2026

A thioredoxin-Serinc2-lipid signaling axis regulates behavioral polarity in mice

Fu CL*, Wang YH, Zhang YN, Liu HZ, Lu SY, She XY, Li D, Dong BC, Jiang X, Yuan ZL, Geng LB, Yang YM*, Yang KB*, Yao J*.

Molecular Psychiatry. 2026 (accepted)

Optimized Midbrain Organoid Transplantation Restores Dopaminergic Nigrostriatal Pathway and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Model

Chen LB, She XY, Jiang X, Wu PJ, Zheng CQ, Yao J

Neuroscience Bulletin. 2026 (in press)

Human cortical neural progenitor cells

Wang AX, Hao J, Zhang GZ, Ma AJ, Ren F, Xiao YS, Zhang Y, Pan GJ, Na T, Zhang KH, Yao J, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Hu SJ, Zhao HL, Tian M, Zhang H, Zhu LJ, Li QY, Cao JN, Wu TT, Wei Q, Zhang WQ, Li K, Wang L, Niu SS, Yang ZQ, Zhao TB, Fan J.

Cell Proliferation. 2026 (accepted)

2025

Natural lithium isotope variations in serum after lithium administration as a novel biomarker for differentiating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Dong J, Zhong B, Yao J, Chen J, Li S, Xing P, Zhou X, Wang G, Yang L, Guo Y, Hu C, Duan Z, Belshaw NS, Zheng H, Liu X, Zhu Z.

Translational Psychiatry. 2025 Oct 7; 15:386; doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03627-6

Microglia contribute to bipolar depression through Serinc2-dependent phospholipid synthesis

Wang YH^#, Fu CL^#, Chen LB^#, Zhang CY, Chen JS, Zhang QM, Liang Y, Yang RL, Li Y, Zhang YN, Han YN, Yuan ZL, Chen YN, Li H, Pan Y, Hu S, Li M, Cao LP, Yao J.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Sep 8;122(37):e2500116122;(# Contributed equally) doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2500116122

A pancreas–hippocampus feedback mechanism regulates circadian changes in depression-related behaviors

Liu YN, Wang QW, She XY, Li LJ, Wang B, Yang R, Li Q, Lu SY, Wang YH, Shen W, Fu CL, Li D, Yi L, Wang CX, Shi W, Cheng X, Cao L, Mi S, Yao J.

Nature Neuroscience. 2025 Aug 11; doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02040-y

Anterior insular cortex regulates depression-like and ASD-like behaviors via the differential contribution of two subsets of microglia

Zhang QM, Chen YF, Xing YY, Yang M, Li N, Jiang X, Gao H, Lu SY, Yao J.

Molecular Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 6; doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03139-1

Single-molecule two- and three-colour FRET studies reveal a transition state in SNARE disassembly by NSF

Cheppali SK, Li C, Xing W, Sun R, Yang M, Xue Y, Lu SY, Yao J, Sun S, Chen C, Sui SF.

Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 2;16(1):250; doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55531-0

Metal–Organic Frameworks Modified Organic Bulk Heterojunction Interfaces for Effective Nongenetic Neuromodulation

Weng KK, Li WJ, Cheng XY, Xing YY, Fu X, Wang YH, Wang HC, Tian XL, Wang YQ, Li LZ, Yao J*, Sheng X*, Li JH*, Zhang H*.

ACS Nano. 2025 Apr 25;19(17): 16813-16828; (* co-corresponding author) doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c01516

Synaptotagmin-7 deficit causes insulin hypoactivity and contributes to behavioral alterations in mice

Liu YN, Wang QW, Lu SY, Shen W, Guo C, Xing Z, Li C, Sun S, Sui SF, Mi S, Gage F H, Yao J.

iScience. 2025 Apr 4;28(5):112354; doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112354

2024

Highly Branched Au Superparticles as Efficient Photothermal Transducers for Optical Neuromodulation

Cheng XY, Li WJ, Wang YH, Weng KK, Xing YY, Huang YX, Sheng X, Yao J*, Zhang H*, Li JH*.

