PennPORT

• Current Fellows
• Jason Diaz, PhD.

Jason Diaz, PhD.

Department of Biology,
University of Pennsylvania

Education

• Research mentor: Kim Gallagher, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

Research Topic: Mobile transcription factors

Multicellular organisms must establish unique and highly specialized tissues from a common pool of precursor cells to form a functional organism. The development of these tissues requires highly regulated signaling patterns between cells to ensure the proper positional and temporal establishment of tissues and organs. In plants, signaling molecules can travel directly between cells using specialized channels called plasmodesmata. My research focuses on the transcription factor SHORTROOT (SHR), which is produced in the central stele tissue of roots and travels through plasmodesmata into neighboring cells, where it specifies the development of the endodermis. I am interested in elucidating the protein interaction partners that regulate SHR movement through the root, especially those factors which limit SHR movement to its target tissue.

 
Publications

Journal Publications 

• Jing Li, Jason Diaz, Xin Wang, Sabrina H Tsang, Jianxin You. “Phosphorylation of Merkel cell polyomavirus large tumor antigen at serine 816 by ATM kinase induces apoptosis in host cells.” Journal of Biological Chemistry (2015) 290: 1874-84
• Jason Diaz, Xin Wang, Sabrina H Tsang, Jing Jiao, Jianxin You. “Phosphorylation of large T antigen regulates merkel cell polyomavirus replication.” Cancers (Basel) (2014) 6: 1464-86
• Jing Li, Qing Li, Jason Diaz, Jianxin You. “Brd4-mediated nuclear retention of the papillomavirus E2 protein contributes to its stabilization in host cells.” Viruses (2014) 6: 319-35
• Jing Li, Xin Wang, Jason Diaz, Sabrina H Tsang, Chris B Buck, Jianxin You. “Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen disrupts host genomic integrity and inhibits cellular proliferation.” Journal of Virology (2013) 87: 9173-88
• Junpeng Yan, Jason Diaz, Jing Jiao, Ranran Wang, Jianxin You. “Perturbation of BRD4 protein function by BRD4-NUT protein abrogates cellular differentiation in NUT midline carcinoma.” Journal of Biological Chemistry (2011) 286: 27663-75
• International Aphid Genomics Consortium. “Genome sequence of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.” PLoS Biology (2010) 8: e100031
• Joshua Masland, Jason Diaz, Shawn Eady, Emil Lobkovsky, Anna Larsen. “Hexakis(acetonitrile-κN)ruthenium(II) bis(hexabromocarbodecaborate) acetonitrile solvate.” Acta Crystrallographica Section E: Structural Reports (2010) 66: m325-6
• Xu Feng & Jason W Ashley, “Metabolic Bone Disease II,” pp. 829-837, Pathobiology of Human Disease, ISBN: 978-0-12-386457-4 
• Jing Zou & Jason W Ashley, “Fluorosis,” pp. 893-898, Pathobiology of Human Disease, ISBN: 978-0-12-386457-4 
   

Contact Info:

Jason Diaz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Biology
School of Arts and Sciences
University of Pennsylvania
121 Carolyn Lynch Laboratory
433 S University Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19104  

E-mail: jdia@upenn.edu