Xinping Zhao , Ph.D. 1992, University of Georgia UT-Houston Medical School Ophthalmology and Visual Science Contact Information

Research interests: human genetics, corneal development, corneal diseases, zebrafish and mouse models, transgenics

The overall objective of my research group is to study corneal biology, development, and diseases. The ultimate goal is to develop novel and more precise diagnostics, identify better pharmaceutical drugs, and design more effective treatments to human corneal dystrophy and other corneal diseases. We are currently working on two closely related research projects. First, we use molecular genetics approaches to clone and functionally study human corneal dystrophy genes. This project is funded by the National Eye Institute. Second, we are interested in developing animal models for studying corneal development, genetics, and diseases. The role of the Bmp receptors in corneal development is investigated by using knockout mouse models. We are establishing zebrafish as an attractive animal model for corneal dystrophy and mutagenesis analysis of important corneal genes.

Students will have the opportunity to evaluate and choose their research projects in the area of human genetics, zebrafish genetics and development, and animal models of human corneal diseases. They will learn and use molecular and genetic techniques employed in my laboratory for their own projects. These techniques include molecular cloning, candidate gene mutation analysis, DNA microarray, RT-PCR, DNA sequencing, and transgenics.

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Zhao X, Hedera P, Rainier S, Fink JK: (2004) Systematic isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding AAA proteins from human brain. Current Genomics (in press).

Rainier S, Thomas D, Tokarz D, Ming L, Bui M, Plein E, Zhao X, Lemons R, Albin R, Delaney C, Alvarado D, Fink JK. (2004) Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene mutations cause paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis. Arch Neurol. 61(7):1025-9.

Sullivan LS, Zhao X, Bowne SJ, Xu X, Daiger SP, Yee SB, Yee RW. (2003) Exclusion of the human collagen type XVII (COL17A1) gene as the cause of Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy (CDB2) on chromosome 10q23-q25. Curr Eye Res. 27(4):223-6.

Hedera P, Rainier S, Zhao X, Schalling M, Lindblad K, Yuan Q-P, Ikeuchi T, Trobe J, Wald JJ, Eldevik OP, Kluin K, Fink JK.: (2002) Spastic paraplegia, ataxia, mental retardation (SPAR): a novel genetic disorder. Neurology, 58:411-416.

Elder, JT, Zhao, X: (2002) Differential regulation of clustered epidermal differentiation complex genes by agents that alter chromatin structure. Experimental Dermatology 11(5):406-12.

Zhao X, Alvarado, D, Rainier S, Lemons R, Hedera P, Weber C, Tukel T, Apakl M, Heiman-Patterson T, Ming L, Bui M, Fink JK: (2001) Mutations in a novel GTPase cause autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia. Nature Genetics, 29:326-331.

Hedera P, Rainier S, Alvarado D, Zhao X, Williamson J, Otterud B, Leppert M, Fink, JK: (1999) Novel locus for autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia on chromosome 8q. Am J Hum Genet, 64:563-569.

Stoll SW, Zhao XP, Elder JT: (1998) EGF receptor activation stimulates transcription of CaN19 (S100A2) in human keratinocytes. J Invest. Dermatol, 111:1092-1097.