Ph.D., Professor (PI)

Institute of Life Sciences, SoutheastUniversity

2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210096, China

Tel/Fax: 86-25-83790970

Email: wei.xie@seu.edu.cn

Education Background & Academic Experience

1. 1988-1991, MS, Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Railway Medical College, China

2. 1992-1995, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nanjing University, China

3. 1997-1998, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Pharmacology, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA

4. 1999-2000, Postdoctoral fellow, Program in Developmental Biology, the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada

5. 2000-2001, Visiting Scientist, Program in Developmental Biology, the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada

6. 2001-present, Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, China

Research Interests

Mechanisms of Neural Development and Cognitive diseases. It has been realized that neurological developmental diseases, such asAutistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), cognition developmental defects and mental retardation, usually are the consequence of genetic mutation or expression mis-regulation of neural specific genes. These genes generally play crucial roles in various neurological developmental events at different levels. We are specifically interested in those genes important for synaptogenesis, synaptic specification and formation of neural circuits. Failure to form normal functional synapses leads to aberrant brain circuit formation and consequential neurological disease symptoms. For example, Neurexins and one group of its ligands, Neuroligins, are important cell adhesion molecules to determine synaptic specifications and maintain normal synaptic signal transmission in neuronal cells. We try to understand how these molecules are misregulated at different levels (transcriptional, translational or posttranslational levels) to affect normal synaptic formation and function in Drosophila and mouse model systems.

Selected Publications

1. An Liu, Zikai Zhou, Rui Dang, Guiqing He, Celeste Leung, Daniel Pak, Zhengping Jia, and Wei Xie. Neuroligin-1 regulates spines and synaptic plasticity via LIMK1/cofilin mediated actin reorganization. The Journal of Cell Biology, 2016, 212(4):449-463 (Cover Story)

w/COMMENT:Karen A. Newell‑Litwa. Breaking down to build up: Neuroligin’s C-terminal domain strengthens the synapse. J. Cell Biol. 212, 375-377. www.jcb.org/cgi/doi/10.1083/jcb.201601081)

2. Tao Li, Yao Tan, Qian Li, Huiying Chen, Huihui Lv, Wei Xie, and Junhai Han*. Neurexin/NSF interaction regulates short-term synaptic depression. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2015, 290(29):17656-67 (Papers of the Week, Cover Story, 2015 Best of Winner)

3. Zarko Todorovski, Suhail Asrar, Jackie Liu, Ner Mu Nar Saw, Krutika Joshi, Miguel A. Cortez, O. Carter Snead III, Wei Xie and Zhengping Jia. LIMK1 regulates long-term memory and synaptic plasticity via the transcriptional factor CREB. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2015, 35(8):1316-28. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01263-14

4. Xingxiu Pan, Xinxia Chang, Celeste Leung, Zikai Zhou, Feng Cao, Wei Xie, Zhengping Jia. PAK1 regulates cortical development via promoting neuronal migration and progenitor cell proliferation. Molecular Brain, 2015, 8:36, DOI 10.1186/s13041-015-0124-z

5. Guanglin Xing, Guangming Gan, Dandan Chen, Mingkuan Sun, Jukang Yi, Huihui Lv, Junhai Han, Wei Xie. Drosophila Neuroligin3 Regulates Neuromuscular Junction Development and Synaptic Differentiation. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2014, 289(46):31867-31877 (Papers of the Week)

6. Yi Li, Ziaki Zhou, Xinwang Zhang, Huawei Tong, Peipei Li, Zi chao Zhang, Zhengping Jia, Wei Xie and Junhai Han.Drosophila Neuroligin4 regulates sleep through modulating GABA transmission. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2013, 33(39):15545-15554

7. Yao Tian, Yi Li, Mingkuan Sun, Wen Hu, Didi Wan, Jing Li, Junhai Han and Wei Xie. Neurexin Regulates Visual Function via Mediating Retinoid Transport to Promote Rhodopsin Maturation. Neuron, 2013, 77(2):311-322

8. Wenwen Shi, Yan Chen, Guangming Gan, Dan Wang, Jinqi Ren, Qifu Wang, Zhiheng Xu, Wei Xie, and Yong Zhang. brain tumor regulates neuromuscular synapse growth and endocytosis in Drosophila by suppressing Mad expression. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2013, 33(30):12352-12363

9. Mingkuan Sun, Guanglin Xing, Liudi Yuan, Guangming Gan, David Knight, Sheila Irene With, Cui He, Junhai Han, Xiankun Zeng, Ming Fang, Gabrielle L. Boulianne, Wei Xie. Neuroligin2 Is Required for Synapse Development and Function at theDrosophila Neuromuscular Junction. Journal of Neuroscience, 2011, 31(2):687-699 (This Week in The Journal)

10. Zikai Zhou, Jim Hu, Maria Passafaro, Wei Xie, Zhengping Jia. GluA2 (GluR2) Regulates Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-Dependent Long-Term Depression through N-cadherin- Dependent and Cofilin-Mediated Actin Reorganization. Journal of Neuroscience, 2011, 31(3): 819-833

11. David Knight, Wei Xie and Gabrielle Boulianne. Neurexins and Neuroligins: Recent Insights from Invertebrates. Molecular Neurobiology, 2011, 44(3):426-440

12. Wayne Huang, Zikai Zhou, R. Henkelman, Wei Xie, and Zhengping Jia. PAK1/3 control brain size through coordinating neuronal complexity and synaptic properties. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2011, 31(3):388-403

w/COMMENTARY:Mollie L. Kelly and Jonathan Chernoff. Getting Smart about p21-Activated Kinases. Mol Cell Biol, 2011, 31:386-387)