Kailiang Jia PhD Assistant Professor Research interests: molecular regulation of aging Contact information Office: SC 261 Phone: (561) 297-0512 Email: kjia@fau.edu

Research interest

In the last two decades, the study of the molecular regulation of aging in model organisms, particularly in C. elegans, has greatly expanded our knowledge of aging. Multiple longevity pathways, such as insulin-like growth factor signaling, TOR signaling, dietary restriction, and mitochondrial activity, control aging in C. elegans and other organisms. Recent genetic studies indicate that autophagy, an evolutionary conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, interacts with various longevity signals in the regulation of C. elegans life span. My lab uses C. elegans as a model organism to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which autophagy regulates aging.

Aging is a risk factor for many human diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. As a corollary, a wide variety of mutations that extend C. elegans life span confer resistance to tumorigenesis. Autophagy is involved in preventing aging, tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration in higher eukaryotes. Thus, a better understanding of the role of autophagy in controlling C. elegans life span may contribute to the understanding of these processes in mammals.

Updated publications

Jia K., Thomas C., Akbar M., Sun Q., Adams-Huet B., Gilpin C. and Levine B. (2009). Autophagy genes protect against Salmonella typhimurium infection and mediate insulin signaling-regulated pathogen resistance. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. In Press.

Jia K. and Levine B. (2007). Autophagy is required for dietary restriction-mediated life span extension in C. elegans. Autophagy 3(6), 597 – 599.

Jia K., Hart A. and Levine B. (2007). Autophagy genes protect against disease caused by polyglutamine expansion proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans. Autophagy 3(1), 21-25.

Jia K., Chen D. and Riddle D. (2004). The TOR pathway interacts with the insulin signaling pathway to regulate C. elegans larval development, metabolism and life span. Development 131, 3897-3906.

Jia K., Albert P. and Riddle D. (2002). DAF-9, a cytochrome P450 regulating C. elegans larval development and adult longevity. Development 129, 221-231.