Education

Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, 2000 – 2006 
Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine

B. S. in Biochemistry, 1992 – 1996
East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

Research

My research focuses on understanding how specific neurons and neural circuits regulate systemic aging. We recently identified a role of a small population of dopaminergic neurons in regulating longevity in fruit fly. Characterization of the aging-related dopaminergic circuits holds the key to understanding how brain orchestrates aging and lifespan control.

In addition to studying the link between the high-order brain circuits and aging, I am also interested in the cellular degradation pathways that promote cellular homeostasis. Malfunction in the clearance mechanisms contributes to a range of human diseases including neural developmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Our recent studies demonstrated that, Mask, a putative scaffolding protein with RNA binding capacity, play essential functions in the cell through its regulation on lysosome function and autophagic activity, as well as microtubule dynamics. Overexpressing Mask in specific neurons is beneficial to aging and neurodegeneration. Future studies will focus on unravelling the conserved mechanisms through which Mask confers beneficial effects in post mitotic neurons.

Publications

1. Xiaolin Tian^*, Nathan Le, Yuhai Zhao, Dina Alawamleh, Andrew Schwartz, Lauren Meyer, Elizabeth Helm and Chunlai Wu. Upregulating ANKHD1 in PS19 mice reduces Tau phosphorylation and mitigates Tau-toxicity-induced cognitive deficits. (2025). Int J Mol Sci. Aug 4;26(15):7524. doi: 10.3390/ijms26157524. (* Corresponding author)
2. Xiaolin Tian. Dopaminergic Neurons: Linking Longevity with reproduction? (2022). Aging, online ISSN: 1945-4589
3. Xiaolin Tian*. Enhancing Mask activity in Dopaminergic Neurons Extends Lifespan in Flies. (2021). Aging Cell, e13493
4. Daniel Martinez, Mingwei Zhu, Jessie J. Guidry, Niles Majeste, Hui Mao, Sarah Yanofsky, Xiaolin Tian^* and Chunlai Wu. Mask, the Drosophila Ankyrin Repeat and KH domain-containing protein, affects microtubule stability. (2021). Journal of Cell Science, doi: 10.1242/jcs.258512. (* Corresponding author)
5. Mingwei Zhu, Sheng Zhang, Xiaolin Tian* and Chunlai Wu*. Mask mitigates MAPT- and FUS-induced degeneration by enhancing autophagy through lysosomal acidification.Autophagy. (2017) 1: 1-15. (* Corresponding author)
6. Xiaolin Tian and Chunlai Wu. Active zone stability: insight from fly neuromuscular junction.Neural Regeneration Research. (2015)10: 677-678.
7. Mingwei Zhu, Xia Li, Xiaolin Tian* and Chunlai Wu*.  Mask loss-of-function rescues mitochondrial impairment and muscle degeneration of Drosophila pink1 and parkin mutants.Human Molecular Genetics. (2015) 24(11):3272-85. (* Corresponding author).
8. Xiaolin Tian, Mingwei Zhu, Long Li and Chunlai Wu. Identifying protein-protein interaction in Drosophila Adult heads by tandem affinity purification (TAP).The Journal of Visualized Experiments(JOVE) (2013) 82, e50968.
9. Xiaolin Tian and Chunlai Wu. The role of ubiquitin-mediated pathways in presynaptic development and axonal regeneration: insights from fly and worm.The Journal of Physiology (2013) 591(Pt 13):3133-43. (* Corresponding author)
10. Xiaolin Tian, Jing Li, Vera Valakh, Aaron DiAntonio and Chunlai Wu. Drosophila Rae1 controls the abundance of the ubiquitin ligase Highwire in post-mitotic neurons.Nature Neuroscience (2011)14: 1267-1275. Featured Article (October, 2011).
11. Xiaolin Tian, Ramon U. Jin, Andrew J. Bredemeyer, Edward J. Oates, Katarzyna M. Błażewska, Charles E. McKenna, and Jason C. Mills. RAB26 and RAB3D are direct transcriptional targets of MIST1 that regulate exocrine granule maturation.Molecular and Cellular Biology. (2010) 30(5): 1269-84.
12. Xiaolin Tian, Dave Hansen, Tim Schedl and James B. Skeath. Epsin potentiates Notch pathway activity in Drosophila and C. elegans.Development. (2004) 131(23): 5807-15.

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/browse/collection

Teaching

Investigative Neuroscince

Cellular and Molecular Biology (Inter122)

Clinical Skill Intergration (CSI100 & 200)

Interprofessional Edducation (IPE)

Committees & Administrative Responsibilities

Subbatical Leave Committee