Zixu Mao PhD

Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology
Professor

Emory University School of Medicine
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
615 Michael Street, Whitehead Bldg, Rm 505L

Overview

About Dr. Mao:

- Faculty at Emory University School of Medicine since 2005
- Faculty at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University Medical School
- Postdoctoral fellow, Childrens Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- Ph.D., Duke University
- M.S., Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, China
- M.D., Southeast University School of Medicine, China

In the Mao Lab we study the mechansims by which neuronal cells control survival vs. death and differentiation vs. proliferation during cellular development and in more mature stages. De-regulation of these processes is believed to underlie the pathogenesis of neurological disorders ranging from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases to brain tumors. We are particularly interested in the roles of nuclear factors in regulating these central processes. In this context, we want to determine how signals specifying these distinct processes are relayed to the nucleus, what the key mediators are involved in the relaying process, what modifications to the nuclear factors are improtant in response, and how these modifications may control subsequent cellular response. As a model, we are currently focusing on the signaling and regulation of two proteins, a nuclear transcriptional factor MEF2 and a cellular kinase Cdk5. We are investigating the fundmantal roles that these factors may play in neurons using a wide range of molecular and cellular biological tools. By dissecting the signal transduction pathways and network that mediate nuclear response controlled via MEF2 and Cdk5, our studies may illustrate basic principles that modulate neuronal survival and death. Illustrating how these control and signaling mechanisms may be altered under pathological conditions will help reveal the pathological processes of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Academic Appointment

Full Professor, Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
Full Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

PhD from Duke University
MD from Southeast University School of Medicine - China
Master in Medical Virology from Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences
Bachelor in Medicine from Southeast University School of Medicine

