# Yun Zhang Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology ![Yun Zhang with short black hair, glasses, and black patterned shirt, standing near window](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/oeb/files/zhangyun300.jpeg?itok=7C5ygoxR) location\_on Northwest Building52 Oxford StreetCambridge, MA 02138 smartphone [617-495-1107](tel:617-495-1107) email laptop\_windows [Zhang Lab](http://zhanglab.oeb.harvard.edu/) Faculty Support: [Meri Petollari](/people/meri-petollari) We are interested in understanding how the nervous system generates learning. One way to address this question is to identify and characterize conserved features in the underlying mechanisms. To accomplish this goal, we use Caenorhabditis elegans in our studies, because its nervous system is small and has been well characterized. Meanwhile, various genetic, molecular and imaging methods can be readily applied to the experiment with the worm. Our research has been mainly focused on olfactory learning. In the past years, our work has yielded new understanding on the function of the underlying neural circuits. For example, we have mapped a neuronal network that encodes both the naive and learned olfactory preferences. We have identified and characterized compartmentalized activity in the key neuron of the learning circuit that is similar to corollary discharge. We have also characterized circuit function of neuromodulators that regulate learning through ligand-receptor interactions **Recent Publications** Wu, T., Ge, M., Wu, M., Duan, F., Liang, J., Chen, M., Gracida, X., Liu, H., Yang, W., Dar, A.R., Li, C., Butcher, R.A., Saltzman, A.L. and **Zhang, Y.** Pathogenic bacteria modulate pheromone response to promote mating. *Nature* 613:324-331 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05561-9. Liu, H., Wu, T., Gracida, X., Wu, M., Choi, M.-K., Duan, F., Calarco, J.A., and **Zhang, Y.** Forgetting generates a novel state that is reactivatable. *Sci. Adv.* 8, eabi9071 (2022). Wasson, J.A., Harris, G., Keppler-Ross, S., Brock, T.J., Dar, A.R., Butcher, R.A., Fischer, S.E.J., Kagias, K., Clardy, J., **Zhang, Y.** and Mango, S.E. Neuronal control of maternal provisioning in response to social cues. *Sci. Adv.* 7: eabf8782 (2022). Wu, T., Duan, F., Yang, W., Liu, H., Caballero, A., Fernandes de Abreu, D. A., Dar, A.R., Alcedo, J., Ch’ng, Q., Butcher, R.A., **Zhang, Y.**Pheromones modulate learning by regulating the balanced signals of two insulin-like peptides. *Neuron* 104(6):1095-1109. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.09.006 (2019). PMC7009321. Hao, Y., Yang, W., Hall, Q., Ren, J., **Zhang, Y.**, Kaplan, J.M. Thioredoxin shapes *C. elegans* sensory response to *Pseudomonas*produced nitric oxide. *eLife*, pii: e36833. doi: 10.7554/eLife.36833 (2018). PMC6066330. Liu, H., Yang, W., Wu, T., Duan, F., Soucy, E., Jin, X. and **Zhang, Y.** Cholinergic sensorimotor integration regulates olfactory steering. *Neuron***,** 97(2):390-405 (2018). PMC5773357. Shen, Y., Wen, Q., Liu, H., Zhong, Q., Qin, Y., Harris, G., Kawano, T., Wu, M., Xu, T., Samuel, A. and **Zhang, Y.** An extrasynaptic GABAergic signal modulates a locomotory pattern in *C. elegans. eLife***,** May 3;5. pii: e14197. doi: 10.7554/eLife.14197 (2016)**.**PMC4854516. Luo, L., Wen, Q., Ren, J., Hendricks, M., Gershow, M., Qin, Y., Greenwood, J., Soucy, E., Klein, M., Smith, H.K., Colon-Ramos, D.A., Samuel, A.D. and **Zhang, Y.** Dynamic encoding of perception, memory and movement in a C. elegans chemotaxis circuit. *Neuron*, 82(5):1115-28 (2014). PMC4082684. Chen, Z., Hendricks, M., Cornils, A., Maier, W., Alcedo, J. and **Zhang, Y.** Two insulin-like peptides antagonistically regulate aversive olfactory learning in C. elegans. *Neuron* 77(3), 572-585 (2013). Hendricks, M., M., Ha, H-I., Maffey, N. and **Zhang, Y.** Compartmentalized calcium dynamics in a C. elegans interneuron encode head movement. *Nature* 487, 99–103 (2012). Zhang, X. and **Zhang, Y.** DBL-1, a TGF-β, is essential for Caenorhabditis elegans aversive olfactory learning. *Proc Natl Acad Sci USA* 109(42):17081-17086 (2012). Ha, H-I., Hendricks, M., Shen, Y., **Gabel,** C.V., Fang-Yen, C.M., Qin, Y., Colón-Ramos, D.A., Shen, K., Samuel, A.D. and **Zhang, Y.** Functional organization of a neural network for aversive olfactory learning in Caenorhabditis elegans. *Neuron* 68(6), 1173-1186 (2010). Zhang, Y., Lu, H. and Bargmann, C.I. Pathogenic bacteria induce aversive olfactory learning in Caenorhabditis elegans. *Nature* 438, 179-184 (2005). Zhang, Y., Ma, C., Delohery, T., Nasipak, B., Foat, B.C., Bounoutas, A., Bussemaker, H.J., Kim, S.K. and Chalfie, M. Identification of genes expressed in C. elegans touch receptor neurons. *Nature* 418, 331-335 (2002). 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