Zhen Yan, Ph.D.
SUNY
Distinguished Professor
Department of
Physiology and Biophysics
School of Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences
State University of New York at Buffalo
Research Interests:
Synaptic and
Epigenetic Mechanisms of Mental Health and Brain Disorders
Our research goal is to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of brain disorders, including autism, stress-associated psychiatric disorders and Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, we try to understand how the glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission in prefrontal cortex (PFC) is regulated by various neuromodulators, including disease susceptibility genes, stress hormones and monoamines, which is important for cognitive and emotional control under normal conditions. We also try to understand how the aberrant action of neuromodulators under pathological conditions leads to dysregulation of synaptic transmission in PFC. Recently, we are focusing on investigating how epigenetic abnormality caused by genetic and environmental factors results in pathological gene alterations, leading to synaptic dysfunction and behavioral deficits related to brain disorders.
Animal models of diseases and human stem cell-derived neurons are used in our studies. The major techniques include: whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of synaptic currents in brain slices, multichannel recordings of neuronal spikes in anesthetized or free-moving animals, viral-based in vivo gene transfer, biochemical and immunocytochemical detection of synaptic and nuclear proteins, transcriptomic and molecular analysis of genetic and epigenetic alterations, chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulation of neuronal circuits, and behavioral assays of cognitive, social and emotional processes. By integrating the multidisciplinary approaches, we have revealed the unique and convergent actions of neuromodulators on synaptic functions, and their contributions to the manifestation of behavioral deficits in disease states.
Lab Photos
Contact Information:
Email: zhenyan@buffalo.edu
Tel: (716) 829-3058 (office), (716)
829-3592 (lab)
Location: 955 Main St. Rm. 3150
(lab); Rm. 3156 (office)
Mailing address: 955 Main St. Rm. 3102, Buffalo, NY 14203
Highlights on Lab Members'
Achievements:
* Megan Conrow (MD/PhD student) won the NIH F30
Fellowship (Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral NRSA
for MD/PhD) in 2021 !
* Jamal B. Williams (PhD student) has earned the PhD degree, won 2022 Dean's Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research ! Jamal is
currently an assistant
professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry, JSMBS, State Univ. of New York at
Buffalo.
* Benjamin Rein (PhD student) has earned the PhD degree, won 2021 Dean's Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research, and joined Dr. Robert Malenka's lab in Stanford University for his postdoctoral training !
* Jia Cheng (PhD student) has become the scientific editor of Cell !
* Dr. Zijun Wang
(Postdoctoral Associate) has become assistant professor in the Dept. of
Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Lawrence, KS!
* Dr. Luye Qin (Research Assistant Professor) has
become assistant professor in the Dept. of Basic Biomedical Sciences,
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD!
For more information,
view a report
here.
Recent Selective
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
(Google
Scholar, H-index: 79; Total Citations: >22,400)
2025
*
Wan L,
Zhong P, Li P, Ren Y, Wang W, Yu M, Feng HY, Yan Z (2025) CRISPR-based
epigenomic editing of Gad1 expression improves synaptic inhibition and
cognitive behavior in a Tauopathy mouse model. Neurobiology of Disease 206:106826.
[PDF
file]
*
Jiang H, Xiao Z, Saleem K, Zhong
P, Li L, Chhetri G, Li P, Jiang Z, Yan Z, Feng J (2025) Generation of
human iPSC-derived cortical neurons expressing the six tau isoforms. J.
Alzheimer's Disease (epub ahead of print). [PDF file]
2024
*
Yan Z
(2024) Targeting epigenetic enzymes for autism treatment. Trends in
Pharmacological Sciences (review) 45(9):764-767. [PDF file]
*
Zhong
P, Cao Q, Yan Z (2024) Distinct and convergent alterations of entorhinal
cortical circuits in two mouse models for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. J.
Alzheimer's
Disease 98(3):1121-1131. [PDF file]
*
Carballo
LH, Li P, Senek R, Yan Z (2024) Systemic HDAC inhibition ameliorates the
aberrant responses to acute stress in socially isolated male mice. J.
