LiLian Yuan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Research Interests:
Synaptic connectivity and UP/DOWN states in the medial prefrontal cortex The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential for working memory and other cognitive functions. PFC operations are thought to arise from both local networks and the integration of inputs from multiple brain regions outside of PFC. These processes are fragile in that they are highly dependent on the neurochemical state and the spatial/temporal properties of synaptic inputs both intrinsic and extrinsic to the PFC. We are interested in understanding mechanisms by which the afferent connectivity and UP/DOWN states of pyramidal neurons in mPFC are developed, maintained, modulated, and altered by various experiences including stress. In a frontal slice preparation where hippocampal afferents can be preserved and identified, we begin to test whether properties possessed by this pathway allow input-specific modulation of synaptic strength by neuronal activities and modulators.
Dendritic function in neuronal information processing Dendrites are highly branched structure and provide the substrate for receiving and integrating incoming information. Increasing amount of evidence indicates that abnormal dendritic morphology and spine density are the most consistent anatomic finding in mental retardation . With the ability to directly measure signals from the dendrites, we focus on various active conductances in dendrites and how they contribute to synaptic integration and neural plasticity.
Selected Publications:
(For a comprehensive list of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.)
Parent MA, L Wang; J Su, T Netoff, LL Yuan (2009). Identification of the Hippocampal Input to Medial Prefrontal Cortex In Vitro. Cerebral Cortex; doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhp108
Chen X*, LL Yuan*, C Zhao, S Birnbaum, A Frick, WE Jung, TL Schwarz, JD Sweatt, D Johnston (2006) ( * Co-first authors). Deletion of Kv4.2 gene eliminates dendritic A-type K+ current and enhances induction of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. J Neurosci. 26:12143-12151
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
Lauver A, LL Yuan, A Jeromin, BM Nadin, J Rodriguez-Arellano, H Davies, M Steward, G-Y Wu, P Pfaffinger (2006) Manipulating Kv4.2 Expression Identifies a Specific Component of Hippocampal Pyramidal Neuron A Current that Depends Upon Kv4.2 Expression. J. Neurochem. 99:1207-1223
Varga AW *, LL Yuan * , AE Anderson, L Schrader, G-Y Wu, D. Johnston, and JD Sweatt (2004) (* Co-first authors). CaMKII modulates Kv4.2 channel expression and upregulates neuronal A-type potassium current. J. Neurosci . 24: 3643-3654
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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