Jay Tang
Assistant Professor:
Physics
Phone: +1 401 863 2292
Phone 2: +1 401 863 2156
Jay_Tang@Brown.EDU
Professor Tang's lab is currently involved in a new research program of molecular biophysics. The main research goal is to understand the mechanisms and properties of protein assemblies. In particular, the Tang lab studies the assembly of the so-called cytoskeletal proteins, such as actin and tubulin, which form long filaments. Higher levels of assembly occur in solutions of these filaments, including isotropic networks, liquid crystalline phases, and densely packed lateral aggregates. We seek to elucidate interactions that govern the formation of these states, predict and manipulate transitions among them, and explore biomedical applications.
Biography
Professor Jay X Tang received his BS from Peking University, and PhD of Physics from Brandeis University. After postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, he served as assistant professor of physics at Indiana University from 1999-2002. Since 2003, he serves as an assistant professor of physics and engineering at Brown University.
Professor Tang's research area is experimental biophysics. He has particularly focused his efforts in self-assembly of protein filaments. The biological questions he attempts to address include morphology, pattern formation, force generation and motility of cells and the like.
Professor Tang enjoys teaching of physics and biophysics. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with kids and playing card games such as bridge.
Research Description
Professor Tang is involved in a new research program of molecular biophysics. The main goal of his research effort is to understand the mechanisms and properties of protein assemblies. In particular, the Tang lab studies the assembly of the so-called cytoskeletal proteins, such as proteins called actin and tubulin, which form functional filaments in cells.
Filamentous assemblies of proteins and nucleotides form a class of biomaterials with physical properties distinct from those of most synthetic polymers. Among these biomaterials are cytoskeletal filaments including filamentous actin (F-actin), microtubules, and intermediate filaments; collagen fibers in the extra-cellular matrix; duplex DNA in both extended and condensed forms; and filamentous viruses such as the bacteriophages fd, M13, and pf1. Various states of assembly occur in solutions of this class of biopolymers, including isotropic networks, liquid crystalline phases, and densely packed lateral aggregates often described as paracrystalline bundles. Elucidating the molecular interactions that govern the formation of all these states will provide a means to predict and manipulate transitions among them, and will therefore have potential applications for material science and biomedical engineering.
The long-term goal of this line of research is to explore special features of these polymer systems in connection with phase transitions, and to identify and assess the inter-molecular forces that govern various states of assembly in aqueous solutions. We also explore strategies for potential treatment of certain human diseases based on the properties of large protein assemblies.
Additionally, the Tang laboratory has recently undertaken biophysical studies of bacterial adhesion and motility, using the aquatic bacterial species Caulobacter crescentus. The study has revealed extraordinary strength of adhesion, which has implications for potentially developing a new class of adhesives. An ongoing study of the Caulobacter swarmer cells suggests much higher swiming efficiency than E. coli and V. alginolyticus, showing an interersting example of adaptation of microorganisms through the course of evolution.
Degrees
PhD
Honors and Awards
• China and the U. S. Physics Examination and Application (CUSPEA), a joint program designed to select top Chinese physics students for graduate study in the US, July, 1987.
• Martin Fisher Scholar of Physics, Brandeis University, Sept., 1988 - May, 1991.
• Stephen Berko Memorial Prize for Outstanding Research, Brandeis University, May, 1994.
• Joseph and Sophia Konopinski Award for Teaching Excellence, April, 2002, Indiana University.
• Salomon Research Award, Brown University, 2004.
Affiliations
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow supported by a National Institute of Health (NIH) training grant, Harvard Medical School, July 1994-September 1997
• Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, October 1997-August 1999
• Assistant Professor of Physics, Indiana University, August 1999-2002
• Guest Faculty at the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP), University of California-Santa Barbara. Program Title: Complex Fluids, Feb-March, 2002
• Guest Professor, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2005-present
• Assistant Professor of Physics, Brown University, July, 2002- present
• Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering, Brown University, July, 2003- present
Teaching Experience
I have been teaching both first year college physics and the specialized biophysics courses. I enjoy teaching both of them, as they keep me connected with both undergraduate and graduate students.
I enjoy guiding students through new concepts in small groups or one-on-one settings.
Funded Research
I. Current grants
1. National Institute of Health R01 grant, entitled "Dissolution of polyelectrolyte bundles in airway fluids", June 2001-May 2006. PI: P.A. Janmey at U.Penn Medical School, with Tang as Subcontractor (Portion for Tang $350,000).
2. NASA Ground Based Biology Study, entitled "Microscopic Studies of Gravi-Sensitive Microtubule Assembly in Simulated Variable Gravity Conditions, $472K, Jan, 2004-Dec, 2006. PI: Tang, Co-I: Valles.
3. National Science Foundation Award DMR 0405156, entitled "Compensatory Roles of Electrostatics and Depletion Force on the Aggregation of Filamentous Viruses and Protein Filaments", $273K, Aug, 2004-July 2007. PI: Tang
4. Petroleum Research Fund, American Chemical Society, entitled "Liquid crystalline formation of filamentous actin assembly", $80K, Sept, 2005-August, 2007. PI: Tang
5. National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Grant awarded to Brown University, entitled "Micro- and Nano- Mechanics of Materials", Sept 2005-Aug 2010. PI: Bill Curtin, with Tang as a key participant. Funding support to Tang includes ½ graduate student for year one, and likely 1 full student during year 2-5.
II. Completed Grants
1. Research Investment Fund (RIF) award from the Research and University Graduate School (RUGS), Indiana University, to purchase an atomic force microscope (AFM) for materials science and biological applications (co-PI with Dave Baxter), $150K, May, 2000.
2. Indiana 21st Century Fund, entitled "Center for Membrane Protein Biotechnology", 2002-2004, $1,320K. PI: Gil Lee, Purdue University. Tang's portion as a Co-PI is $170K in two-year total. (Fund returned for leaving the state of Indiana).
3. Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN), Department of Education. $630K, August 2001-August 2004. This grant funds a departmental program of which Tang serves as a co-director. The grant provides full support for 7 graduate students each year to conduct research under the theme of microscopic physics and biophysics. (Participation ended due to departure from Indiana University).
4. National Science Foundation grant, entitled "Solution Physics of F-actin and Filamentous Bacteriophages", $270K, July, 2000-June 2003.
5. National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant, entitled " Acquisition of a Scanning Probe Microscope for Studies of Biomolecules and Nanoscale Materials and Devices ", $133K, Sept, 2003-Aug 2004. PI: Tang. Co-PIs: Ling, Powers, Valles and Xiao.
6. Salomon Award, Brown University, research project entitled "Chemotactic trajectory and hydrodynamics of Caulobactor crescentus swarmer cells, June, 2004-May, 2005.
Web Links
Curriculum Vitae
Read Jay Tang's full Faculty Research Profile.