Physiology 602(9):2047-2060. [PDF file]
*
Wan L, Yang G, Yan Z (2024) Identification of
a molecular network regulated by multiple ASD high risk genes. Human
Molecular Genetics 33(13):1176-1185. [PDF file]
2023
*
Williams
JB, Cao Q, Wang W, Lee YH, Qin L, Zhong P, Ren Y, Ma K, Yan Z (2023) Inhibition
of histone methyltransferase Smyd3
rescues NMDAR and cognitive deficits in a tauopathy mouse model. Nature
Communications 14:91. [PDF file]
* Li P and Yan Z
(2023) An epigenetic mechanism of social isolation stress in adolescent female
mice. Neurobiology of Stress 29:100601. [PDF
file]
*
Cao Q,
Kumar M, Frazier A, Williams JB, Zhao S, Yan Z (2023) Longitudinal characterization of behavioral, morphological and transcriptomic
changes in a tauopathy mouse model.
Aging. [PDF file]
*
Patel
PJ, Ren Y, Yan Z (2023) Epigenomic
analysis of Alzheimer's disease brains reveals
diminished CTCF binding on genes involved in synaptic organization. Neurobiology
of Disease 184:106192.
[PDF file]
* Zhu B, Fisher E,
Li L, Zhong P, Yan Z, Feng J (2023) PTBP2 attenuation facilitates
fibroblast to neuron conversion by promoting alternative splicing of neuronal
genes. Stem Cell Reports 18(11):2268-2282. [PDF
file]
* Pu J, Lin L,
Jiang H, Hu Z, Li H, Yan Z, Zhang B, Feng J (2023) Parkin maintains
robust pacemaking in human iPSC-derived A9
dopaminergic neurons. Movement Disorder 38(7):1273-1281.
[PDF file]
*
Rapanelli M, Wang W,
Hurley E, Feltri ML, Pittenger C, Frick LR, Yan Z (2023) Cholinergic
neurons in the basal forebrain are involved in behavioral abnormalities
associated with Cul3 deficiency: role of prefrontal cortex projections in
cognitive deficits. Translational Psychiatry 13(1):22. [PDF file]
*
Yan Z (2023) A physiological cause to
empathy deficits in a mouse model of FTD. Neuron 11(6):757-758. (preview) [PDF
file]
2022
* Conrow-Graham M, Williams JB, Martin J, Zhong P, Cao Q, Rein B, Yan Z
(2022) A Convergent mechanism of high risk factors
ADNP and POGZ in neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain 145:
3250-3263. [PDF file]
* Wang ZJ, Shwani T, Liu J, Zhong P, Yang F,
Schatz K, Zhang F, Pralle A, Yan Z (2022)
Molecular and cellular mechanisms for differential effects of chronic social
isolation stress in males and females. Molecular Psychiatry 27(7):3056-3068. [PDF file] Cover article
* Li H, Jiang H, Li H, Li L, Yan Z,
Feng J (2022) Generation of human A9
dopaminergic pacemakers from induced pluripotent stem cells.
Molecular Psychiatry 27(11):4407-4418. [PDF file]
*
Wang
W, Tan T, Cao Q, Zhang F, Rein B, Duan WM, Yan Z (2022) Histone
Deacetylase Inhibition Restores Behavioral and Synaptic Function in a Mouse
Model of 16p11.2 Deletion. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol.
25(10):877-889. [PDF file]
*
Sanacora G, Yan Z, Popoli M
(2022) The stressed synapse 2.0: Pathophysiological mechanisms in
stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 23:86-103. (review) [PDF
file] Cover
article
*
Zhong P, Cao Q, Yan Z (2022) Selective impairment
of circuits between prefrontal cortex glutamatergic neurons and basal forebrain
cholinergic neurons in a tauopathy mouse model. Cerebral Cortex 32(24):5569-5579. [PDF file]
* Rapanelli M, Williams JB, Ma K, Yang F, Zhong P,
Patel R, Kumar M, Qin L, Rein B, Wang ZJ, Kassim B, Javidfar
B, Couto L, Akbarian S, Yan Z (2022)
Targeting histone demethylase LSD1 for treatment of deficits in autism mouse
models. Molecular Psychiatry 27(8):3355-3366.
[PDF file]
* Rein B, Conrow-Graham M, Frazier A, Cao Q, Yan Z (2022) Inhibition of histone deacetylase 5 ameliorates abnormalities in 16p11.2 duplication mouse model.
