General Research Interest
Selected Publications

xu

Jun Xu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Phone: 508-887-4281
Laboratory: 508-887-4319
Email: jun.xu@tufts.edu
Website: http://www.tufts.edu/~jxu03/

General Research Interest

We study brain sex differences caused by sex hormones (e.g. testosterone and estrogen) and genes on sex chromosomes. Specifically, we examine the influences of hormones and sex-linked genes on chemical modifications of DNA and histone proteins. Such so-called “epigenetic modifications” regulate gene expression. We analyze cultured stem cells and brain tissues using methods that include chromatin immunoprecipitation, expression microarray, in situ hybridization, and immunohistology. This research will contribute to a better understanding of disorders like autism and mood disorders that impact one sex more often than the other.

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Selected Publications

  1. Xu J, Deng X, Watkins R, Disteche CM. (2008) Sex-specific differences in expression of histone demethylases Utx and Uty in mouse brain and neurons.  J Neurosci. 28: 4521-4527.
  2. Xu, J. and Disteche, C.M. (2006) Sex differences in brain expression of X- and Y-linked genes.  Brain Research 1126: 50-55.
  3. Xu, J., Watkins, R. and Arnold, A. P. (2006) Sexually dimorphic expression of the X-linked gene Eif2s3x mRNA but not protein in mouse brain.  Gene Expression Patterns 6: 146-155. 
  4. Gatewood, J.D., Wills, A., Shetty, S., Xu, J., Arnold, A.P., Burgoyne, P.S. and Rissman, E.F. (2006) Sex chromosome complement influences aggressive and parental behaviors in mice.  Journal of Neuroscience 26: 2335-2342. 
  5. Xu, J. (2005) Age-related changes in Usp9x protein expression and DNA methylation in mouse brain.  Molecular Brain Research 140: 17-24. 
  6. Xu, J., Taya, S., Kaibuchi, K. and Arnold, A.P. (2005) Sexually dimorphic expression of Usp9x is related to sex chromosome complement in adult mouse brain.  European Journal of Neuroscience 21: 3017-3022.  
  7. Xu, J., Taya, S., Kaibuchi, K. and Arnold, A.P. (2005) Spatially and temporally specific expression in mouse hippocampus of Usp9x, a ubiquitin-specific protease involved in synaptic development.  Journal of Neuroscience Research 80: 47-55.
  8. Xu, J. and Arnold, A.P. (2005) Sexually dimorphic expression of co-repressor Sin3A in mouse kidneys.  Endocrine Research 31: 111-119.
  9. Arnold, A.P., Xu, J., Grisham, W., Chen, X., Kim, Y. and Itoh, Y. (2004) Sex chromosomes and brain sexual differentiation.  Endocrinology 145: 1057-1062. 
  10. Wagner, C.K., Xu, J., Pfau, J.L., Quadros, P.S., De Vries, G.J. and Arnold, A.P. (2004) Neonatal mice possessing an Sry transgene show a masculinized pattern of progesterone receptor expression in the brain independent of sex chromosome status.  Endocrinology 145: 1046-1049. 
  11. Xu, J., Burgoyne, P.S. and Arnold, A.P. (2002) Sex differences in sex chromosome gene expression in mouse brain.  Human Molecular Genetics 11: 1409-1419.