Dr. Yao earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from Wuhan University in 2003. He received his Ph.D. degree in the laboratory of Dr. En-Duo Wang in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Chinese Academy of Science in 2008, where ...
Dr. Yao earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from Wuhan University in 2003. He received his Ph.D. degree in the laboratory of Dr. En-Duo Wang in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Chinese Academy of Science in 2008, where he studied the structural and functional interplay of transfer RNA (tRNA) and tRNA synthetase in bacteria, yeast and human. During his post-doctoral training under Dr. Paul Fox at Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, he made contributions in understanding the translational control mechanisms regulating VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor-A) expression in human monocytes. He was then promoted to Research Associate in 2012, Project Scientist in 2013, and Assistant Professor (non-tenure track) of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in 2014. Dr. Yao was recruited to the University of Rochester Medical Center as an Assistant Professor in 2016.
Faculty Appointments
Associate Professor
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Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (SMD)
Associate Professor
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Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD) - Joint
Credentials
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
Postdoctoral Fellow Laboratory of Paul L. Fox, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 2008 - 2012
Education
PhD | China-Chinese Academy of Sciences.Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.2008
BS | China-Wuhan University.Biotechnology.2003
Awards
American Heart Association (AHA) Established Investigator Award (2.56%).2024
Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Award.2023
Poster Competition Award at the 4th ACRE-APS Symposium at BCVS 2022, 1st Place.2022
University of Research Award.2022
LeapRx Program Award.2022
Rubens Discovery Award 2021.2021
ACRE-APS Junior Faculty Award at the 1st Asian Cardiovascular Symposium at BCVS 2019, 1st Place.2019
Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Abstract Travel Grant for AHA Scientific Session.2019
Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative Core Utilization Pilot Grant.2016 - 2017
Travel Award from RNA Society Meeting 2016.2016
Elsa Albrecht Research Associate Award, 1st Place, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, LRI.2014
Scientist Development Grant.2013 - 2017
Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate Award for Excellence in Research, LRI.2013
Elsa Albrecht Fellow Award, 1st Place, Department of Cell Biology, LRI.2012
Postdoctoral Fellowship.2010 - 2012
Di'ao Scholarship from Chinese Academy of Sciences (1st Place).2008
Research
Regulatory non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important research areas in gene regulation and RNA biology. Our laboratory is interested in the understanding of pathophysiological function and molecular mechanism of new non-coding RNAs (and RBPs) and new modes of gene regulation in c...
Regulatory non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important research areas in gene regulation and RNA biology. Our laboratory is interested in the understanding of pathophysiological function and molecular mechanism of new non-coding RNAs (and RBPs) and new modes of gene regulation in cardiac system and cardiovascular disease. We recently discovered a new type of stress-responsive, protein-directed human RNA switch that regulates expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A in human monocytic cells (Ray, PS, et al. Nature 2008 457: 915-919; Yao, P, et al. Plos Biology 2013 11: e1001635) and may play a role in cardiovascular disorders and cancers. Intriguingly, some of these RNA switches involve the interplay between microRNA and RNA-binding protein (Jafarifar, F, et al. EMBO Journal 2011 30: 1324-1334). We also identified a novel mRNA processing mechanism that expands human proteome at the posttranscriptional level and regulates gene expression (Yao, P, et al. Cell 2012 149: 88-100). Our current research interest includes: (1) Pathophysiological function and regulatory mechanism of microRNA (and other noncoding RNA) and RNA-binding proteins in cardiac system and cardiovascular disorders; (2) Riboswitch-like RNA switch mechanisms of gene regulation in mammalian system; (3) The role of translation machinery and translational control in cardiovascular system and identification of therapeutic targets for treatment of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure). We employ various approaches and methods of biochemistry and biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, and genetic and surgical mouse models, to dissect the convergent and divergent regulatory pathways. The long-term objective of our laboratory is to identify novel RNA-based molecular mechanisms that control gene expression and conduct pathophysiological function in cardiac system, as well as to develop novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention or treatment of human cardiovascular diseases.
Zhao S, Dejanovic D, Yao P, Bhilocha S, Sadler T, Schirbel A, West G, Doyon G, Lopez R, Mao R, Kurada S, El Ouali S, Grassl G, Fox PL, Cruise M, Worthley DL, de la Motte C, Fiocchi C, Rieder F
Mucosal immunology.. 2020 July 13 (4):665-678. Epub 02/04/2020.
