Prof. DUAN Cunming from University ofMichigan in United States paid a visit to IHB, August 19.

On August 19th, Prof. DUAN Cunming from University of Michigan in United States, paid a visit to the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB), and made an academic report entitled" Searching for a molecular link between somatic growth and reproduction—new insights from zebrafish ". IHB Prof. ZHU Zuoyan, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other related researchers and graduates attended the presentation. 

In the report, Prof. DUAN Cunming mainly introduced that in hypoxic conditions, how insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway regulates fish early growth and reproduction using zebrafish as an animal model. Under reduced oxygen availability or hypoxia, for example, fish embryos and larvae slow down or completely stop their growth and development rate. Upon re-oxygenation, they show compensatory acceleration in growth and development. This phenomenon is widely documented in the animal kingdom. The underlying molecular mechanisms, however, are poorly understood.  

Duan’s studies using zebrafish suggest that hypoxia influence embryo/larval growth and development through the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling system. IGFs are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. They showed that chronic hypoxia reduced, and re-oxygenation accelerated, embryonic growth and developmental rate. Whereas hypoxia repressed the Igf1 receptor and its downstream Erk1/2 and Akt signaling activities, re-oxygenation restored their activities. Specific inhibition of Igf1 receptor signaling during re-oxygenation by genetic and pharmacological approaches attenuated catch-up growth.  

After the report, Prof. Duan had a lively discussion and exchange with the teachers and students.  Prof. ZHU Zuoyan  also shared his acquaintance with Prof. Duan, and encouraged students to get inspiration from his growing up. 

Prof. Duan is now Professor of the University of Michigan, deputy director of the Department of Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and director of the Endocrine Physiology Laboratory. His major research field include: (1) roles of growth factors in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis during early development; (2) transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression; and (3) roles of growth factors and hormones in regulating development, growth, and aging in response to hypoxia and nutrient restriction.