Neuropharmacology 204:108893. [PDF file]
* Qin L, Ma K, Yan Z (2022) Rescue
of histone hypoacetylation and social deficits by ketogenic diet in a Shank3
mouse model of autism. Neuropsychopharmacology
47(6):1271-1279. [PDF file] Cover article
*
Yan Z and Rein B (2022)
Mechanisms of synaptic transmission dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex:
pathophysiological implications. Molecular Psychiatry 27(1):445-465. (review) [PDF
file]
2021
* Qin L, Williams JB, Tan T, Liu T, Cao Q,
Ma K, Yan Z (2021) Deficiency of
autism risk factor Ash1l in
prefrontal cortex induces epigenetic aberrations and seizures. Nature Communications 12:6589. [PDF file]
*
Wang
W, Cao Q, Tan T, Yang F, Williams JB, Yan Z (2021) Epigenetic treatment of behavioral and
physiological deficits in a tauopathy mouse model. Aging Cell 20(10):e13456. [PDF file]
*
Williams JB, Cao Q, Yan Z (2021) Transcriptomic
analysis of human brains with Alzheimer's disease reveals the altered
expression of synaptic genes linked to cognitive deficits. Brain Communications 3(3):fcab123. [PDF file]
* Tan T, Wang W, Liu T, Zhong P, Conrow-Graham M, Tian X, Yan Z (2021) Neural circuits and activity dynamics underlying sex-specific effects of chronic social isolation stress. Cell Reports 34:108874. [PDF file]
*
Catlin J, Marziali L,
Rein B, Yan Z, Feltri LM, Schaner-Tooley CE (2021) Age-related
neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments of NRMT1 knockout mice are preceded
by misregulation of RB and abnormal neural stem cell
development. Cell Death and Disease 12:1014.
* Wang ZJ, Rein B, Zhong P, Williams JB, Cao
Q, Yang F, Zhang F, Ma K, Yan Z
(2021) Autism risk gene Kmt5b deficiency
in prefrontal cortex induces synaptic dysfunction and social deficits via
alterations of DNA repair and gene transcription. Neuropsychopharmacology
46:1617-1626. [PDF file]
* Li B, Jiang H, Li H, Zhang B, Slaughter M,
Yan Z, Feng J (2021) Direct conversion of adult human retinal pigmented
epithelium cells to neurons with photoreceptor properties. Exp Biol Med
246(2):240-248.
* Rein B, Tan T, Yang F, Wang W, Williams J, Zhang F, Mills A, Yan Z (2021) Reversal of synaptic and behavioral deficits in a 16p11.2 duplication mouse model via restoration of the GABA synapse regulator Npas4. Molecular Psychiatry 26:1967-1979. [PDF file]
* Zhang F, Rein B, Zhong P, Shwani T, Conrow-Graham M, Wang ZJ, Yan Z (2021) Synergistic inhibition of histone modifiers produces therapeutic effects in adult Shank3-deficient mice. Translational Psychiatry 11(1):99. [PDF file]
*
Wei J, Cheng J, Waddell NJ, Wang ZJ, Pang X, Cao Q,
Liu A, Chitaman JM, Abreu K, Jasrotia
RS, Duffney LJ, Zhang J, Dietz DM, Feng J, Yan
Z (2021) DNA methyltransferase 3A is involved in the sustained effects of
chronic stress on synaptic functions and behaviors. Cerebral Cortex. 31:1998-2012. [PDF file]
*
Rapanelli M, Tan T,
Wang W, Wang X, Zhong P, Wang ZJ, Frick L, Qin L, Ma K, Qu J, Yan Z
(2021) Behavioral, circuitry and molecular aberrations by region-specific
deficiency of the high-risk autism gene Cul3. Molecular Psychiatry 26:1491-1504.
