Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology

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Research interests

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the cellular function and regulatory mechanisms of cytoplasmic dynein, a microtubule motor protein. The multi-subunit cytoplasmic dynein complex performs multiple cellular tasks including mitotic regulation and transport of vesicles/organelles, which are vital to the function and survival of many eukaryotic cells. We use the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans as a genetic system to dissect the regulatory mechanism of cytoplasmic dynein function. In the multi-nucleated fungal hyphae, mutants defective in dynein function exhibit a clear nuclear clustering phenotype, and therefore they are named as "nud" (nuclear distribution) mutants. Some nud genes encode subunits of the cytoplasmic dynein complex, while others encode proteins in a dynein-regulatory complex, dynactin. More interestingly, the nudF gene encodes a protein similar to the human Lis1 (lissencephaly 1) protein involved in neuronal migration during brain development. Currently, we are using a combination of genetic, live cell imaging and biochemical approaches to understand how these different proteins in the dynein pathway affect dynein's intracellular targeting and its motor activity.

Selected publications

• Zhuang L, Zhang J, Xiang X.Point mutations in the stem region and the fourth AAA domain of cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain partially suppress the phenotype of NUDF/LIS1 loss in Aspergillus nidulans. Genetics. 2007 Mar;175(3):1185-96. Epub 2007 Jan 21.
• Xiang X.A +TIP for a smooth trip. J Cell Biol. 2006 Feb 27;172(5):651-4. Epub 2006 Feb 21. Review.
• Wu X, Xiang X, Hammer JA.Motor proteins at the microtubule plus-end. Trends Cell Biol. 2006 Mar;16(3):135-43. Epub 2006 Feb 15. Review.
• Efimov VP, Zhang J, Xiang X.CLIP-170 homologue and NUDE play overlapping roles in NUDF localization in Aspergillus nidulans. Mol Biol Cell. 2006 Apr;17(4):2021-34. Epub 2006 Feb 8.
• Li S, Oakley CE, Chen G, Han X, Oakley BR, Xiang X.Cytoplasmic dynein's mitotic spindle pole localization requires a functional anaphase-promoting complex, gamma-tubulin, and NUDF/LIS1 in Aspergillus nidulans. Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Aug;16(8):3591-605. Epub 2005 Jun 1.
• Su W, Li S, Oakley BR, Xiang X.Dual-Color imaging of nuclear division and mitotic spindle elongation in live cells of Aspergillus nidulans. Eukaryot Cell. 2004 Apr;3(2):553-6.