Jae-Hyuk Yu
Professor of Bacteriology and Genetics
Ph.D., The University of Wisconsin-Madison (1995)
Postdoctoral Research: Texas A&M University, 1995-1998; Investigator (Scientist): Cereon Genomics, LLC. 1998-2000
Address: 3155 Microbial Sciences Building
Telephone: 262-4696
E-mail: jyu1@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular Genetics of Fungal Development and Secondary Metabolism: Signal Transduction in Fungi
Research Fields:
Molecular Genetics
Microbial Genetics
Yeast and Fungi
Research Description: The genus Aspergillus encompasses the most common fungi in our environment. Many Aspergillus species are beneficial to humans, but they also include serious animal and plant pathogens. Moreover, most (if not all) Aspergillus species have the ability to produce one or more toxic secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. All Aspergilli produce asexual spores as the main means of dispersion and biosynthesis of certain mycotoxins is intimately related with fungal sporulation. The primary interest of my research program is to understand how fungi coordinate growth, sporulation and toxin biosynthesis employing the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We showed that two antagonistic regulatory pathways govern vegetative growth and sporulation in A. nidulans. Vegetative growth is primarily mediated by a heterotrimeric G protein, which stimulates fungal growth while inhibiting asexual/sexual sporulation as well as production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin sterigmatocystin. We found that the initiation, progression and completion of sporulation are directed by the balanced activities of multiple positive and negative regulators. We are further investigating the detailed molecular mechanisms regulating these fundamental biological processes via forward/reverse genetics, genomics and biochemical analyses.
Representative Publications:
Bayram, Ö.S., Bayram, Ö, Valerius, O., Park, H.-S., Irniger S., Gerke, J., Ni, M., Han, K.-H., Yu, J.-H., and Braus, G.H. 2010. LaeA control of velvet family regulatory proteins for light-dependent development and fungal cell-type specificity. PLoS GENETICS, 6(12):e1001226.
Tao, L., and Yu, J.-H. 2011. AbaA and WetA govern distinct stages of Aspergillus fumigatus development. Microbiology-SGM, 157: 313 - 326. doi:10.1099/mic.0.044271-0
Yu, J.-H. 2010. Regulation of Development in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Mycobiology, 38: 229-237.
Xiao, P., Shin, K.-S., Wang, T., and Yu, J.-H. 2010. Aspergillus fumigatus flbB encodes two basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) proteins required for proper asexual development and gliotoxin production. Eukaryotic Cell, 9: 1711-1723.
Kwon, N.-J., Shin, K.-S., and Yu, J-H. 2010. Characterization of the developmental regulator FlbE in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 47: 981-993.
Kwon, N.-J., Garzia, A., Espeso, E.A., Ugalde, U., and Yu, J-H. 2010. FlbC is a putative nuclear C2H2 transcription factor regulating development in Aspergillus nidulans. Molecular Microbiology 77: 1203-1219.
Shin, K.-S., Kwon, N.-J., Park, H.-S., Kwon, G.-S., and Yu, J.-H. 2009. Differential roles of the ChiB chitinase in autolysis and cell death of Aspergillus nidulans. Eukaryotic Cell, 8:738-746.
Bayram, Ö, Krappmann, S., Ni, M., Bok, J.-W., Helmstaedt, K., Valerius, O., Braus-Stromeyer, S., Kwon, N-J., Keller, N.P., Yu, J.-H., and Braus, G.H. 2008. The velvet complex coordinates light, fungal development and secondary metabolism. Science, 320: 1504-1506.
Ni, M. and Yu, J.-H. 2007. A novel regulator couples sporogenesis and trehalose biogenesis in Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS ONE 2(10):e970 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000970.
Mah, J.-H., and Yu, J.-H. 2006. Upstream and downstream regulation of asexual development in Aspergillus fumigatus. Eukaryotic Cell. 5: 1585-1595.
Yu, J.-H. 2006. Heterotrimeric G protein signaling and RGSs in Aspergillus nidulans. Journal of Microbiology 44: 145-154.
