Headshot of Jun-Lin Guan

Education

Ph.D. University of California-San Diego B.S. University of Science and Technology of China 

Research

Understand fundamental principles of cell signaling in the regulation of basic cellular functions and to determine how disruption of the normal signaling pathways either by genetic mutations or environmental insults may lead to disease

The goals of our research program are to understand the fundamental principles of cell signaling in the regulation of basic cellular functions in normal cell and developmental processes and to determine how the disruption of normal signaling pathways lead to diseases such as cancer. One area of our research focuses on the role and mechanisms of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that is important in mediating signaling by integrins as well as some growth factor receptors, in the regulation of mammary cancer stem cells, cancer metastasis, and embryonic and tumor angiogenesis. A second area of our interests concerns the role of autophagy in breast cancer and other developmental and disease processes. Our lab initially identified FIP200 (FAK-family Interacting Protein of 200 Kd), a component of the ULK1/mAtg13/FIP200 complex essential for autophagy induction in mammalian cells, and we have recently shown the critical role of FIP200 and autophagy in tissue stem cell maintenance, neurodegeneration and mammary tumor development and progression. A third area of our studies involves the identification of signaling molecules and pathways in the regulation of cell migration and invasion and the examination of cross-talks among different pathways in these biological processes.

The Guan Lab maintains a website of protocols, members, and materials. Below are individuals who are part of the Guan lab, see lab website for additional lab members.



Latest Publications From PubMed