Yang Yu

Biography

Dec. 2016: Supported by the Young Thousand Talents Program 2016-present: Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2010-2016: Postdoc, Gregory Hannon Lab, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, US 2007-2010:Postdoc, Timothy Nilsen Lab, Case Western Reserve University, US 2002-2007: PhD, Timothy Nilsen Lab, Case Western Reserve University, US 1998-2002: B.S., Wuhan University, China

Research Interest

Transposons comprise nearly half of the human genome. Transposon control is extremely challenging because the host must distinguish diverse elements from protein coding genes and selectively silence the former. Mutations in the piRNA pathway often result in dramatic transposon overexpression and consequently render the organism completely sterile. Work from the past has provided a basic model for germline protection by the piRNA system; however, we are only just beginning to understand many of the molecular events that comprise this RNA-guided “innate immune” system. Moreover, we have not yet grasped the full range of biological functions of small RNAs. For example, what is the function of maternally deposited piRNAs during early development? What role do pachytene piRNAs play in different phases of mouse spermatogenesis? We have very few clues as to how the mysterious piRNA pathway participates in those important events. The piRNA pathway sits at the intersection of epigenetics, developmental biology and small RNA biology. The long-term goal of the lab is to understand roles of RNA in epigenetic memory and explore its potential as therapeutic targets. Currently, we are trying to understand both the biological roles and mechanism of action of piRNAs during early development and gametogenesis.