Welcome to the Yan Lab!

Research

Our research focuses on understanding mechanisms underlying neuronal development, regeneration, and degeneration. We use a free-living tiny roundworm, called Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model. The defined cell lineage, completely mapped connectome and rapid life cycle of this organism greatly facilitate investigating nervous system at the subcellular resolution. Using cutting edge laser axotomy, live imaging, and genetic and genome editing approaches, we address questions related to neurons and glia in development and aging.

Topic 1:

Aging

Degenerating axons

Degeneration and Regeneration

Aging is a universal phenomenon of living animals. The probability of developing neurodegenerative diseases dramatically increases in the aged population, and a growing body of evidence shows that aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains unclear what causes neurodegeneration during aging. We are studying the factors involved in regulation of neuronal degeneration and regeneration in aging.

Lab publication on this topic:

Heat shock proteins function as signaling molecules to mediate neuron-glia communication in C. elegans during aging. Jieyu Wu, Victoria Yarmey, Olivia Yang, Erik J Soderblom, Adriana San-Miguel, Dong Yan.Nature Neuroscience. 2025 Jun 18. doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-01989-0. PMID: 40533573
GABA signaling triggered by TMC-1/Tmc delays neuronal aging by inhibiting the PKC pathway in C. elegans. Jieyu Wu, Liuyang Wang, John F Ervin, Shih-Hsiu J Wang, Erik Soderblom, Dennis Ko, Dong Yan.Science Advances. 2022 Dec 21;8(51):eadc9236. . doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adc9236. PMID: 36542715
An Antimicrobial Peptide and Its Neuronal Receptor Regulate Dendrite Degeneration in Aging and Infections. Lezi E, Ting Zhou, Sehwon Koh, Marian Chuang, Ruchira Sharma, Nathalie Pujol, Andrew D Chisholm, Cagla Eroglu, Hiroaki Matsunami, Dong Yan. Neuron. 2018 Jan 3;97(1):125-138. PMID: 29301098

Topic 2:

Synapses

PLM gap junctions (green); PVC neurons (magenta)

Gap Junction

The nervous system is made up by individual neurons connected through junction structures called synapses. There are two fundamentally different types of synapses: chemical synapses and electrical synapses (also called gap junctions). Through studies in different model organisms, we have gained rich knowledge of the development and regulation of chemical synapses. However, we still know little about how gap junctions are built during development, and what regulates the dynamic of gap junctions in functional circuits. We are investigating the molecular mechanism underlying gap junction formation and regulation in C. elegans.

Lab publication on this topic:

NLR-1/CASPR anchors F-actin to promote gap junction formation. Lingfeng Meng, and Dong Yan. Developmental Cell . 2020 Nov 17;S1534-5807(20)30840-6. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.10.020.
Regulation of gap junction turnover by UNC-44/ankyrin and UNC-33/CRMP through VAB-8 in C. elegans neurons. PLOS Genetics. 2016 Mar 25;12(3). PMCID:PMC4807823.
Regulation of neuronal axon specification by glia-neuron gap junctions. Elife. 2016 Oct 21;5. pii: e19510. doi: 10.7554/eLife.19510.

Topic 3:

Glial Cells

RME neurons (green); GLR cells (magenta)

Neuronal and Glial Development

The development of C. elegans nervous system resembles some critical steps of mammalian CNS development. we are studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of neurons and glia.

Lab publication on this topic:

Heat shock proteins function as signaling molecules to mediate neuron-glia communication in C. elegans during aging. Jieyu Wu, Victoria Yarmey, Olivia Yang, Erik J Soderblom, Adriana San-Miguel, Dong Yan.Nature Neuroscience. 2025 Jun 18. doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-01989-0. PMID: 40533573
Regulation of Glial Size by Eicosapentaenoic Acid through a Novel Golgi Apparatus Mechanism. Albert Zhang, Ziqiang Guan, Kyle Ockerman, Pengyuan Dong, Jiansheng Guo , Zhiping Wang , Dong Yan. (2020). PLOS Biology. 2020 Dec 28;18(12):e3001051. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001051.
Robo functions as an attractive cue for glial migration through SYG-1/Neph. Zhongwei Qu , Albert Zhang , and Dong Yan. Elife. 2020 Nov 19;9:e57921. doi: 10.7554/eLife.57921.
Vitamin B12 Regulates Glial Migration and Synapse Formation through Isoform-Specific Control of PTP-3/LAR PRTP Expression. Cell Reports. 2020 March 24. 30, 3981–3988
Regulation of Gliogenesis by lin-32/Atoh1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (Bethesda). 2020 Jul 14:g3.401547.2020. doi: 10.1534/g3.120.401547. PMID: 32665354
Regulation of neuronal axon specification by glia-neuron gap junctions. Elife. 2016 Oct 21;5. pii: e19510. doi: 10.7554/eLife.19510.
The cell death pathway regulates synapse elimination through cleavage of gelsolin in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. Cell Reports. 2015 Jun 23;11(11):1737-48.PMID:26074078.

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