The seminar is sponsored by NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai.
Abstract:
Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) belongs to the family of single transmembrane protein containing an EGF domain. Both NRG1 and its receptor ErbB4 are among the top schizophrenia risk genes. Exactly how the gene variation of NRG1 and ErbB4 contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia remains elusive. Recent studies suggest NRG1-ErbB4 signaling is critical for the formation and function of GABAergic circuitry. Genetic deletion of ErbB4 in mice caused GABAergic hypofunction and spine reduction both of which are core phenotypes in schizophrenia. In need, the reduction of NRG1 and deletion in the ErbB4 kinase domain has been reported in some cases of schizophrenia. However, little is known how the cleavage of NRG1 and activation of ErbB4 is regulated. It remains controversial how ErbB4 regulates spine formation in pyramidal neurons. On the other hand, increased mRNA and protein levels of Nrg1 and ErbB4 have also been found in postmortem forebrain of schizophrenia patients. However, it remains unclear whether the increase of Nrg1 and ErbB4 is a compensation or cause of schizophrenia. Here I present our recent studies on the following questions: 1) what’s the molecular machinery involved in the cleavage of NRG1 2) how NRG1-ErbB4 signaling regulates spine formation 3) whether NRG1 overexpression has causal effects on schizophrenia relevant endophenotype. Our findings will provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia.
Biography:
Biography Dr. Dong-Min Yin received his medical degree from Nanjing Medical University and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 2008 from Peking University under the direction of Dr. Yun Wang. He then completed his postdoctoral studies in the laboratories of Dr Lin Mei at the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics of the Georgia Regents University. In 2013 Dr. Yin joined the faculty of the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at the Georgia Regents University as an assistant research scientist. In 2014, Dr. Yin became a full professor of the Institute of Brain Functional Genomics at the East China Normal University. Dr. Yin’s laboratory studies molecular and neural mechanisms underlying schizophrenia relevant endophenotypes.