X. William Yang, M.D., Ph.D.
Titles
Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Contact Information
Email
xwyang@mednet.ucla.edu Phone
Fax Number:
310-825-6426
Lab Number: 310-267-2831
Office Phone Number: 310-267-2761
Lab Number: 310-267-2831
Office Phone Number: 310-267-2761
Address
Work Address:
Laboratory695 Charles Young Drive, #3309
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES Office
695 Charles Young Drive, Gonda 3506B
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES
Biography
Dr. X. William Yang is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is also a member of the Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics at Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behaviors, and a member of the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. He has served as a regular member at the NIH's Cell Death in Neurodegeneration (CDIN) Study Section, a Scientific Advisory Board member of the Hereditary Disease Foundation, and a faculty member for Faculty 1000 Medicine?s Neurogenetics Section. William grew up in Tianjin, China. He obtained a combined M.S. and B.S. degrees with summa cum laude from Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry Department at Yale University in 1991. He received Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience from Rockefeller University in 1998. During his PhD thesis research with Dr. Nathaniel Heintz, William co-invented (together with Nat Heintz and Peter Model) the first recombineering technology to modify large pieces of DNA called Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) and to generate BAC transgenic mice. The BAC transgenic technology is now a widely-used tool to generate transgenic animals for analyses of gene expression and gene function, and for modeling human diseases. After obtaining his Ph.D. degree, William went on to complete his M.D. training from Weill Medical College of Cornell University in 2000, and his Medicine Internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in 2001. After a brief postdoctoral training with Nat Heintz at Rockefeller University, William joined UCLA as an Assistant Professor in Dept. of Psychiatry in 2002.Publications
A selected list of publications:
Haustein MD, Kracun S, Lu XH, Shih T, Jackson-Weaver O, Tong X, Xu J, Yang XW, O'Dell TJ, Marvin JS, Ellisman MH, Bushong EA, Looger LL, Khakh BS.
Conditions and constraints for astrocyte calcium signaling in the hippocampal mossy fiber pathway,
Neuron,
2014; 82(2):
413-29..
Cui Yijun, Ostlund Sean B, James Alex S, Park Chang Sin, Ge Weihong, Roberts Kristofer W, Mittal Nitish, Murphy Niall P, Cepeda Carlos, Kieffer Brigitte L, Levine Michael S, Jentsch James David, Walwyn Wendy M, Sun Yi E, Evans Christopher J, Maidment Nigel T, Yang X William
Targeted expression of μ-opioid receptors in a subset of striatal
direct-pathway neurons restores opiate reward
Nature neuroscience,
2014; 17(2):
254-61.
Lee C Y Daniel, Cantle Jeffrey P, Yang X William
Genetic manipulations of mutant huntingtin in mice: new insights into
Huntington's disease pathogenesis
The FEBS journal,
2013; 280(18):
4382-94.
Daggett Anthony, Yang X William
Huntington's disease: easing the NMDAR traffic jam
Nature medicine,
2013; 19(8):
971-3.
Yue Zhenyu, Yang X William
Dangerous duet: LRRK2 and α-synuclein jam at CMA
Nature neuroscience,
2013; 16(4):
375-7.
Southwell Amber L, Warby Simon C, Carroll Jeffrey B, Doty Crystal N, Skotte Niels H, Zhang Weining, Villanueva Erika B, Kovalik Vlad, Xie Yuanyun, Pouladi Mahmoud A, Collins Jennifer A, Yang X William, Franciosi Sonia, Hayden Michael R
A fully humanized transgenic mouse model of Huntington disease
Human molecular genetics,
2013; 22(1):
18-34.
Yu-Taeger Libo, Petrasch-Parwez Elisabeth, Osmand Alexander P, Redensek Adriana, Metzger Silke, Clemens Laura E, Park Larry, Howland David, Calaminus Carsten, Gu Xiaofeng, Pichler Bernd, Yang X William, Riess Olaf, Nguyen Huu Phuc
A novel BACHD transgenic rat exhibits characteristic neuropathological
features of Huntington disease
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2012; 32(44):
15426-38.
