ZFIN ID: ZDB-PERS-970313-3
Du, Shao Jun (Jim)
Email: dus@umbi.umd.edu
URL: http://www.umaryland.edu/graduate_mcb/faculty/a-k/du.html
Affiliation: Shengyun Fang Lab
and also: Du Lab
Address: Center of Marine Biotechnology University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute 701 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202 USA
Country: United States
Phone: (410) 234-8855
Fax: (410) 234-8896
ORCID ID:


BIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
Vertebrate skeletal muscles contain muscle fibers of several types, which can be broadly classified as slow or fast fibers, on the basis of differences in contraction speeds, metabolic activities, and motoneuron innervation. The major focus of my research is to try to understand how distinct types of muscle cells (slow vs fast) are induced and what are the signaling molecules involved in this process. Using zebrafish as a model, we have examined the potential roles of members of the hedgehog and TGF- gene families in the development of slow muscle fiber. Preliminary data suggest that Hedgehog signaling induces slow muscle cells, and that BMP-like signaling is involved in the specification of distinct slow muscle cell identity. Future research interests lie chiefly in understanding how the expression of Hedgehog genes are regulated and what are the signals required for the induction of fast muscle cells.


PUBLICATIONS
Xiao, H., Wang, H., He, Q., Zhou, J., Du, S. (2022) Gene expression and functional analysis of Aha1a and Aha1b in stress response in zebrafish. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology. 262:110777
Luo, Z., Shi, J., Pandey, P., Ruan, Z.R., Sevdali, M., Bu, Y., Lu, Y., Du, S., Chen, E.H. (2022) The cellular architecture and molecular determinants of the zebrafish fusogenic synapse. Developmental Cell. 57(13):1582-1597.e6
Xu, R., Du, S. (2021) Overexpression of Lifeact-GFP Disrupts F-Actin Organization in Cardiomyocytes and Impairs Cardiac Function. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 9:746818
Jiao, S., Xu, R., Du, S. (2021) Smyd1 is essential for myosin expression and sarcomere organization in craniofacial, extraocular, and cardiac muscles. Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao. 48(3):208-218
Li, S., Wen, H., Du, S. (2020) Defective sarcomere organization and reduced larval locomotion and fish survival in slow muscle heavy chain 1 (smyhc1) mutants. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 34:1378-1397
Li, B., Li, S., He, Q., Du, S. (2019) Generation of MuRF-GFP transgenic zebrafish models for investigating murf gene expression and protein localization in Smyd1b and Hsp90α1 knockdown embryos. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology. 240:110368
Cai, M., Han, L., Liu, L., He, F., Chu, W., Zhang, J., Tian, Z., Du, S. (2019) Defective sarcomere assembly in smyd1a and smyd1b zebrafish mutants. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 33(5):6209-6225
Si, Y., Wen, H., Du, S. (2018) Genetic Mutations in jamb, jamc, and myomaker Revealed Different Roles on Myoblast Fusion and Muscle Growth. Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.). 21(1):111-123
Shi, J., Cai, M., Si, Y., Zhang, J., Du, S. (2018) Knockout of myomaker results in defective myoblast fusion, reduced muscle growth and increased adipocyte infiltration in zebrafish skeletal muscle. Human molecular genetics. 27(20):3542-3554
Cai, M., Si, Y., Zhang, J., Tian, Z., Du, S. (2018) Zebrafish Embryonic Slow Muscle Is a Rapid System for Genetic Analysis of Sarcomere Organization by CRISPR/Cas9, but Not NgAgo. Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.). 20(2):168-181
Suarez-Bregua, P., Chien, C.J., Megias, M., Du, S.D., Rotllant, J. (2017) Promoter architecture and transcriptional regulation of musculoskeletal embryonic nuclear protein 1b (mustn1b) gene in zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 246(12):992-1000
Suarez-Bregua, P., Torres-Nuñez, E., Saxena, A., Guerreiro, P., Braasch, I., Prober, D.A., Moran, P., Cerda-Reverter, J.M., Du, S.J., Adrio, F., Power, D.M., Canario, A.V., Postlethwait, J.H., Bronner, M.E., Cañestro, C., Rotllant, J. (2017) Pth4, an ancient parathyroid hormone lost in eutherian mammals, reveals a new brain-to-bone signaling pathway. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 31:569-583
