Dr. Xiang Li is exploring the intricacies of our immune system, focusing on B cells and B cell receptors (BCRs) that are secreted as antibodies to target different pathogens. The BCR/antibody are comprised of subunits called immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, each with a distinct variable region that contributes to pathogen recognition.
Dr. Li’s research centers on the process called V(D)J recombination. The V, D, and J genetic unites of the heavy and light chains of BCR/antibodies are cut and pasted together in a vast variety of different combinations to produce unique pathogen-neutralizing regions of the antibodies.
Dr. Li’s research is unraveling how this process works, exploring how B cells specialize in fighting specific pathogens. This research not only sheds light on the mechanism of production of different antibodies, it also provides insights into how these mechanisms can be disrupted to yield malformed recombinations that are found in early B and T cell cancers.
Projects and Grants
Role of recombination signal sequences in developmental regulation of V(D)J recombination
