Chunlai Wu, PhD

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	Chunlai Wu, PhD Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy, and Neuroscience 2020 Gravier Street, Suite D New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 599-0851 Fax: (504) 568-5801 cwu@lsuhsc.edu http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/faculty/docs/Chunlai Wu-21st NCE Retreat revised.pdf
Degrees	2002-2008: Postdoc, Washington University in St. Louis 1997-2002: PhD, Washington University in St. Louis 1994-1997: MSc , Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China 1990-1994: BSc, Sichun University, Chengdu, China
Bio	2008-Present: Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Neuroscience; Neuroscience Center, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 2002-2008: Postdoctoral fellow;Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO A central goal of my research is to identify the molecular pathways and matrix that shape the structure and strength of synaptic connections formed during development. Understanding the developmental plasticity and pre- and post-synaptic organization of synapses is crucial to illuminate the mechanisms by which neuronal circuits form and change in the healthy and diseased brain. Using Drosophila as a model system, we have identified mutants that show altered structure/function in the neuromuscular junction synapses. We are currently characterizing these mutants in the context of synaptic development. In addition, the powerful fly genetics has also been combined with biochemical techniques, especially tandem affinity purification of TAP-tagged synaptic proteins, to identify novel molecules that play structural or signaling roles in shaping the synapse. Studies from our lab and many others demonstrate that ubiquitination and ubiquitin-mediated pathways play essential roles in not only protein quality-control and homeostasis, but also a multitude of other processes including protein trafficking, neuronal connectivity, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission and neural degeneration. To understand these ubiquitin-mediated events in the brain, we combine the Drosophila genetics with comparative proteomics to analyze the difference of ubiquitination profiles between normal and degenerating fly brains. The goal is to identify specific ubiquitin targets in response to a particular pathological condition, especially age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer Disease and Parkinson's Disease.
Research Interests	Keywords: synaptic formation, structure and function; role of ubiquitination in neurodegeneration, synaptic development and plasticity. We combine the powerful fly genetics with proteomic and biochemical approaches to understand the mechanisms underlying learning and memory, mental retardation, and age-related neural disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Selected Publications	Key Recent Papers Taro Kaneuchi, Chunlai Wu*, Xinping Qiu, Colin DeMill, Marta Kisiel, Owen Randlett, Aaron DiAntonio, Toshiro Aigaki, and Bryan A. Stewart (2008). NSF interacts with highwire* toregulate wallenda/DLK and synaptic development. Submitted. **Co-first author* Chunlai Wu, Richard W. Daniels, and Aaron DiAntonio. (2007). DFsn collaborates with Highwire to down-regulate the Wallenda/DLK kinase and restrain synaptic terminal growth. Neural Development 2:16. Jeffrey M. C. Lau, Chunlai Wu, and Anthony J. Muslin. (2006) Differential role of 14-3-3 family members in Xenopus development. Developmental Dynamics 235, 1761-1776. Chunlai Wu, Yogesh P. Wairkar, Cathrine A. Collins, and Aaron DiAntonio. (2005). Highwire function at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction: spatial, structural, and temporal requirements. Journal of Neuroscience 25, 9557-9566. Chunlai Wu and Anthony J. Muslin. (2002) Role of 14-3-3 proteins in early Xenopus development. Mechanisms of Development 119, 45-54. Qi-heng Yang, Zheng Zhu, Meng-qiu Dong, Song Ling, Chun-lai Wu, and Lin Li. (2001) Binding of ATP to the Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase Domain of Chicken Liver 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase Leads to Activation of Its 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase. *Journal* of Biological Chemistry 276, 24608-24613. Chunlai Wu, Qingyi Zeng, Kendall J. Blumer, and Anthony J. Muslin. (2000) RGS proteins inhibit Xwnt-8 signaling in Xenopus embryonic development. Development 127, 2773-2784. Qi-Heng Yang, Chun-lai Wu, Kai Lin, and Lin Li. (1997)Low Concentration of inducer favors production of active form of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase in Eschericia coli. Protein Expression and Purification 10, 320-324. Lin Li, Song Ling, Chun-lai Wu, Wei-zhe Yao, and Gen-jun Xu. (1997) Separate bisphosphatase domain of chicken liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase: the role of the C-terminal tail in modulating enzyme activity. Biochemical Journal 328, 751-756.

Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy, and Neuroscience