Research

Publications

Neuronal-enriched small extracellular vesicles trigger a PD-L1-mediated broad suppression of Tcells in Parkinson's disease.
iScience Volume: 27 Page(s): 110243
07/19/2024 Authors: Chen Z; Li W; Meng B; Xu C; Huang Y; Li G; Wen Z; Liu J; Mao Z
Missorting of plasma miRNAs in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
J Neurochem Volume: 165 Page(s): 149 - 161
04/01/2023 Authors: arna M; Novotny JS; Dragii N; Slavik H; Sheardova K; Geda YE; Vyhnalek M; Laczo J; Hort J; Mao Z
Regulation of TFEB nuclear localization by HSP90AA1 promotes autophagy and longevity.
Autophagy Volume: 19 Page(s): 822 - 838
03/01/2023 Authors: Yang S; Nie T; She H; Tao K; Lu F; Hu Y; Huang L; Zhu L; Feng D; He D
Chaperone-mediated autophagy degrades Keap1 and promotes Nrf2-mediated antioxidative response.
Aging Cell Volume: 21 Page(s): e13616
06/01/2022 Authors: Zhu L; He S; Huang L; Ren D; Nie T; Tao K; Xia L; Lu F; Mao Z; Yang Q
Chaperone-mediated autophagy controls the turnover of E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCHF5 and regulates mitochondrial dynamics.
Autophagy Volume: 17 Page(s): 2923 - 2938
10/01/2021 Authors: Nie T; Tao K; Zhu L; Huang L; Hu S; Yang R; Xu P; Mao Z; Yang Q
p38 MAPK-mediated loss of nuclear RNase III enzyme Drosha underlies amyloid beta-induced neuronal stress in Alzheimer's disease.
Aging Cell Volume: 20 Page(s): e13434
10/01/2021 Authors: Xu H; Liu X; Li W; Xi Y; Su P; Meng B; Shao X; Tang B; Yang Q; Mao Z
PLK1 Inhibition Sensitizes Breast Cancer Cells to Radiation via Suppressing Autophagy.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Volume: 110 Page(s): 1234 - 1247
07/15/2021 Authors: Wang B; Huang X; Liang H; Yang H; Guo Z; Ai M; Zhang J; Khan M; Tian Y; Sun Q
Regulatory coupling between long noncoding RNAs and senescence in irradiated microglia.
J Neuroinflammation Volume: 17 Page(s): 321
10/28/2020 Authors: Xu A; Li R; Ren A; Jian H; Huang Z; Zeng Q; Wang B; Zheng J; Chen X; Zheng N
Linc-RA1 inhibits autophagy and promotes radioresistance by preventing H2Bub1/USP44 combination in glioma cells.
Cell Death Dis Volume: 11 Page(s): 758
09/15/2020 Authors: Zheng J; Wang B; Zheng R; Zhang J; Huang C; Zheng R; Huang Z; Qiu W; Liu M; Yang K
microRNA-124 inhibits stem-like properties and enhances radiosensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via direct repression of expression of JAMA.
J Cell Mol Med Volume: 24 Page(s): 9533 - 9544
09/01/2020 Authors: Tian Y; Tian Y; Tu Y; Zhang G; Zeng X; Lin J; Ai M; Mao Z; Zheng R; Yuan Y
The emerging roles of vacuolar-type ATPase-dependent Lysosomal acidification in neurodegenerative diseases.
Transl Neurodegener Volume: 9 Page(s): 17
05/11/2020 Authors: Song Q; Meng B; Xu H; Mao Z
Targeting Hsc70-based autophagy to eliminate amyloid oligomers.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun Volume: 524 Page(s): 923 - 928
04/16/2020 Authors: Dou J; Su P; Xu C; Wen Z; Mao Z; Li W
Chaperone-mediated autophagy: Advances from bench to bedside.
Neurobiol Dis Volume: 122 Page(s): 41 - 48
02/01/2019 Authors: Li W; Nie T; Xu H; Yang J; Yang Q; Mao Z
Mechanisms Underlying Dysregulation of miR-132 in Alzheimer's Disease.
Biomed J Sci Tech Res Volume: 22 Page(s): 17018 - 17020
01/01/2019 Authors: Song Q; Dou J; Mao Z; Wen Z; Li W
Loss of Drosha underlies dopaminergic neuron toxicity in models of Parkinson's disease.
Cell Death Dis Volume: 9 Page(s): 693
06/07/2018 Authors: Wang R; Lu F; Zhu G; Feng D; Nie T; Tao K; Yang S; Lei J; Huang L; Mao Z
