1. A Brief Introduction To The Tao lab
NJMS
A Brief Introduction To The Tao lab
PI: Yuan-Xiang Tao, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair
Departments of Anesthesiology, Cell Biology and Molecular
Medicine, Neurology & Neuroscience, and
Pharmacology & Physiology
Presented By: Brianna Lutz, Graduate Student

2. Laboratory Focus Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Opioid-Associated
Disorders
Chronic Pain
New Targets
Prevention/Treatment

3. Pre-Clinical Models Neuropathic Pain:
SNL, CCI, and SNI allow for pain testing of the hindpaw
Inflammatory Pain: Formalin, CFA, carrageenan

4. Behavioral testing Neurodetective International
Ugobasille.com
Neurodetective International
The University of Hong Kong

5. Approaches DNA methylation Cell culture RNA Protein Genomic DNA
Cell lines (e.g. HEK293, PC-12),
Primary cells (DRG neurons), CAD cells
RT-qPCR
Luciferase assay;
ChIP PCR; EMSA; Northern Blot; ISH; RNA-seq
Genomic DNA
bisulfite conversion,
Pyro-sequencing,
Clone-sequencing
Western Blot IF

6. Ongoing Projects Epigenetics and Chronic Pain
DRG/TG specific Cre recombinase mice
Part I: Histone methylation (G9a and SUV39H1)
G9a floxed mice
Part II: DNA methylation (DNMT1, DNMT3a, MBD1)
Floxed Mice
RNA Methylation in Chronic Pain
Identifying novel transcripts involved in chronic pain

7. Ongoing Projects Stress (e.g., Sleep disturbance) and Surgical Pain
Endothelin-1 and Sickle Cell Disease-Associated Chronic Pain
Townes HBSS/HBAA mice; ETA receptor Floxed mice
Dorsal Horn Inhibitory Neurons in Control of Acute and Chronic Pain
Ret-ERT mice

8. Previous Projects
Identification of a native long noncoding Kcna2 antisense RNA and its function in neuropathic pain.
2 Publications; RO1 NS ( ) and Rita Allen Foundation ( )

9. Previous Projects
RNA translation in chronic opioid-induced analgesic tolerance and hyperalgesia ( ).
3 Publications; RO1 DA ( ) ; Pending US Patent No. 61/

10. Previous Projects
NMDA receptor-Mediated Synaptic AMPA Receptor Trafficking in Chronic Pain ( )
8 Publications; RO1 NS ( ) and R21 NS ( )
NMDA Receptor-nNOS-PKG in Analgesia and Anesthesia ( )
9 Publications; R01 GM 49111; USA Patent No
NMDA Receptor-Interacting Synaptic Scaffold Proteins (e.g., PSD-95, PSD-93) in Chronic Pain and inhaled Anesthetic Mechanisms ( )
13 Publications; RO1 GM and NS44219; U.S. Patent No

11. Thank you, The Tao lab