Administration Basic Sciences Clinical Sciences Centers of Excellence
 
 

 

Hugh "Houhui" Xia, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor of Cell Biology & Anatomy,
and Neuroscience

2020 Gravier Street, Suite D
New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: (504) 599-0909

Fax: (504) 568-5801

hxia@lsuhsc.edu

http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/faculty/docs/
Houhui Xia 21st NS Retreat R1.pdf

Degrees

1998-2003: Postdoc, Stanford University
1993-1997: PhD, University of California, San Francisco, CA
1989-1992: MSc , University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
1984-1988: BSc, Peking University, Beijing, China
Bio

2009 - Present:  Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Neuroscience; Neuroscience Center, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA

2003 – 2009: Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Neuroscience; Neuroscience Center, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
2002-2003: Postdoctoral fellow;Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, CA
1998-2002: Postdoctoral fellow; Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, CA

Awards/Recognitions/Lectures
 2006-2008: NARSAD Young investigator award
2004-2006: NARSAD Young investigator award
1999-2002: NRSA Individual Postdoctoral F32 Fellowship, Stanford University (RC Malenka, Preceptor)
1995: NIH predoctoral training fellow, UCSF (DS Bredt, Preceptor)
1984: Freshman math competition prize, 1984 Peking University, China
Clinical Interests

Current Research

NMDA receptor signaling, protein phosphatase-1 (PP1)
and CREB mediated gene transcription

Synapse has been shown to undergo persistent modifications in response to different patterns of activity and this change has been hypothesized to underlie the experience-dependent modifications in our brain, including learning and memory. We are currently focusing on the reversible phosphorylation mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, playing critical roles in both short term modifications in the synaptic protein composition (see schematics below) and in CREB mediated gene transcription process which provides new proteins for long term modification of the synapses. We use primary hippocampal cultures and organotypic hippocampal slice culture as our model systems to address these questions. Techniques used include electro-physiological recordings of synaptic transmission, molecular biology for manipulating genes involved in the signaling pathway from NMDA receptor activation to synaptic strength medication and confocal/two-photon microscopy for localization studies of key proteins in these pathways. The results from our study will provide insights in therapeutic interventions in many diseases in which synaptic functions are compromised, for example, mental retardation and epilepsy.

 
Research Interests

Keywords:
molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity:
NMDA receptor signaling and CREB mediated gene transcription

Research 

NMDA receptor signaling, protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) and CREB mediated gene transcription
Synapse has been shown to undergo persistent modifications in response to different patterns of activity and this change has been hypothesized to underlie the experience-dependent modifications in our brain, including learning and memory. We are interested in how NMDA receptors function in inducing these many forms of synaptic plasticity. We are not only interested in short term modifications in the synaptic protein composition through calcium mediated signaling pathway, but also CREB mediated gene transcription which provides new proteins for long term modification of the synapse. We are in interested in both kinase and phosphatase mechanism of the signaling pathways leading to these changes in the synaptic strength. We use primary hippocampal cultures and hippocampal slices as our model systems. Techniques used include electrophysiological recordings of synaptic transmission, molecular biology for manipulating genes involved in the signaling pathway from NMDA receptor activation to synaptic strength medication and confocal/two-photon microscopy for localization studies of key proteins in these pathways.
Selected Publications

Key Recent Papers:

Gao, J., Siddoway, B., Huang, Q. and Xia, H. Inactivation of CREB mediated gene transcription by HDAC targeted protein phosphatase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. (2009) 379:1-5.

Hu, X.D., Huang, Q., Yang, X. and Xia, H. Differential regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking by neurabin-targeted synaptic protein phosphatase-1 in synaptic transmission and long-term depression in hippocampus Journal of Neuroscience (2007) 27:4674-86

Hu, X.D., Huang, Q., Roadcap, D.W., Shenolikar, S.S. and Xia, H. Actin-associated neurabin-protein phosphatase-1 complex regulates hippocampal plasticity. Journal of Neurochemistry (2006) 98:1841-51.

Deisseroth, K., Mermelstein, P.G., Xia, H. and Tsien, R.W. Signaling from synapse to nucleus: the logic behind the mechanisms. Curr Opin Neurobiol (2003) 13:76-80.

