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Professor Thomas T. Chen
picture Professor Thomas T. Chen
University of Connecticut
Molecular & Cell Biology, TLS 415
75 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3125
Storrs, CT 06269-3125
Telephone: (860) 486-5481
Fax: (860) 486-8415
E-Mail: Thomas.Chen@UConn.edu

Education: Ph.D. University of Alberta; Postdoctoral study, Queen's University

Research Interests: Current research activities in my laboratory center at the following areas:

  • structure, evolution and regulation of growth hormone and growth factor genes in finfish and shellfish;
  • molecular actions of growth hormone and growth factor;
  • development of disease resistant fish by genetic manipulation of antimicrobial peptide genes;
  • anti-tumor activities of the E-peptides of pro-IGF-I; and
  • development of fish cell cultures for assessing environmental pollutants.



Selected Publications:
1. Chun, Changzoon, Tsai, H.J. and Chen, Thomas T.: Disruption of Embryonic Heart and Red Blood Cell Development by Rainbow Trout Pro-IGF-I Ea4-Peptide in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos. Mol Repro. Develop. 73: 1112-1121, 2006.

2. Chiou, P Peter, Bols, Niels, Douglas, Sue and Chen, Thomas T.: Regulation of Immune-Relevant Genes in the Trout Macrophage Cell Line RTS11 by Antimicrobial Peptides. Developmental and Comp. Immunology 30: 797-806, 2006.

3. Siri, Sineenat, Chen, Maria J. and Chen, Thomas T.: Biological activity of rainbow trout EIa4-peptide of pro-insulin-like growth factor (pro-IGF)-I on Promoting Attachment of human breast cells (MDA-MB-231) via 2 and 1 integrin. J. Cellular Biochem. 99:1524-1535, 2006.

4. Siri, Sineenat, Chen, Maria J. and Chen, Thomas T.: Inhibition of human breast cell (MDA-MB-231) invasion by the Ea4-peptide of rainbow trout prop-IGF-I. J. Cellular Biochem. 99: 1363-1373, 2006.

5. Chun, C.Z. and Chen, Thomas T.: Microinjecting recombinant rainbow trout Ea4-peptide of pro-IGF-I into zebrofish embryos causes abnormal development in heart, red blood cells and vasculature. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 145: 39-44, 2007.

6. Ko, C.F., Chiou, Tze-Ting, Chen, Thomas T., Wu, Jen-Leih, Chen, J.C. and Lu, J.K.: Molecular cloning of myostatin gene and characterization of tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression of the gene in orange spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Marine Biotechnology 9: 20-32, 2007

7. Chiou, Tze-Ting, Lu, Jenn-Kan, Wu, Jen-Leih, Chen, Thomas T., and Chen, Jiann-Chu: Expression and characterization of tiger shrimp Penaeus monodom penaeidin (mo-penaeidin) in various tissues, during early embryonic development and moulting stages. Developmental and Comp. Immunology 31: 132-142, 2007.

8. Chen, Mark H.-C., Li, Y.-H., Chang, Yvonne, Hu, S.-Y., Gong, H.Y., Lin, G.-H., Chen, Thomas T., and Wu, J.-L.: Co-induction of hepatic IGF-I and progranulin mRNA by growth hormone in tilapia, Oreochromis mossambiccus. Gen Comp. Endocrinol. 150: 212-218, 2007.

9. Chen, Maria, Pingwen Peter Chiou, Lin, Partick, Chun-Mean Lin, Peck, Konan and Chen, Thomas T.: Suppression of cancer-Induced angiogenesis of aggressive human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) on the chorioallantoic membrane of developing chicken embryos by the E-peptide of pro-IGF-I . J. Cellular Biochem. 101: 1316-1327, 2007.

10. Chiou, Pinwen P., Lin, Chun-Mean, Bols, N.C. and Chen, Thomas T.: Charactization of virus/double-stranded RNA-dependent induction of antimicrobial peptide hepcidin in trout macrophages. Develop. Comp. Immunol. 2007 (in press).

11. Lo, H.-J. , Chiou, Pinwen P., Lin, C.-M., and Chen, Thomas T.: Molecular cloning and expression analysis of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) CCAAT/enhancer binding protein genes and their response to induction by growth hormone in vivo and in vitro. J. Endocrinol. 194: 1-15, 2007.

12. Sallum, Ulysses W. and Chen, Thomas T.: Inducible resistance of fish bacterial pathogens to the antimicrobial peptide cecropin B. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 53: 3006-3012, 2008.