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Hong Wen, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Division of Basic Science Research, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Interests

    The genomic stability of all eukaryotic organisms depends on the error-free segregation of chromosomes during mitotic and meiotic cell divisions.  Failure of faithful chromosome segregation leads to genomic instability which is a direct cause of many human diseases including cancer. Our long-term goal is to understand the principles of faithful chromosomal segregation, and our current research interest is focused on the functions of Myb protein in mitosis using Drosophila as a model organism.
    At molecular level, dMyb functions in a large protein complex named dREAM complex that includes Drosophila Rb, E2F2 and Myb. Recently we found that dREAM complex directly regulates the expression of some essential G2/M genes such as Polo kinase and spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) genes.  In addition, this regulation is in an epigenetic manner.  Our current effort is to define the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms by which dMyb and the dREAM complex regulate mitotic progression and genomic stability during cell division.


Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1515 Holcomb Blvd
Unit Number: Unit 1000
Houston, TX 77030
Room Number: BSRB S12.8336
Phone: 713-834-6295
Fax: 713-792-0346
Email: hwen@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, PHD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1996 Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, BS, Biochemistry

Postgraduate Training

2002-2008 Research Fellowship, Genetics and cell biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, Dr. Joseph Lipsick

Honors and Awards

2007 McCormick Scholarship, Stanford University
2005 McCormick Travel Award, Stanford University
2001 Baoijie Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1996 Graduated with honors, Wuhan University

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Andrejka L, Wen H, Ashton J, Grant M, Iori K, Wang A, Manak JR, Lipsick JS. Animal-specific C-terminal domain links myeloblastosis oncoprotein (Myb) to an ancient repressor complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108(42):17438-43, 10/2011. e-Pub 10/2011. PMCID: PMC3198365.
2. Ouyang Y, Petritsch C, Wen H, Jan L, Jan YN, Lu B. Dronc caspase exerts a non-apoptotic function to restrain phospho-Numb-induced ectopic neuroblast formation in Drosophila. Development 138(11):2185-96, 6/2011. PMID: 21558368.
3. Wen H, Li J, Song T, Lu M, Kan PY, Lee MG, Sha B, Shi X. Recognition of histone H3K4 trimethylation by the PHD finger of PHF2 modulates histone demethylation. J Biol Chem 285(13):9322, 3/26/2010. e-Pub 2/2/2010. PMCID: PMC2843180.
4. Kachirskaia I, Shi X, Yamaguchi H, Tanoue K, Wen H, Wang EW, Appella E, Gozani O. Role for 53BP1 Tudor domain recognition of p53 dimethylated at lysine 382 in DNA damage signaling. J Biol Chem 283(50):34660-6, 12/12/2008. e-Pub 10/7/2008. PMCID: PMC2596381.
5. Wen H, Andrejka L, Ashton J, Karess R, Lipsick JS. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression by Drosophila Myb and E2F2-RBF via the Myb-MuvB/dREAM complex. Genes Dev 22(5):601-14, 3/1/2008. PMCID: PMC2259030.
6. Shi X, Kachirskaia I, Yamaguchi H, West LE, Wen H, Wang EW, Dutta S, Appella E, Gozani O. Modulation of p53 function by SET8-mediated methylation at lysine 382. Mol Cell 27(4):636-46, 8/17/2007. PMCID: PMC2693209.
7. Manak JR, Wen H, Van T, Andrejka L, Lipsick JS. Loss of Drosophila Myb interrupts the progression of chromosome condensation. Nat Cell Biol 9(5):581-7, 5/2007. e-Pub 4/22/2007. PMID: 17450131.
8. Wang DM, Sevcikova S, Wen H, Roberts S, Lipsick JS. v-Myb represses the transcription of Ets-2. Oncogene 26(8):1238-44, 2/2007. e-Pub 8/2006. PMID: 16909100.
9. Wen H, Ao S. Identification and characterization of a novel human cDNA encoding a 21 kDa pRb-associated protein. Gene 263(1-2):85-92, 1/2001. PMID: 11223246.
10. Li Q, Wen H, Ao S. Identification and cloning of the cDNA of a Rb-associated protein RAP140a. Sci China C Life Sci 43(6):637-47, 12/2000. PMID: 18726359.
11. Wen H, Ao S. RBP95, a novel leucine zipper protein, binds to the retinoblastoma protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 275(1):141-8, 8/2000. PMID: 10944455.
12. Zhou R, Wen H, Ao SZ. Identification of a novel gene encoding a p53-associated protein. Gene 235(1-2):93-101, 7/1999. PMID: 10415337.

Last updated: 12/14/2012