如果從1985年到美國開始研究生算起，2025年是研究生涯40年。
如果從上海第一醫學院讀研究生開始算起，2025年是42年。
貫穿40年來的明顯特徵：基因與功能。
不僅僅做基因、也不僅僅做功能，而絕大多數專案是兩者緊密結合。
一般都是透過發現、研究、操縱基因，來理解生物學過程的機理，或涉及疾病的機理。
生物學過程包括：神經發育（果蠅、蛙、雞、小鼠），行為（果蠅、鼠、猴），睡眠（果蠅、小鼠、人），認知（人類）。
相關疾病：睡眠、痴呆、胰腺炎（在繼續增長中）。
1）神經發育的分子機理
1-1）克隆果蠅神經母細胞與表皮母細胞命運的基因big brain(分子生物學克隆基因)
Rao Y, Jan LY and Jan YN (1990). Similarity of the product of the Drosophila neurogenic genebig brainto transmembrane channel proteins.Nature345:163-167.
1-2）果蠅的中胚層不誘導神經外胚層、但影響其位置(遺傳、發育)
Rao Y, Vaessin H, Jan LY and Jan YN (1991). Neuroectoderm in Drosophila embryos is dependent on the mesoderm for the positioning but not for formation.Genes Dev5:1577-1588.
1-3）果蠅big brain基因確定神經細胞前體的數量(遺傳、發育)
Rao Y, Bodmer R, Jan LY and Jan YN (1992). Thebig braingene of Drosophila functions to control the number of neuronal precursors in the peripheral nervous system.Development116:31-40.
1-4）分子影響爪蟾胚胎中胚層與神經胚層(基因、發育)
Rao Y (1994). Conversion of a mesodermalizing molecule, the Xenopus Brachyury gene, into a neuralizing factor.Genes Dev.8:939-947.
1-5）影響作為訊號的爪蟾分泌蛋白(基因、發育)
Wu JY, Wen L, Zhang, WJ and Rao Y (1996). The secreted product of Xenopuslunatic fringe, a vertebrate signaling molecule.Science273:355-358.
1-6）中胚層如何影響外胚層的眼形態發生場形成兩個眼睛(發育、觀察基因表達)
Li HS, Tierney C, Wen L, Wu JY and Rao Y (1997). A single morphogenetic field gives rise to two retina primordia under the influence of the prechordal mesoderm.Development124:603-615.
1-7）分泌型蛋白質Slit作為Roundabout膜蛋白的配體而對軸突導向起排斥性作用(基因、蛋白質結合、神經纖維)
Li HS, Chen JH, Wu W, Fagaly T, Yuan WL, Zhou L, Dupuis S, Jiang Z, Nash W, Gick C, Ornitz D, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999). Vertebrate Slit, a secreted ligand for the transmembrane protein Roundabout, is a repellent for olfactory bulb axons.Cell96:807-818.
1-8）分泌型蛋白質Slit導向嗅覺系統神經細胞遷移(基因、腦切片活體培養)
Wu W, Wong K, Chen JH, Jiang ZH, Dupuis S, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999).Directional guidance of neuronal migration in the olfactory system by the secreted protein Slit.Nature400:331-336.
1-9）分泌型蛋白質Slit導向大腦皮層神經細胞遷移(基因、神經細胞)
Zhu Y, Li HS, Zhou L, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999).Cellular and molecular guidance of GABAergic neuronal migration from an extra-cortical origin to the neocortex.Neuron23: 473-485.
1-10）ET是轉錄抑制因子(基因功能)
He M, Wen L, Campbell C, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999). Transcription repression by ET, an ortholog of human Tbx3, a gene involved in ulnar-mammary syndrome.Proc Natl Acad Sci96:10212-10217.
1-11）分泌型蛋白質Slit的在爪蟾胚胎的表達和蛋白質分泌(非功能研究)
Chen J, Wu W, Li HS, Fagaly T, Zhou L, Wu JY and Rao Y (2000).Embryonic expression and extracellular secretion of Xenopus Slit.Neuroscience96:231-236.
1-12）分泌型蛋白質Slit的N末端足以導向軸突和神經細胞遷移(基因、神經細胞)
Chen J, Wen L, Dupuis S, WuJY andRao Y (2001).The N-terminal leucine rich regions inSlitare sufficient to repel olfactory bulbaxons and subventricular zone neurons.J Neurosci21:1548-1556.
