Education

Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Current position

Associate Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA

Publications

1. Mahon, M., Xu, J., Yi, X., Liu, X., Gao, N. and Zhang, L. (2016). Paneth Cell in Adenomas of the Distal Colorectum Is Inversely Associated with Synchronous Advanced Adenoma and Carcinoma. Sci Rep 6: 26129.

2. Zhang, X. and Gao, N. (2016). RAB and RHO GTPases regulate intestinal crypt cell homeostasis and enterocyte function. Small GTPases 7(2): 59-64.

3. Aoki, R., Shoshkes-Carmel, M., Gao, N., Shin, S., May, C. L., Golson, M. L., Zahm, A. M., Ray, M., Wiser, C. L., Wright, C. V. and Kaestner, K. H. (2016). Foxl1-expressing mesenchymal cells constitute the intestinal stem cell niche. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2(2): 175-188.

4. Yu, D. H., Gadkari, M., Zhou, Q., Yu, S., Gao, N., Guan, Y., Schady, D., Roshan, T. N., Chen, M. H., Laritsky, E., Ge, Z., Wang, H., Chen, R., Westwater, C., Bry, L., Waterland, R. A., Moriarty, C., Hwang, C., Swennes, A. G., Moore, S. R. and Shen, L. (2015). Postnatal epigenetic regulation of intestinal stem cells requires DNA methylation and is guided by the microbiome. Genome Biol 16: 211.

5. Patel, C., Douard, V., Yu, S., Tharabenjasin, P., Gao, N. and Ferraris, R. P. (2015). Fructose-induced increases in expression of intestinal fructolytic and gluconeogenic genes are regulated by GLUT5 and KHK. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 309(5): R499-509.

6. Yu, S. and Gao, N. (2015). Compartmentalizing intestinal epithelial cell toll-like receptors for immune surveillance. Cell Mol Life Sci 72(17): 3343-3353.

7. Patel, C., Douard, V., Yu, S., Gao, N. and Ferraris, R. P. (2015). Transport, metabolism, and endosomal trafficking-dependent regulation of intestinal fructose absorption. FASEB J 29(9): 4046-4058.

8. Sakamori, R., Zhang, L. and Gao, N. (2015). Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein Truncation Causes Lethal Protein-Losing Enteropathy in Humans. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 1(4): 348-349.

9. Das, S., Yu, S., Sakamori, R., Vedula, P., Feng, Q., Flores, J., Hoffman, A., Fu, J., Stypulkowski, E., Rodriguez, A., Dobrowolski, R., Harada, A., Hsu, W., Bonder, E. M., Verzi, M. P. and Gao, N. (2015). Rab8a vesicles regulate Wnt ligand delivery and Paneth cell maturation at the intestinal stem cell niche. Development 142(12): 2147-2162.

10. Feng, Q. and Gao, N. (2015). Keeping Wnt signalosome in check by vesicular traffic. J Cell Physiol 230(6): 1170-1180.

11. Knowles, B. C., Weis, V. G., Yu, S., Roland, J. T., Williams, J. A., Alvarado, G. S., Lapierre, L. A., Shub, M. D., Gao, N. and Goldenring, J. R. (2015). Rab11a regulates syntaxin 3 localization and microvillus assembly in enterocytes. J Cell Sci 128(8): 1617-1626.

12. Yu, S., Yehia, G., Wang, J., Stypulkowski, E., Sakamori, R., Jiang, P., Hernandez-Enriquez, B., Tran, T. S., Bonder, E. M., Guo, W. and Gao, N. (2014). Global ablation of the mouse Rab11a gene impairs early embryogenesis and matrix metalloproteinase secretion. J Biol Chem 289(46): 32030-32043.

13. Sakamori, R., Yu, S., Zhang, X., Hoffman, A., Sun, J., Das, S., Vedula, P., Li, G., Fu, J., Walker, F., Yang, C. S., Yi, Z., Hsu, W., Yu, D. H., Shen, L., Rodriguez, A. J., Taketo, M. M., Bonder, E. M., Verzi, M. P. and Gao, N. (2014). CDC42 inhibition suppresses progression of incipient intestinal tumors. Cancer Res 74(19): 5480-5492.

14. Yu, S., Nie, Y., Knowles, B., Sakamori, R., Stypulkowski, E., Patel, C., Das, S., Douard, V., Ferraris, R. P., Bonder, E. M., Goldenring, J. R., Ip, Y. T. and Gao, N. (2014). TLR sorting by Rab11 endosomes maintains intestinal epithelial-microbial homeostasis. EMBO J 33(17): 1882-1895.

15. Chahar, S., Gandhi, V., Yu, S., Desai, K., Cowper-Sal-lari, R., Kim, Y., Perekatt, A. O., Kumar, N., Thackray, J. K., Musolf, A., Kumar, N., Hoffman, A., Londono, D., Vazquez, B. N., Serrano, L., Shin, H., Lupien, M., Gao, N. and Verzi, M. P. (2014). Chromatin profiling reveals regulatory network shifts and a protective role for hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha during colitis. Mol Cell Biol 34(17): 3291-3304.

16. DeGraff, D. J., Grabowska, M. M., Case, T. C., Yu, X., Herrick, M. K., Hayward, W. J., Strand, D. W., Cates, J. M., Hayward, S. W., Gao, N., Walter, M. A., Buttyan, R., Yi, Y., Kaestner, K. H. and Matusik, R. J. (2014). FOXA1 deletion in luminal epithelium causes prostatic hyperplasia and alteration of differentiated phenotype. Lab Invest 94(7): 726-739.

