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PI, IDG/McGovern Institute, Tsinghua University
PI, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University 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 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]
- Liu YN, Wang QW, She XY, Li LJ, Wang B, Yang R, Li Q, Lu SY, Wang YH, Shen W, Fu CL, Yi L, Wang CX, Shi W., Cheng X, Cao L, Mi S, Yao J. Disturbed rhythm of pancreatic insulin secretion induces circadian-based bipolar swings of behaviors. Nature Neuroscience. 2025 (in press).
- Wang YH, Fu CL, Chen LB, Zhang CY, Chen JS, Zhang QM, Liang Y, Yang RL, Li Y, Zhang YN, Han YN, Yuan ZL, Chen YN, Li H, Pan Y, Hu S, Li M*, Cao LP*, Yao J*. Microglia contributes to bipolar depression through Serinc2-dependent phospholipid synthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025. (*co-corresponding author) (in press)
- Zhang QM, Chen YF, Xing YY, Yang M, Li N, Jiang X, Gao H, Lu SY, Yao J. Anterior insular cortex regulates depression-like and ASD-like behaviors via the differential contribution of two subsets of microglia. Molecular Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.1038/s41380-025-03139-1. Online ahead of print.
- Weng K, Li W, Cheng X, Xing Y, Fu X, Wang Y, Wang H, Tian X, Wang Y, Li L, Yao J*, Sheng X*, Li J*, Zhang H*. Metal-Organic Frameworks Modified Organic Bulk Heterojunction Interfaces for Effective Nongenetic Neuromodulation. ACS Nano. 2025 May 6;19(17):16813-16828. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5c01516. Epub 2025 Apr 25. (* co-corresponding author)
- Liu YN, Wang QW, Lu SY, Shen W, Guo CY, Xing ZK, Mi S, Yao J. Insulin hypoactivity caused by Synaptotagmin-7 deficits contributes to depression-like behaviors and diurnal behavioral fluctuation. iScience. 2025 Apr 4;28(5):112354. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112354. eCollection 2025 May 16.
- Cheng X, Li W, Wang Y, Weng K, Xing Y, Huang Y, Sheng X, Yao J*, Zhang H*, Li J*. Highly Branched Au Superparticles as Efficient Photothermal Transducers for Optical Neuromodulation. ACS Nano. 2024 Oct 14. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c07163. (* co-corresponding author)
- Fu CL, Dong BC, Jiang X, Li D, Yao J. A cell therapy approach based on iPSC-derived midbrain organoids for the restoration of motor function in a Parkinson’s disease mouse model. Heliyon. 2024 Jan 9;10(2):e24234. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24234. eCollection 2024 Jan 30.
- Wang QW, Qin J, Chen YF, Tu Y, Xing YY, Wang Y, Yang LY, Lu SY, Geng L, Shi W, Yang Y, Yao J. 16p11.2 CNV gene Doc2α functions in neurodevelopment and social behaviors through interaction with Secretagogin. Cell Rep. 2023 Jul 25;42(7):112691. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112691. Epub 2023 Jun 22.
- Wang QW, Wang YH, Wang B, Chen Y, Lu SY, Yao J. Synaptotagmin-7-mediated activation of spontaneous NMDAR currents is disrupted in bipolar disorder susceptibility variants. PLOS Biology. 2021 Jul 6;19(7):e3001323. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001323. eCollection 2021 Jul.
- Lu SY, Fu CL, Liang L, Yang B, Shen W, Wang QW, Chen Y, Chen YF, Liu YN, Zhu L, Zhao J, Shi W, Mi S, and Yao J. miR-218-2 regulates cognitive functions in the hippocampus through C3-dependent modulation of synaptic vesicle release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Apr 6:118(14):e2021770118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2021770118
- Wang QW, Lu SY, Liu YN, Chen Y, Wei H, Shen W, Chen YF, Fu CL, Wang YH, Dai A, Huang X, Gage FH, Xu Q, Yao J. Synaptotagmin-7 deficiency induces mania-like behavioral abnormalities through attenuating GluN2B activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 8;117(49):31438-31447. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2016416117. Epub 2020 Nov 23.
- Shen W, Wang QW, Liu YN, Marchetto MC, Linker S, Lu SY, Chen Y, Liu C, Guo C, Xing Z, Shi W, Kelsoe JR, Alda M, Wang H, Zhong Y, Sui SF, Zhao M, Yang Y, Mi S, Cao L, Gage FH, Yao J. Synaptotagmin-7 is a key factor for bipolar-like behavioral abnormalities in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Feb 25;117(8):4392-4399. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1918165117. Epub 2020 Mar 16.
- 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 Mar;21(3):447-454. doi: 10.1038/s41593-018-0077-5. Epub 2018 Feb 5.
- 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. Differential Responses to Lithium in Hyperexcitable Neurons from Bipolar Patients. Nature. 2015 Nov 5;527(7576):95-9. doi: 10.1038/nature15526.