Yang, Jerry
Bioorganic Chemistry, Molecular Self-Assembly, Molecular Synthesis, Materials Chemistry, Bionanotechnology
Bioorganic Chemistry, Molecular Self-Assembly, Molecular Synthesis, Materials Chemistry, Bionanotechnology
Contact Information
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering
Office: Pacific Hall 6100C
Phone: 858-534-6006
Email: jerryyang@ucsd.edu
Web: yanglab.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Office: Pacific Hall 6100C
Phone: 858-534-6006
Email: jerryyang@ucsd.edu
Web: yanglab.ucsd.edu
Group: View group members
Education
2001 Ph.D., Columbia University
1995 B.S., University of California, Berkeley
2001 Ph.D., Columbia University
1995 B.S., University of California, Berkeley
Appointments
2012-2013 , Visiting Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
2001-2003 Postdoc, Harvard University
2012-2013 , Visiting Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
2001-2003 Postdoc, Harvard University
Awards and Academic Honors
2011
California HIV/AIDS IDEA Award
2009
NSF CAREER Award
2008
Alzheimer's Association New Investigator Award
2007
American Cancer Society Research Scholar
2006
Wallace H. Coulter Translational Research Partnership Award
2006
Hellman Fellow
2004
UCSD Faculty Career Development Award
2004
Thieme Journal Award, Synthesis and Synlett
2001
Ph.D. with Distinction, Columbia University
2001
Hammett Award for excellence in research, Columbia University
1999-2001
EPA NCERQA STAR graduate fellowship
1999
Bristol-Myers Squibb graduate fellowship
1998
Sylvia and Victor G. Fourman graduate fellowship
1998
Jack Miller Award for excellence in teaching, Columbia University
1995-1996
Outstanding Teaching Award, U.C. Berkeley
1995
B.S. with Honors, U.C. Berkeley
Research Interests
Our lab is interested in using organic chemistry as a tool to study problems in biology and materials science. The foundation of our interdisciplinary program lies in organic synthesis that allows for designing structures with tailored chemical function. In addition to synthetic techniques, students will be trained in a broad range of analytical and biological methods to probe the molecular details of their systems. Brief description of some ongoing research areas pursued in the group are as follows:
Development of amyloid-targeting fluorescent probes
The goal of this research is to develop molecular probes that exhibit turn-on fluorescence upon binding to amyloids. Amyloids are a natural class of protein- or peptide-containing materials that are heterogeneous in size, morphology, and composition. Deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain represents a universal feature of many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and precedes clinical symptoms by several years. We have recently designed a new family of fluorescent probes that can label amyloids in tissue. Importantly, we demonstrated that these probes can be tuned in a way that allows not only enhanced fluorescence visualization of amyloids but also colorimetric discrimination of the amyloids as a function of their protein composition. Such discriminating ability may enable accurate determination of specific neurodegenerative diseases, thereby aiding in selection of a proper course of treatment. A major focus of this research is to develop new bright and tunable fluorescence probes with high binding affinity and selectivity to specific amyloid targets. The ultimate goal is to translate these probes into clinically useful technologies by developing rapid, low cost, and reliable methods for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of amyloid-associated diseases.
Development of molecules that improve memory and learning
Recent studies have shown that a class of small molecules developed in the Yang lab can improve memory and learning in both wild-type mice and in a transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease. Subsequent experiments in primary hippocampal neurons confirm that this class of compounds exhibit the capability to promote the formation of dendritic spines (the neuronal structure that forms the receiving end of a synapse) and increase the density of synapses between neurons. Such phenomenal phenotypic activity of these compounds offers tremendous potential for treating a host of memory impairment disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Current efforts in the group are focused on 1) development of improved promoters of dendritic spine formation, 2) elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanism of action of these molecules, and 3) examining the role these compounds can have in disease intervention.
Cancer drug delivery systems and prevention of cancer metastasis
A major goal of this research is to develop new biocompatible polymeric and lipid-based materials capable of improving the targeting of cancer therapeutics to solid tumors by controlling the location and time over which active drug release occurs. A central component of this research entails development of stimuli-responsive linkers that can exploit the unique environment of some tumor cells to trigger the controlled release of therapeutic agents from drug delivery vessels. A separate recent effort involves the investigation of a new class of compounds developed by the Yang lab that can arrest the migration of metastatic cancer cells.
Development of amyloid-targeting fluorescent probes
The goal of this research is to develop molecular probes that exhibit turn-on fluorescence upon binding to amyloids. Amyloids are a natural class of protein- or peptide-containing materials that are heterogeneous in size, morphology, and composition. Deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain represents a universal feature of many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and precedes clinical symptoms by several years. We have recently designed a new family of fluorescent probes that can label amyloids in tissue. Importantly, we demonstrated that these probes can be tuned in a way that allows not only enhanced fluorescence visualization of amyloids but also colorimetric discrimination of the amyloids as a function of their protein composition. Such discriminating ability may enable accurate determination of specific neurodegenerative diseases, thereby aiding in selection of a proper course of treatment. A major focus of this research is to develop new bright and tunable fluorescence probes with high binding affinity and selectivity to specific amyloid targets. The ultimate goal is to translate these probes into clinically useful technologies by developing rapid, low cost, and reliable methods for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of amyloid-associated diseases.