He, Q., Liu, K., Tian, Z., Du, S.J. (2015) The Effects of Hsp90α1 Mutations on Myosin Thick Filament Organization. PLoS One. 10:e0142573
Li, J., Chen, Z., Colorni, A., Ucko, M., Fang, S., Du, S.J. (2015) A transgenic zebrafish model for monitoring xbp1 splicing and endoplasmic reticulum stress in vivo. Mechanisms of Development. 137:33-44
Chen, Z., Ballar, P., Fu, Y., Luo, J., Du, S., Fang, S. (2014) The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase gp78 Protects against ER Stress in Zebrafish Liver. Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao. 41:357-68
Daya, A., Vatine, G.D., Becker-Cohen, M., Tal-Goldberg, T., Friedmann, A., Gothilf, Y., Du, S.J., and Mitrani-Rosenbaum, S. (2014) Gne depletion during zebrafish development impairs skeletal muscle structure and function. Human molecular genetics. 23(13):3349-61
Gao, J., Li, J., Li, B.J., Yagil, E., Zhang, J., and Du, S.J. (2014) Expression and functional characterization of Smyd1a in myofibril organization of skeletal muscles. PLoS One. 9(1):e86808
Li, H., Zhong, Y., Wang, Z., Gao, J., Xu, J., Chu, W., Zhang, J., Fang, S., and Du, S.J. (2013) Smyd1b is required for skeletal and cardiac muscle function in zebrafish. Molecular biology of the cell. 24(22):3511-21
Torres-Nuñez, E., Sobrino, C., Neale, P.J., Ceinos, R.M., Du, S.J., and Rotllant, J. (2012) Molecular Response to Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure in Fish Embryos: Implications for Survival and Morphological Development. Photochemistry and photobiology. 88(3):701-707
Deasey, S., Grichenko, O., Du, S., and Nurminskaya, M. (2012) Characterization of the transglutaminase gene family in zebrafish and in vivo analysis of transglutaminase-dependent bone mineralization. Amino Acids. 42(2-3):1065-1075
Xu, J., Gao, J., Li, J., Xue, L., Clark, K.J., Ekker, S.C., and Du, S.J. (2012) Functional analysis of slow Myosin heavy chain 1 and myomesin-3 in sarcomere organization in zebrafish embryonic slow muscles. Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao. 39(2):69-80
Avella, M.A., Place, A., Du, S.J., Williams, E., Silvi, S., Zohar, Y., and Carnevali, O. (2012) Lactobacillus rhamnosus Accelerates Zebrafish Backbone Calcification and Gonadal Differentiation through Effects on the GnRH and IGF Systems. PLoS One. 7(9):e45572
Bian, Y.H., Xu, C., Li, J., Xu, J., Zhang, H., and Du, S.J. (2011) Development of a transgenic zebrafish model expressing GFP in the notochord, somite and liver directed by the hfe2 gene promoter. Transgenic Research. 20(4):787-98
Li, H., Xu, J., Bian, Y.H., Rotllant, P., Shen, T., Chu, W., Zhang, J., Schneider, M., and Du, S.J. (2011) Smyd1b_tv1, a Key Regulator of Sarcomere Assembly, Is Localized on the M-Line of Skeletal Muscle Fibers. PLoS One. 6(12):e28524
Bernick, E., Zhang, P., and Du, S. (2010) Knockdown and overexpression of Unc-45b result in defective myofibril organization in skeletal muscles of zebrafish embryos. BMC Cell Biology. 11:70
Haga, Y., Du, S. J., Masui, S., Fujinami, Y., Aritaki, M., Satoh, S. (2010) Visualization of skeletons and intervertebral disks in live fish larvae by fluorescent calcein staining and disk specific GFP expression. Zeitschrift fur angewandte Ichthyologie = Journal of applied ichthyology. 26(2):268-273
Codina, M., Li, J., Gutiérrez, J., Kao, J.P., and Du, S.J. (2010) Loss of Smyhc1 or Hsp90alpha1 function results in different effects on myofibril organization in skeletal muscles of zebrafish embryos. PLoS One. 5(1):e8416
Haga, Y., Dominique, V.J. 3rd, and Du, S.J. (2009) Analyzing notochord segmentation and intervertebral disc formation using the twhh:gfp transgenic zebrafish model. Transgenic Research. 18(5):669-683
Li, H., Randall, W.R., and Du, S.J. (2009) skNAC (skeletal Naca), a muscle-specific isoform of Naca (nascent polypeptide-associated complex alpha), is required for myofibril organization. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 23(6):1988-2000
Ahmed, H., Du, S.J., and Vasta, G.R. (2009) Knockdown of a galectin-1-like protein in zebrafish (Danio rerio) causes defects in skeletal muscle development. Glycoconjugate journal. 26(3):277-283