1-13）嗅球軸突短程獨立於Slit(神經細胞)
Hirata T, Fujisawa H, Wu JY and Rao Y (2001). Independence of short-range guidance for olfactory bulb axons from repulsive factor Slit.J Neurosci21: 2373-2379.
1-14）分泌型蛋白質Slit導向神經細胞遷移(基因、白細胞)
Wu JY, Feng L, Park H-T, HavliogluN,Wen L, Tang H, Bacon KB, Jiang Z, Zhang X-C and Rao Y (2001).The neuronal repellentSlit inhibits leukocyte chemotaxis induced by chemotactic factors.Nature410:948-952.
1-15）Slit的訊號轉導通路GTP酶(基因、神經細胞)
Wong K, Ren X-R, Huang Y-Z, Xie Y, Liu G, Saito H, Tang H, Wen L, Brady-Kalnay SM, Mei L, Wu JY, Xiong W-C and Rao Y (2001). Signal transduction in neuronal migration: roles of GTPase activating proteins and the small GTPase Cdc42 in the Slit-Robo pathway.Cell107:209-221.
1-16）SDF蛋白質導向小腦神經細胞(基因、神經細胞)
Zhu Y, Yu T, Zhang X-C, Nagasawa T,Wu JY and Rao Y (2002).Role of the chemokine SDF-1 as the meningeal attractant for embryonic cerebellar neurons.Nat Neurosci5:719-720.
1-17）區分神經細胞導向和運動性(神經細胞運動)
Ward M, McCann C, DeWulf M, Wu JY and Rao Y (2003). Distinguishing between directional guidance and motility regulation in neuronal migration. J Neurosci23:5170-5177.
神經細胞遷移的新的吸引性分子(神經細胞)
Liu G and Rao Y (2003).Neuronal migration from the forebrain to the olfactory bulb requires a new attractant persistent in the olfactory bulb.J Neurosci 23：6651-6659.
1-18）小腦神經細胞遷移過程對腦膜反應的變化(基因、神經細胞)
Zhu Y, Yu T and Rao Y (2004).Developmental regulation of EGLmigration through aswitch in cellular responsivenessto cerebellar meninges. Dev Biol 267:153-64.
1-19）導向分子netrin下游需要兩種蛋白激酶起吸引作用(基因、神經細胞)
Liu G, Beggs H, Jürgensen C, Park HT, Tang H, GorskiJ,JonesKR,Reichardt LF, Wu JY and Rao Y (2004).Netrinrequiresthe focal adhesion kinase and the Src family kinasesto induceaxon outgrowth and to attract axons.Nat Neurosci7:1222-1232.
1-20）GSK蛋白激酶參與神經細胞極性形成和維持(基因、神經細胞)
Jiang H, Guo W, Liang XH and Y Rao (2005). Both the establishment and the maintenance of neuronal polarity require active mechanisms: critical roles of GSK-3band its upstream regulators.Cell120:123-135.
1-21）神經細胞遷移的方向性改變依賴突起的對調節其形成和選擇(神經細胞運動)
Ward ME, Jiang H and Rao Y (2005). Regulated formation and selection of neuronal processes underlie directional guidance of neuronal migration.Mol Cell Neurosci30:378-387.
1-22）Netrin作用的下游需要的一個分子(基因、神經細胞)
Liu G, Li W, Gao X, Li X, Jurgensen C, Park HT, Shin NY, Yu J, He ML, Hanks SK, Wu JY and Rao Y(2007).p130(CAS) is required for netrin signaling and commissural axon guidance.J Neurosci27:957-68.
1-23）ILK蛋白激酶參與神經細胞極性形成(基因、神經細胞)
Guo W, Jiang H, Gray V, Dedhar S and Rao Y (2007).Role of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in determining neuronal polarity.Dev Biol306:457-468.
1-24）導向分子netrin下游需要鳥苷酸交換因子起吸引作用(基因、神經細胞)
Li X, Gao X, Liu G, Xiong W, Wu J and Rao Y (2008). Netrin signal transduction and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK180 in attractive signaling.Nat Neurosci11:28-35.
2）行為的分子機理
2-1）果蠅打架需要一群鱆胺能神經元(基因、行為)
Zhou C, Rao Y and Rao Y (2008). A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression.Nat Neurosci11:1059-1067.