[PDF
file]
2020
*
Cao
Q, Wang W, Williams J, Yang F, Wang ZJ, Yan
Z (2020) Targeting histone K4 trimethylation for treatment of cognitive and
synaptic deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Science Advances 6(50):eabc8096. [PDF file]
* Rein B, Ma K, Yan Z (2020) A standardized social preference protocol for measuring social deficits in mouse models of autism. Nature Protocols 15:3464-3477. [PDF file]
* Rein B and Yan Z (2020) 16p11.2 copy number variations and neurodevelopmental disorders. Trends in Neuroscience 43(11):886-901. (review) [PDF file]
*
Lepack
AE, Werner CT, Stewart AF, Fulton SL, Zhong P, Farrelly LA, Smith ACW,
Ramakrishnan A, Lyu Y, Bastle RM, Martin JA, Mitra S, O'Connor RM, Wang ZJ,
Molina H, Turecki G, Shen L, Yan Z, Calipari ES, Dietz DM, Kenny PJ, Maze I (2020) Dopaminylation of histone H3 in ventral tegmental area
regulates cocaine seeking. Science 368:197-201. [PDF file]
* Zhong P, Qin L, Yan Z (2020) Dopamine differentially regulates response dynamics of PFC principal neurons and interneurons to optogenetic stimulation of VTA inputs. Cerebral Cortex 30:4402-4409. [PDF file]
*
Jin
J, Bhatti DL, Lee KW, Medrihan L, Cheng J, Wei J,
Zhong P, Yan
Z, Kooiker C, Song C, Ahn
JH, Obermair GJ, Lee A, Gresack
J, Greengard P, Kim Y (2020) Ahnak scaffolds
p11/Anxa2 complex and L-type voltage-gated calcium channel and modulates
depressive behavior. Molecular
Psychiatry 25:1035-1049. [PDF file]
*
Wang ZJ, Zhong P, Ma K, Seo JS, Yang F, Hu Z, Zhang F, Lin
L, Wang J, Liu T, Matas E, Greengard P, Yan
Z (2020) Amelioration
of autism-like social deficits by targeting histone methyltransferases EHMT1/2
in Shank3-deficient mice. Molecular
Psychiatry 25:2517-2533. [PDF file]
2019
*
Zheng Y, Liu A, Wang
ZJ, Cao Q, Wang W, Lin L, Ma K, Zhang F, Wei J, Matas E, Cheng J, Chen GJ, Wang
X, Yan Z (2019) Inhibition of
EHMT1/2 rescues synaptic and cognitive functions for Alzheimer's disease. Brain 142:787-807. [PDF file] *Reported in New
York Post, England's
Daily Mail, EurekAlert!(AAAS), etc.
* Martin JA, Werner CT, Mitra S, Zhong P, Wang ZJ, Gobira PH, Stewart AF, Zhang J, Erias K, Siemian JN, Hagarty D, Mueller LE, Neve RL, Li JX, Chandra R, Dietz KC, Lobo MK, Gancarz AM, Yan Z, Dietz DM (2019) A novel role for the actin-binding protein drebrin in regulating opiate addiction. Nature Communications 10:4140. [PDF file]
* Qin L, Ma K, Yan Z (2019) Chemogenetic activation of prefrontal cortex in Shank3-deficient mice ameliorates social deficits, NMDAR hypofunction and Sgk2 downregulation. iScience 17:24-35. [PDF file]
* Rein B, Yan Z, Wang ZJ (2019) Diminished social
interaction incentive contributes to social deficits in mouse models of autism
spectrum disorder. Genes Brain Behav. 19(1):e12610. [PDF
file]
*
Lin
L, Liu A, Li HQ, Feng J, Yan Z
(2019) Inhibition of histone
methyltransferases EHMT1/2 reverses b amyloid-induced loss of AMPAR
currents in human stem cell-derived cortical neurons. J.
Alzheimer's Disease 70:1175-1185. [PDF
file]
* Zhu BL, Long Y, Luo W, Yan Z, Lai YJ, Zhao LG, Zhou WH, Wang YJ, Shen LL, Liu L, Deng XJ, Wang XF, Sun F, Chen GJ (2019) MMP13 inhibition rescues cognitive decline in Alzheimer transgenic mice via BACE1 regulation. Brain 142:176-192. [PDF file]
* Lai YJ, Zhu BL, Sun F, Luo D, Ma YL, Luo B, Tang J, Xiong MJ, Liu L, Long Y, Hu XT, He L, Deng XJ, Zhang JH, Yang J, Yan Z, Chen GJ (2019) Estrogen receptor α promotes Cav1.2 ubiquitination and degradation in neuronal cells and in APP/PS1 mice. Aging Cell 18:e12961. [PDF file]
* Tan T, Wang W, Williams J, Ma K, Cao Q, Yan Z (2019) Stress exposure in dopamine D4 receptor knockout mice induces schizophrenia-like behaviors via
disruption of GABAergic transmission. Schizophrenia Bulletin 45:1012-1023. [PDF file]
2018
*
Qin L, Ma K, Wang ZJ,
Hu Z, Matas E, Wei J, Yan Z (2018)
Social deficits in Shank3-deficient mouse models of autism are rescued
by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition. Nature Neurosci.