ACS Nano. 2024 Oct 14;18(43): 29572-29584; (* co-corresponding author)doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c07163

Protocol for transplantation of cells derived from human midbrain organoids into a Parkinson's disease mouse model to restore motor function

Fu CL, Jiang X, Dong BC, Li D, She XY, Yao J.

STAR Protoc. 2024 Sep 20;5(3):103251; doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103251

Zika virus NS5 protein inhibits type I interferon signaling via CRL3 E3 ubiquitin ligase-mediated degradation of STAT2

Ren W, Fu C, Zhang Y, Ju X, Jiang X, Song J, Gong M, Li Z, Fan W, Yao J, Ding Q.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Aug 20;121(34):e2403235121; doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103251

A cell therapy approach based on iPSC-derived midbrain organoids for the restoration of motor function in a Parkinson's disease mouse model

Fu CL, Dong BC, Jiang Xi, Li D, Yao J.

Heliyon. 2024 Jan 9;10(2):e24234; doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24234

2023

Secretagogin regulates asynchronous and spontaneous glutamate release in hippocampal neurons through interaction with Doc2α

Tu YF, Qin J, Zhang QM, Tang TS, Wang LF, Yao J.

Life Medicine. 2023 Nov 14;2(5):lnad041; doi.org/10.1093/lifemedi/lnad041

16p11.2 CNV gene Doc2α functions in neurodevelopment and social behaviors through interaction with Secretagogin

Wang QW, Qin J, Chen YF, Tu Y, Xing YY, Wang Y, Yang LY, Lu SY, Geng L, Shi W, Yang Y, Yao J.

Cell Rep. 2023 Jul 25;42(7):112691; doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112691

Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (IPCASi001-A) from an autism spectrum disorder individual without intellectual disability

Yang L, Lu S, Yang Z, Yao J, Zhou P, Zhao M.

Stem Cell Res. 2023 Feb;66:102994; doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2022.102994

2021

Synaptotagmin-7-mediated activation of spontaneous NMDAR currents is disrupted in bipolar disorder susceptibility variants

Wang QW, Wang YH, Wang B, Chen Y, Lu SY, Yao J.

PLoS Biol. 2021 Jul 6;19(7):e3001323; doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001323

miR-218-2 regulates cognitive functions in the hippocampus through complement component 3-dependent modulation of synaptic vesicle release

Lu SY, Fu CL, Liang L, Yang B, Shen W, Wang QW, Chen Y, Chen YF, Liu YN, Zhu L, Zhao J, Shi W, Mi S, Yao J.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Mar 16;34(11):108842; doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108842

Synaptotagmin-1 interacts with PI(4,5)P2 to initiate synaptic vesicle docking in hippocampal neurons

Chen Y, Wang YH, Zheng Y, Li M, Wang B, Wang QW, Fu CL, Liu YN, Li X, Yao J.

Cell Reports. 2021 Mar 16;34(11):108842. doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108842

2020

Synaptotagmin-7 deficiency induces mania-like behavioral abnormalities through attenuating GluN2B activity

Wang QW, Lu SY, Liu YN, Chen Y, Wei H, Shen W, Chen YF, Fu CL, Wang YH, Dai A, Huang X, Gage FH, Xu Q, Yao J.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 8;117(49):31438-31447; doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2016416117

Synaptotagmin-7 is a key factor for bipolar-like behavioral abnormalities in mice

Shen W, Wang QW, Liu YN, Marchetto MC, Linker S, Lu SY, Chen Y, Liu C, Guo C, Xing Z, Shi W, Kelsoe JR, Alda M, Wang H, Zhong Y, Sui SF, Zhao M, Yang Y, Mi S, Cao L, Gage FH, Yao J.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Feb 25;117(8):4392-4399; doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1918165117

2019

Mapping cis-regulatory chromatin contacts in neural cells links neuropsychiatric disorder risk variants to target genes

Song M, Yang X, Ren X, Maliskova L, Li B, Jones IR, Wang C, Jacob F, Wu K, Traglia M, Tam TW, Jamieson K, Lu SY, Ming GL, Li Y, Yao J, Weiss LA, Dixon JR, Judge LM, Conklin BR, Song H, Gan L, Shen Y.