Xia, H, von Zastrow, M., Malenka, R.C. A novel anterograde trafficking signal present in the N-terminal extracellular domain of ionotropic glutamate receptors. J Biol Chem (2002) 277:47765-47769.

Braithwaite, S., Xia, H., Malenka, R.C. Differential Roles of NSF and GRIP in AMPA receptor cycling. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2002) 99:7096-7101.

Morishita, W., Connor, J.H., Xia, H., Quinlan, E., Shenolikar, S., Malenka, R,C. Regulation of synaptic strength by protein phosphatase 1 Neuron (2001) 32:1133-1148.

Xia, H., Hornby, Z.D., Malenka, R.C. An ER retention signal explains differences in surface expression of NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits. Neuropharmacology (2001) 41:714-723. 

Selected Papers:

Gao, J., Hu, X.D. and Xia, H. Neurabin is a PKA substrate critical for LTD induction. (manuscript in preparation)

Huang, Q., Lee, I-P., Medina, V. and Xia, H. Structural determinant in cycloxygenase-2 in its nuclear envelope and ER localization.
(manuscript in preparation)

Gao, J., Siddoway, B., and Xia, H. Differential effects of neurabin and spinophilin in spine maturation. (manuscript in preparation) 

Carroll ,R.C., Beattie, E.C., Xia, H., Lscher, C., Altschuler, Y., Nicoll, R.A., Malenka, R.A., von Zastrow, M. Dynamin-dependent endocytosis of ionotropic glutamate receptors, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:14112-14117, 1999.

Xia, H., Fitzgerald, J., Bredt, D.S., Forsayeth, J.R., Detection of mycoplasma infection of mammalian cells, Biotechniques 22:934-936, 1997.

Brenman, J., Xia, H., Chao, D., Black, S., Bredt, D.S., Regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase through alternative transcripts, Dev Neurosci 19:224-231, 1997.

Chao, D.S., Silvagno, F., Xia, H., Cornwell, T.L., Lincoln, T.M., Bred,t D.S., Nitric oxide synthase and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase concentrated at the neuromuscular endplate, Neuroscience 76: 665-672, 1997.

Xia, H., Winocur, S., Kuo, W., Waltherr, M., Bredt, D.S., Actinin-associated LIM protein: identification of a domain interaction between a PDZ motif and spectrin-like repeat, J Biol Chem 139:507-515, 1997.

Brenman, J.E., Chao, D.S., Gee, S.H., McGee, A.W., Craven, S.E., Santillano, D.R., Wu, Z., Huang, F., Xia, H., Peters, M., Froehner, S.C., Bredt, D.S. Interaction of nitric oxide synthase with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 and alpha1-syntrophin mediated by PDZ domains, Cell 84:757-767, 1996.

Holtzman, D.M., Lee, S., Li, Y., Chua-Couzens, J., Xia, H., Bredt, D.S., Mobley, W.C. Expression of neuronal-NOS in developing basal forebrain cholinergic neurons: regulation by NGF, Neurochem Res 21:861-868, 1996.

Silvagnano, F.*, Xia, H.*, Bredt, D.S., Neuronal nitric oxide synthase-m, an alternatively spliced isoform uniquely expressed in differentiated skeletal muscle, J Biol Chem 271:11204-11208, 1996.

Xia, H., Bredt, D.S., Cloned and expressed nitric oxide synthase proteins, Meth Enzymol 268:427-436, 1996.

Brenman, J., Chao, D., Xia, H., Aldape, K., Bredt, D.S., Nitric Oxide synthase complexed with dystrophin in skeletal muscle and absent from skeletal muscle sarcolemma in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Cell 82:743-752, 1995.
Additional Info

Funding
“Distinct roles of Neurabin and Spinophilin in Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity”
Principal Investigator: Houhui Xia, Ph.D.
Agency: NINDS/NIH (R01 NS 060879).
Period: 03/01/2009-02/28/2014

“Neurabin and Inhibtor-1 compete for PP1 binding in LTD and LTP expression”
Principal Investigator: Houhui Xia, Ph.D.
Agency: National Science Foundation (IOS-0824393).
Period: 09/01/2008-08/31/2011
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