Min Han - Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1988
The small-sized round worm C. elegans is a very popular model organism to study development, primarily due to its accessibility to genetics and molecular biology, and its similarities in genetic components and pathways to those in mammals. Spatial and temporal regulation of Development
Vulval formation in C. elegans has been an excellent model system to study how several signaling pathways and regulatory circuits collaborate to specify cell fate and morphogenesis. Using this system, researchers in our lab have made important contributions to understanding the functions and regulations of the RTK-RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. We have also been analyzing the interactions between this pathway and other pathways including tumor suppressor Rb-involved complexes that repress vulval differentiation. We have recently extended our efforts to study timing regulation of development and have identified key factors that modulate the functions of timing regulating microRNAs and proteins.
Genetic redundancy and tumor suppressor functions
A large percentage of genes in genomes do not have robust knockout mutant phenotypes, likely due to the fact that most of these genes collaborate with other genes for important and multiple cellular functions. We have carried out genetic screens to identify “hidden” functions of RB and PTEN tumor suppressor genes and factors working with them, as well as genes that antagonize Rb functions.
Lipid biology and human disease genes
Steered by our previous study on human macular dystrophy, we have applied C. elegans genetics, gas chromatography, and DNA microarray technology to study the roles of fatty acid functions and homeostasis. We have recently elucidated the essential and interesting roles of the little known mono-methyl branched fatty acids.
Genetic approach to cell biology problems
Our genetic analyses in worm, mouse and fly have revealed molecular machinery at the nuclear envelope that directs nuclear migration and anchorage in animal cells. We have also carried out studies on cell migration and fusion problems, including an effort to understand the role of cell adhesion in neuronal morphogenesis.
Ding L, Spencer A, Morita K, Han M, "The developmental timing regulator AIN-1 interacts with miRISCs and may target the argonaute protein ALG-1 to cytoplasmic P bodies in C. elegans." Molecular cell 19 (2005): 437-47
Kniazeva M, Crawford QT, Seiber M, Wang CY, Han M, "Monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids play an essential role in Caenorhabditis elegans development." PLoS biology 2 (2004): E257
Eastburn D, Han M, "When Ras signaling reaches the mediator." Developmental cell 6 (2004): 158-9
Yoder JH, Chong H, Guan KL, Han M, "Modulation of KSR activity in Caenorhabditis elegans by Zn ions, PAR-1 kinase and PP2A phosphatase." The EMBO journal 23 (2004): 111-9
