Dr. Jun Yin completed her Ph.D. study in Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2007. She then went on to obtain her postdoctoral training, first at the National University of Singapore, where she investigated Retinitis Pigmentosa mechanisms. From 2011 to 2013. she also trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Davis, where her research was focused on Fragile X syndrome epigenetics.
Dr. Yin began her journey at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in 2013 as a Research Fellow in Dr. Quan Yuan's lab. She was promoted to the position of Staff Scientist in 2022. Within Dr. Yuan's lab, Dr. Yin employs a comprehensive approach, integrating multi-omics methodologies, genetic tools, and advanced imaging techniques to investigate the complexities of dendrite plasticity and neuron-glia lipid trafficking. Her work illuminates cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie dendrite plasticity, highlighting the critical roles of lipids in neuronal morphogenesis and adaptive response during stress conditions (CITE PAPERS).
Additionally, Dr. Yin takes an active role in mentoring and guiding emerging scientists, offering invaluable support to students and fellows. Her dedication extends to the broader scientific community, where she serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals and contributes as a member of the editorial board for Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience.
Dendrite morphogenesis and plasticity are essential processes in brain development, and their dysregulation is associated with various neurodevelopmental diseases and neural degenerative disorders. Dr. Yin's research has delved into these areas, focusing on two key projects: experience-dependent changes in transcriptome profiles and neuron-glia lipid shuttling via brain-specific lipoprotein receptors in Drosophila. Dr. Yin's work has revealed global transcriptional changes driven by chronic alterations of activity and the key roles played by lipoprotein receptors in Drosophila dendrite plasticity. In addition, Dr. Yin evaluated neuron-glia lipid shuttling mechanisms using advanced bioinformatics, imaging, and genetic tools. Her finding on the brain specific expression of lipoprotein receptor isoforms has expanded our understanding of the unique lipid transport pathways in the central nervous system.
Dr. Yin's primary research interests revolve around Neuron-Glia interaction, multi-omics data analysis, and translational research. Her future research plans encompass:
- Investigating the role of glia-derived lipid chaperones in regulating brain lipid and redox homeostasis.
- Studying how cell-type-specific isoforms and alternative splicing events contribute to dendrite growth and plasticity.
- Analyzing single-cell transcriptome data associated with human neurological disorders to elucidate the functions of disease-related genes and identify potential treatments using a Drosophila model.
- Jun Yin, Emma Spillman, Ethan S. Cheng, Jacob Short, Yang Chen, Jingce Lei, Mary Gibbs, Justin S. Rosenthal, Chengyu Sheng, Yuki X. Chen, Kelly Veerasammy, Tenzin Choetso, Rinat Abzalimov, Bei Wang, Chun Han, Ye He and Quan Yuan. Brain-specific lipoprotein receptors interact with astrocyte derived apolipoprotein and mediate neuron-glia lipid shuttling. Nature Commun. 2021 Apr 23;12(1):2408
- Justin S. Rosenthal, Jun Yin, Jingce Lei, Anupama Sathyamurthy, Jacob Short, Caixia Long, Emma Spillman, Chengyu Sheng and Quan Yuan. Temporal regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits supports central cholinergic synapse development in Drosophila. PNAS. 2021 Jun 8;118(23):e2004685118.
- Jun Yin, Mary Gibbs, Caixia Long, Justin Rosenthal, Hyong S. Kim, Anna Kim, Chengyu Sheng, Peng Ding, Uzma Javed and Quan Yuan. Transcriptional regulation of lipophorin receptors supports neuronal adaptation to chronic elevations of activity. Cell Rep. 2018 Oct 30;25(5):1181-1192.
- Chengyu Sheng, Uzma Javed, Mary Gibbs, Caixia Long, Jun Yin, Bo Qin & Quan Yuan. Experience-dependent structural plasticity targets dynamic filopodia in regulating dendrite maturation and synaptogenesis. Nat Commun. 2018 Aug 22;9(1):3362.
- Thang T. Pham*, Jun Yin*, John S. Eid, Evan Adams, Regina Lam, Stephen W. Turner, Erick W. Loomis, Jun Yi Wang, Paul J. Hagerman, Jeremiah W. Hanes. Single-locus enrichment without amplification for sequencing and direct detection of epigenetic modifications. Mol Genet Genomics. 2016 Jun;291(3):1491-504.
- Jun Yin, Quan Yuan. Structural homeostasis in the nervous system: a balancing act for wiring plasticity and stability. Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 8:439.
- Erick W. Loomis, John S. Eid, Paul Peluso, Jun Yin, Luke Hickey, David Rank, Sarah McCalmon, Randi J Hagerman, Flora Tassone, Paul J. Hagerman. Sequencing the unsequenceable: Expanded CGG-repeat alleles of the fragile X gene. Genome Res. 2012 23(1):121-8.
- Jun Yin, Jan Brocher, Bastian Linder, Anja Hirmer, Husvinee Sundaramurthi, Utz Fischer, Christoph Winkler. The 1D4 antibody labels outer segments of double cone but not rod photoreceptors in zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 Jul 26;53(8):4943-51.
- Jun Yin, Jan Brocher, Utz Fischer, Christoph Winkler. Mutant Prpf31 causes pre-mRNA splicing defects and rod photoreceptor cell degeneration in a zebrafish model for Retinitis pigmentosa. Mol Neurodegener. 2011 Jul 30; 6:56.
- Jun Yin, Jianhong Xia, Xinzheng Du, Jun Liu, Li Zhou, Yunhan Hong, Jianfang Gui. Developmental expression of CagMdkb during gibel carp embryogenesis. The International Journal of Developmental Biology. Int J Dev Biol 2007. 51(8):761-9
- Jun Liu, Yaohua Shi, Jun Yin, Jianfang Gui. Screen of Differentially Expressed Genes between Gastrula Embryos and Tail Bud Embryos in Gynogenetic Gibel Carp. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. 2005. 32(3): 253-263