YAN LAB

Lab of Sensory Neurobiology：

We study sensory neurobiology, identify the receptors and neural circuits for sensation and interoception, study their working mechanism and related the diseases in sensory system.  

​

1. Identify the receptors for hearing, touch, pain, and thirst sensation, study the gating and assembly of the related sensory transduction complex, and explore their functions in various physiological processes, such as digestion and immunity.

Related publications：  ​​

• W. Zou#, S. Deng#, X. Chen#, J. Ruan#, H. Wang, W. Zhan, J. Wang, Z. Liu, Z. Yan*. TMEM63B functions as a mammalian hyperosmolar sensor for thirst. Neuron, 2025.

• S.Fu#, X. Pan#, M. Lu#, J. Dong, Z. Yan*. Human TMC1 and TMC2 are mechanically gated ion channels. Neuron, 2025.

• S. Li, B. Li, L. Gao, J. Wang, Z. Yan*. Humidity response in Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons requires the mechanosensitive channel TMEM63. Nature Communications, 2022. 

• B. Li#, S. Li#, H. Zheng, Z. Yan*. Nanchung and Inactive define pore properties of the native auditory transduction channel in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2021.

• Wang#, Y. Guo#, G. Li, C. Liu, L. Wang, A. Zhang, Z. Yan*, C. Song*. The Push-to-Open Mechanism of the Tethered Mechanosensitive Ion Channel NompC. eLife, 2021.

• Y. Jia#, Y. Zhao#, T. Kusakizako#, Y. Wang, C. Pan, Y. Zhang, O. Nureki*, M. Hattori*, Z. Yan*. TMC1 and TMC2 proteins are pore-forming subunits of mechanosensitive ion channels. Neuron, 2020.

• M. Zhang, D. Wang, Y. Kang, J.X. Wu, F. Yao, C. Pan, Z. Yan*, C. Song*, L. Chen*. Structure of the mechanosensitive OSCA channels. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2018.

• M. Zhang#, X. Li#, H. Zheng, X. Wen, S. Chen, J. Ye, S. Tang, F. Yao, Y. Li*, Z. Yan*. Brv1 is required for Drosophila larvae to sense gentle touch. Cell Reports, 2018.

• Z. Yan#, W. Zhang#, Y. He, D. Gorczyca, Y. Xiang, L.E. Cheng, S. Meltzer, L.Y. Jan, Y. N. Jan*. Drosophila NompC is a mechanotransduction channel subunit for gentle touch sensation. Nature, 2013.

​

2. Map the critical neuronal groups and circuits for sensation and interoception such as touch, pain, vestibular and thirst sensation.

Related publications：  ​

• S. Li, B. Li, L. Gao, J. Wang, Z. Yan*. Humidity response in Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons requires the mechanosensitive channel TMEM63. Nature Communications, 2022.

• W. Zhang#, Z. Yan#, B. Li, L.Y. Jan, Y. N. Jan*. Identification of motor neurons and a mechanosensitive sensory neuron in the defecation circuitry of Drosophila larvae. eLife, 2014.

• Z. Yan, J. Tan, C. Qin, Y. Lu, C. Ding, M. Luo*. Precise circuitry links bilaterally symmetric olfactory maps. Neuron, 2008.

​​

3. Study pathogenic mechanism, diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss.  

Related publications：  ​

• H. Zheng#, X. Yan#, G. Li, H. Lin, S. Deng, W. Zhuang, F. Yao, Y. Lu, X. Xia, H. Yuan, L. Jin, Z. Yan*. Proactive functional classification of all possible missense single-nucleotide variants in KCNQ4. Genome Research. 2022.

• X. Xia, Q. Zhang*, Y. Jia, Y. Shu, J. Yang, H. Yang, Z. Yan*. Molecular basis and restoration of function deficiencies of Kv7.4 variants associated with inherited hearing loss. Hearing Research, 2020.

​

感觉神经生物学实验室：

长期致力于感觉神经生物学，综合运用分子生物学、蛋白相互作用和结构分析，电生理记录、神经回路的光遗传、化学遗传和成像等技术手段，结合药物筛选和基因编辑小鼠模型，研究听觉、触觉等感觉受体的鉴定和工作机制研究，感觉系统神经回路，以及感觉系统疾病的机理和治疗，并探索这些感觉受体在其他重要生理功能中的作用。

1. 听觉、触觉、湿度感觉、渴觉等感觉受体的鉴定、其装配和工作机制研究，以及这些受体在其他重要生理过程中的作用，例如消化和免疫反应。

2. 鉴定在触觉、痛觉、平衡觉、听觉、渴觉、内脏感觉等的关键神经细胞群和神经回路。

3. 研究遗传性耳聋的的致病机理、诊断以及基因治疗。