"Reversible protein phosphorylation in synaptic dysfunction and Neurodevelopmental disorders"
Dr.Xia's research focus' on the signaling roles of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), mainly focused on its inhibitors (inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2 (I-2)) and targeting proteins (neurabin, spinophilin, HDAC family molecules and nuclear inhibitor of PP1 (NIPP1)), in synaptic transmission, plasticity, CREB mediated gene transcription and aforementioned brain functions. We used a variety of techniques, including confocal immuno-fluorescence, immuno-gold electron micrograph (EM), biochemistry (including IP, western blotting), viral mediated gene transfer (including lenti-virus mediated knocking down genes of interest and then replacing it with recombinant proteins---molecular replacement), FRET/BRET imaging, transgenic/knockout mice (I-2, NIPP1 and PP1), cellular electrophysiology and behavioral testing. We use primary hippocampal/cortical cultures, acute slices and knockout mice for our proposed studies.
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/labs/xia/research.aspx