Rotllant, J., Liu, D., Yan, Y.L., Postlethwait, J.H., Westerfield, M., and Du, S.J. (2008) Sparc (Osteonectin) functions in morphogenesis of the pharyngeal skeleton and inner ear. Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology. 27(6):561-572
Abraham, E., Palevitch, O., Ijiri, S., Du, S.J., Gothilf, Y., and Zohar, Y. (2008) Early Development of Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone-I Neurones and the Role of GnRH-I as an Autocrine Migration Factor. Journal of neuroendocrinology. 20(3):394-405
Du, S.J., Li, H., Bian, Y., and Zhong, Y. (2008) Heat-shock protein 90alpha1 is required for organized myofibril assembly in skeletal muscles of zebrafish embryos. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 105(2):554-559
Du, S.J., Rotllant, J., and Tan, X. (2006) Muscle-specific expression of the smyd1 gene is controlled by its 5.3-kb promoter and 5'-flanking sequence in zebrafish embryos. Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 235(12):3306-3315
Tan, X., Rotllant, J., Li, H., Dedeyne, P., and Du, S.J. (2006) SmyD1, a histone methyltransferase, is required for myofibril organization and muscle contraction in zebrafish embryos. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103(8):2713-2718
Du, S.J. (2004) Molecular Regulation of Fish Muscle Development and Growth. In Fish Development and Genetics - the Zebrafish and Medaka Models. Gong, Z. and Korh, V., Eds. Book series of "Molecular Aspects of Fish and Marine Biology". 2
Ahmed, H., Du, S.J., O'Leary, N., and Vasta, G.R. (2004) Biochemical and molecular characterization of galectins from zebrafish (Danio rerio): notochord-specific expression of a prototype galectin during early embryogenesis. Glycobiology. 14(3):219-232
Vasta, G.R., Ahmed, H., Du, S., and Henrikson, D. (2004) Galectins in teleost fish: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model species to address their biological roles in development and innate immunity. Glycoconjugate journal. 21(8-9):503-521
Xu, C., Wu, G., Zohar, Y., and Du, S.J. (2003) Analysis of myostatin gene structure, expression and function in zebrafish. The Journal of experimental biology. 206(22):4067-4079
Du, S.J., Gao, J., and Anyangwe, V. (2003) Muscle-specific expression of myogenin in zebrafish embryos is controlled by multiple regulatory elements in the promoter. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology. 134(1):123-134
Tan, X., Hoang, L., and Du, S. (2002) Characterization of muscle-regulatory genes, myf5 and myogenin, from striped bass and promoter analysis of muscle-specific expression. Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.). 4(6):537-545
Gothilf, Y., Toyama, R., Coon, S.L., Du, S.-J., Dawid, I.B., and Klein, D.C. (2002) Pineal-specific expression of green fluorescent protein under the control of the serotonin-N-acetyltransferase gene regulatory regions in transgenic zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 225(3):241-249
Tan, X.G. and Du, S.J. (2002) Differential expression of two MyoD genes in fast and slow muscles of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Development genes and evolution. 212(5):207-217
Du, S.J. and Dienhart, M. (2001) Zebrafish tiggy-winkle hedgehog promoter directs notochord and floor plate green fluorescence protein expression in transgenic zebrafish embryos. Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 222(4):655-666
Du, S., Frenkel, V., Kindschi, G., and Zohar, Y. (2001) Visualizing normal and defective bone development in zebrafish embryos using the fluorescent chromophore calcein. Developmental Biology. 238(2):239-246
Du, S.J. and Dienhart, M. (2001) Gli2 mediation of Hedgehog signals in slow muscle induction in zebrafish. Differentiation; research in biological diversity. 67(3):84-91
Du, S.J. (2001) Visualizing normal and defective bone development in zebrafish embryos using the fluorescent chromophore calcein. Bozeman, MT US Dept. of the Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bozeman Fish Technology Center.
Du, S.J., S.H. Devoto, M. Westerfield, and R.T. Moon (1997) Positive and Negative Regulation of Muscle Cell Identity by Members of the hedgehog and TGF-β Gene Families. The Journal of cell biology. 139(1):145-156

NON-ZEBRAFISH PUBLICATIONS