21:564-575. [PDF file] *Featured in Science Translational
Medicine, Reported in England's
Daily Mail, Pharmaceutical
Technology, etc.
* Ma K, Qin L, Matas M,
Duffney LJ, Liu A, Yan Z (2018) Histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 restores social and synaptic function in a Shank3-deficient mouse model of autism. Neuropsychopharmacology 43:1779-1788. [PDF file]
* Wang W, Rein B, Tan T, Zhang F, Qin
L, Yan Z (2018) Chemogenetic
activation of prefrontal cortex rescues synaptic and behavioral deficits in a
mouse model of 16p11.2 deletion syndrome. J. Neurosci. 38:5939-5948. [PDF file]
* Seo JS, Zhong P, Liu A, Yan Z, Greengard P (2018) Elevation of p11 in lateral
habenula mediates depression-like behavior. Molecular Psychiatry 23:1113-1119. [PDF file]
* Tang Y, Min Z, Xiang XJ, Liu L, Ma YL, Zhu BL, Song L, Tang
J, Deng XJ, Yan Z, Chen GJ
(2018) Estrogen-related
receptor alpha is involved in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology. Exp
Neurol. 305:89-96. [PDF file]
*
Wei
J, Zhong P, Qin L, Tan T, Yan Z
(2018) Chemicogenetic restoration of the prefrontal
cortex to amygadala pathway ameliorates
stress-induced deficits. Cerebral Cortex 28:1980-1990. [PDF file] *Recommended by Faculty of 1000
2017
*
Zhong P, Hu Z, Jiang
H, Yan Z, Feng J (2017) Dopamine
induces oscillatory activity in human midbrain neurons with Parkin mutations. Cell Reports 19:1033-1044. [PDF file]
*
Seo
JS, Wei J, Qin L, Kim Y, Yan Z,
Greengard P (2017) Molecular and cellular basis for stress-induced depression. Molecular
Psychiatry 22:1440-1447. [PDF file]
*
Cheng J, Liu A, Shi
MY, Yan Z (2017) Disrupted glutamatergic transmission
in prefrontal cortex contributes to behavioral abnormality in an animal model
of ADHD. Neuropsychopharmacology 42:2096-2104. [PDF file]
*
Yang J, Liu AY, Tang
B, Luo D, Lai YJ, Zhu BL, Wang XF, Yan Z,
Chen GJ (2017) Chronic nicotine differentially affects murine transcriptome
profiling in isolated cortical interneurons and pyramidal neurons. BMC
Genomics 18:194. [PDF file]
2016
*
Yan Z, Kim E, Datta D,
Lewis D, Soderling S (2016) Synaptic actin dysregulation, a convergent
mechanism of mental disorders? J. Neuroscience 36:11411-7. (review) [PDF
file]
* Qin L, Liu W, Ma K, Wei J, Zhong P, Cho K, Yan Z (2016) The ADHD-linked human dopamine
D4 receptor variant D4.7 induces over-suppression of NMDA receptor function in
prefrontal cortex. Neurobiology of Disease 95:194-203. [PDF file]
* Deng Y, Wei J, Cheng J, Zhong P, Xiong Z, Liu A, Lin L,
Chen SD, Yan Z (2016)
Partial amelioration of synaptic and cognitive deficits by inhibiting cofilin
dephosphorylation in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. J.
Alzheimer's Disease 53:1419-32. [PDF file]
* Wei J, Xiong Z, Lee JB, Cheng J, Duffney LJ, Matas E, Yan Z (2016) Histone modification of Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase controls the loss
of AMPA receptors and cognitive impairment induced by repeated stress. J. Neurosci. 36:2119-30. [PDF file]
* Zhong P, Liu W, Yan
Z (2016) Aberrant regulation of synchronous network activity by the
ADHD-associated human dopamine D4 receptor variant D4.7 in prefrontal cortex. J.
