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Fu Naiyang

Assistant Professor

Email

Contact: 65162503

Dr. Nai Yang Fu obtained his B.Sc. from Xiamen University and M.Sc from Sun Yat‐Sen University. He subsequently completed his PhD studies at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) / National University of Singapore (NUS). Dr. Fu had undertaken postdoctoral training in Stem cells and Cancer Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Australia, before joining Duke-NUS Medical School as Principal Investigator in 2016. 

Dr. Fu’s laboratory studies stem cell biology in epithelial tissues. His lab is interested in addressing the physiological function and in-depth molecular regulation of epithelial stem cells in normal development, and during cancer initiation and progression. To this end, his lab will combine cutting edge technologies in molecular biology and mouse genetic approaches for their research.  The ultimate goal of their research is to provide novel insights into the treatment and prevention of epithelial cancer.

Dr. Fu’s laboratory mainly focuses on:

  • Identification of key molecular regulators for quiescence, self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells in epithelial tissues
  • Development of novel mouse models for the studies of epithelial stem cells and cancer
  • Dissecting the role of Bcl-2 family molecules in the regulation of epithelial stem cells during development, aging and oncogenesis.

Stem cells and the differentiation hierarchy in mammary gland development.
Fu N, Nolan E, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE.
Physiol Rev (2019), doi: 10.1152/physrev.00040.2018.

Lgr5+ pericentral hepatocytes are self-maintained in normal liver regeneration and susceptible to hepatocarcinogenesis.
Ang CH, Hsu SH, Guo F, Tan CT, Yu VC, Visvader JE, Chow PKH, Fu NY*.
PNAS (2019), 116(39): 19530-19540. (Track II; *Corresponding author)

Foxp1 is indispensable for ductal morphogenesis and controls the exit of mammary stem cells from quiescence.
Fu NY*, Pal B, Chen Y, Jackling FC, Milevskiy M, Vaillant F, Capaldo BD, Guo F, Liu KH, Rios AC, Lim N, Kueh AJ, Virshup DM, Herold MJ, Tucker HO, Smyth GK, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE*.
Developmental Cell (2018), 47: 629-644. (Cover Story and Featured Article; *Corresponding authors)

Identification of quiescent and spatially restricted mammary stem cells that are hormone responsive.
Fu NY*, Rios AC*, Pal B, Law CW, Jamieson P, Liu R, Vaillant F, Jackling F, Liu
KH, Smyth GK, Lindeman GJ, Ritchie ME, Visvader JE.
Nature Cell Biology (2017), 19: 164-176. (*Joint first author; Article) 

The complexities and caveats of lineage tracing in the mammary gland.
Rios AC*, Fu NY*, Cursons J, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE.
Breast Cancer Research (2016), 18: 116. (*Joint first author)
 
MOAP-1 mediates Fas-induced apoptosis in liver by facilitating tBid recruitment to mitochondria.
Tan CT, Zhou QL, Su YC, Fu NY, Chang HC, Tao RN, Sukumaran SK, Baksh S, Tan YJ, Sabapathy K, Yu CD, Yu VC.
Cell Reports (2016), 16:174-185.
 
Essential role for a novel population of binucleated mammary epithelial cells in lactation.
Rios AC*, Fu NY*, Jamieson PR, Pal B, Whitehead L, Nicholas KR, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE.
Nature Communications (2016), 7:11400. (*Joint first author)
 
EGF-mediated induction of Mcl-1 at the switch to lactation is essential for alveolar cell survival.
Fu NY, Rios AC, Pal B, Soetanto R, Lun AT, Liu K, Beck T, Best SA, Vaillant F, Bouillet P, Strasser A, Preiss T, Smyth GK, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE.
Nature Cell Biology (2015), 17: 365-375. (Article; highlighted on the cover of the issue)
 
Dual roles for Id4 in the regulation of estrogen signaling in the mammary gland and ovary.
Best SA, Hutt KJ, Fu NY, Vaillant F, Liew SH, Hartley L, Scott CL, Lindeman GJ and Visvader JE. 
Development (2014), 141: 3159-3164.
 
The mammary stem cell hierarchy.
Fu NY, Lindeman GJ and Visvader JE. 
Curr Top Dev Biol (2014), 107: 133-60. (Invited review)
 
In situ identification of bipotent stem cells in the mammary gland.
Rios AC*, Fu NY*, Lindeman GJ and Visvader JE.
Nature (2014), 506: 322-327. (*Joint first author; Article)
 
Global changes in the mammary epigenome are induced by hormonal cues and coordinated by Ezh2.
Pal B, Bouras T, Shi W, Vaillant F, Sheridan JM, Fu NY, Breslin K, Jiang K, Ritchie ME, Young M, Lindeman GJ, Smyth GK and Visvader JE.
Cell Reports (2013), 3: 411-426.
 
TRIM39 regulates cell cycle progression and DNA damage responses via stabilizing p21.
Zhang L, Mei Y*, Fu NY*, Guan L, Xie W, Liu HH, Yu CD, Yin Z, Yu VC, You H.
PNAS (2012), 109: 20937-20942. (*contributed equally; Track II)
 
A soluble form of the pilus protein FimA targets the VDAC-hexokinase complex at mitochondria to suppress host cell apoptosis.
Sukumaran SK, Fu NY, Chua BT, Lee SS, Wan KF and Yu VC.
Molecular Cell  (2010), 37: 768-783.
 
Baxβ: a constitutively active human Bax isoform that is under tight regulatory control by the proteasomal degradation mechanism.
Fu NY, Sukumaran SK, Kerk SY and Yu VC.
Molecular Cell (2009), 33: 15-29. (Featured Article in the issue)
 
Inhibition of ubiquitin-mediated degradation of MOAP-1 by apoptotic stimuli promotes Bax function in mitochondria.
Fu NY, Sukumaran SK. and Yu VC.
PNAS (2007), 104: 10051-10057. (Track II)
 
MAP-1 is a mitochondrial effector of Bax.
Tan KO, Fu NY, Sukumaran SK, Chan SL, Kang JH, Poon KL, Chen BS and Yu VC.
PNAS (2005), 102: 14623-14628. (Track II)