Publications 2022 Vu R, Jin S, Sun P, Haensel D, Nguyen QH, Dragan M, Kessenbrock K, Nie Q, Dai X. Wound healing in aged skin exhibits systems-level alterations in cellular composition and cell-cell communication. Cell Reports Gutierrez G, Sun P, Han Y, Dai X. Defining mammary basal cell transcriptional states using single-cell RNA-sequencing. Scientific Reports Han Y, Villarreal-Ponce A, Gutierrez G Jr, Nguyen Q, Sun P, Wu T, Sui B, Berx G, Brabletz T, Kessenbrock K, Zeng YA, Watanabe K, Dai X. Coordinate control of basal epithelial cell fate and stem cell maintenance by core EMT transcription factor Zeb1. Cell Reports Sun P, Han Y, Plikus M, Dai X. Altered Epithelial-mesenchymal Plasticity as a Result of Ovol2 Deletion Minimally Impacts the Self-renewal of Adult Mammary Basal Epithelial Cells. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia McNeil M, Han Y, Sun P, Watanabe K, Jiang J, Chen N, Yu Z, Zhou B, Dai X. Nfatc1’s Role in Mammary Epithelial Morphogenesis and Basal Stem/progenitor Cell Self-renewal. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Dragan M, Sun P, Chen Z, Ma X, Vu R, Shi Y, Villalta SA, Dai X. Epidermis-Intrinsic Transcription Factor Ovol1 Coordinately Regulates Barrier Maintenance and Neutrophil Accumulation in Psoriasis-Like Inflammation. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2021 Sun P, Vu R, Dragan M, Haensel D, Gutierrez G, Nguyen Q, Greenberg E, Chen Z, Wu J, Atwood S, Pearlman E, Shi Y, Han W, Kessenbrock K, Dai X. OVOL1 Regulates Psoriasis-Like Skin Inflammation and Epidermal Hyperplasia. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2020 Pervolarakis N, Nguyen QH, Williams J, Gong Y, Gutierrez G, Sun P, Jhutty D, Zheng GXY, Nemec CM, Dai X, Watanabe K, Kessenbrock K. Integrated Single-Cell Transcriptomics and Chromatin Accessibility Analysis Reveals Regulators of Mammary Epithelial Cell Identity. Cell Reports Sun, P., Vu, R., Dragan, M., Haensel, D., Gutierrez, G., Nguyen, Q., Ma, X., Huang, D., Watanabe, K., Greenberg, E., Wu, J., Atwood, S., Pearlman, E., Han, W., Kessenbrock, K., and Dai, X. 2020. “Epidermis-intrinsic transcriptional mechanism coordinates barrier maintenance and neutrophil accumulation during skin inflammation” Journal of Investigative Dermatology Haensel, D., Jin, S., Sun, P., Cinco, R., Dragan, M., Nguyen, Q., Cang, Z., Gong, Y., Vu, R., Maclean., A.L., Kessenbrock, K., Gratton, E., Nie, Q., and Dai, X. 2020.”Defining epidermal basal cell states during skin homeostasis and wound healing using single cell transcriptomics” Cell Reports 2019 Sha, Y., Haensel, D., Gutierrez, G., Du, H., Dai, X., and Nie, Q. 2019.”Intermediate cell states in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition” Phsyical Biology 2018 Haensel, D., Sun, P., MacLean, AL., Ma, X., Zhou, Y., Stemmler, MP., Brabletz, S., Berx, G., Plikus, MV., Nie, Q., Brabletz, T., Dai, X. 2018. “An Ovol2-Zeb1 transcriptional circuit regulates epithelial directional migration and proliferation” EMBO Reports. Haensel, D., McNeil, M.A., and Dai, X. 2018 “Ex Vivo Imaging and Genetic Manipulation of Mouse Hair Follicle Bulge Stem Cells” Methods in Molecular Biology Du, H., Wang, Y., Haensel, D., Lee, B., Dai, X., and Nie, X. 2018 “Multiscale modeling of layer formation in epidermis” PLoS Computational Biology. Haensel, D. and Dai, X. 2018. “Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading”. Developmental Dynamics 2017 Dai, X. 2017. “Inflammation: Memory beyond immunity” Nature. Lv, C. et al. 2017. “MiR-31 promotes mammary stem cell expansion and breast tumorigenesis by suppressing Wnt signaling antagonists” Nature Communications Lee, B., Watanabe, K., Haensel, D., Sui, J.Y., and Dai, X. 2017. “Overexpression of Transcription Factor Ovol2 in Epidermal Progenitor Cells Results in Skin Blistering” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2016 Xu, P., et al. 2016. “Lgr4 is crucial for skin carcinogenesis by regulating MEK/ERK and Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathways” Cancer Letters 2015 Hong, T., Watanabe, K., Ta, C.H., Villareal-Ponce, A., Nie, Q., and Dai, X. 2015. “An Ovol2-Zeb1 Mutual Inhibitory Circuit Governs Bidirectional and