Physiol. 594:135-47. [PDF file]
* Xu Z, Jiang H, Zhong P, Yan Z, Chen SD, Feng J (2016) Direct conversion of human
fibroblasts to induced serotonergic neurons. Molecular Psychiatry 21:62-70.
[PDF file]
* Zhong P and Yan Z
(2016) Distinct physiological effects of dopamine D4 receptors on prefrontal
cortical pyramidal neurons and fast-spiking interneurons. Cerebral Cortex 21:62-70.
[PDF file]
*
Yuen EY, Wei J, Yan Z (2016) Estrogen in prefrontal
cortex blocks stress-induced cognitive impairments in female rats. J. Steroid Biochem. & Mol. Biol. 160:221-6. (review) [PDF file]
2015
* Duffney LJ, Zhong P, Wei J, Matas E, Cheng J, Qin L, Ma K,
Dietz DM, Kajiwara Y, Buxbaum JD, Yan Z
(2015) Autism-like deficits in Shank3-deficient mice are rescued by targeting actin regulators. Cell
Reports 11:1400-1413. [PDF file]
*Reported in Simons
Foundation SFARI, Science
Daily, etc.
* Jiang H, Xu Z, Zhong P, Ren Y, Liang G, Schilling HA, Hu Z,
Zhang Y, Wang X, Chen S, Yan Z, Feng
J (2015) Cell cycle and p53 gate the direct conversion of human fibroblasts to
dopaminergic neurons. Nature
Communications 6:10100.
[PDF file]
* Wei J, Graziane NM, Gu Z, and Yan Z (2015) DISC1 protein regulates
GABAA receptor trafficking and inhibitory synaptic transmission in
cortical neurons. J. Biol. Chem. 290: 27680-7. [PDF
file]
* Hu Z, Pu J, Jiang H, Zhong P, Qiu J, Li F, Wang X, Zhang B,
Yan Z, Feng J (2015) Generation of naivetropic
induced pluripotent stem cells from Parkinson's disease patients for high
efficiency genetic manipulation and disease modeling. Stem
Cells Dev. 24:2591-604. [PDF file]
*
Plattner F, Hayashi K,
Hernandez A, Benavides DR, Tassin TC, Tan C, Day J, Fina MW, Yuen EY, Yan Z, Goldberg MS, Nairn AC, Greengard
P, Nestler EJ, Taussig R, Nishi A, Houslay MD &
Bibb JA (2015) The role of ventral striatal cAMP
signaling in stress-induced behaviors. Nature
Neuroscience 18:1094-100. [PDF file]
2014
*
Cheng J, Xiong Z,
Duffney LJ, Wei J, Liu AY, Liu S, Chen GJ, Yan
Z (2014) Methylphenidate
exerts dose-dependent effects on glutamate receptors and behaviors. Biol.
Psychiatry 76:953-62. [PDF file]
* Yuen EY, Qin L, Wei J, Liu W, Liu A and Yan Z (2014) Synergistic regulation of
glutamatergic transmission by serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
in prefrontal cortical neurons. J. Biol. Chem. 289:25177-85. [PDF file]
* Gu Z, Cheng J, Zhong P, Qin L, Liu W, Yan Z (2014) Aβ selectively
impairs mGluR7 modulation of NMDA signaling in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons:
implication in Alzheimer's disease. J. Neurosci.
34:13614-13628. [PDF file]
* Smith KR, Davenport EC, Wei J, Li X, Pathania M, Vaccaro V, Yan Z, Kittler JT
(2014) GIT1 and βPIX link
Rac1 signalling to GABAA receptor cluster
stability and inhibitory synapse strength. Cell Reports 9:298-310. [PDF file]
* Plattner F, Hernandez A, Kistler TM, Pozo K, Zhong P, Yuen
EY, Tan C, Hawasli AH, Cooke SF, Nishi A, Guo A,
Weiderhold T, Yan Z, Bibb JA (2014)
Memory enhancement by targeting Cdk5 regulation of NR2B. Neuron 81:1070-83. [PDF file]
* Hayashi-Takagi A, Araki Y, Nakamura M, Vollrath B, Duron
SG, Yan Z, Kasai H, Huganir RL, Campbell DA, Sawa A (2014) PAKs inhibitors
ameliorate schizophrenia-associated dendritic spine deterioration in vitro and
in vivo during late adolescence. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111:6461-6. [PDF file]
* Wei J, Graziane NM, Wang H, Zhong
P, Wang Q, Liu W, Hayashi-Takagi A, Korth C, Sawa A, Brandon NJ, Yan Z (2014) Regulation of NMDA receptors by
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1). Biol. Psychiatry 75:414-24. [PDF file] *Featured in Biological Psychiatry
* Wang Q, Xiao B, Cui S, Song H, Qian Y, Dong L, An H, Cui Y,
Zhang W, He Y, Zhang J, Yang J, Zhang F, Hu G, Gong X, Yan Z, Zheng Y, Wang X (2014) Triptolide with multiple modes of
action improves learning performance in the 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mouse
model. Disease Models & Mechanisms 7:1385-95. [PDF file]
* Deng Y, Xiong Z, Chen P, Wei J, Chen SD, Yan Z (2014) β-Amyloid Impairs the regulation of NMDA receptors by
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3. Neurobiol.