p38 MAPK inhibits autophagy and promotes microglial inflammatory responses by phosphorylating ULK1.
J Cell Biol Volume: 217 Page(s): 315 - 328
01/02/2018 Authors: He Y; She H; Zhang T; Xu H; Cheng L; Yepes M; Zhao Y; Mao Z
Autophagy in inflammation: the p38 MAPK-ULK1 axis.
Macrophage (Houst) Volume: 5
01/01/2018 Authors: She H; He Y; Zhao Y; Mao Z
Release the autophage brake on inflammation: The MAPK14/p38-ULK1 pedal.
Autophagy Volume: 14 Page(s): 1097 - 1098
01/01/2018 Authors: She H; He Y; Zhao Y; Mao Z
Signaling and induction of chaperone-mediated autophagy by the endoplasmic reticulum under stress conditions.
Autophagy Volume: 14 Page(s): 1094 - 1096
01/01/2018 Authors: Li W; Yang Q; Mao Z
Phosphorylation of LAMP2A by p38 MAPK couples ER stress to chaperone-mediated autophagy.
Nat Commun Volume: 8 Page(s): 1763
11/24/2017 Authors: Li W; Zhu J; Dou J; She H; Tao K; Xu H; Yang Q; Mao Z
Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediates distinct impacts of sevoflurane on different subfields of immature hippocampus.
J Neurochem Volume: 142 Page(s): 272 - 285
07/01/2017 Authors: Zhu G; Tao L; Wang R; Xue Y; Wang X; Yang S; Sun X; Gao G; Mao Z; Yang Q
MEF2D Mediates the Neuroprotective Effect of Methylene Blue Against Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Damage in HT22 Hippocampal Cells.
Mol Neurobiol Volume: 54 Page(s): 2209 - 2222
04/01/2017 Authors: Chen Z-W; Liu A; Liu Q; Chen J; Li W-M; Chao X-J; Yang Q; Liu P-Q; Mao Z-X; Pi R-B
Study of ATM Phosphorylation by Cdk5 in Neuronal Cells.
Methods Mol Biol Volume: 1599 Page(s): 363 - 374
01/01/2017 Authors: She H; Mao Z
Regulation of ER stress-induced autophagy by GSK3-TIP60-ULK1 pathway.
Cell Death Dis Volume: 7 Page(s): e2563
12/29/2016 Authors: Nie T; Yang S; Ma H; Zhang L; Lu F; Tao K; Wang R; Yang R; Huang L; Mao Z
Interaction between charged nanoparticles and vesicles: coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.
Phys Chem Chem Phys Volume: 18 Page(s): 31946 - 31957
11/23/2016 Authors: Liu L; Zhang J; Zhao X; Mao Z; Liu N; Zhang Y; Liu QH
Naturally Existing Oncolytic Virus M1 Is Nonpathogenic for the Nonhuman Primates After Multiple Rounds of Repeated Intravenous Injections.
Hum Gene Ther Volume: 27 Page(s): 700 - 711
09/01/2016 Authors: Zhang H; Lin Y; Li K; Liang J; Xiao X; Cai J; Tan Y; Xing F; Mai J; Li Y
Erratum.
Autophagy Volume: 12 Page(s): 443
01/01/2016
Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinsons Dis Volume: 2016 Page(s): 2613401
01/01/2016 Authors: Yang R; Gao G; Mao Z; Yang Q
Chaperone-mediated autophagy and neurodegeneration: connections, mechanisms, and therapeutic implications.
Neurosci Bull Volume: 31 Page(s): 407 - 415
08/01/2015 Authors: Liu X; Huang S; Wang X; Tang B; Li W; Mao Z
Rictor Undergoes Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3)-dependent, FBXW7-mediated Ubiquitination and Proteasomal Degradation.
J Biol Chem Volume: 290 Page(s): 14120 - 14129
05/29/2015 Authors: Koo J; Wu X; Mao Z; Khuri FR; Sun S-Y
Stress induces p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation and inhibition of Drosha-dependent cell survival.
Mol Cell Volume: 57 Page(s): 721 - 734
02/19/2015 Authors: Yang Q; Li W; She H; Dou J; Duong DM; Du Y; Yang S-H; Seyfried NT; Fu H; Gao G
De novo mutation in ATP6V1B2 impairs lysosome acidification and causes dominant deafness-onychodystrophy syndrome.
Cell Res Volume: 24 Page(s): 1370 - 1373
11/01/2014 Authors: Yuan Y; Zhang J; Chang Q; Zeng J; Xin F; Wang J; Zhu Q; Wu J; Lu J; Guo W
