Lan Lab

Yu Lan

Ph.D. 1992 University of Maine at Orono

Research Assistant Professor

Primary Appointment: Department of Biomedical Genetics (BMG) in the Center for Oral Biology (COB)

Research Overview

Cleft palate is a common birth defect in humans. To understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cleft palate pathogenesis, we have been investigating the molecular pathways governing normal palate development in the laboratory mice. Through gene expression screens, we have identified several genes encoding putative transcription factors that exhibit distinct and dynamic expression patterns during the palate development. Using the gene targeting technology, we have generated mice carrying null or conditional null mutations in some of these transcription factor genes. Analyses of the mutant mice revealed that several newly identified transcription factors, such as Osr1 and Osr2, play essential roles in palate development. Ongoing investigations focus on delineating the molecular pathways involving these factors in palate development using a combination of genetic, embryological, and biochemical approaches.

Projects

Dr. Lan is part of the Dr. Rulang Jiang lab. View the Jiang lab's projects.

Recent Publications

Chen, J., Bush, J.O., Ovitt, C.E., Lan, Y., and Jiang, R. (2007). The TGFb pseudoreceptor gene Bambi is dispensable for mouse embryonic development and postnatal survival. Genesis 45:482-486.PMID: 17661381
Lan, Y., Wang, Q., Ovitt, C.E., and Jiang, R. (2007). A unique mouse strain expressing Cre recombinase for tissue-specific analysis of gene function in palate and kidney development. Genesis, 45:618-624.PMID: 17941042
Liu W, Lan Y, Pauws E, Meester-Smoor MA, Stanier P, Zwarthoff EC, Jiang R. (2008) The Mn1 transcription factor acts upstream of Tbx22 and preferentially regulates posterior palate growth in mice. Development, 135(23):3959-68.PMID: 18948418 PMCID: PMC2586179 [Available on 2009/12/01]
Gao Y, Lan Y, Ovitt CE, Jiang R. (2009) Functional equivalence of the zinc finger transcription factors Osr1 and Osr2 in mouse development. Developmental Biology 328:200-209.PMID: 19389375
Xiong W, He F, Morikawa Y, Yu X, Zhang Z, Lan Y, Jiang R, Cserjesi P, Chen Y (2009). Hand2 is required in the epithelium for palatogenesis in mice. Developmental Biology, 330:131-41.PMID: 19341725
*Zhang Z, *Lan Y, Chai Y, Jiang R (2009). Antagonistic actions of Msx1 and Osr2 pattern mammalian teeth into single row. Science 323:1232-1234.PMID: 19251632 PMCID: PMC2650836 [Available on 2010/02/27]. (co-first author).
Lan, Y., Jiang, R. (2009). Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions controlling palatal outgrowth. Development 136:1387-1396.PMID: 19304890
Chen, J., Lan, Y., Jiang, R. (2009). Wnt/≤-catenin signaling plays a direct and essential role in activation of odontogenic mesenchyme during early tooth development. Developmental Biology, under revision.

Contact

Yu Lan
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Ave., Box 611
Rochester, NY 14642
Office: KMRB G-9641
Phone: (585) 273-1425
Yu_Lan@urmc.rochester.edu