2-2）雄鼠性偏好需要腦內五羥色胺(基因、行為)
Liu Y, Jiang Y, Si Y, Kim J-Y, Chen Z-F and Rao Y (2011).Molecularregulation ofsexualpreferencerevealed bygeneticstudies of 5-HT in thebrain ofmalemice.Nature472:95-99.
2-3）果蠅嗅覺與打架需要的受體(基因、行為)
Liu WW, Liang XH, Li YN, Gong JX, Yang Z, Zhang YH, Zhang JX and Rao Y (2011). Social regulation of aggressionmediated by pheromonalactivation of Or65aolfactoryreceptorneurons in Drosophila.Nat Neurosci7:896-902.
2-4）果蠅求偶所需分子(基因、行為)
ZhouC, HuangH, KimSM, LinH, MengX, ChiangA-S, WangJW, Jiao R and Rao Y (2012) Molecular genetic analysis of sexual rejection: roles of octopamine and its receptor OAMB in Drosophila courtship conditioning.J Neurosci32:14281-14287.
2-5）雌鼠性偏好需要腦內五羥色胺(基因、行為)
Zhang SS, Liu Y and Rao Y (2013). Serotonin signaling in the brain of adult female mice is required for sexual preference.Proc Natl Acad Sci110:9968-9973.
2-6）五羥色胺參與小鼠、大鼠、猴的第一社會行為(基因、行為)
Liu Y, Shan L, Liu T, Li J, Chen YC, Sun CH, Yang CJ, Bian XL, Niu YY, Zhang C, Xi JZ and Rao Y (2023) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the first social relationship: a conserved role of 5-HT from mice to monkeys, upstream of oxytocin.Neuron111:1468-1685.
3）人類認知
3-1）人類記憶啟用的干擾(認知)
Zhu ZJ, Wang YY, Cao ZJ, Chen BQ, Cai HQ, Wu YH and Rao Y (2016). Cue-independent memory impairment by reactivation-coupled interference in human declarative memory.Cognition155:125-134.
3-2）人類從眾行為的基因分析(基因、認知)
Chen BQ, Zhu, ZJ, WangYY, DingXH,GuoXB, He MG,FangW, ZhouSB, ZhouQ,HuangAL, ChenTM,NiDS, GuYP, LiuJN, Lei H and RaoY (2018). Nature vs. nurture in human sociality: multi-level genomic analyses of social conformity.J Hum Genet63:605-619.
3-3）人類記憶的基因分析(基因、認知)
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Yan HM, Fang W, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Gao TM, Chen L, Chen JY, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2018). Multi-level genomic analyses suggest new genetic variants involved in human memory.Eur J Hum Genet26:1668-1678.
3-4）人類視覺認知的基因分析(基因、認知)
Chen BQ, Zhu ZJ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Fang F and Rao Y (2018). Genomic analyses of visual cognition: perceptual rivalry and top-down control.J Neurosci38:9668-9678.
3-5）人類視覺整合的基因分析(基因、認知)
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Gao TM, Chen L, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Chen JY, Rao Y and Fang F (2020). Heritability of human visual contour integration—an integrated genomic study.Eur J Hum Genet27:1867-1875.
3-6）人類視錯覺的基因分析(基因、認知)
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Rao Y and Fang F (2020). A genome-wide association study reveals a substantial genetic basis underlying the Ebbinghaus illusion.J Hum Genet66:261-271.
3-7）人類臉識別的基因分析(基因、認知)
Sun Y, Men W, Fang W, Zhou E, Yang W, Li Z, Zheng H-F and Rao Y (2024). Human genetics of face recognition: discovery ofMCTP2mutations in humans with face blindness (congenital prosopagnosia).Genetics227:iyae047 (medRxiv2021.09.27.21263237).
4）睡眠的分子機理
4-1）果蠅5-HT受體控制睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Qian YJ, Cao Y, Deng BW, Yang G, Li J, Xu R, Zhang D, Huang J and Rao Y (2017). Sleep homeostasis regulated by 5HT2b receptor in a small subset of neurons in the dorsal fan-shaped body of Drosophila.eLife6:e26519.
4-2）小鼠5-HT調控睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Zhang X, Yan HM, Huang ZL and Rao Y (2018). Independence of 5HT involvement in sleep and arousal from thermoregulation in mice.Mol Pharmacol93:657-664.
