Yan Song
Email: yan.song(at)pku(dot)edu(dot)cn;
Tel:+86-10-62752120
Homepage: http://www.yansonglab.org
Research Area:
The main research interest of my laboratory focuses on the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying self-renewal, migration and differentiation of normal and cancer stem cells. Stem cells yield promise for regenerative medicine but also pose huge challenges. It remains uncertain how to inhibit stem-cell-derived tumor formation without harming normal stem cells. It is likewise unclear how directional stem cell migration, a critical step in tissue regeneration, is orchestrated. Using newly-established or previously-unexplored stem cell models in Drosophila, we employ a convergence of fly genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and in vivo imaging to investigate a few fundamental questions: 1) How normal stem cells within a specific tissue are maintained and how to distinguish normal from cancer stem cell? 2) During normal development and upon tissue injury, how guidance cues may be converted into physical movement of stem cells in a timely and directional manner? Since the fundamental principles we will unravel using relatively simple Drosophila stem cell models are likely to be highly conserved in human, knowledge obtained from our studies should provide new insight into new strategies for anti-cancer therapy and tissue regeneration.
Selected Publications:
1. Liu X.#, Shen J.#, Xie L., Wei Z., Wong C., Li Y., Zheng X., Li P. and Song Y.* (2020) Mitotic implantation of the transcription factor Prospero via phase separation drives terminal neuronal differentiation. Developmental Cell, 52(3), 277-293 [Featured article].
2. Li B.#, Wong C.#, Gao S.M., Zhang R., Sun R., Li Y. and Song Y.* (2018) The retromer complex safeguards against neural progenitor-derived tumorigenesis by regulating Notch receptor trafficking. Elife 2018;7;e38181
3. Xu K., Liu X., Wang Y., Wong C. and Song Y.* (2018) Temporospatial induction of homeodomain gene cut dictates natural lineage reprogramming. Elife 2018;7:e33934
4. Liu K., Shen D., Shen J., Gao S.M., Li B., Wong C., Feng W. and Song Y.* (2017) The super elongation complex drives neural stem cell fate commitment. Developmental Cell, 40(6), 537-551 [Cover article].
5. Liu K., Xu K. and Song Y.* (2019) Faster, Higher, Stronger: Timely and robust cell fate/identity commitment in stem cell lineages. Open Biology, 9: 180243. [Invited review]
6. Lee K.S.#, Wu Z.#, Song Y., Mitra S.S., Feroze A.H., Cheshier S.H., Lu B.* (2013) Roles of PINK1, mTORC2, and mitochondria in preserving brain tumor-forming stem cells in a noncanonical Notch signaling pathway. Genes & Development, 27(24):2642-7 [Cover article]
7. Song Y. and Lu B.* (2011) Regulation of cell growth by Notch signaling and its differential requirement in normal vs. tumor-forming stem cells in Drosophila. Genes & Development, 25(24):2644-2658.