LiLian Yuan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Research Interests:
Dendrites are highly branched structure and may account for up to 90% of the postsynaptic surface of a neuron. Because dendritic processes provide the substrate for receiving and integrating incoming information, they are critically important for controlling neuronal output. With the ability to directly measure electrical and calcium signals from the dendrites, we have learned a great deal about their active properties in information process over the past decade. Increasing amount of evidence also indicates that abnormal dendritic growth and spine formation are the most consistent anatomic finding in mental retardation, such as Alzheimer's disease and Fragile X syndrome. My research focus on understanding the dendritic mechanisms underlying synaptic and intrinsic plasticity, and how malfunction of these mechanisms contributes to human neurological diseases. Major techniques employed in my laboratory include dendritic patch recordings in acute slices and organotypic culture, Ca imaging, transgenic mice, in vitro gene expression via viral infection, and immunohistochemistry.
Selected Publications:
Yuan LL, X Chen (2006). Diversity of potassium channels in neuronal dendrites. Progress in Neurobiology . 8(6):374-89
Yuan LL, X Chen, K Kunjil, P Pfaffinger, and D Johnston (2006). Increase in the rate of inactivation of expressed and native A-type K channels by a MEK inhibitor. Am J Physiol (Cell Physiol) 290(1):C165-71
Varga AW *, LL Yuan * , AE Anderson, L Schrader, G-Y Wu, D. Johnston, and JD Sweatt (2004). CaMKII modulates Kv4.2 channel expression and upregulates neuronal A-type potassium current. J. Neurosci . 24: 3643-3654 * Co-first authors
Yuan LL, JP Adams, M Swank, JD Sweatt and D Johnston (2002). Protein kinase modulation of dendritic transient K channels in hippocampus involves a MAPK pathway. J. Neurosci. 22:4860-4868
Yuan LL and Ganetzky BS. (1999). A glial-neuronal signaling pathway revealed by mutations in a Neurexin-related protein. Science , Vol 283, 1343-1345
Current Graduate Students:
Marc Parent (Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
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