4-3）果蠅腸上皮分泌D型絲氨酸透過神經細胞控制睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Dai XHM, Zhou EX, Yang W, WX Zhang and Rao Y (2019)D-Serine promotes sleep through the NMDA receptor in Drosophila melanogaster.Nat Comm10:1986.
4-4）果蠅乙醯膽鹼透過不同受體對睡眠進行雙向(基因、睡眠)
Dai XHM, Zhou EX, Yang W, Deng BW, Li Q, Liu XX, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2021). Molecular resolution of a behavioral paradox: sleep and arousal are regulated by distinct acetylcholine receptors in different neurons of Drosophila.Sleep10:zsab017.
4-5）蛋白激酶LKB1調節果蠅和小鼠睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Liu ZY, Jiang LF, Li CY, Li CG, Yang JQ, Yu JJ, Mao RB and Rao Y (2022). LKB1 is physiologically required for sleep fromDrosophila melanogastertoMus musculus.Genetics221: iyac082.
4-6）蛋白激酶SIK3的特定位點磷酸化調節小鼠睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Li Y, Li CG, Liu YX,Yu JJ, Yang JQ, Cui YF, Wang TV,Li CY,Jiang LF, Song MLand Rao Y(2023). Sleep need, the key regulator of sleep homeostasis, is both indicated and controlled by phosphorylation of threonine 221 in salt inducible kinase 3.Genetics224:iyad136(bioRxiv2021.11.06.467421).
4-7）新的小分子調節果蠅睡眠(遺傳分子、睡眠)
Dai X, Yang W, Zhang X, Zhou E, Liu Y, Wang T, Zhang WX, Zhang XX and Rao Y (2023). ppGpp is present in, and functions to regulate sleep of, Drosophila.hLife1:98-114 (bioRxiv2022.11.17.516975).
4-8）生化發現的蛋白磷酸酶調節小鼠睡眠(生化、基因、睡眠)
Yu J, Wang TV, Gao R, Li CG, Liu HJ, Yang L, Liu YX, Cui YF, Chen RP and Rao Y (2025). Calcineurin: an essential regulator of sleep revealed bybiochemical, chemical biological, and genetic approaches.Cell Chem Biol32:1-17 (bioRxiv2023.06.19.545643).
4-9）蛋白激酶調節小鼠睡眠(基因、睡眠)
Yang WW, Shi JY, Li CG,Yang JQ, Yu JJ, Huang J and RaoY (2025).Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II a and b differentially regulate mammalian sleep.Comms Biol8:11 (bioRxiv2024.11.17.624045).
5）神經的化學連線
5-1）化學連線組概念和工具(基因、睡眠)
Deng BW, Li Q, Liu XX, Cao Y, Li BF, Qian YJ, Xu R, Mao RB, Zhou EX, Zhang WX, Huang J and Rao Y (2019) Chemoconnectomics: mapping chemical transmission in Drosophila.Neuron101:876-893.
5-2）條件型化學連線組工具(基因、睡眠)
Mao R, Yu J, Deng B, Dai X, Du Y, Du S, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2023). Conditional chemoconnectomics (cCCTomics) as a strategy for efficient and conditional targeting of chemical transmission.eLife12:RP91927 (bioRxiv2023.09.26.559642).
5-3）神經遞質的尋找(生物化學、化學分析、導致人類痴呆基因突變的分子機理)
Jia X, Zhu J, Bian X, Liu S, Yu S, Liang W, Jiang L, Mao R and Rao Y (2023) Importance of glutamine in synaptic vesicles revealed by functional studies of SLC6A17 and its mutations pathogenic for intellectual disability.eLife12:RP86972(bioRxiv2022.10.25.513688).
5-4）神經遞質的尋找(化學分析、生物化學、電生理)
Bian XL, Zhu JM, XB, Liang WJ, Yu SH and Rao Y (2023).Suggestion of creatine as a new neurotransmitter by approaches ranging from chemical analysis and biochemistry to electrophysiology.eLife12:RP89317 (bioRxiv2022.12.22.521565).
6）GPCP的新配體與功能
6-1）GPR39的新配體膽酸及其在急性胰腺炎的作用(分子生物學、成像、炎症模型)
Zi ZT and Rao Y (2024). Discoveries of GPR39 as an evolutionarily conserved receptor for bile acids and of its involvement in biliary acute pancreatitis.Sci Adv10:eadj0146.