Professor of Bacteriology and Genetics
Ph.D., The University of Wisconsin-Madison (1995)
Postdoctoral Research: Texas A&M University, 1995-1998; Investigator (Scientist): Cereon Genomics, LLC. 1998-2000
Address: 3155 Microbial Sciences Building
Telephone: 262-4696
E-mail: jyu1@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular Genetics of Fungal Development and Secondary Metabolism: Signal Transduction in Fungi
Research Fields:
Molecular Genetics
Microbial Genetics
Yeast and Fungi
The genus Aspergillus encompasses the most common fungi in our environment. Many Aspergillus species are beneficial to humans, but they also include serious animal and plant pathogens. Moreover, most (if not all) Aspergillus species have the ability to produce one or more toxic secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. All Aspergilli produce asexual spores as the main means of dispersion and biosynthesis of certain mycotoxins is intimately related with fungal sporulation. The primary interest of my research program is to understand how fungi coordinate growth, sporulation and toxin biosynthesis employing the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We showed that two antagonistic regulatory pathways govern vegetative growth and sporulation in A. nidulans. Vegetative growth is primarily mediated by a heterotrimeric G protein, which stimulates fungal growth while inhibiting asexual/sexual sporulation as well as production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin sterigmatocystin. We found that the initiation, progression and completion of sporulation are directed by the balanced activities of multiple positive and negative regulators. We are further investigating the detailed molecular mechanisms regulating these fundamental biological processes via forward/reverse genetics, genomics and biochemical analyses.
Bayram, Ö.S., Bayram, Ö, Valerius, O., Park, H.-S., Irniger S., Gerke, J., Ni, M., Han, K.-H., Yu, J.-H., and Braus, G.H. 2010. LaeA control of velvet family regulatory proteins for light-dependent development and fungal cell-type specificity. PLoS GENETICS, 6(12):e1001226.
Tao, L., and Yu, J.-H. 2011. AbaA and WetA govern distinct stages of Aspergillus fumigatus development. Microbiology-SGM, 157: 313 - 326. doi:10.1099/mic.0.044271-0
Yu, J.-H. 2010. Regulation of Development in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Mycobiology, 38: 229-237.
Xiao, P., Shin, K.-S., Wang, T., and Yu, J.-H. 2010. Aspergillus fumigatus flbB encodes two basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) proteins required for proper asexual development and gliotoxin production. Eukaryotic Cell, 9: 1711-1723.
Kwon, N.-J., Shin, K.-S., and Yu, J-H. 2010. Characterization of the developmental regulator FlbE in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 47: 981-993.
Kwon, N.-J., Garzia, A., Espeso, E.A., Ugalde, U., and Yu, J-H. 2010. FlbC is a putative nuclear C2H2 transcription factor regulating development in Aspergillus nidulans. Molecular Microbiology 77: 1203-1219.
Shin, K.-S., Kwon, N.-J., Park, H.-S., Kwon, G.-S., and Yu, J.-H. 2009. Differential roles of the ChiB chitinase in autolysis and cell death of Aspergillus nidulans. Eukaryotic Cell, 8:738-746.
Bayram, Ö, Krappmann, S., Ni, M., Bok, J.-W., Helmstaedt, K., Valerius, O., Braus-Stromeyer, S., Kwon, N-J., Keller, N.P., Yu, J.-H., and Braus, G.H. 2008. The velvet complex coordinates light, fungal development and secondary metabolism. Science, 320: 1504-1506.
Ni, M. and Yu, J.-H. 2007. A novel regulator couples sporogenesis and trehalose biogenesis in Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS ONE 2(10):e970 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000970.
Mah, J.-H., and Yu, J.-H. 2006. Upstream and downstream regulation of asexual development in Aspergillus fumigatus. Eukaryotic Cell. 5: 1585-1595.
Yu, J.-H. 2006. Heterotrimeric G protein signaling and RGSs in Aspergillus nidulans. Journal of Microbiology 44: 145-154.
