DAXX represents a new type of protein-folding enabler. Nature 597: 132–137, 2021.

70 Zhu G., Harischandra D.S., Ghaisas S., Zhang P., Prall W., Huang L., fd Maghames C., Guo L., Luna E., Mack K.L., Torrente M.P., Luk K.C., Shorter J., and Yang X.: TRIM11 Prevents and Reverses Protein Aggregation and Rescues a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Cell Reports 33: 108418, 2020.

8d Xu Y., Zhang Y., García-Cañaveras J.C., Guo L., Yu S., Blair I.A., Rabinowitz J.D., and Yang X. ba : Chaperone-mediated autophagy regulates the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Science 369: 397-403, 2020 Notes: Comment in Science 369: 373-374, 2020.

15b Guo L., Giasson B.I., Glavis-Bloom A., Brewer M.D., Shorter J., Gitler A.D., and Yang X.: A cellular system that degrades misfolded proteins and protects against neurodegeneration. Molecular Cell 55: 15-30, 2014 Notes: Cover story and comment in Molecular Cell 55:1-3, 2014

f0 Chen L., Zhu G., Johns EM., Yang X.: TRIM11 activates the proteasome and promotes overall protein degradation by regulating USP14. Nature Communications 9: 1223, 2018.

ea Jiang P., Du W., Mancuso A., Wellen K. and Yang X.: Reciprocal regulation of p53 and malic enzymes modulates metabolism and senescence. Nature 493: 689-93, 2013.

164 Du W., Jiang P., Mancuso A., Stonestrom A., Brewer M.D., Minn A.J., Mak T.W., Wu M., and Yang X: TAp73 enhances the pentose phosphate pathway and supports cell proliferation. Nature Cell Biology 15: 991-1000, 2013 Notes: Cover story and comment in Nature Cell Biology 15:891-3, 2013.

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