7）生物化學分離純化
7-1）AMPK蛋白激酶的上游激酶(生物化學、酶學分析)
Liu YX, Wang TV, Cui YF, Gao SX and Rao Y (2022). Biochemical purification uncovers mammalian sterile 3 (MST3) as a new protein kinase for multifunctional protein kinases AMPK and SIK3.J Biol Chem298:101929.
7-2）AMPK蛋白激酶的上游激酶(生物化學、酶學分析)
Liu YX, Wang TV, Cui YF, Li CY, Jiang LF and Rao Y (2022). STE20 phosphorylation of AMPK related kinases revealed by biochemical purifications combined with genetics.J Biol Chem298:101928.
8）分子探針
8-1）細胞骨架重組過程中N-WASP活性變化的時空顯示(非功能研究)
Ward ME, Wu JY and Rao Y (2004). Visualization of spatially and temporally regulated N-WASP activity during cytoskeletal reorganization in living cells.Proc Natl Acad Sci101:970-974.
8-2）細胞內精氨酸的探針(非功能研究)
Wang C, Zhang X, Mao HY, Xian Y and Rao Y (2025). Development of a genetically encoded sensor for intracellular arginine.ACS Sensors10.1021.
全職回國前的研究
Wu JY, Wen L, Zhang, WJ and Rao Y (1996). The secreted product of Xenopus lunatic fringe, a vertebrate signaling molecule. Science 273:355-358.
Li HS, Tierney C, Wen L, Wu JY and Rao Y (1997). A single morphogenetic field gives rise to two retina primordia under the influence of the prechordal mesoderm. Development 124:603-615.
Li HS, Chen JH, Wu W, Fagaly T, Yuan WL, Zhou L, Dupuis S, Jiang Z, Nash W, Gick C, Ornitz D, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999). Vertebrate Slit, a secreted ligand for the transmembrane protein Roundabout, is a repellent for olfactory bulb axons. Cell 96:807-818.
Wu W, Wong K, Chen JH, Jiang ZH, Dupuis S, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999).Directional guidance of neuronal migration in the olfactory system by the secreted protein Slit. Nature 400:331-336.
Zhu Y, Li HS, Zhou L, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999).Cellular and molecular guidance of GABAergic neuronal migration from an extra-cortical origin to the neocortex. Neuron 23: 473-485.
He M, Wen L, Campbell C, Wu JY and Rao Y (1999). Transcription repression by ET, an ortholog of human Tbx3, a gene involved in ulnar-mammary syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96:10212-10217.
Chen J, Wu W, Li HS, Fagaly T, Zhou L, Wu JY and Rao Y (2000).Embryonic expression and extracellular secretion of Xenopus Slit. Neuroscience96:231-236.
Chen J, Wen L, Dupuis S, Wu JY and Rao Y (2001). The N-terminal leucine rich regions in Slitare sufficient to repel olfactory bulb axons and subventricular zone neurons. J Neurosci 21:1548-1556.
Hirata T, Fujisawa H, Wu JY and Rao Y (2001). Independence of short-range guidance for olfactory bulb axons from repulsive factor Slit. J Neurosci21: 2373-2379.
Wu JY, Feng L, Park H-T, Havlioglu N, Wen L, Tang H, Bacon KB, Jiang Z, Zhang X-C and Rao Y (2001).The neuronal repellent Slit inhibits leukocyte chemotaxis induced by chemotactic factors. Nature410:948-952.
Wong K, Ren X-R, Huang Y-Z, Xie Y, Liu G, Saito H, Tang H, Wen L, Brady-Kalnay SM, Mei L, Wu JY, Xiong W-C and Rao Y (2001). Signal transduction in neuronal migration: roles of GTPase activating proteins and the small GTPase Cdc42 in the Slit-Robo pathway. Cell 107:209-221.
Zhu Y, Yu T, Zhang X-C, Nagasawa T,Wu JY and Rao Y (2002). Role of the chemokine SDF-1 as the meningeal attractant for embryonic cerebellar neurons. Nat Neurosci 5:719-720.
Ward M, McCann C, DeWulf M, Wu JY and Rao Y (2003). Distinguishing between directional guidance and motility regulation in neuronal migration. J Neurosci23:5170-5177.
Liu G and Rao Y (2003). Neuronal migration from the forebrain to the olfactory bulb requires a new attractant persistent in the olfactory bulb. J Neurosci 23:6651-6659.
Zhu Y, Yu T and Rao Y (2004). Developmental regulation of EGL migration through a switch in cellular responsivenessto cerebellar meninges. Dev Biol267:153-64.