Nature Genetics. 2019 Aug;51(8):1252-1262; doi.org/10.1038/s41588-019-0472-1

Mechanistic insights into the SNARE complex disassembly

Huang X, Sun S, Wang X, Fan F, Zhou Q, Lu S, Cao Y, Wang QW, Dong MW, Yao J.

Science Advances. 2019 Apr 10;5(4):eaau8164; doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau8164

2018

Neurons derived from patients with bipolar disorder divide into intrinsically different sub-populations of neurons, predicting the patients' responsiveness to lithium

Stern S, Santos R, Marchetto MC, Mendes AP, Rouleau GA, Biesmans S, Wang QW, Yao J, Charnay P, Bang AG, Alda M, Gage FH.

Mol Psychiatry. 2018 Jun;23(6):1453-1465; doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.260

CRISPR interference-based specific and efficient gene inactivation in the brain

Zheng Y, Shen W, Zhang J, Yang B, Liu YN, Qi H, Yu X, Lu SY, Chen Y, Xu YZ, Li Y, Gage FH, Mi S, Yao J.

Nat Neurosci. 2018 Mar;21(3):447-454; doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0077-5

2017

A Critical Role of Inhibition in Temporal Processing Maturation in the Primary Auditory Cortex

Cai D, Han R, Liu M, Xie F, You L, Zheng Y, Zhao L, Yao J, Wang Y, Yue Y, Schreiner CE, Yuan K.

Cereb Cortex. 2017 Mar 1:1-15; doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhx057

Application of induced pluripotent stem cells to understand neurobiological basis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Liu YN, Lu SY, Yao J.

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2017 Sep;71(9):579-599; doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12528

2016

The Pharmacogenomics of Bipolar Disorder study (PGBD): identification of genes for lithium response in a prospective sample

Oedegaard KJ, Alda M, Anand A, Andreassen OA, Balaraman Y, Berrettini WH, Bhattacharjee A, Brennand KJ, Burdick KE, Calabrese JR, Calkin CV, Claasen A, Coryell WH, Craig D, DeModena A, Frye M, Gage FH, Gao K, Garnham J, Gershon E, Jakobsen P, Leckband SG, McCarthy MJ, McInnis MG, Maihofer AX, Mertens J, Morken G, Nievergelt CM, Nurnberger J, Pham S, Schoeyen H, Shekhtman T, Shilling PD, Szelinger S, Tarwater B, Yao J, Zandi PP, Kelsoe JR.

BMC Psychiatry. 2016 May 5;16:129; doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0732-x

2015

Directly Reprogrammed Human Neurons Retain Aging-Associated Transcriptomic Signatures and Reveal Age-Related Nucleocytoplasmic Defects

Mertens J, Paquola AC, Ku M, Hatch E, Böhnke L, Ladjevardi S, McGrath S, Campbell B, Lee H, Herdy JR, Gonçalves JT, Toda T, Kim Y, Winkler J, Yao J, Hetzer MW, Gage FH.

Cell Stem Cell. 2015 Dec 3;17(6):705-18; doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2015.09.001

Differential Responses to Lithium in Hyperexcitable Neurons from Bipolar Patients

Mertens J, Wang QW, Kim Y, Yu DX, Pham S, Yang B, Zheng Y, Diffenderfer KE, Zhang J, Soltani S, Eames TJ, Schafer ST, Boyer L, Marchetto MC, Nurnberger JI, Calabrese JR, Ødegaard KJ, McCarthy MJ, Zandi PP, PBDS, Mi S, Brennand KJ, Kelsoe JR, Gage FH, Yao J.

