Chen, Jau-Nian

The cardiovascular system is the first functioning organ during development. Abnormalities in the formation and/or function of the heart and vessels often lead to embryonic lethality or cause severe health issues in the adult. Our laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand the genetic, molecular and cellular basis of the cardiovascular system during normal development and in diseases. From classic and chemical genetic screens, we have identified mutations and compounds that affect proper patterning or function of the heart and vessels in the zebrafish. We are now using these mutants and compounds as points of entry to study questions about (1) the differential regulation of the arteries and veins during vessel formation and in the development of vascular diseases; (2) molecular hierarchies and cellular mechanisms guiding cardiac precursors to grow from the two-dimensional cardiac epithelium to a three-dimensional tubular structure; (3) molecular and physiological mechanisms by which rhythmic cardiac contraction is established and maintained and by which cardiac arrhythmia occurs; and (4) how the embryonic left-right asymmetry is established and how the heart develops with respect to the embryonic left-right axis.The cardiovascular system is the first functioning organ during development. Abnormalities in the formation and/or function of the heart and vessels often lead to embryonic lethality or cause severe health issues in the adult. Our laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand the genetic, molecular and cellular basis of the cardiovascular system during normal development and in diseases. From classic and chemical genetic screens, we have identified mutations and compounds that affect proper patterning or function of the heart and vessels in the zebrafish. We are now using these mutants and compounds as points of entry to study questions about (1) the differential regulation of the arteries and veins during vessel formation and in the development of vascular diseases; (2) molecular hierarchies and cellular mechanisms guiding cardiac precursors to grow from the two-dimensional cardiac epithelium to a three-dimensional tubular structure; (3) molecular and physiological mechanisms by which rhythmic cardiac contraction is established and maintained and by which cardiac arrhythmia occurs; and (4) how the embryonic left-right asymmetry is established and how the heart develops with respect to the embryonic left-right axis.