17. Perekatt, A. O., Valdez, M. J., Davila, M., Hoffman, A., Bonder, E. M., Gao, N. and Verzi, M. P. (2014). YY1 is indispensable for Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell renewal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111(21): 7695-7700.

18. Ren, J., Yu, S., Gao, N. and Zou, Q. (2013). Indentation quantification for in-liquid nanomechanical measurement of soft material using an atomic force microscope: rate-dependent elastic modulus of live cells. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 88(5): 052711.

19. Das, S., Yu, S., Sakamori, R., Stypulkowski, E. and Gao, N. (2012). Wntless in Wnt secretion: molecular, cellular and genetic aspects. Front Biol (Beijing) 7(6): 587-593.

20. Sakamori, R., Das, S., Yu, S., Feng, S., Stypulkowski, E., Guan, Y., Douard, V., Tang, W., Ferraris, R. P., Harada, A., Brakebusch, C., Guo, W. and Gao, N. (2012). Cdc42 and Rab8a are critical for intestinal stem cell division, survival, and differentiation in mice. J Clin Invest 122(3): 1052-1065.

21. Gao, N., Davuluri, G., Gong, W., Seiler, C., Lorent, K., Furth, E. E., Kaestner, K. H. and Pack, M. (2011). The nuclear pore complex protein Elys is required for genome stability in mouse intestinal epithelial progenitor cells. Gastroenterology 140(5): 1547-1555 e1510.

22. Gao, N., Le Lay, J., Qin, W., Doliba, N., Schug, J., Fox, A. J., Smirnova, O., Matschinsky, F. M. and Kaestner, K. H. (2010). Foxa1 and Foxa2 maintain the metabolic and secretory features of the mature beta-cell. Mol Endocrinol 24(8): 1594-1604.

23. Gao, N. and Kaestner, K. H. (2010). Cdx2 regulates endo-lysosomal function and epithelial cell polarity. Genes Dev 24(12): 1295-1305.

24. Rieck, S., White, P., Schug, J., Fox, A. J., Smirnova, O., Gao, N., Gupta, R. K., Wang, Z. V., Scherer, P. E., Keller, M. P., Attie, A. D. and Kaestner, K. H. (2009). The transcriptional response of the islet to pregnancy in mice. Mol Endocrinol 23(10): 1702-1712.

25. Hinoi, E., Gao, N., Jung, D. Y., Yadav, V., Yoshizawa, T., Kajimura, D., Myers, M. G., Jr., Chua, S. C., Jr., Wang, Q., Kim, J. K., Kaestner, K. H. and Karsenty, G. (2009). An Osteoblast-dependent mechanism contributes to the leptin regulation of insulin secretion. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1173 Suppl 1: E20-30.

26. Golson, M. L., Le Lay, J., Gao, N., Bramswig, N., Loomes, K. M., Oakey, R., May, C. L., White, P. and Kaestner, K. H. (2009). Jagged1 is a competitive inhibitor of Notch signaling in the embryonic pancreas. Mech Dev 126(8-9): 687-699.

27. Gao, N., White, P. and Kaestner, K. H. (2009). Establishment of intestinal identity and epithelial-mesenchymal signaling by Cdx2. Dev Cell 16(4): 588-599.

28. Hinoi, E., Gao, N., Jung, D. Y., Yadav, V., Yoshizawa, T., Myers, M. G., Jr., Chua, S. C., Jr., Kim, J. K., Kaestner, K. H. and Karsenty, G. (2008). The sympathetic tone mediates leptin's inhibition of insulin secretion by modulating osteocalcin bioactivity. J Cell Biol 183(7): 1235-1242.

29. Gao, N., LeLay, J., Vatamaniuk, M. Z., Rieck, S., Friedman, J. R. and Kaestner, K. H. (2008). Dynamic regulation of Pdx1 enhancers by Foxa1 and Foxa2 is essential for pancreas development. Genes Dev 22(24): 3435-3448.

30. Gao, N., White, P., Doliba, N., Golson, M. L., Matschinsky, F. M. and Kaestner, K. H. (2007). Foxa2 controls vesicle docking and insulin secretion in mature Beta cells. Cell Metab 6(4): 267-279.

31. Gupta, R. K., Gao, N., Gorski, R. K., White, P., Hardy, O. T., Rafiq, K., Brestelli, J. E., Chen, G., Stoeckert, C. J., Jr. and Kaestner, K. H. (2007). Expansion of adult beta-cell mass in response to increased metabolic demand is dependent on HNF-4alpha. Genes Dev 21(7): 756-769.

32. Mirosevich, J., Gao, N., Gupta, A., Shappell, S. B., Jove, R. and Matusik, R. J. (2006). Expression and role of Foxa proteins in prostate cancer. Prostate 66(10): 1013-1028.

33. Gao, N., Ishii, K., Mirosevich, J., Kuwajima, S., Oppenheimer, S. R., Roberts, R. L., Jiang, M., Yu, X., Shappell, S. B., Caprioli, R. M., Stoffel, M., Hayward, S. W. and Matusik, R. J. (2005). Forkhead box A1 regulates prostate ductal morphogenesis and promotes epithelial cell maturation. Development 132(15): 3431-3443.

34. Mirosevich, J., Gao, N. and Matusik, R. J. (2005). Expression of Foxa transcription factors in the developing and adult murine prostate. Prostate 62(4): 339-352.