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: >22,300)
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]
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:
1/2025