Selected publications
Burton, Z.F. and Lei, L. (2024) The God Molecule: Evolution of tRNA and the Genetic Code (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, ISBN: 1-0364-1012-9, ISBN13: 978-1-0364-1012-4, http://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-0364-1012-4).
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2024) Origin of Type II tRNA Variable Loops, Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Allostery from Distal Determinants, and Diversification of Life. DNA 2024, 4: 252–275
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2023) The 3 31 Nucleotide Minihelix tRNA Evolution Theorem and the Origin of Life. Life 13: 2224.
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2022) “Superwobbling” and tRNA-34 wobble and tRNA-37 anticodon loop modifications in evolution and devolution of the genetic code. Life 12: 252.
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2021) Evolution of the genetic code. Transcription 12, 28-53.
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2021) Early evolution of transcription systems and divergence of Archaea and Bacteria. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 8.
Lei, L. and Burton, Z.F. (2020) Evolution of life on Earth: tRNA, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and the genetic code. Life 10: 21.
Welsbie, D.S., Mitchell, K.L., Ranganathan, V., Sluch, V.M., Yang, Z., Kim, J., Buehler, E., Patel, A., Martin, S., Zhang, P.W., Ge, Y., Duan, Y., Fuller, J., Kim, B.J., Hamed, E., Chamling, X., Lei, L., Fraser, I.D.C., Ronai, Z.A., Berlinicke, C.A., and Zack, D.J. (2017) Enhanced functional genomic screening identifies novel mediators of dual leucine zipper kinase-dependent injury signaling in neurons. Neuron 94: 1142-1154.
Burman, M.A., Simmons, C.A., Hughes, M., and Lei, L. (2014) Developing and validating trace fear conditioning protocols in C57BL/6 mice. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 222, 111-7.
Wang, Y., Lin, L., Lai, H., Parada, L.F., and Lei, L.* (2013). Transcription factor Sox11 is essential for both embryonic and adult neurogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 242, 638-53. *Corresponding author.
Lin, L., Lee, V., Wang, Y., Lin, J., Sock, E., Wegner, M., and Lei, L.* (2011). Sox11 regulates survival and axonal growth of embryonic sensory neurons. Developmental Dynamics 240, 52-64. *Corresponding author.
Romero, M., Lin, L., Lush, M., Lei, L., Parada, L.F., and Zhu, Y. (2007). Deletion of Nf1 in neurons induces increased axon collateral branching after dorsal root injury. Journal of Neuroscience 27, 2124-2134.
Lei, L.*, and Parada, L.F. (2007). Transcriptional regulation of Trk family neurotrophin receptors (Invited review). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 64, 522-532. * Corresponding author.
Lei, L., Zhou, J., Lin, L., and Parada, L.F. (2006). Brn3a and Klf7 cooperate to control TrkA expression in sensory neurons. Developmental Biology 300, 758-769.
Lei, L., Laub, F., Lush, M., Romero, M., Zhou, J., Luikart, B., Klesse, L., Ramirez, F., and Parada, L.F. (2005). The zinc finger transcription factor Klf7 is required for TrkA gene expression and development of nociceptive sensory neurons. Genes & Development 19, 1354-1364.
Laub, F., Lei, L., Sumiyoshi, H., Kajimura, D., Dragomir, C., Smaldone, S., Puche, A.C., Petros, T.J., Mason, C., Parada, L.F., and Ramirez, F. (2005). Transcription factor KLF7 is important for neuronal morphogenesis in selected regions of the nerv¬ous system. Molecular and Cellular Biology 25, 5699-5711.
Ma, L., Lei, L., Eng, S.R., Turner, E., and Parada, L.F. (2003). Brn3a regulation of TrkA/NGF receptor expression in developing sensory neurons. Development 130, 3525-3534.
Lei, L., Ma, L., Nef, S., Thai, T., and Parada, L.F. (2001). mKlf7, a potential transcriptional regulator of trkA nerve growth factor receptor expression in sensory and sympathetic neurons. Development 128, 1147-1158.
Lei, L., Ren, D., and Burton, Z.F. (1999). The RAP74 subunit of human transcription factor IIF has similar roles in initiation and elongation. Molecular and Cellular Biology 19, 8372-8382.
Ren, D., Lei, L., and Burton, Z.F. (1999). A region within the RAP74 subunit of human transcription factor IIF is critical for initiation but dispensable for complex assembly. Molecular and Cellular Biology 19, 7377-7387.
Lei, L., Ren, D., Finkelstein, A., and Burton, Z.F. (1998). Functions of the N- and C-terminal domains of human RAP74 in initiation, elongation, and recycling of RNA polymerase II. Molecular and Cellular Biology 18, 2130-2142.
Wang, B.Q., Lei, L., and Burton, Z.F. (1994). Importance of codon preference for production of human RAP74 and reconstitution of the RAP30/74 complex. Protein Expression and Purification 5, 476-485.
Invited plenary presentation
The Northeast Regional IDeA Conference, Bar Harbor, Maine, September 24-26, 2015.
The Gordon Research Conference on Neurotrophic Factors, June 2-7, 2013; Newport, RI.
Quebec Pain Research Network Annual Meeting, Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada, January 25-27, 2013.
Department of Biology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, December 6, 2012.
38th Maine Biological and Medical Sciences Symposium, MDIBL, Salisbury Cove, Maine, April 15-16, 2011.
Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, February 17, 2011.
Cell Biology Department, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 19, 2009.
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, February 5, 2009.
Advanced Infrared Technology and Applications 2007. Leon, Mexico, October 8-12, 2007.
First Annual Neuroscience Symposium cosponsored by the Barrow Neurological Institute and Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, November 4, 2006.
The 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. November 10-15, 2001; San Diego, California.