Oxidation of survival factor MEF2D in neuronal death and Parkinson's disease.
Antioxid Redox Signal Volume: 20 Page(s): 2936 - 2948
06/20/2014 Authors: Gao L; She H; Li W; Zeng J; Zhu J; Jones DP; Mao Z; Gao G; Yang Q
Chaperone-mediated autophagy: roles in neurodegeneration.
Transl Neurodegener Volume: 3 Page(s): 20
01/01/2014 Authors: Wang G; Mao Z
Perturbation of transcription factor Nur77 expression mediated by myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) regulates dopaminergic neuron loss in response to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).
J Biol Chem Volume: 288 Page(s): 14362 - 14371
05/17/2013 Authors: Mount MP; Zhang Y; Amini M; Callaghan S; Kulczycki J; Mao Z; Slack RS; Anisman H; Park DS
Rictor undergoes GSK3-dependent, FBXW7-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation
Volume: 73
04/15/2013 Authors: Koo J; Wu X; Yue P; Mao Z; Khuri FR; Sun S-Y
Activation of transcription factor MEF2D by bis(3)-cognitin protects dopaminergic neurons and ameliorates Parkinsonian motor defects.
J Biol Chem Volume: 287 Page(s): 34246 - 34255
10/05/2012 Authors: Yao L; Li W; She H; Dou J; Jia L; He Y; Yang Q; Zhu J; Cpiro NL; Walker DI
Neurotoxin-induced selective ubiquitination and regulation of MEF2A isoform in neuronal stress response.
J Neurochem Volume: 122 Page(s): 1203 - 1210
09/01/2012 Authors: She H; Yang Q; Mao Z
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.
Autophagy Volume: 8 Page(s): 445 - 544
04/01/2012 Authors: Klionsky DJ; Abdalla FC; Abeliovich H; Abraham RT; Acevedo-Arozena A; Adeli K; Agholme L; Agnello M; Agostinis P; Aguirre-Ghiso JA
Calpain-mediated degradation of myocyte enhancer factor 2D contributes to excitotoxicity by activation of extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
J Biol Chem Volume: 287 Page(s): 5797 - 5805
02/17/2012 Authors: Wei G; Yin Y; Li W; Bito H; She H; Mao Z
Modulation of Neuronal Survival Factor MEF2 by Kinases in Parkinson's Disease.
Front Physiol Volume: 3 Page(s): 171
01/01/2012 Authors: Yin Y; She H; Li W; Yang Q; Guo S; Mao Z
Regulation of myocyte enhancer factor-2 transcription factors by neurotoxins.
Neurotoxicology Volume: 32 Page(s): 563 - 566
10/01/2011 Authors: She H; Mao Z
Cdk5: mediator of neuronal development, death and the response to DNA damage.
Mech Ageing Dev Volume: 132 Page(s): 389 - 394
08/01/2011 Authors: Zhu J; Li W; Mao Z
Alternative mitochondrial electron transfer as a novel strategy for neuroprotection.
J Biol Chem Volume: 286 Page(s): 16504 - 16515
05/06/2011 Authors: Wen Y; Li W; Poteet EC; Xie L; Tan C; Yan L-J; Ju X; Liu R; Qian H; Marvin MA
Direct regulation of complex I by mitochondrial MEF2D is disrupted in a mouse model of Parkinson disease and in human patients.
J Clin Invest Volume: 121 Page(s): 930 - 940
03/01/2011 Authors: She H; Yang Q; Shepherd K; Smith Y; Miller G; Testa C; Mao Z
Chaperone-mediated autophagy: machinery, regulation and biological consequences.
Cell Mol Life Sci Volume: 68 Page(s): 749 - 763
03/01/2011 Authors: Li W; Yang Q; Mao Z
Dysregulation of autophagy and Parkinson's disease: the MEF2D link.
Apoptosis Volume: 15 Page(s): 1410 - 1414
11/01/2010 Authors: Yang Q; Mao Z
Parkinson disease: a role for autophagy?
Neuroscientist Volume: 16 Page(s): 335 - 341
08/01/2010 Authors: Yang Q; Mao Z
Phosphorylation of neuronal survival factor MEF2D by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta in neuronal apoptosis.
J Biol Chem Volume: 284 Page(s): 32619 - 32626
