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Biology

Hua Yan

Assistant Professor

Ph.D. Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York, 2010

yan511A Carr Hall
(352) 273-4983

hua.yan@ufl.edu

Accepting new graduate students

Research Interests

Social animals develop more complex neural system to regulate their social behavior, but it is not clear how these neurons and neural circuits are established, maintained and even altered in response to social cues. We have developed genetic tools in the ant Harpegnathos saltator, which facilitate studies to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neural development and behavioral plasticity.

In Harpegnathos, altered environment triggers caste switches between non-reproductive workers and reproductive pseudo-queens (gamergates), accompanied by a dramatic 5-fold change in lifespan. The features of aging plasticity foster studies to identify longevity genes and characterize their molecular functions in regulating aging and rejuvenation.

Representative Publications

Yan, H., Opachaloemphan, C., Carmona-Aldana, F. (co-first authors), Mancini, G., Mlejnek, J., Descostes, N., Sieriebriennikov, B., Leibholz, A., Zhou, X., Ding, L., Traficante, M., Desplan, C., Reinberg, D. (2022)
Insulin signaling in the long-lived reproductive caste of ants.
Science 377(6610): 1092-1099. doi: 10.1126/science.abm8767. PMID: 36048960

Penick, C., Ghaninia, M., Haight, K., Opachaloemphan, C., Yan, H., Reinberg, D., Liebig, J. (2021)
Reversible plasticity in brain size, behavior, and physiology characterizes caste transitions in a socially flexible ant (Harpegnathos saltator).
Proc Biol Sci 288(1948): 20210141. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0141. PMID: 33849311

Yan, H., Liebig, J. (2021)
Genetic basis of chemical communication in eusocial insects.
Genes Dev 35(7-8): 470-482. doi: 10.1101/gad.346965.120. PMID: 33861721

Jafari, S., Henriksson, J., Yan, H., Alenius, M. (2021)
Stress and odorant receptor feedback during a critical period after hatching regulates olfactory sensory neuron differentiation in Drosophila.
PLoS Biol 19 (4), e3001101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001101. PMID: 33793547

Sieber, K., Saar, M., Opachaloemphan, C., Gallitto, M., Yang, H., Yan, H. (2021)
Embryo injections for CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis in the ant Harpegnathos saltator.
J Vis Exp 168. doi: 10.3791/61930. PMID: 33645561

Opachaloemphan, C., Mancini, G., Konstantinides, N., Parikh, A., Mlejnek, J., Yan, H., Reinberg, D., Desplan, C. (2021)
Early behavioral and molecular events leading to caste switching in the ant Harpegnathos.
Genes Dev 35(5-6): 410-424. doi: 10.1101/gad.343699.120. PMID: 33602869.

Yan, H., Jafari, S. (co-first author), Pask, G.M., Zhou, X., Reinberg, D., Desplan, C. (2020).
Evolution, developmental expression and function of odorant receptors in insects.
J Exp Biol 223, jeb208215, 1-11. PMID: 32034042

Opachaloemphan, C., Yan, H. (co-first author), Leibholz, A., Desplan, C., Reinberg, D. (2018)
Recent advances in behavioral (epi)genetics in eusocial insects.
Annu Rev Genet 52, 489-510. PMID: 30208294

Yan, H., Opachaloemphan, C., Mancini, G., Yang, H., Gallitto, M., Mlejnek, J., Leibholz, A., Haight, K., Ghaninia, M., Huo, L., Perry, M., Slone, J., Zhou, X., Traficante, M., Penick, C.A., Dolezal, K., Gokhale, K., Stevens, K., Fetter-Pruneda, I., Bonasio, R., Zwiebel, L.J., Berger, S.L., Liebig, J., Reinberg, D., Desplan, C. (2017).
An engineered orco mutation produces aberrant social behavior and defective neural development in ants.
Cell 170(4), 736-747. PMID: 28802043

Gospocic, J., Shields, E.J., Glastad, K.M., Lin, Y., Penick, C.A., Yan, H., Mikheyev, A.S., Linksvayer, T.A., Garcia, B.A., Berger, S.L., Liebig, J., Reinberg, D., Bonasio, R. (2017).
The neuropeptide corazonin controls social behavior and caste identity in ants.
Cell 170(4), 748-759. PMID: 28802044

Yan H., Bonasio R., Simola D.F., Liebig J., Berger S.L., Reinberg D. (2015).
DNA methylation in social insects.
Annu Rev Entomol 60, 435-452. PMID: 25341091

Yan H., Simola D.F. (co-first author), Bonasio R., Liebig J., Berger S.L., Reinberg D. (2014).
Eusocial insects as emerging models for behavioural epigenetics.
Nat Rev Genet 15(10), 677-688. PMID: 25200663