Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
ckyao@gate.sinica.edu.tw
+886-2-2785-5696,6070
What my lab is fascinated by?
https://ckyao.ibc.sinica.edu.tw/en/
1) Explore novel pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases
- Role of endolysosomal dysfunction in neurodevelopmental diseases
- Role of lysosomal damage in neurodegerative diseases (Like Alzheimer’s disease)
2) Investigate novel mechanisms orchestrating neuron-glia communication and its impact on neurodegenerative diseases
- Role of interorganelle communication in neuron-glia communication and neurodegenerative diseases - Mechanism of Tau spreading in Alzheimer’s disease
3) Understand molecular control of synaptic vesicle cycle in rapid neurotransmission
What weapons we are using?
- We use Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as the animal system. The fruit fly provides many advantages for tackling important biological and disease issues.
1) ~ 75% of human genes are identified in the fly genome, showing that the fly and human genes share similar functions.
2) The fly system has the most powerful genetic tools that allow researchers to dissect the in vivo gene function in details.
3) Small size and short lifecycle of the fly allow researchers to efficiently and quickly accumulate results.
4) We also conduct modern technologies on the fly system, including CRISPR gene editing, RNAi technology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, confocal microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
- We also use human neuron cell line culture and mammalian neuron culture to strengthen and broaden the impact of our results obtained from our fly studies.
- For disease therapy, we also set up the humanized fly disease model as the platform for the test of new drugs or FDA-approved drugs.
ALS2 regulates endosomal trafficking, postsynaptic development, and neuronal survival.
Kim J, Kim S, Nahm M, Li TN, Lin HC, Kim YD, Lee J, Yao CK*, Lee S*
Journal of Cell Biology (2021)
A positive feedback loop between Flower and PI(4,5)P2 at periactive zones controls bulk endocytosis in Drosophila.
Li TN, Chen YJ, Wang YT, Lin HC, Lu TY, Yao CK*
Elife (2020)
Dynamin-2 Regulates Postsynaptic Cytoskeleton Organization and Neuromuscular Junction Development.
Lin SS, Hsieh TL, Liou GG, Li TN, Lin HC, Chang CW, Wu HY, Yao CK, Liu YW
Cell Reports (2020)
A circuit-dependent ROS feedback loop mediates glutamate excitotoxicity to sculpt the Drosophila motor system.
Peng JJ, Lin SH, Liu YT, Lin HC, Li TN, Yao CK
eLife (2019)
A Ca2+ channel differentially regulates Clathrin-mediated and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis.
Yao CK, Liu YT, Lee IC, Wang YT, Wu PY
PLoS biology (2017)
Mitochondrial fusion but not fission regulates larval growth and synaptic development through steroid hormone production.
Sandoval H, Yao CK, Chen K, Jaiswal M, Donti T, Lin YQ, Bayat V, Xiong B, Zhang K, David G, Charng WL, Yamamoto S, Duraine L, Graham BH, Bellen HJ
eLife (2014)
A synaptic vesicle-associated Ca2+ channel promotes endocytosis and couples exocytosis to endocytosis.
Yao CK, Lin YQ, Ly CV, Ohyama T, Haueter CM, Moiseenkova-Bell VY, Wensel TG, Bellen HJ
Cell (2009)
Rab3 GTPase lands Bruchpilot.
Giagtzoglou N, Mahoney T, Yao CK, Bellen HJ
Neuron (2009)
straightjacket is required for the synaptic stabilization of cacophony, a voltage-gated calcium channel alpha1 subunit.
Ly CV, Yao CK, Verstreken P, Ohyama T, Bellen HJ
The Journal of cell biology (2008)
Eyg and Ey Pax proteins act by distinct transcriptional mechanisms in Drosophila development.
Yao JG, Sun YH
The EMBO journal (2005)