11/20/2009 Authors: Wang X; She H; Mao Z
Essential role of cytoplasmic cdk5 and Prx2 in multiple ischemic injury models, in vivo.
J Neurosci Volume: 29 Page(s): 12497 - 12505
10/07/2009 Authors: Rashidian J; Rousseaux MW; Venderova K; Qu D; Callaghan SM; Phillips M; Bland RJ; During MJ; Mao Z; Slack RS
The complexity in regulation of MEF2D by chaperone-mediated autophagy.
Autophagy Volume: 5 Page(s): 1073 - 1074
10/01/2009 Authors: Yang Q; Mao Z
Regulation of MEF2s by chaperone-mediated autophagy.
Cell Cycle Volume: 8 Page(s): 1105
04/15/2009 Authors: Yang Q; Mao Z
Phosphorylation of ATM by Cdk5 mediates DNA damage signalling and regulates neuronal death.
Nat Cell Biol Volume: 11 Page(s): 211 - 218
02/01/2009 Authors: Tian B; Yang Q; Mao Z
Regulation of neuronal survival factor MEF2D by chaperone-mediated autophagy.
Science Volume: 323 Page(s): 124 - 127
01/02/2009 Authors: Yang Q; She H; Gearing M; Colla E; Lee M; Shacka JJ; Mao Z
The question of cell cycle reentry by mature neurons in response to amyloid-beta and tau pathology.
J Alzheimers Dis Volume: 17 Page(s): 49 - 51
01/01/2009 Authors: Mao Z
Cdk5-mediated regulation of the PIKE-A-Akt pathway and glioblastoma cell invasion.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 105 Page(s): 7570 - 7575
05/27/2008 Authors: Liu R; Tian B; Gearing M; Hunter S; Ye K; Mao Z
Tissue-type plasminogen activator and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein mediate cerebral ischemia-induced nuclear factor-kappaB pathway activation.
Am J Pathol Volume: 171 Page(s): 1281 - 1290
10/01/2007 Authors: Zhang X; Polavarapu R; She H; Mao Z; Yepes M
Activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 by calpains contributes to human immunodeficiency virus-induced neurotoxicity.
J Neurochem Volume: 103 Page(s): 439 - 455
10/01/2007 Authors: Wang Y; White MG; Akay C; Chodroff RA; Robinson J; Lindl KA; Dichter MA; Qian Y; Mao Z; Kolson DL
Engineering metal ion coordination to regulate amyloid fibril assembly and toxicity.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 104 Page(s): 13313 - 13318
08/14/2007 Authors: Dong J; Canfield JM; Mehta AK; Shokes JE; Tian B; Childers WS; Simmons JA; Mao Z; Scott RA; Warncke K
AKT and CDK5/p35 mediate brain-derived neurotrophic factor induction of DARPP-32 in medium size spiny neurons in vitro.
J Biol Chem Volume: 282 Page(s): 7352 - 7359
03/09/2007 Authors: Bogush A; Pedrini S; Pelta-Heller J; Chan T; Yang Q; Mao Z; Sluzas E; Gieringer T; Ehrlich ME
Control of MEF2 transcriptional activity by coordinated phosphorylation and sumoylation.
J Biol Chem Volume: 281 Page(s): 4423 - 4433
02/17/2006 Authors: Grgoire S; Tremblay AM; Xiao L; Yang Q; Ma K; Nie J; Mao Z; Wu Z; Gigure V; Yang X-J
Calpain-regulated p35/cdk5 plays a central role in dopaminergic neuron death through modulation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2.
J Neurosci Volume: 26 Page(s): 440 - 447
01/11/2006 Authors: Smith PD; Mount MP; Shree R; Callaghan S; Slack RS; Anisman H; Vincent I; Wang X; Mao Z; Park DS
PI3K/Akt-dependent regulation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor-2 in insulin-like growth factor-1- and membrane depolarization-mediated survival of cerebellar granule neurons.
J Neurosci Res Volume: 81 Page(s): 226 - 234
07/15/2005 Authors: Wiedmann M; Wang X; Tang X; Han M; Li M; Mao Z
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 mediates neurotoxin-induced degradation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2.