Multi-step Transition between Epithelial and Mesenchymal States” PLoS Computational Biology Li, Q., Li, Y., Gu, B., Fang, L., Zhou, P., Bao, S., Huang, L., and Dai, X. 2015. “Akt Phosphorylates Wnt Coactivator and Chromatin Effector Pygo2 at Serine 48 to Antagonize Its Ubiquitin/Proteasome-mediated Degradation” Journal of Biological Chemistry 2014 Sun, P., Watanabe, K., Fallahi, M., Lee, B., Afetian, M.E., Rheaume, C., Wu, D., Horsley, V., and Dai. X. 2014 “Pygo2 regulates β-catenin–induced activation of hair follicle stem/progenitor cells and skin hyperplasia” PNAS Gord, A., Holmes, W.R., Dai, X., and Nie, Q. 2014. “Computational modelling of epidermal stratification highlights the importance of asymmetric cell division for predictable and robust layer formation” Journal of the Royal Society Interface Watanabe, K., Villareal-Ponce, A., Sun, P., Salmans, M.L., Fallahi, M., Andersen, B., and Dai, X. 2014. “Mammary Morphogenesis and Regeneration Require the Inhibition of EMT at Terminal End Buds by Ovol2 Transcriptional Repressor” Developmental Cell Lee, B., Villareal-Ponce, A., Fallahi, M., Ovadia, J., Sun, P., Yu, Q., Ito, S., Sinha, S., Nie, Q., and Dai, X. 2014. “Transcriptional Mechanisms Link Epithelial Plasticity to Adhesion and Differentiation of Epidermal Progenitor Cells” Developmental Cell Watanabe, K., Biesinger, J., Salmans, M.L., Roberts, B.S., Arthur, W.T., Cleary, M., Andersen, B., Xie, X., and Dai, X. 2014. “Integrative ChIP-seq/Microarray Analysis Identifies a CTNNB1 Target Signature Enriched in Intestinal Stem Cells and Colon Cancer” PLoS One Salmans, M.L., Yu, Z., Watanabem K., Cam, E. Sun, P., Smyth, P., Dai, X., and Andersen, B. 2014. “The Co-factor of LIM Domains (CLIM/LDB/NLI) Maintains Basal Mammary Epithelial Stem Cells and Promotes Breast Tumorigenesis” PLoS Genetics 2013 Gu, B., Watanabe, K., Sun, P., Fallahi, M., and Dai, X. 2013. “Chromatin Effector Pygo2 Mediates Wnt-Notch Crosstalk to Suppress Luminal/Alveolar Potential of Mammary Stem and Basal Cells” Cell Stem Cell Lee, B., and Dai, X. 2013. “Transcriptional and Translational Regulation of Stem Cells” Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Lee, B., Geyfman, M., Andersen, B., and Dai, X. 2013. “Analysis of Gene Expression in Skin Using Laser Capture Microdissection” Methods in Molecular Biology Watanabe, K., Fallahi, M., and Dai, X. 2013. “Chromatin effector Pygo2 regulates mammary tumor initiation and heterogeneity in MMTV-Wnt1 mice” Oncogene 2012 Gu, B., Watanabe, K., and Dai, X. 2012. “Pygo2 regulates histone gene expression and H3 K56 acetylation in human mammary epithelial cells” Cell Cycle 2011 Watanabe, K., and Dai, X. 2011. “Winning WNT: Race to Wnt signaling inhibitors” PNAS Watanabe, K., and Dai, X. 2011. “A Wnter Revisit: new Faces of b-catenin and TCFs in Pluripotency” Science Signaling 2010 Chen, J. et al. 2010. “Pygo2 associates with MLL2 histone methyltransferase (HMT) and GCN5 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes to augment Wnt target gene expression and breast cancer stem-like cell expansion” Molecular and Cellular Biology Gu, B., Watanabe, K., and Dai, X. 2010. “Epithelial Stem Cells: An Epigenetic and Wnt-Centric Perspective” Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Wells, J. and Dai, X. 2010. “Using siRNA Knockdown in HaCaT Cells to Study Transcriptional Control of Epidermal Proliferation Potential” Methods in Molecular Biology Christley, S., Lee, B., Dai, X., and Nie, Q. 2010. “Integrative multicellular biological modeling: a case study of 3D epidermal development using GPU algorithms” BMC Systems Biology 2009 Gu, B., et al. 2009. “Pygo2 expands mammary progenitor cells by facilitating histone H3 K4 methylation” Journal of Biological Chemistry Sun, P., Yuan, Y., Li, A., and Dai, X. 2009. “Cytokeratin expression during mouse embryonic and early postnatal mammary gland development” Histochemistry and Cellular Biology Vetere, A., Li, W., Paroni, F., Juhl, K., Guo, L., Nishimura, W., Dai, X., Bonner-Weir, S., and Sharma, A. 2009. “OVO homologue-like 1 (Ovol1) transcription factor: a novel target of neurogenin-3 in rodent pancreas” Diabetologia