Ward ME, Wu JY and Rao Y (2004). Visualization of spatially and temporally regulated N-WASP activity during cytoskeletal reorganization in living cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci 101:970-974.
Liu G, Beggs H, Jürgensen C, Park HT, Tang H, GorskiJ, JonesKR, Reichardt LF, Wu JY and Rao Y (2004). Netrin requires the focal adhesion kinase and the Src family kinases to induce axon outgrowth and to attract axons. Nat Neurosci 7:1222-1232.
Liu G, Li W, Gao X, Li X, Jurgensen C, Park HT, Shin NY, Yu J, He ML, Hanks SK, Wu JY and Rao Y (2007). p130(CAS) is required for netrin signaling and commissural axon guidance.J Neurosci27:957-68.
Li X, Gao X, Liu G, Xiong W, Wu J and Rao Y (2008). Netrin signal transduction and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK180 in attractive signaling.Nat Neurosci 11:28-35.
全職回國後的研究
Zhou C, Rao Y and Rao Y (2008). A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression. Nat Neurosci 11:1059-1067.
Liu Y, Jiang Y, Si Y, Kim J-Y, Chen Z-F and Rao Y (2011). Molecular regulation of sexual preference revealed by genetic studies of 5-HT in the brain of male mice. Nature472:95-99.
Liu WW, Liang XH, Li YN, Gong JX, Yang Z, Zhang YH, Zhang JX and Rao Y (2011). Social regulation of aggression mediated by pheromonal activation of Or65a olfactory receptor neurons in Drosophila. Nat Neurosci 7:896-902.
ZhouC, HuangH, KimSM, LinH, MengX, ChiangA-S, WangJW, Jiao R and Rao Y (2012) Molecular genetic analysis of sexual rejection: roles of octopamine and its receptor OAMB in Drosophila courtship conditioning. J Neurosci 32:14281-14287.
Zhang SS, Liu Y and Rao Y (2013). Serotonin signaling in the brain of adult female mice is required for sexual preference. Proc Natl Acad Sci 110:9968-9973.
Zhu ZJ, Wang YY, Cao ZJ, Chen BQ, Cai HQ, Wu YH and Rao Y (2016). Cue-independent memory impairment by reactivation-coupled interference in human declarative memory. Cognition 155:125-134.
Qian YJ, Cao Y, Deng BW, Yang G, Li J, Xu R, Zhang D, Huang J and Rao Y (2017). Sleep homeostasis regulated by 5HT2b receptor in a small subset of neurons in the dorsal fan-shaped body of Drosophila. eLife 6:e26519.
Chen BQ, Zhu, ZJ, WangYY, DingXH,GuoXB, He MG, FangW, ZhouSB, ZhouQ, HuangAL, ChenTM,NiDS, GuYP, LiuJN, Lei H and RaoY (2018). Nature vs. nurture in human sociality: multi-level genomic analyses of social conformity. J Hum Genet 63:605-619.
Zhang X, Yan HM, Huang ZL and Rao Y (2018). Independence of 5HT involvement in sleep and arousal from thermoregulation in mice. Mol Pharmacol 93:657-664.
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Yan HM, Fang W, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Gao TM, Chen L, Chen JY, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2018). Multi-level genomic analyses suggest new genetic variants involved in human memory. Eur J Hum Genet 26:1668-1678.
Chen BQ, Zhu ZJ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Fang F and Rao Y (2018). Genomic analyses of visual cognition: perceptual rivalry and top-down control. J Neurosci 38:9668-9678.
Deng BW, Li Q, Liu XX, Cao Y, Li BF, Qian YJ, Xu R, Mao RB, Zhou EX, Zhang WX, Huang J and Rao Y (2019) Chemoconnectomics: mapping chemical transmission in Drosophila. Neuron101:876-893.
Dai XHM, Zhou EX, Yang W, WX Zhang and Rao Y (2019) D-Serine promotes sleep through the NMDA receptor in Drosophila melanogaster.Nat Comm10:1986.
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Gao TM, Chen L, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Chen JY, Rao Y and Fang F (2020). Heritability of human visual contour integration—an integrated genomic study. Eur J Hum Genet 27:1867-1875.