Techasintana P, Ellis JS, Glascock J, Gubin MM, Ridenhour SE, Magee JD, Hart ML, Yao P, Zhou H, Whitney MS, Franklin CL, Martindale JL, Gorospe M, Davis WJ, Fox PL, Li X, Atasoy U
ImmunoHorizons.. 2017 August 11 (6):109-123. Epub 1900 01 01.
Current opinion in genetics & development.. 2013 February 23 (1):29-34. Epub 01/09/2013.
"The HILDA complex coordinates a conditional switch in the 3´-untranslated region of the VEGFA mRNA."
Peng Yao; Alka A. Potdar; Partho Sarothi Ray; Sandeepa M. Eswarappa; Andrew C. Flagg; Belinda Willard; and Paul L. Fox.
Plos Biology. 2013; 11: e1001635.
"IRAK-M mediates Toll-like receptor/IL-1R-induced NFkB activation and cytokine production."
Hao Zhou; Minjia Yu; Koichi Fukuda; Jinteak Im; Peng Yao; Wei Cui; Katarzyna Bulek; Jarod Zepp; Youzhong Wan; Tae Whan Kim; Weiguo Yin; Victoria Ma; James Thomas; Jun Gu; Jian-an Wang; Paul E DiCorleto; Paul L Fox; Jun Qin; and Xiaoxia Li.
EMBO Journal. 2013; 32: 583-596.
"HuR is required for IL-17-induced Act1-mediated CXCL1 and CXCL5 mRNA stabilization."
Tomasz Herjan; Peng Yao; Wen Qian; Xiao Li; Caini Liu; Katarzyna Bulek; Dongxu Sun; Wen-Pin Yang; Jun Zhu, Aiqing He; Julie A. Carman; Serpil C. Erzurum; Howard D. Lipshitz; Paul L. Fox; Thomas A. Hamilton; and Xiaoxia Li.
Journal of Immunology. 2013; 191: 640-649.
"Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in medicine and disease."
Peng Yao; Paul L. Fox.
EMBO Molecular Medicine. 2013; 5: 332-343.
"Non-catalytic regulation of gene expression by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases."
Peng Yao; Kiran Poruri; Susan A. Martinis; Paul L. Fox.
Topics in Current Chemistry. 2013; 344: 167-187 (Springer).
"Regulation and dysregulation of 3´UTR mediated translational control."
Jie Jia; Peng Yao; Abul Arif; and Paul L. Fox.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development. 2013; 23: 29-34.
"The kinase activity of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 2 is essential for lipopolysaccharide-mediated cytokine and chemokine mRNA stability and translation."
Weiguo Yin, Youzhong Wan, Tae Whan Kim, Peng Yao, Hui Xiao, Hao Zhou, Jianhua Xiao, Paul Fox, Xiaoxia Li.
The Journal of biological chemistry.. 2009 February 6284 (6):3418-24. Epub 12/09/2008.
"tRNA-independent pre-transfer editing by class I leucyl-tRNA synthetase."
Bin Zhu*; Peng Yao*; Min Tan*; Gilbert Eriani; En-Duo Wang (*:co-author).
Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2009; 284:: 3418-3424.
"Two non-redundant fragments in the N-terminal peptide of human cytosolic methionyl-tRNA synthetase were indispensable for the multi-synthetase complex incorporation and enzyme activity."
Ran He; Li-Dong Zu; Peng Yao; Xin Chen; En-Duo Wang.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2009; 1794:: 347-354.
"A unique insertion in the CP1 domain of Giardia lamblia leucyl-tRNA synthetase."
Xiao-Long Zhou; Peng Yao; Bin Zhu; Liang-Liang Ruan; En-Duo Wang.
Biochemistry. 2009; 48:: 1340-1347.
"A stress-responsive RNA switch regulates VEGFA expression."
Partho Sarothi Ray; Jie Jia; Peng Yao; Mithu Majumder; Maria Hatzoglou; Paul L. Fox.
Nature. 2008; 457:: 915-919.
"Unique residues crucial for optimal editing in the yeast cytoplasmic leucyl-tRNA synthetase revealed by a novel knockout yeast strain."
