报告题目：A Role of Neurotensin in Fat Absorption and Obesity　　 

　　报 告 人：Prof. Jianhang Jia, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky　　 

　　邀 请 人：林鑫华 研究员  010-64807970　　 

　　报告时间：2015年5月25日（周一）下午2:30　　 

　　报告地点：中科院动物所 D122会议室　　 

　　The goal of their research is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which governs the pattern formation, cell proliferation and differentiation. Malfunction of Hh signaling pathway induces different types of cancers in many tissues. The study in their laboratory focuses on the components that participate in the Hh signal transduction.　　 

　　Hh pathway consists of two transmembrane proteins, Patched (Ptc) and Smoothened (Smo), and a zinc-finger transcription factor, Cubitus interruptus (Ci), that transduces Hh signal into the nuclei. Without Hh stimulation, Ptc inhibits Smo thus allowing Ci processing to generate its truncated form which enters the nuclei and blocks downstream genes. Upon Hh stimulation, the inhibition of Ptc on Smo is blocked and Smo transduces the Hh signal to downstream blocking Ci processing. Full-length Ci is translocated to the nuclear and turns on downstream genes. They are investigating the mechanism of Smo transducing Hh signal and how Hh gradient can be translated into different thresholds of downstream gene expression.　　 

　　Representative Publications:　　

1. Jia J, Amanai K, Wang G, Tang J, Wang B, Jiang J. (2002) Shaggy/GSK3 antagonizes Hedgehog signaling by regulating Cubitus interruptus. Nature, 416:548-552.
2. Jia J, Tong C, Wang B, Luo L, Jiang J. (2004) Hedgehog signaling activity of Smoothened requires phosphorylation by protein kinase A and casein kinase I. Nature, 432:1045-1050.
3. Jia J, Zhang W, Wang B, Trinko R, and Jiang J. (2003) The Drosophila Ste20 family kinase dMST functions as a tumor suppressor by restricting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Genes Dev,17:2514-2519.
4. Jia J, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Tong C, Wang B, Hou F, Amanai K, and Jiang J. (2005) Phosphorylation by Double-time/CKIe and CKIa targets Cubitus interruptus For Slimb/b-TRCP-mediated proteolytic processing. Dev Cell, 9:819-830.
5. Xia R, Jia J, Fan J, Liu Y, and Jia J. (2012) USP8 promotes Smoothened signaling by preventing its ubiquitination and changing its subcellular localization. PLoS Biol, 10(1): e1001238.
6. Jia J, Tong C, Jiang J. (2003) Smoothened transduces Hedgehog signal by physically interacting with Costal2/Fused complex through its carboxyl-terminal tail. Genes Dev, 17:2709-2720.