Lan Jiang

Lan Jiang
Professor, Ph.D.
322 DH
(248) 370-3552
Lab location: 321 DH, 323 DH
Lab phone: (248) 370-3549
[email protected]

Courses:

BIO 3130 Developmental Biology
BIO 3210 Biology of the Cell
BIO 3400 Genetics

Research : Mechanisms of biological tube formation in Drosophila tracheal system

Dr. Lan Jiang’s lab studies the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of tube morphogenesis using the Drosophila trachea as a model. Tubes are fundamental building blocks in human organs or organ systems, including the lungs, kidneys, and vasculature. Defects in tube morphology lead to human diseases such as polycystic kidney disease. However, little is known about the regulation of tube morphology. Jiang's lab identified several novel genes that regulate critical steps in tube morphogenesis, including the stability of cellular junction/apical membrane and the air-filling of the tube. As most tubular systems, such as the Drosophila trachea and mammalian tubular organs, are structurally similar, the findings from Dr. Jiang's research will help us better understand the mechanisms of tubular morphogenesis in humans and potentially lead to new avenues for treatments of diseases caused by defects in tubular morphogenesis. Dr. Jiang’s research is supported by the National Institute of Health. 

Selected Publications:

Lan Jiang NCBI My bibliography

Jiang, L. (2024). Cell-Mediated branch fusion in Drosophila trachea. Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions. 71:91-100. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_5. 

Scholl*, A., I. NdojaI*, N. Dhakal*, D. Morante*, A. Ivan*, D. Newman*, T. Mossington*, C. Clemans*, S. Surapaneni*, M. Powers* and L. Jiang (2023).  The Osiris family genes function as novel regulators of the tube maturation process in the Drosophila trachea. PLoS Genetics 9(1):e1010571. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010571.

Scholl*, A., M.J. O'Brien*, R.R. Chandran* and L. Jiang. (2019). The novel gene apnoia regulates Drosophila tracheal tube size. Developmental Dynamics 248(6): 477-487. DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.29.