Shirasaki Dyna I., Greiner Erin R., Al-Ramahi Ismael, Gray Michelle, Boontheung Piamanee, Geschwind Daniel H, Botas Juan, Coppola Giovanni, Horvath Steve, Loo Joseph A, Yang X William.
Network organization of the huntingtin proteomic interactome in Mammalian brain
Neuron,
2012; 75(1):
41-57.
Lu Xiao-Hong, Yang X William
"Huntingtin Holiday": Progress toward an Antisense Therapy for
Huntington's Disease
Neuron,
2012; 74(6):
964-6.
Gafni Juliette, Papanikolaou Theodora, Degiacomo Francesco, Holcomb Jennifer, Chen Sylvia, Menalled Liliana, Kudwa Andrea, Fitzpatrick Jon, Miller Sam, Ramboz Sylvie, Tuunanen Pasi I, Lehtimäki Kimmo K, Yang X William, Park Larry, Kwak Seung, Howland David, Park Hyunsun, Ellerby Lisa M
Caspase-6 Activity in a BACHD Mouse Modulates Steady-State Levels of
Mutant Huntingtin Protein But Is Not Necessary for Production of a 586
Amino Acid Proteolytic Fragment
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2012; 32(22):
7454-7465.
Jiang Mali, Wang Jiawei, Fu Jinrong, Du Lin, Jeong Hyunkyung, West Tim, Xiang Lan, Peng Qi, Hou Zhipeng, Cai Huan, Seredenina Tamara, Arbez Nicolas, Zhu Shanshan, Sommers Katherine, Qian Jennifer, Zhang Jiangyang, Mori Susumu, Yang X William, Tamashiro Kellie L K, Aja Susan, Moran Timothy H, Luthi-Carter Ruth, Martin Bronwen, Maudsley Stuart, Mattson Mark P, Cichewicz Robert H, Ross Christopher A, Holtzman David M, Krainc Dimitri, Duan Wenzhen
Neuroprotective role of Sirt1 in mammalian models of Huntington's
disease through activation of multiple Sirt1 targets
Nature medicine,
2012; 18(1):
153-8.
Miller Jason, Arrasate Montserrat, Brooks Elizabeth, Libeu Clare Peters, Legleiter Justin, Hatters Danny, Curtis Jessica, Cheung Kenneth, Krishnan Preethi, Mitra Siddhartha, Widjaja Kartika, Shaby Benjamin A, Lotz Gregor P, Newhouse Yvonne, Mitchell Emily J, Osmand Alex, Gray Michelle, Thulasiramin Vanitha, Saudou Frédéric, Segal Mark, Yang X William, Masliah Eliezer, Thompson Leslie M, Muchowski Paul J, Weisgraber Karl H, Finkbeiner Steven
Identifying polyglutamine protein species in situ that best predict
neurodegeneration
Nature chemical biology,
2011; 7(12):
925-34.
Greiner Erin R, Yang X William
Huntington's disease: flipping a switch on huntingtin
Nature chemical biology,
2011; 7(7):
412-4.
Tao Jifang, Wu Hao, Lin Quan, Wei Weizheng, Lu Xiao-Hong, Cantle Jeffrey P, Ao Yan, Olsen Richard W, Yang X William, Mody Istvan, Sofroniew Michael V, Sun Yi E
Deletion of astroglial Dicer causes non-cell-autonomous neuronal
dysfunction and degeneration
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2011; 31(22):
8306-19.
Wilburn Brian, Rudnicki Dobrila D, Zhao Jing, Weitz Tara Murphy, Cheng Yin, Gu Xiaofeng, Greiner Erin, Park Chang Sin, Wang Nan, Sopher Bryce L, La Spada Albert R, Osmand Alex, Margolis Russell L, Sun Yi E, Yang X William
An antisense CAG repeat transcript at JPH3 locus mediates expanded
polyglutamine protein toxicity in Huntington's disease-like 2 mice
Neuron,
2011; 70(3):
427-40.
