Contact Information
Research Interests
Research Topics
Development, Membrane Biology, Metabolic Regulation, Protein Structure, Signal Transduction
Disease Research Interests
Cancer, Metabolic Disorders/Diabetes, Trauma, Bleeding & Tissue Regeneration
Research Description
Signal Transduction in Mammalian Cell Biology and Development
Our laboratory is interested in understanding signal transduction mechanisms that underlie fundamental cellular and developmental processes in mammals. We employ a combination of experimental approaches including molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioinformatics, and mouse models. Over the years we have unraveled novel signaling mechanisms, mostly of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) network, in the regulation of a wide range of biology, including cell growth, autophagy, metabolism, and skeletal muscle differentiation/regeneration. Currently, the lab is focusing on lipid signaling, autophagy, and cell-cell communication via cytokines in the contexts of skeletal muscle regeneration and muscular dystrophy.
For more details visit lab website.
Education
B.S., Peking University, China (Biology)
Ph.D., Rice University (Biochemistry)
Postdoc., Harvard University
Awards and Honors
Faculty Research Excellence Award, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois, 2023
University Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring, University of Illinois, 2021
Faculty Excellence Award, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois, 2011
University Scholar, University of Illinois, 2007
American Cancer Society Research Scholar, 2003 - 2007
NIH Shannon Award for New Investigators, 1998
Irvington Institute of Immunology Fellow, 1994 - 1997
Additional Campus Affiliations
External Links
Highlighted Publications
Recent Publications
Abdullah, R., & Chen, J. (2026). IL-33: targeting a muscle-to-bone signaling axis in osteosarcopenia. EBioMedicine, 123, Article 106073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.106073
Barai, P., Abdullah, R., Bendre, S. V., Weisser, E., van der Donk, M. J., Wong, K. L., Reyes-Ordoñez, A., Nelson, E. R., & Chen, J. (2026). Threonyl-tRNA synthetase activates STAT3 by a nontranslational mechanism[Figure presented]. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 302(2), Article 111032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.111032
Kalyanakrishnan, K., Beaudin, A., Jetté, A., Ghezelbash, S., Hotea, D. I., Chen, J., Lefrançois, P., & Laurin, M. (2026). The Rho GTPase regulator ARHGEF3 orchestrates hair placode budding by coordinating cell fate and P-cadherin patterning in mice. PLoS biology, 24(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003572
Khaliq, S. A., Park, S. Y., Maham, S., Cho, Y., Lee, M., Nam, S., Seong, J. K., Chen, J., Choi, C. S., & Yoon, M. S. (2026). ARHGEF3 coordinates adipocyte hypertrophy and differentiation through dual YAP-RhoA and PPARγ activation. Journal of Advanced Research, 79, 445-460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2025.04.010
Reyes-Ordoñez, A., Shree, S., Sligar, S. G., & Chen, J. (2026). Protocol for Nanodisc single-molecule pull-down assay to detect protein-lipid interactions. STAR Protocols, 7(1), Article 104377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104377
