Cataract, opacification of the lens, is one of the commonest causes of loss of useful vision. Its risk factors include genetics, environments and aging. In previous study, we have identified LSS (lanosterol synthase) is a cataract-causal gene. Its product lanosterol plays a key role in inhibiting lens protein aggregation and points to a novel strategy for cataract prevention and non-surgical treatment. The main research topics in our lab are:1, Studying the pathogenesis of cataracts and exploring the prevention and treatment strategies;2, Molecular mechanisms of protein folding and misfolding, and identification of small molecules which can suppress protein misfolding;3, Intracellular energy metabolism homeostasis and regulation.We hope that our research will help to develop effective treatments for protein-aggregation diseases, such as cataracts and neurodegeneration diseases.

1, Chen, X.J. *, Zhang, X.H. *, Hu, L.D., Yang, Y., and Yan, Y.B. (2016). DsCaf1 is involved in environmental stress response of Dunaliella salina. Int J Biol Macromol. 82, 369-374. 2, Wang, T. *, Chen, X.J. *, Han, J., Ma, S., Liu, Z., and Yang, Y. (2016). Effects of the cofactor binding sites on the activities of secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (SADH). Int J Biol Macromol. 88, 385-391. 3, Liu, H. *, Gao, Y.S. *, Chen, X.J., Zhou, H.M., Yan, Y.B., and Gong, H. (2016). A single residue substitution accounts for the significant difference in thermostability between two isoforms of human cytosolic creatine kinase. Sci Rep. 6, 211914, Zhao, L. *, Chen, X.J. *, Zhu, J. *, Xi, Y.B. *, Yang, X. *, Hu, L.D. *, et al. 2015. Lanosterol reverses protein aggregation in cataracts. Nature. 523(7562): 607-11. 5, Xi, Y.B. *, Chen, X.J. *, Zhao, W.J. *, and Yan, Y.B. 2015. Congenital cataract-causing mutation G129C in gammaC-crystallin promotes the accumulation of two distinct unfolding intermediates that form highly toxic aggregates. J Mol Biol. 427(17): 2765-81.6, Chen, X.J. *, Wu, M.J. *, and Yan, Y.B. 2015. Dunaliella salina Hsp90 is halotolerant. Int J Biol Macromol. 75: 418-425. 7, Li, X.H., Chen, X.J., Ou, W.B., Zhang, Q., et al. 2013. Knockdown of creatine kinase B inhibits ovarian cancer progression by decreasing glycolysis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 45(5): 979-986.8, Chen, Z. *, Chen, X.J. *, Xia, M.D. *, He, H.W. *, Wang, S., Liu, H.H., Gong, H.P., et al. 2012. Chaperone-like effect of the linker on the isolated C-terminal domain of rabbit muscle creatine kinase. Biophys J. 103(3): 558-566. Cataract, opacification of the lens, is one of the commonest causes of loss of useful vision. Its risk factors include genetics, environments and aging. In previous study, we have identified LSS (lanosterol synthase) is a cataract-causal gene. Its product lanosterol plays a key role in inhibiting lens protein aggregation and points to a novel strategy for cataract prevention and non-surgical treatment. The main research topics in our lab are:1, Studying the pathogenesis of cataracts and exploring the prevention and treatment strategies;2, Molecular mechanisms of protein folding and misfolding, and identification of small molecules which can suppress protein misfolding;3, Intracellular energy metabolism homeostasis and regulation.We hope that our research will help to develop effective treatments for protein-aggregation diseases, such as cataracts and neurodegeneration diseases.

1, Chen, X.J. *, Zhang, X.H. *, Hu, L.D., Yang, Y., and Yan, Y.B. (2016). DsCaf1 is involved in environmental stress response of Dunaliella salina. Int J Biol Macromol. 82, 369-374. 2, Wang, T. *, Chen, X.J. *, Han, J., Ma, S., Liu, Z., and Yang, Y. (2016). Effects of the cofactor binding sites on the activities of secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (SADH). Int J Biol Macromol. 88, 385-391. 3, Liu, H. *, Gao, Y.S. *, Chen, X.J., Zhou, H.M., Yan, Y.B., and Gong, H. (2016). A single residue substitution accounts for the significant difference in thermostability between two isoforms of human cytosolic creatine kinase. Sci Rep. 6, 211914, Zhao, L. *, Chen, X.J. *, Zhu, J. *, Xi, Y.B. *, Yang, X. *, Hu, L.D. *, et al. 2015. Lanosterol reverses protein aggregation in cataracts. Nature. 523(7562): 607-11. 5, Xi, Y.B. *, Chen, X.J. *, Zhao, W.J. *, and Yan, Y.B. 2015. Congenital cataract-causing mutation G129C in gammaC-crystallin promotes the accumulation of two distinct unfolding intermediates that form highly toxic aggregates. J Mol Biol. 427(17): 2765-81.6, Chen, X.J. *, Wu, M.J. *, and Yan, Y.B. 2015. Dunaliella salina Hsp90 is halotolerant. Int J Biol Macromol. 75: 418-425. 7, Li, X.H., Chen, X.J., Ou, W.B., Zhang, Q., et al. 2013. Knockdown of creatine kinase B inhibits ovarian cancer progression by decreasing glycolysis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 45(5): 979-986.8, Chen, Z. *, Chen, X.J. *, Xia, M.D. *, He, H.W. *, Wang, S., Liu, H.H., Gong, H.P., et al. 2012. Chaperone-like effect of the linker on the isolated C-terminal domain of rabbit muscle creatine kinase. Biophys J. 103(3): 558-566.