Yang X William, Lu Xiao-Hong
Molecular and cellular basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder-like
behaviors: emerging view from mouse models
Current opinion in neurology,
2011; 24(2):
114-8.
André Véronique M, Cepeda Carlos, Fisher Yvette E, Huynh My, Bardakjian Nora, Singh Sumedha, Yang X William, Levine Michael S
Differential electrophysiological changes in striatal output neurons
in Huntington's disease
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2011; 31(4):
1170-82.
Graham Rona K, Deng Yu, Carroll Jeffery, Vaid Kuljeet, Cowan Catherine, Pouladi Mahmoud A, Metzler Martina, Bissada Nagat, Wang Lili, Faull Richard L M, Gray Michelle, Yang X William, Raymond Lynn A, Hayden Michael R
Cleavage at the 586 amino acid caspase-6 site in mutant huntingtin
influences caspase-6 activation in vivo
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2010; 30(45):
15019-29.
Pouladi Mahmoud A, Xie Yuanyun, Skotte Niels Henning, Ehrnhoefer Dagmar E, Graham Rona K, Kim Jeong Eun, Bissada Nagat, Yang X William, Paganetti Paolo, Friedlander Robert M, Leavitt Blair R, Hayden Michael R
Full-length huntingtin levels modulate body weight by influencing
insulin-like growth factor 1 expression
Human molecular genetics,
2010; 19(8):
1528-38.
Gu Xiaofeng, Greiner Erin R, Mishra Rakesh, Kodali Ravindra, Osmand Alex, Finkbeiner Steven, Steffan Joan S, Thompson Leslie Michels, Wetzel Ronald, Yang X William
Serines 13 and 16 are critical determinants of full-length human
mutant huntingtin induced disease pathogenesis in HD mice
Neuron,
2009; 64(6):
828-40.
Menalled Liliana, El-Khodor Bassem F, Patry Monica, Suárez-Fariñas Mayte, Orenstein Samantha J, Zahasky Benjamin, Leahy Christina, Wheeler Vanessa, Yang X William, MacDonald Marcy, Morton A Jennifer, Bates Gill, Leeds Janet, Park Larry, Howland David, Signer Ethan, Tobin Allan, Brunner Daniela
Systematic behavioral evaluation of Huntington's disease transgenic
and knock-in mouse models
Neurobiology of disease,
2009; 35(3):
319-36.
Hutnick Leah K, Golshani Peyman, Namihira Masakasu, Xue Zhigang, Matynia Anna, Yang X William, Silva Alcino J, Schweizer Felix E, Fan Guoping
DNA hypomethylation restricted to the murine forebrain induces
cortical degeneration and impairs postnatal neuronal maturation
Human molecular genetics,
2009; 18(15):
2875-88.
Lu Xiao-Hong, Fleming Sheila M, Meurers Bernhard, Ackerson Larry C, Mortazavi Farzad, Lo Victor, Hernandez Daniela, Sulzer David, Jackson George R, Maidment Nigel T, Chesselet Marie-Francoise, Yang X William
Bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice expressing a truncated
mutant parkin exhibit age-dependent hypokinetic motor deficits,
dopaminergic neuron degeneration, and accumulation of proteinase
K-resistant alpha-synuclein
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2009; 29(7):
1962-76.
Spampanato J, Gu X, Yang X W, Mody I
Progressive synaptic pathology of motor cortical neurons in a BAC
transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease
Neuroscience,
2008; 157(3):
606-20.
Lobo Mary Kay, Yeh Christopher, Yang X William
Pivotal role of early B-cell factor 1 in development of striatonigral
medium spiny neurons in the matrix compartment
Journal of neuroscience research,
2008; 86(10):
2134-46.
Gray Michelle, Shirasaki Dyna I, Cepeda Carlos, André Véronique M, Wilburn Brian, Lu Xiao-Hong, Tao Jifang, Yamazaki Irene, Li Shi-Hua, Sun Yi E, Li Xiao-Jiang, Levine Michael S, Yang X William
Full-length human mutant huntingtin with a stable polyglutamine repeat
can elicit progressive and selective neuropathogenesis in BACHD mice
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2008; 28(24):
6182-95.