Zhu ZJ, Chen BQ, Na R, Fang W, Zhang WX, Zhou Q, Zhou SB, Lei H, Huang AL, Chen TM, Ni DS, Gu YP, Liu JN, Rao Y and Fang F (2020). A genome-wide association study reveals a substantial genetic basis underlying the Ebbinghaus illusion. J Hum Genet 66:261-271.
Dai XHM, Zhou EX, Yang W, Deng BW, Li Q, Liu XX, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2021). Molecular resolution of a behavioral paradox: sleep and arousal are regulated by distinct acetylcholine receptors in different neurons of Drosophila. Sleep 10:zsab017.
Liu YX, Wang TV, Cui YF, Gao SX and Rao Y (2022). Biochemical purification uncovers mammalian sterile 3 (MST3) as a new protein kinase for multifunctional protein kinases AMPK and SIK3. J Biol Chem 298:101929.
Liu YX, Wang TV, Cui YF, Li CY, Jiang LF and Rao Y (2022). STE20 phosphorylation of AMPK related kinases revealed by biochemical purifications combined with genetics. J Biol Chem 298:101928.
Liu ZY, Jiang LF, Li CY, Li CG, Yang JQ, Yu JJ, Mao RB and Rao Y (2022). LKB1 is physiologically required for sleep from Drosophila melanogaster to Mus musculus.Genetics 221: iyac082.
Liu Y, Shan L, Liu T, Li J, Chen YC, Sun CH, Yang CJ, Bian XL, Niu YY, Zhang C, Xi JZ and Rao Y (2023) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the first social relationship: a conserved role of 5-HT from mice to monkeys, upstream of oxytocin. Neuron 111:1468-1685.
Jia X, Zhu J, Bian X, Liu S, Yu S, Liang W, Jiang L, Mao R and Rao Y (2023) Importance of glutamine in synaptic vesicles revealed by functional studies of SLC6A17 and its mutations pathogenic for intellectual disability. eLife12:RP86972 (bioRxiv 2022.10.25.513688).
Li Y, Li CG, Liu YX,Yu JJ, Yang JQ, Cui YF, Wang TV,Li CY,Jiang LF, Song ML and Rao Y(2023). Sleep need, the key regulator of sleep homeostasis, is both indicated and controlled by phosphorylation of threonine 221 in salt inducible kinase 3. Genetics 224:iyad136 (bioRxiv 2021.11.06.467421).
Dai X, Yang W, Zhang X, Zhou E, Liu Y, Wang T, Zhang WX, Zhang XX and Rao Y (2023). ppGpp is present in, and functions to regulate sleep of, Drosophila. hLife 1:98-114 (bioRxiv 2022.11.17.516975).
Bian XL, Zhu JM, XB, Liang WJ, Yu SH and Rao Y (2023). Suggestion of creatine as a new neurotransmitter by approaches ranging from chemical analysis and biochemistry to electrophysiology. eLife 12:RP89317 (bioRxiv2022.12.22.521565).
Mao R, Yu J, Deng B, Dai X, Du Y, Du S, Zhang WX and Rao Y (2023). Conditional chemoconnectomics (cCCTomics) as a strategy for efficient and conditional targeting of chemical transmission. eLife 12:RP91927 (bioRxiv2023.09.26.559642).
Zi ZT and Rao Y (2024). Discoveries of GPR39 as an evolutionarily conserved receptor for bile acids and of its involvement in biliary acute pancreatitis. Sci Adv 10:eadj0146.
Sun Y, Men W, Fang W, Zhou E, Yang W, Li Z, Zheng H-F and Rao Y (2024). Human genetics of face recognition: discovery of MCTP2 mutations in humans with face blindness (congenital prosopagnosia). Genetics 227:iyae047 (medRxiv 2021.09.27.21263237).
Yu J, Wang TV, Gao R, Li CG, Liu HJ, Yang L, Liu YX, Cui YF, Chen RP and Rao Y (2025). Calcineurin: an essential regulator of sleep revealed by biochemical, chemical biological, and genetic approaches. Cell Chem Biol 32:1-17 (bioRxiv 2023.06.19.545643).
Yang WW, Shi JY, Li CG, Yang JQ, Yu JJ, Huang J and Rao Y (2025). Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II a and bdifferentially regulate mammalian sleep. Comms Biol 8:11 (bioRxiv 2024.11.17.624045).
Wang C, Zhang X, Mao HY, Xian Y and Rao Y (2025). Development of a genetically encoded sensor for intracellular arginine. ACS Sensors 10.1021.
