The research group mainly studies the aging of the nervous system and the regulatory mechanisms of ion channel functions. It specifically includes but is not limited to the following three aspects:

(1) Regulatory mechanisms of aging and neurodegenerative diseases

Senile neurodegenerative diseases occur in an aging brain environment. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of brain aging is crucial for the prevention and treatment of these brain diseases. However, biological research on brain aging is still relatively scarce, and the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Members of the research group found through the analysis of the database that during the aging process of the human brain, the synaptic transmission function mediated by neurotransmitters between neurons significantly declines and is closely related to the deterioration of behavioral functions such as cognition (Nature 2020). Based on this, the research group will utilize multiple research systems, including Caenorhabditis elegans, mouse and human brain databases, to screen and identify genes that regulate brain aging at the scale of easily quantifiable neurotransmitter levels.

(2) Taking the differences in aging rates among individuals as the entry point, study the biological mechanisms of health and longevity

There are significant differences in the rate of aging among different individuals. Most people's behaviors and cognition gradually deteriorate with age, while some can still maintain good vitality in their eighties. This phenomenon suggests that studying the genetic basis of the differences in individual aging rates will provide important clues for anti-aging. The research group, through studying wild-type nematodes from different regions of the world, found that there are significant differences in the rate at which their behaviors deteriorate with aging. Further research has discovered that the genetic polymorphisms of the neuropeptide gene rgba-1 and its receptor gene npr-28 regulate the senescence rate of wild-type nematodes (Nature 2017). The research group will take the differences in the aging rates of different strains of nematodes as the entry point to study the role of genetic polymorphism in healthy aging.

(3) Research on the functional correction and mechanism of pathogenic mutants in ion channels.

Protein transport deficiency is the most common pathogenic mechanism of ion channel diseases. Therefore, how to restore the function of transport-deficient ion channel mutants has always been an important issue in the field of ion channel research. Studies have shown that low-temperature culture and ion channel inhibitors can promote the membrane formation of some transport-deficient ion channel mutants related to diseases, thereby restoring their functions. However, hypothermia and ion channel inhibitors cannot be used to treat ion channel-related diseases. The research group has established a screening system for membrane transport defect hERG mutants related to LQTS2, and used CRISPR/Cas9 libraries to search for genes that can correct the function of pathogenic hERG channels. The research group will focus on the functional correction and mechanism research of pathogenic mutations in ion channels, providing clues for the treatment of ion channel-related diseases.