Jun Yao
Email: jyao@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn, yaojun_ca@hotmail.com
Lab website: http://yaola
The research interests in my lab focus on neurological disorders and synaptic vesicle cycling.
In the presynaptic nerve terminal, multiple types of neurotransmitter releases occur through different patterns of fusion between the synaptic vesicles and the plasma membrane, as a result of which the activity of the neural network is modulated, to varying degrees. In the meanwhile, through cyclic utilization of synaptic vesicles, neurotransmitters can be continuously released in a stable manner. Alterations in neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle cycling would lead to generation of synaptic plasticity. Using genetic approaches, whole-cell patch clamp recording and fluorescence imaging techniques, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic vesicle cycling and different patterns of neurotransmitter release.
Previous research has revealed deficiencies in synaptic physiology in a number of neuronal disorders. Induced pluripotent stem cell technology is a powerful and irreplaceable tool for research into complex multigenic diseases as the cells derived from the patients carry all the genetic information about the disease. Using this technology, we study the changes in synaptic functions in two complex neurological disorders, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder, as well as the related mechanisms. Our long-term goal is to elucidate the pathogenesis of these two diseases.
Representative Publications
1. Mertens J, Wang QW, Kim Y, Yu DX, Pham S, Yang B, Zheng Y, Diffenderfer KE, Zhang J, Soltani S, Eames TJ, Schafer ST, Boyer L, Marchetto MC, Nurnberger JI, Calabrese JR, Ødegaard KJ, McCarthy MJ, Zandi PP, PBDS, Mi S, Brennand KJ, Kelsoe JR, Gage FH, Yao J (2015). Differential Responses to Lithium in Hyperexcitable Neurons from Bipolar Patients. Nature. (In Press)
2. Yu DX, Di Giorgio DP, Yao J, Marchetto MC, Brennand K, Wright R, Mei A, McHenry L, Lisuk D, Grasmik J, Silberman P, Silberman G, Jappelli R, Gage FH (2014). Modeling hippocampal neurogenesis using human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports. 2014 Feb 27;2(3):295-310. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.01.009. eCollection 2014 Mar 11.
3. Yao J, Kwon SE, Gaffaney JD, Dunning FM, Chapman ER (2012). Uncoupling the roles of synaptotagmin I during endo- and exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Nature Neuroscience. 15(2): 243-249.
4. Yao J, Gaffaney JD, Kwon SE, Chapman ER (2011). Doc2 is a Ca2+ sensor required for asynchronous neurotransmitter release. Cell. 147(3):666-77.
5. Yao J, Mu Y, Gage FH (2012). Neural stem cells: mechanisms and modeling. Protein & Cell. 3(4): 251-261. (Review)
6. Wu Y, Gu Y, Morphew MK, Yao J, YehFL, Dong M, Chapman ER (2012). All three components of the neuronal SNARE complex contribute to secretory vesicle docking in PC12 cells. Journal of Cell Biology. 198(3):323-30.
7. Yeh FL, Dong M, Yao J, Tepp WH, Lin G, Johnson EA, Chapman ER (2010). SV2 mediates entry of tetanus neurotoxin into central neurons. PLoS Pathogens. 6(11): e1001207.
8. Yuan X, Yao J, Norris D, Tran DD, Bram RJ, Chen G, Luscher B (2008). Calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand regulates membrane trafficking of postsynaptic GABA(A) receptors. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 38(2):277-289.
9. Deng, L.*, Yao, J.*, Fang, C., Dong, N., Luscher, B., Chen G (2007). Sequential postsynaptic maturation governs the temporal order of GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptogenesis in rat embryonic cultures. Journal of Neuroscience. 27(40):10860-9. (*Equal contribution)
10. Yao, J., Qi, J. S., and Chen, G (2006). Actin-dependent activation of presynaptic silent synapses contributes to long-term synaptic plasticity in developing hippocampal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 26(31):8137-47.
11. Qi, J., Yao, J., Fang, C., Luscher, B., and Chen G (2006). Downregulation of Tonic GABA Currents Following Epileptogenic Stimulation of Rat Hippocampal Cultures. Journal of Physiology. 577(2): 579-590.