Pathology Graduate Training Program
Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) -
Current Graduate Students

Name: Jing Yang
Email: jiy36@pitt.edu
Lab Phone: 412-383-7821
Mentor Name: Satdarshan (Paul) Singh Monga, M.D.

Undergraduate Education:
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Medicine
Undergraduate Institution: Peking University, China

Research Project Information

β-catenin is a transcriptional co-activator that plays a crucial role in regulating genes that are critical for cell cycle progression and contributes to initiation of liver regeneration (LR). Canonical Wnt signaling pathway triggers β-catenin activation. Wnt is an extracellular glycoprotein secreted by various types of cells. When Wnt binds to its cell surface receptor Frizzled and co-receptor low-density lipoprotein related protein (LRP) 5/6, it stabilizes β-catenin protein and drives the expression of downstream targets. However, β-catenin can also be activated in a Wnt-independent manner. Additional signaling pathways that can activate β-catenin include hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and protein kinase A (PKA). The relative contribution of Wnt-independent pathways to β-catenin activation in physiological context has not been addressed. Therefore, we aim to investigate to what extent β-catenin signaling in liver is Wnt dependent in normal liver homeostasis, after liver injury and during LR, and identify the source of Wnts that modulate β-catenin activation in these processes.

Publications / Achievements

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