Wells, J., Lee, B., Cai, A., Karapteyan, A., Lee, W., Rugg, E., Sinha, S., Nie, Q., and Dai, X. 2009 “Ovol2 Suppresses Cell Cycling and Terminal Differentiation of Keratinocytes by Directly Repressing c-Myc and Notch1” Journal of Biological Chemistry 2009 Cai, A.Q., Peng, Y., Wells, J., Dai, X., and Nie, Q. 2009. “Multi-scale Modelling for Threshold Dependent Differentiation” Mathematical Modeling of Natural Phenomena 2008 Jessen, S., Gu, B., and Dai, X. 2008. “Pygopus and the Wnt signaling pathway: a diverse set of connections” Bioessays Jonckheere, N., Mayes, E., Shih, H., Li, B., Liobinski, O., Dai, X., and Sander, M. 2008. “Analysis of mPygo2 mutant mice suggests a requirement for mesenchymal Wnt signaling in pancreatic growth and differentiation” Developmental Biology Nair, M., Nagamori, I., Sun, P., Mishra, D.P., Rheaume, C., Li, B., Sassone-Corsi, P., and Dai, X. 2008. “Nuclear regulator Pygo2 controls spermiogenesis and histone H3 acetylation” Developmental Biology 2007 Li, B., Rheaume, C., Teng, A., Bilanchone, V., Munguia, J.E., Hu, M., Jessen, S., Piccolo, S., Waterman, M.L., and Dai, X. 2007. “Developmental Phenotypes and Reduced Wnt Signaling in Mice Deficient for Pygopus 2” Genesis Nair, M, Bilanchone, V., Ortt, K., Sinha, S., and Dai, X. 2007. “Ovol1 represses its own transcription by competing with transcription activator c-Myb and by recruiting histone deacetylase activity” Nucleic Acids Research Qian, D., Jones, C., Rzadinska, A., Mark, S., Zhang, X., Steel, K.P., Dai, X., and Chen, P. 2007. “Wnt5a functions in planar cell polarity regulation in mice” Developmental Biology Teng, A., Nair, M., Wells, J., Segre, J.A., and Dai, X. 2007. “Strain-dependent perinatal lethality of Ovol1-deficient mice and identification of Ovol2 as a downstream target of Ovol1 in skin epidermis” Biochimico et Biophysica Acta 2006 Mackay, D., Hu, M., Li, B., Rheaume, C., and Dai, X. 2006. “The mouse Ovol2 gene is required for cranial neural tube development” Developmental Biology Nair, M., Teng, A., Bilanchone, V., Agrawal, A., Li, B., and Dai, X. 2006. “Ovol1 regulates the growth arrest of embryonic epidermal progenitor cells and represses c-myc transcription” Journal of Cell Biology 2005 Li, B., Nair, M., ckay, D., Bilanchone, V., Hu, M., Fallahi, M., Song, H., Dai, Q., Cohen, P.E., and Dai, X. 2005. “Ovol1 regulates meiotic pachytene progression during spermatogenesis by repressing Id2 expression” Development and Disease 2004 Dai, X. and Segre, J.A. 2004. “Transcriptional control of epidermal specification and differentiation” Current Opinion in Genetics & Development Li, B., Mackay, D.R., Ma, J., and Dai, X. 2004. “Cloning and developmental expression of mouse pygopus 2, a putative Wnt signaling component” Genomics 2003 Kaufman, C.K., Zhou, P., Pasoli, H.A., Rendl, M., Bolotin, D., Lim, K.C., Dai, X., Alegre, M.L., and Fuchs, E. 2003. “GATA-3: an unexpected regulator of cell lineage determination in skin” Genes and Development 2002 Li, B., Dai, Q., Li, L., Nair, M., Mackay , D.R., and Dai, X. 2002. “Ovol2, a Mammalian Homolog of Drosophila ovo: Gene Structure, Chromosomal Mapping, and Aberrant Expression in Blind-Sterile Mice” Genomics Li, B., Mackay, D.R., Dai, Q., Li, T.W.H., Nair, M., Fallahi, M., Schonbaum, C.P., Fantes, J., Mahowald, A.P., Waterman, M.L., Fuchs, E., and Dai, X. 2002. “The LEF1 b-catenin complex activates movo1, a mouse homolog of Drosophila ovo required for epidermal appendage differentiation” PNAS 1998 Dai, X., and Rothman, D. 1998. “Sequence and DNA structural determinants of N4 virion RNA polymerase–promoter recognition” Genes & Development 1998 Dai, X., Shonbaum, C., Degenstein, L., Bai, W., Mahowald, A., and Fuchs, E. 1998 “The ovo gene required for cuticle formation and oogenesis in flies is involved in hair formation and spermatogenesis in mice.” Genes & Development 1996 1996 Glucksmann-Kuis, M.A., Dai, X., Markiewicz, ., and Rothman-Denes, L.B. 1996. “E. coli SSB Activates N4 Virion RNA Polymerase Promoters by Stabilizing a DNA Hairpin Required for Promoter Recognition” Cell 1996 Dai, X., Greizrstein, M.B., Nadas-Chinni, K., and Rothman-Denes, L.B. 1996. “Supercoil-induced extrusion of a regulatory DNA hairpin” PNAS