J Neurosci Volume: 25 Page(s): 4823 - 4834
05/11/2005 Authors: Tang X; Wang X; Gong X; Tong M; Park D; Xia Z; Mao Z
Regulation of neuroprotective activity of myocyte-enhancer factor 2 by cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway in neuronal survival.
J Biol Chem Volume: 280 Page(s): 16705 - 16713
04/29/2005 Authors: Wang X; Tang X; Li M; Marshall J; Mao Z
Activity deprivation-dependent induction of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim is independent of JNK/c-Jun activation during apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons.
Neurosci Lett Volume: 375 Page(s): 7 - 12
02/25/2005 Authors: Shi L; Gong S; Yuan Z; Ma C; Liu Y; Wang C; Li W; Pi R; Huang S; Chen R
JNK inhibition as a potential strategy in treating Parkinson's disease.
Drug News Perspect Volume: 17 Page(s): 646 - 654
12/01/2004 Authors: Wang W; Ma C; Mao Z; Li M
Regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and growth by transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2.
Gastroenterology Volume: 127 Page(s): 1174 - 1188
10/01/2004 Authors: Wang X; Tang X; Gong X; Albanis E; Friedman SL; Mao Z
Indirubin-3'-oxime inhibits c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase: anti-apoptotic effect in cerebellar granule neurons.
Neurosci Lett Volume: 367 Page(s): 355 - 359
09/09/2004 Authors: Xie Y; Liu Y; Ma C; Yuan Z; Wang W; Zhu Z; Gao G; Liu X; Yuan H; Chen R
SP600125, a new JNK inhibitor, protects dopaminergic neurons in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.
Neurosci Res Volume: 48 Page(s): 195 - 202
02/01/2004 Authors: Wang W; Shi L; Xie Y; Ma C; Li W; Su X; Huang S; Chen R; Zhu Z; Mao Z
MEF2 regulates hepatic stellate cell activation and growth.
Volume: 38 Page(s): 774A - 774A
10/01/2003 Authors: Wang XM; Tang XL; Gong XM; Wands J; Friedman S; Mao ZX
Calcium channel and NMDA receptor activities differentially regulate nuclear C/EBPbeta levels to control neuronal survival.
Neuron Volume: 39 Page(s): 625 - 639
08/14/2003 Authors: Marshall J; Dolan BM; Garcia EP; Sathe S; Tang X; Mao Z; Blair LAC
ERK5 activation of MEF2-mediated gene expression plays a critical role in BDNF-promoted survival of developing but not mature cortical neurons.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Volume: 100 Page(s): 8532 - 8537
07/08/2003 Authors: Liu L; Cavanaugh JE; Wang Y; Sakagami H; Mao Z; Xia Z
Cdk5-mediated inhibition of the protective effects of transcription factor MEF2 in neurotoxicity-induced apoptosis.
Neuron Volume: 38 Page(s): 33 - 46
04/10/2003 Authors: Gong X; Tang X; Wiedmann M; Wang X; Peng J; Zheng D; Blair LAC; Marshall J; Mao Z
Neuronal activity-dependent cell survival mediated by transcription factor MEF2.
Science Volume: 286 Page(s): 785 - 790
10/22/1999 Authors: Mao Z; Bonni A; Xia F; Nadal-Vicens M; Greenberg ME
Calcineurin enhances MEF2 DNA binding activity in calcium-dependent survival of cerebellar granule neurons.
J Biol Chem Volume: 274 Page(s): 31102 - 31107
10/22/1999 Authors: Mao Z; Wiedmann M
Characterization of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) expression and functional analysis during hepatocyte growth and differentiation
HEPATOLOGY Volume: 30 Page(s): 513A - 513A
10/01/1999 Authors: Wiedmann M; Wands JR; Mao ZX
Isolation and enzymatic characterization of protein lambda 2, the reovirus guanylyltransferase.
Virology Volume: 185 Page(s): 377 - 386
11/01/1991 Authors: Mao ZX; Joklik WK

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