The YAO Laboratory's mission is to train undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to become independent and interdisciplinary scientists and to demonstrate the value of rigorous and creative thinking in biomedical research regarding RNA biology, Heart health and disease, and Ribosome-centered translation machine and translational control (RHR). We employ various approaches of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetic and surgical mouse models, pharmacological approaches, and high throughput technologies combined with bioinformatic tools to identify novel RNA-based molecular mechanisms that control gene expression and conduct pathophysiological function in cardiac system. Our research directions are: Translational control mechanisms in heart health and disease. In the long term, we are hoping to discover new drug targets and develop novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of human cardiovascular disease. We are currently recruiting postdoctoral research associate, staff scientist, and graduate students in the lab. Please refer to the hiring section in this website for detailed information.

Our Areas of expertise include: 

• • Cardiac biology and heart disease

  • RNA biology (tRNA, miRNA, mRNA UTRs, and RNA switch)

  • Translation machinery (ribosome, translation factors, and RNA-binding proteins)

  • Mitochondrial biology

  • Translational control in health, disease and medicine

  • RNA-based therapeutic development

Our current research interests include: 

• Pathophysiological function and regulatory mechanism of RNA-binding proteins and translation factors in cardiac disorders and in fundamental biology;

• The role of translation machinery and translational control in cardiac health and disease and therapeutic applications;

• Translational control mechanisms in cytoplasm and mitochondria of mammalian cells.

Methodology and techniques include:

• Methods for studying translational control: in vitro translation system using Hela extracts; polysome profiling coupled with RNA-Seq to examine global translational regulation; RiboTag-Seq using HA-tagged RPL22 transgenic mice to determine translatome in specific murine tissues; ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) to map ribosome footprints of transcriptome (e.g., mRNA and lncRNA).

• Protein-RNA interaction assays, including crosslinking immunoprecipitation (CLIP)-Seq and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP)-Seq.

• Mouse models of heart failure (HF): Isoproterenol s.c. injection or minipump implantation; Angiotensin II minipump implantation; transverse aortic constriction; left anterior descending artery ligation; ischemia-reperfusion cardiac injury. Phenotypic changes are evaluated by H&E, WGA and trichrome staining. Cardiac functions are assessed by echocardiography.

• Construction of CRISPR-Cas9-directed gene-specific knockout mouse models. Isolation of primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and myocytes (CMs) from murine hearts for cell culture.

• Biochemistry and molecular biology methods: protein expression and purification, protein interactome capture by mass spectrometry analysis, RNA-protein and RNA-drug interaction (EMSA, SPR, ITC), RNA affinity purification of protein interactome, Selective 2′ Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension (SHAPE), ChIP, mutagenesis for structure-function study, pulse-chase labeling assay, and mitochondrial functional assays (seahorse, etc.).