Research
Mouse molecular genetics are used to study the pathogenesis and develop treatment for neurodegenerative diseases
Appointments
- Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Biography
Yang is interested in using the mouse genetic approach to study the pathogenesis and to identify potential therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly for Huntington’s Disease (HD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Yang and his colleagues focus on the following projects:
- in order to understand how mutant Huntington acts to result in a wide variety of clinical symptoms ranging from psychiatric, cognitive to motor deficits, they generate and analyze brain regional-specific models of HD in mice
- they take advantage of the high-speed BAC transgenic system to systematically test candidate dominant genetic modifiers of HD in mice.
- they use BAC transgenesis to introduce known PD mutations into mice to develop mouse models for Parkinson’s Disease
Publications
- Yang, XW, Liu, ZL, Huang, LL, Wang, CG, Huang, MH, Shi, J et al.. Species diversity and distribution patterns of fish in the western headwaters of Xiangjiang River. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2026;37 (6):2041-2050. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202606.033. PubMed PMID:42357910 .
- Feng, CJ, Yang, XW, Zhao, BX, Xu, SH. Two New Citrinin Derivatives From the Marine Sponge-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sp. S4I4-4. Chem Biodivers. 2026;23 (6):e71442. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.71442. PubMed PMID:42316927 .
- Zou, ZB, Zhao, XW, Xu, ZH, Yang, XW. Chemical Constituents of the Deep-Sea-Derived Penicillium roseopurpureum and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity. Chem Biodivers. 2026;23 (6):e71427. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.71427. PubMed PMID:42290404 .
- Shan, XM, Wang, ZH, Zhou, Y, Peng, LJ, Yang, XW. Acute and 28-Day Repeated Dose Oral Toxicity Studies of Olaflur, a Common Cariostatic Agent in Children's Toothpaste. J Appl Toxicol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1002/jat.70288. PubMed PMID:42289392 .
- Yan, GJ, Wang, XY, Shi, XY, Lu, MN, Wang, D, Ye, CJ et al.. miR-449a modulates Alzheimer's disease pathology through regulation of Navβ2. Zool Res. 2026;47 (3):765-784. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2025.430. PubMed PMID:42267564 .