Zengqiang Yuan, Ph.D, Prof.
Principal Investigator
State Key Laboratory of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, IBP
Molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases
Biography & Introduction
Education
1990-1995, B.S., Clinical Medicine, Qingdao Medical College.
1995-1998, M.S., Pathophysiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital.
1998-2003, Ph.D., Biochemistry, The University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Positions Held
2003-2007, Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
2007-present, Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
2011, Supported by “The National Outstanding Youth Grant” of NSFC.
Research Interests
Our long-term goal is to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and other cerebral/cardiovascular diseases, by using Drosophila and mice as model systems. We are also interested in determining the signaling transduction in the dynamical regulation of mitochondrial function contributing to neurological disorders as well as the molecular signaling in tumorigenesis. In my laboratory, we employ a combination of molecular and cell biological and genetic approaches in the primary cultured neurons and animal models. Our research has been focusing on the following aspects:
(1) The regulatory mechanisms of the pro-apoptotic protein kinase Hippo/MST during Oxidative Stress-induced neuronal cell death.
(2) The molecular mechanisms in the regulation of mitochondrial function and morphology, especially the PD-related genes (DJ-1, Parkin and Pink1).
(3) The function of CALHM family proteins in the development of AD and immune system diseases.
(4) Post-translational modification of the key proteins and the signaling transduction cascade underlying the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, including protein phosphorylation, uniquitination, acetylation and methylation.
In sum, with the molecular underpinnings of signaling mechanism in the neurological diseases are unraveled, the more opportunities we are likely to gain novel insights in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, which might pave a new therapeutic avenue for the diagnosis and treatment of the patients. By using the similar strategy, we are carrying out the signaling studies on tumorigensis based on our understanding of molecular mechanisms controlling cell survival and apoptosis.
Selected publications
1.    Wu R1,2,Chen H1,3,Ma J1,2,He Q1,2,Huang Q4,Liu Q5, Li M4, Yuan Z1,2,3.c-Abl-p38α signaling plays an important role in MPTP-induced neuronal death.Cell Death Differ.2016 Mar;23(3):542-52. IF:8.184
2.    Cheng J, Liao Y, Zhou L, Peng S, Chen H, Yuan Z.Amplified RLR signaling activation through an interferon-stimulated gene-endoplasmic reticulum stress-mitochondrial calcium uniporter protein loop.Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 19;6:20158.
3.    Zhao S, Yin J, Zhou L, Yan F, He Q, Huang L, Peng S, Jia J, Cheng J, Chen H, Tao W, Ji X, Xu Y, Yuan Z. Hippo/MST1 signaling mediates microglial activation following acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brain Behav Immun. 2016 Jul;55:236-48.
4.    Zhao S, Yang J, Wang L, Peng S, Yin J, Jia L, Yang X, Yuan Z, Wu C. NF-κBUpregulates Type 5 Phosphodiesterase in N9 Microglial Cells: Inhibition by Sildenafil and Yonkenafil.Mol Neurobiol. 2016 May;53(4):2647-58. (Corresponding author)
5.    Liao Y, Hao Y, Chen H, He Q, Yuan Z#, Cheng J#.Mitochondrial calcium uniporter protein MCU is involved in oxidative stress-induced cell death. Protein Cell. 2015 Jun;6(6):434-42.