Hongwu Chen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Basic Sciences
Research III Bldg, Rm 1400
UC Davis Cancer Center
4645 2nd Avenue
Ph: (916) 734-7743, (916) 734-0190
hwzchen@ucdavis.edu

UC Davis, Molecular Biol/Micro, Ph.D., 1990 - 1995
The Salk Institute, Gene Expression Lab, Postdoctoral Fellow, 1996 - 1999
American Cancer Society, Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999

Hormone Signaling: Dr. Chen's research includes molecular mechanisms of hormone signaling in control of cell growth and differentiation, role of steroid receptors such as estrogen receptors and androgen receptor and their associated cofactors (especially coactivators) in cancer. Chromatin Modifications and Remodeling Dr. Chen is also researching on chromatin modifications/ remodeling and protein acetylation in control of gene expression. His long-term objectives are (1) to determine the role of nuclear receptor coactivators in hormone-mediated control of cell growth, differentiation and homeostasis both in normal and tumor cells and (2) to elucidate chromatin modification/remodeling as a regulatory mechanism in hormone signaling and cell proliferation.

1. Desai SJ, Ma AH, Tepper CG, Chen HW, Kung HJ.
   Inappropriate activation of the androgen receptor by nonsteroids: involvement of the SRC kinase pathway and its therapeutic implications.
   Cancer Res. 2006 Nov 1;66(21):10449-59.
   
2. Ma AH, Xia L, Desai SJ, Boucher DL, Guan Y, Shih HM, Shi XB, Devere White RW, Chen HW, Tepper CG, Kung HJ.
   Male Germ Cell-Associated Kinase, a Male-Specific Kinase Regulated by Androgen, Is a Coactivator of Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer Cells.
   Cancer Res. 2006 Sep 1;66(17):8439-8447.
   
3. Louie MC, Revenko AS, Zou JX, Yao J, Chen HW.
   Direct control of cell cycle gene expression by proto-oncogene product ACTR, and its autoregulation underlies its transforming activity.
   Mol Cell Biol. 2006 May;26(10):3810-23.
   
4. Louie MC, Zou JX, Rabinovich A, Chen HW.
   ACTR/AIB1 functions as an E2F1 coactivator to promote breast cancer cell proliferation and antiestrogen resistance.
   Mol Cell Biol. 2004 Jun;24(12):5157-71.
   
5. Levy AM, Izumiya Y, Brunovskis P, Xia L, Parcells MS, Reddy SM, Lee L, Chen HW, Kung HJ.
   Characterization of the chromosomal binding sites and dimerization partners of the viral oncoprotein Meq in Marek's disease virus-transformed T cells.
   J Virol. 2003 Dec;77(23):12841-51.
   
6. Louie MC, Yang HQ, Ma AH, Xu W, Zou JX, Kung HJ, Chen HW.
   Androgen-induced recruitment of RNA polymerase II to a nuclear receptor-p160 coactivator complex.
   Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Mar 4;100(5):2226-30. Epub 2003 Feb 14.
   
7. Chen HW, Privalsky ML.
   Retinoid X and retinoic acid receptors interact with transcription factor II-B by distinct mechanisms.
   Mol Cell Endocrinol. 1997 Apr 25;129(1):55-61.
   
8. Lin BC, Wong CW, Chen HW, Privalsky ML.
   Plasticity of tetramer formation by retinoid X receptors. An alternative paradigm for DNA recognition.
   J Biol Chem. 1997 Apr 11;272(15):9860-7.