Nature. 2015 Nov 5;527(7576):95-9; doi.org/10.1038/nature15526

Distinct roles of NMDA receptors at different stages of granule cell development in the adult brain

Mu Y, Zhao C, Toni N, Yao J, Gage FH.

eLife. 2015 Oct 16;4; doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07871

Exosome and exosomal microRNA: trafficking, sorting, and function

Zhang J, Li S, Li L, Li M, Guo C, Yao J, Mi S.

Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2015 Feb;13(1):17-24; doi.org/10.1016/j.gpb.2015.02.001

2014

Modeling hippocampal neurogenesis using human pluripotent stem cells

Yu DX, Di Giorgio DP, Yao J, Marchetto MC, Brennand K, Wright R, Mei A, McHenry L, Lisuk D, Grasmik J, Silberman P, Silberman G, Jappelli R, Gage FH.

Stem Cell Reports. 2014 Feb 27;2(3):295-310; doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.01.009

2012

All three components of the neuronal SNARE complex contribute to secretory vesicle docking in PC12 cells

Wu Y, Gu Y, Morphew MK, Yao J, Yeh FL, Dong M, Chapman ER.

Journal of Cell Biology. 2012 Aug 6;198(3):323-30; doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201106158

Neural stem cells: mechanisms and modeling

Yao J, Mu Y, Gage FH.

Protein & Cell. 2012 May 02; doi.org/10.1007/s13238-012-2033-6

2011

Uncoupling the roles of synaptotagmin I during endo- and exocytosis of synaptic vesicles

Yao J, Kwon SE, Gaffaney JD, Dunning FM, Chapman ER.

Nature Neuroscience. 2011 Dec 25;15, 243–249 (2012); doi.org/10.1038/nn.3013

Doc2 is a Ca2+ sensor required for asynchronous neurotransmitter release

Yao J, Gaffaney JD, Kwon SE, Chapman ER.

Cell. 2011 Oct 28; doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2011.09.046

2010

SV2 mediates entry of tetanus neurotoxin into central neurons

Yeh FL, Dong M, Yao J, Tepp WH, Lin G, Johnson EA, Chapman ER.

PLoS Pathogens. 2010 Nov 24;6(11):e1001207; doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1001207

2009

Synaptotagmin mediated bending of the target membrane is a critical step in Ca2+-regulated fusion

Hui E*, Johnson CP*, Yao J.*, Dunning FM, and Chapman ER.

Cell. 2009 Aug 21; 138(4):709-721. (* Equal contribution); doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2009.05.049

2008

Calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand regulates membrane trafficking of postsynaptic GABA(A) receptors

Yuan X, Yao J, Norris D, Tran DD, Bram RJ, Chen G, Luscher B.

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 2008 Jun;38(2):277-89; doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2008.03.002

2007

Sequential postsynaptic maturation governs the temporal order of GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptogenesis in rat embryonic cultures

Yuan X, Yao J, Norris D, Tran DD, Bram RJ, Chen G, Luscher B.

Journal of Neuroscience. 2007 Oct 3;27(40):10860-9. (*Equal contribution); doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.01.009

2006

Actin-dependent activation of presynaptic silent synapses contributes to long-term synaptic plasticity in developing hippocampal neurons

Yao J, Qi JS, Chen G

Journal of Neuroscience. 2006 Aug 2;26(31):8137-47; doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1183-06.2006

Downregulation of Tonic GABA Currents Following Epileptogenic Stimulation of Rat Hippocampal Cultures

Qi JS, Yao J, Fang C, Luscher B, Chen G.

Journal of Physiology. 2006 Dec 1;577(Pt 2):579-90; doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2006.113134