Development of molecules that improve memory and learning
Recent studies have shown that a class of small molecules developed in the Yang lab can improve memory and learning in both wild-type mice and in a transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease. Subsequent experiments in primary hippocampal neurons confirm that this class of compounds exhibit the capability to promote the formation of dendritic spines (the neuronal structure that forms the receiving end of a synapse) and increase the density of synapses between neurons. Such phenomenal phenotypic activity of these compounds offers tremendous potential for treating a host of memory impairment disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Current efforts in the group are focused on 1) development of improved promoters of dendritic spine formation, 2) elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanism of action of these molecules, and 3) examining the role these compounds can have in disease intervention.
Cancer drug delivery systems and prevention of cancer metastasis
A major goal of this research is to develop new biocompatible polymeric and lipid-based materials capable of improving the targeting of cancer therapeutics to solid tumors by controlling the location and time over which active drug release occurs. A central component of this research entails development of stimuli-responsive linkers that can exploit the unique environment of some tumor cells to trigger the controlled release of therapeutic agents from drug delivery vessels. A separate recent effort involves the investigation of a new class of compounds developed by the Yang lab that can arrest the migration of metastatic cancer cells.
Primary Research Area
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Interdisciplinary interests
Bioorganic
Biophysics
Physical Organic
Biophysics
Physical Organic
Outreach Activities
- Mentor for female undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and interns.
- Mentor for minority high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
- Mentor for international visiting students.
- Mentor for UC LEADS and UC STAR program.
- Mentor for minority high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
- Mentor for international visiting students.
- Mentor for UC LEADS and UC STAR program.
Image Gallery
Selected Publications
- Cifelli JL, Dozier L, Chung TS, Patrick GN, Yang J "Benzothiazole Amphiphiles Promote the Formation of Dendritic Spines in Primary Hippocampal Neurons", J Biol Chem, 2016, Vol. 291, Issue 23, 11981-92
- Koyanagi T, Leriche G, Onofrei D, Holland GP, Mayer M, Yang J "Cyclohexane Rings Reduce Membrane Permeability to Small Ions in Archaea-Inspired Tetraether Lipids", Angew Chem Int Ed, 2016, Vol. 55, Issue 5, 1890-3 [View]
- Sheik DA, Brooks L, Frantzen K, Dewhurst S, Yang J "Inhibition of the enhancement of infection of human immunodeficiency virus by semen-derived enhancer of virus infection using amyloid-targeting polymeric nanoparticles", ACS Nano, 2015, Vol. 9, Issue 2, 1829-36 [View]
- Mayer M, Yang J "Engineered Ion Channels as Emerging Tools for Chemical Biology", Acc Chem Res, 2013, Vol. 46, Issue 12, 2998-3008
- Cao K, Farahi M, Dakanali M, Chang WM, Sigurdson CJ, Theodorakis EA, Yang J, "Aminonaphthalene 2-cyanoacrylate (ANCA) probes fluorescently discriminate between amyloid-β and prion plaques in brain.", J Am Chem Soc, 2012, Vol. 134, Issue 42, 17338-41 [View]
- Capule CC, Brown C, Olsen JS, Dewhurst S, Yang J, "Oligovalent amyloid-binding agents reduce SEVI-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection.", J Am Chem Soc, 2012, Vol. 134, Issue 2, 905-8 [View]
- "Controlling the Translocation of Proteins Through Nanopores with Bioinspired Fluid Walls" E.C. Yusko, J.M. Johnson, S. Majd, P. Prangkio, R.C. Rollings, J. Li, J. Yang, and M. Mayer, Nature Nanotech., (2011), 6, 253-260
- Habib LK, Lee MT, Yang J, "Inhibitors of catalase-amyloid interactions protect cells from beta-amyloid-induced oxidative stress and toxicity.", J Biol Chem, 2010, Vol. 285, Issue 50, 38933-43 [View]
- Macrae MX, Blake S, Mayer M, Yang J, "Nanoscale ionic diodes with tunable and switchable rectifying behavior.", J Am Chem Soc, 2010, Vol. 132, Issue 6, 1766-7 [View]
- Olsen JS, Brown C, Capule CC, Rubinshtein M, Doran TM, Srivastava RK, Feng C, Nilsson BL, Yang J, Dewhurst S, "Amyloid-binding small molecules efficiently block SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of virus infection)- and semen-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection.", J Biol Chem, 2010, Vol. 285, Issue 46, 35488-96 [View]