Lobo Mary Kay, Cui Yijun, Ostlund Sean B, Balleine Bernard W, Yang X William
Genetic control of instrumental conditioning by striatopallidal
neuron-specific S1P receptor Gpr6
Nature neuroscience,
2007; 10(11):
1395-7.
Gu Xiaofeng, André Véronique M, Cepeda Carlos, Li Shi-Hua, Li Xiao-Jiang, Levine Michael S, Yang X William
Pathological cell-cell interactions are necessary for striatal
pathogenesis in a conditional mouse model of Huntington's disease
Molecular neurodegeneration,
2007; 2(11):
8.
Yang Zhongan, Jiang Hong, Chachainasakul Thawinee, Gong Shiaoching, Yang Xiangdong William, Heintz Nathaniel, Lin Shuo
Modified bacterial artificial chromosomes for zebrafish transgenesis
Methods (San Diego, Calif.),
2006; 39(3):
183-8.
Lobo Mary Kay, Karsten Stanislav L, Gray Michelle, Geschwind Daniel H, Yang X William
FACS-array profiling of striatal projection neuron subtypes in
juvenile and adult mouse brains
Nature neuroscience,
2006; 9(3):
443-52.
Yang X William, Gong Shiaoching
An overview on the generation of BAC transgenic mice for neuroscience
research
Current protocols in neuroscience / editorial board, Jacqueline N. Crawley ... [et al.],
2005; Chapter 5(3):
Unit 5.20.
Gong Shiaoching, Yang X William
Modification of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and
preparation of intact BAC DNA for generation of transgenic mice
Current protocols in neuroscience / editorial board, Jacqueline N. Crawley ... [et al.],
2005; Chapter 5(3):
Unit 5.21.
Gu Xiaofeng, Li Chenjian, Wei Weizheng, Lo Victor, Gong Shiaoching, Li Shi-Hua, Iwasato Takuji, Itohara Shigeyoshi, Li Xiao-Jiang, Mody Istvan, Heintz Nathaniel, Yang X William
Pathological cell-cell interactions elicited by a neuropathogenic form
of mutant Huntingtin contribute to cortical pathogenesis in HD mice
Neuron,
2005; 46(3):
433-44.
Gong Shiaoching, Yang Xiangdong William, Li Chenjian, Heintz Nathaniel
Highly efficient modification of bacterial artificial chromosomes
(BACs) using novel shuttle vectors containing the R6Kgamma origin of
replication
Genome research,
2002; 12(12):
1992-8.
Yang X W, Wynder C, Doughty M L, Heintz N
BAC-mediated gene-dosage analysis reveals a role for Zipro1
(Ru49/Zfp38) in progenitor cell proliferation in cerebellum and skin
Nature genetics,
1999; 22(4):
327-35.
Yang X W, Model P, Heintz N
Homologous recombination based modification in Escherichia coli and
germline transmission in transgenic mice of a bacterial artificial
chromosome
Nature biotechnology,
1997; 15(9):
859-65.
Yang X W, Zhong R, Heintz N
Granule cell specification in the developing mouse brain as defined by
expression of the zinc finger transcription factor RU49
Development (Cambridge, England),
1996; 122(2):
555-66.
Baserga S J, Gilmore-Hebert M, Yang X W
Distinct molecular signals for nuclear import of the nucleolar snRNA,
U3
Genes & development,
1992; 6(6):
1120-30.
Baserga S J, Yang X D, Steitz J A
Three pseudogenes for human U13 snRNA belong to class III
Gene,
1991; 107(2):
347-8.
Baserga S J, Yang X D, Steitz J A
An intact Box C sequence in the U3 snRNA is required for binding of
fibrillarin, the protein common to the major family of nucleolar
snRNPs
The EMBO journal,
1991; 10(9):
2645-51.