Jun Liang

Assistant Professor Jun Liang is the Principal Investigator of a grant award of $150,000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research now through March 2017 into molecular mechanisms that respond to stress and impact on aging.

This is the first time a major NIH research grant has been awarded to a community college as the leading institution, says Liang, whose research focuses on animal development, animal stress management and aging and involves a team of BMCC students who serve as research assistants in the lab. “The project provides great opportunities for them to practice scientific concept learned from the class, hands on research experiments, data analysis, and critical thinking skills,” Liang says.

The study uses nematode C. elegans as a model. “Research has shown that the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily consists of a large group of secreted growth factors that regulate various cell responses,” Liang explains. “The major TGF-beta pathway components are conserved across evolutionary species. We take advantage of those viable mutants and study molecular mechanism of TGF-beta signaling regulated physiological functions.”

In short, the research examines how genetic components influence animal thermal stress management. Meanwhile, it also looks at the aging process, in particular longevity and muscle aging.

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Molecular mechanism of stress response and aging

My research focuses on functions of TGF-beta signaling in animal development, stress response, and aging. The transforming growth factor- beta (TGF- beta) superfamily consists of a large group of secreted growth factors that regulate various cell responses such as cell arrest, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell differentiation, tumor genesis, and tumor metastasis. C. elegans is a free-living organism with a rapid life cycle. It is an excellent model organism for genetic studies, cell biology, and biotechnology.

Stress affects aging significantly. Genetic mutations resulting in high tolerance of stress cues often live longer, whereas mutations bearing lower tolerance often live shorter. There are various signal pathways that regulate stress response and aging. We are using C. elegans as a model to dissect the molecular aspects of stress response and evaluate how they affect aging process, in particular the DBL-1 / TGF- beta pathway components. We are also interested in discovering new genes that contribute to aging.

Genes regulating stress response affect significantly the efficiency of cancer therapy. One type of cellular stress response often results in cross-protection of other stressor in cells. Stress response genes and pathways could be therapeutic targets for cancers. Meanwhile, TGF- beta signaling components are mutated in various cancers at various frequencies. Altered gene expression also plays important role in tumor progression and tumor metastasis. Our studies on TGF- beta signaling components in stress response will impact cancer therapy strategy.

Our research team is primarily made of undergraduate students from BMCC. The project provides great opportunities for them to practice scientific concept learned from the class, hands-on research experiments, data analysis and critical thinking skills.