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Kun-Yang Lin, Ph.D. 林坤陽 博士
Assistant Professor
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
國立陽明交通大學 解剖學及細胞生物學研究所 助理教授
Email: kunyang.lin@nycu.edu.tw
The Regulation of Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Quiescent Neural Stem Cells
The transitioning of neural stem cells (NSCs) between quiescent and proliferative states is fundamental for brain development and homeostasis. Defects in NSC reactivation are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Drosophila quiescent NSCs extend an actin-rich primary protrusion toward the neuropil. However, the function of the actin cytoskeleton during NSC reactivation is unknown. Here, we reveal the fine filamentous actin (F-actin) structures in the protrusions of quiescent NSCs by expansion and super-resolution microscopy. We show that F-actin polymerization promotes the nuclear translocation of myocardin-related transcription factor, a microcephaly-associated transcription factor, for NSC reactivation and brain development. F-actin polymerization is regulated by a signaling cascade composed of G protein–coupled receptor Smog, G protein αq subunit, Rho1 guanosine triphosphatase, and Diaphanous (Dia)/Formin during NSC reactivation. Further, astrocytes secrete a Smog ligand folded gastrulation to regulate Gαq-Rho1-Dia–mediated NSC reactivation. Together, we establish that the Smog-Gαq-Rho1 signaling axis derived from astrocytes, an NSC niche, regulates Dia-mediated F-actin dynamics in NSC reactivation. Our findings show Drosophila quiescent NSCs as a tractable model for studying stem cell reactivation, and identify cytoskeletal remodeling as a key mechanism linking extrinsic signals to NSC activation.
Position
2025-present Assistant Professor, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Education
2020-2024 Postdoc, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
2014-2020 Ph.D. Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP), Academia Sinica, Taiwan
2007-2009 M.Sc. Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan
2003-2007 B.Sc. Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taiwan
Expertise
Neurobiology, Stem cell biology, Developmental biology
Selected Publications
1. Ma DL, Lin KY, Divya S, Lin J, Gujar M, Aung HY, Tan YS, Chen T, Wang H. Arl2 Associates with Cdk5rap2 to Regulate Cortical Development via Microtubule Organization. PLoS Biology (2024)
2. Lin KY, Gujar M, Lin J, Ding WY, Huang J, Gao Y, Tan YS, Teng X, Toyama Y, Wang H. Astrocytes Control Quiescent NSC Reactivation via GPCR Signaling-mediated F-actin Remodeling. Science Advances (2024)
3. Chen TA¶, Lin KY¶, Yang SM¶, Tseng CY, Wang YT, Lin CH, Luo L, Cai Y, Hsu HJ. Canonical Wnt Signaling Promotes Formation of Somatic Permeability Barrier for Proper Germ Cell Differentiation. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2022) ¶Co-first author.
4. Lin KY, Wang WD, Lin CH, Rastegari E, Su YH, Chang YC, Chang YT, Liao YF, Pi H, Yu BY, Chen SH, Lin CY, Lu MY, Tzou FY, Chan CC, Hsu HJ. Piwi reduction in the aged niche eliminates germline stem cells via Toll-GSK3 signaling. Nature Communications (2020)
Biosketch
Dr. Kun-Yang Lin is an Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan, where he began his faculty position in February 2025. He received his Ph.D. from Academia Sinica, Taiwan under the mentorship of Dr. Hwei-Jan Hsu, and completed his postdoctoral training in Dr. Hongyan Wang laboratory at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Dr. Lin’s research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transition of neural stem cells (NSCs) from quiescence to activation, particularly in the context of brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His laboratory uses both Drosophila models and human cerebral organoids to investigate how NSCs are regulated intrinsically and through their niche environment, with a special emphasis on astrocyte-derived signals. To achieve this, his lab integrates a range of techniques including genetics, confocal microscopy, live-cell imaging, and single-cell transcriptomics. His long-term goal is to uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing NSC regulation in brain homeostasis and to develop novel therapeutic strategies for treating neurodevelopmental disorders.
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