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PI, IDG/McGovern Institute, Tsinghua University
PI, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University PI, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences Lab Address: Medical Sciences Building D208
Lab Phone: 62797278 Email: jyao@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn, yaojun_ca@hotmail.com Lab：http://yaolab.life.tsinghua.edu.cn |
[Research Focus]
In the central nervous system, synapse is the bridge for neurons to pass signals to each other. Synaptic dysfunction is involved in most types of neurological disorders including schizophrenia (SCZD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD), which are two typical complex neuropsychiatric diseases. On one hand, we are interested in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic vesicle cycling, by which neurotransmitters are efficiently released from the presynaptic nerve terminals to affect the downstream cells. On the other hand, we use human induced pluripotent stem cell disease model as a tool to investigate the synaptic relevant pathological mechanism of SCZD and BD neurons. Our lab's research include:
1. Investigate the pathogenesis of neurological disorders using induced pluripotent stem cell technology;
2. Study the mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle cycling in the presynaptic nerve terminal using patch clamp recording and fluorescence imaging techniques;
2. Study the mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle cycling in the presynaptic nerve terminal using patch clamp recording and fluorescence imaging techniques;
3. Investigate synaptic plasticity in neurological disorders and neural network formation.
[Education & Experience]
2013-present PI, IDG/McGovern Institute, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University
2011-2013 Research Associate, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
2007-2011 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin
2002-2007 Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
1999-2001 M.S., Nanjing University
2011-2013 Research Associate, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
2007-2011 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin
2002-2007 Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
1999-2001 M.S., Nanjing University
1995-1999 B. S., Nanjing University
[Selected Publications]
- Zheng Y, Shen W, Zhang J, Yang B, Liu YN, Qi H, Yu X, Lu SY, Chen Y, Xu YZ, Li Y, Gage FH, Mi S, and Yao J.* CRISPR interference-based specific and efficient gene inactivation in the brain. Nature Neuroscience. 2018 Feb 5. doi: 10.1038/s41593-018-0077-5.
- Liu, Y.N., Lu, S.Y., and Yao, J.* (2017). Application of induced pluripotent stem cells to understand neurobiological basis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2017 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12528.
- 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, Degaard KJ, McCarthy MJ, Zandi PP, PBDS, Mi S, Brennand KJ, Kelsoe JR, Gage FH, Yao J*. Differential Responses to Lithium in Hyperexcitable Neurons from Bipolar Patients. Nature. 2015 Nov 5;527(7576):95-9. doi: 10.1038/nature15526. Epub 2015 Oct 28.
- Yao J*, Mu Y, Gage FH (2012). Neural stem cells: mechanisms and modeling. Protein Cell. 3(4):251-61. (Review)
- 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.
- Yao J*, Gaffaney JD, Kwon SE, Chapman ER (2011). Doc2 is a Ca2+ sensor required for asynchronous neurotransmitter release. Cell. 147(3):666-77.
- Yao J*, Mu Y, Gage FH (2012). Neural stem cells: mechanisms and modeling. Protein & Cell. 3(4): 251-261.
- 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.
- 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.