Aging 35:449-59. [PDF file]
*
Wei J, Yuen EY, Liu W,
Li X, Zhong P, Karatsoreos IN, McEwen BS, Yan Z (2014) Estrogen protects against
the detrimental effects of repeated stress on glutamatergic transmission and
cognition. Molecular Psychiatry 19:588-98. [PDF file] *Recommended by Faculty of 1000; reported
in Los
Angeles Times, England's
Daily Mail, Huffington
Post, etc.
2013
* Duffney LJ, Wei J, Cheng J, Liu W, Smith KR, Kittler JT, Yan Z (2013) Shank3 deficiency induces
NMDA receptor hypofunction via an actin-dependent
mechanism. J. Neurosci. 33:15767-78. [PDF file]
* Vithlani M, Hines RM, Zhong P, Terunuma M, Hines DJ, Revilla-Sanchez R, Jurd R, Haydon P, Rios M, Brandon N, Yan Z, Moss SJ
(2013) Effects of BDNF on neurogenesis
and depression depend upon phosphorylation of the GABAAR γ2 subunit. J. Neurosci.
33:15567-77.
* Cheng J, Liu W, Duffney LJ, Yan Z (2013) SNARE proteins are essential in the potentiation of
NMDAR currents by group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. J.
Physiol. 591:3935-47. [PDF file]
* Yuen EY, Zhong P, Li X, Wei J, Yan Z (2013) Restoration of glutamatergic transmission by dopamine
D4 receptors in stressed animals. J. Biol. Chem.
288:26112-20. [PDF file]
* Chen GJ, Xiong Z, Yan Z (2013) Ab
impairs nicotinic regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission and
interneuron excitability in prefrontal cortex. Molecular Neurodegeneration
8:3. [PDF file]
2012
*
Yuen EY, Wei J, Liu W,
Zhong P, Li X, Yan Z (2012) Repeated
stress causes cognitive impairment by suppressing glutamate receptor expression
and function in prefrontal cortex. Neuron 73:962-77. [PDF file] *Featured by the Cell Press; reported in TopNews, ABC
Science, MedicalNewsToday, etc.
*
Lee JB, Wei J, Liu W,
Cheng J, Feng J, Yan Z (2012)
Histone Deacetylase 6 gates the synaptic action of acute stress in prefrontal
cortex. J. Physiology 90:1535-46. [PDF file]
*
Yuen EY, Wei J, Zhong
P, Yan Z (2012) Disrupted GABAAR
trafficking and synaptic inhibition in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neurobiology
of Disease 46:497-502. [PDF file]
*
Jiang H, Ren Y, Yuen
EY, Zhong P, Ghaedi M, Hu Z, Azabdaftari
G, Nakaso K, Yan
Z, Feng J (2012) Parkin controls
dopamine utilization in human midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Nature Communications 3:668. [PDF file]
*
Gu Z, Liu W, Wei J, Yan
Z (2012) Regulation of NMDA receptors by metabotropic glutamate receptor 7.
J.
Biol. Chem. 287:10265-75. [PDF file] * Selected as "Papers of
the Week"
*
Yuen EY, Li X, Wei J,
Horiguchi M, Meltzer HY, Yan Z
(2012) The novel antipsychotic drug lurasidone enhances NMDA receptor-mediated
synaptic responses. Mol. Pharm. 81:113-9. [PDF file]
Papers published before 2012 can be found in Publication List
Last updated:
4/2025