Yan Zhang, MD, PhD

Title(s)Associate Professor, Orofacial Sciences
SchoolSchool of Dentistry
Address513 Parnassus Avenue, HSW, #001
San Francisco CA 94143
Phone415-502-7829
PronounsShe/Her/Hers
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    University of California, San Francisco, San FranciscoPostdoctoral fellow04/2004Cancer Biology
    The Burnham Institute, La JollaPostdoctoral fellow04/2003Cancer Biology

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    My research explores the intricate transcriptional regulatory forces that guide dental epithelial cells to commit to the ameloblast lineage—master architects of the hardest tissue in the human body. Once their enamel-secreting mission is complete, these cells undergo a remarkable transformation into junctional epithelial cells, forming a critical barrier that safeguards the health of the gingival sulcus. I also aim to clarify the roles of the junctional epithelium in innate immunity to effectively combat periodontal pathogens.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    Unraveling the regulation of transcription and activity of calcium transport SLC24A4 in enamel formation
    NIDCR R21DE033833Jun 1, 2025 - May 31, 2027
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Enamel biomineralization: the role of pH cycling
    NIDCR R01DE27971Jun 20, 2023 - Jun 30, 2028
    Role: Co-Investigator
    The stage-specific regulation of ameloblastin and enamelin by the distinct nuclear factors
    NIH/NDCR 2R01DE027076Sep 8, 2022 - Sep 7, 2027
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Description: Our objective is to explore how master transcriptional regulators SATB1 and HIF1A regulate the stage-specific gene expression pattern of ameloblasts by modulating chromatin openness and super-enhancer establishment.
    Amelogenin nanoribbons in enamel development and Engineering
    NIH/NIDCR 1R01DE031946Apr 1, 2022 - Mar 31, 2027
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Regulation of enamel matrix protein secretion in ameloblasts
    NIH R01DE027076Jul 1, 2017 - Jun 30, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Sodium/(calcium+potassium)-exchanger NCKX4 optimizes KLK4 activity in the enamel matrix microenvironment to regulate ECM modeling. Frontiers In Physiology. 2023; 116091(14):1-16. Chan B, Cheng IC, Rozita J, Gorshteyn I, Huang Y, Shaffer I, Chang C, Li W, Lytton J, Den Besten P, Zhang Y.
    2. Na+ and K+ transport and maturation stage ameloblast modulation. Frontiers in Physiology. 2023; 112444(14):1-9. Ngu J, Bronckers ALJJ, Katsura K, Zhang Y*, Den Besten PK* (* co-corresponding authors).
    3. A N-terminus domain determines amelogenin’s stability to guide the development of mouse enamel matrix. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2022; 9(36):1781-1793. 36. Huang Y, Bai Y, Chang C, Bacino M, Cheng IC, Li L, Habelitz S, Li W, Zhang Y.
    4. Protein nanoribbons template enamel mineralization. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US. 2020; 32(117):19201-19208. Bai Y, Yu Z, Ackerman L, Zhang Y, Bonde J, Li W, Cheng Y, Habelitz S.
    5. SATB1 establishes ameloblast cell polarity and regulates directional amelogenin secretion for enamel formation. BMC Biol. 2019 12 13; 17(1):104. Zhang Y, Zheng L, Le M, Nakano Y, Chan B, Huang Y, Torbaty PM, Kohwi Y, Marcucio R, Habelitz S, Den Besten PK, Kohwi-Shigematsu T. PMID: 31830989; PMCID: PMC6909472.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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