General Information
Name: Junhai Han Ph.D. Professor
Address: Dongda Rd #2, Pukou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210032, China
E-mail: junhaihan@seu.edu.cn
Education Background & Academic Experience
1995-1999 B.A., Biochemistry, Nanjing University, China
1999-2004 Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nanjing University, China
2004-2008 Postdoc, Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA
2008-2019 Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, China
2019-now Dean, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, China
Research Interests
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition in pediatric populations, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 1%. The diagnostic hallmarks of ASD encompass persistent impairments in reciprocal social interaction and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Affected individuals frequently present with co-occurring conditions including intellectual disability, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. Despite extensive research efforts, the etiological mechanisms contributing to pediatric autism remain incompletely characterized. Our research group utilizes Drosophila and mice models to systematically investigate the molecular roles of conserved autism-related genes while elucidating pathogenic pathways through interdisciplinary methodologies integrating biochemical and molecular techniques, cellular analyses, genetic approaches, neuroanatomical characterization, electrophysiological recordings, and quantitative behavioral assessments.
Selected Publications
1. Yuan L, Cheng S, Liu X, Liu W, Xie T, Xie W, Zhang ZC*, Han J* (2026). The missense mutation Y65C in PQBP1 causes microcephaly and cognitive deficits through a combination of partial loss-of-function and gain-of-function effects. Nature Communications, 17:1463.
2. Fan Y, Tian Y*, Han J* (2025). The Glutamate-gated Chloride Channel Facilitates Sleep by Enhancing the Excitability of Two Pairs of Neurons in the Ventral Nerve Cord of Drosophila. Neuroscience Bulletin, 41:1729–1742.
3. Liu X, Xie H, Liu W, Zuo J, Li S, Tian Y, Zhao J, Bai M, Li J, Bao L, Han J*, Zhang ZC* (2024). Dynamic regulation of alternative polyadenylation by PQBP1 during neurogenesis. Cell Reports, 43:114525. (Cover story)
4. Liu J, Wang Y, Liu X, Han J*, Tian Y* (2024). Spatiotemporal changes in Netrin/Dscam1 signaling dictate axonal projection direction in Drosophila small ventral lateral clock neurons. eLife, 13:RP96041.
5. Huang X, Cheng S*, Han J* (2024). Polyglutamine binding protein 1 regulates neurite outgrowth through recruiting N-WASP. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 300:107537.
6. Wang R, Sun H, Cao Y, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Wang X, Liu L, Wu J, Xu H, Wu D, Mu C, Hao Z, Qin S, Ren H*, Han J*, Fang M*, Wang G* (2024). Glucosylceramide accumulation in microglia triggers STING-dependent neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in mice. Science Signaling, 17:eadk8249.
7. Liu W#, Xie H#, Liu X#, Xu S, Cheng S, Wang Z, Xie T, Zhang ZC*, Han J* (2023). PQBP1 regulates striatum development through balancing striatal progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Cell Reports, 42:112277.
8. Jin X#, Tian Y#, Zhang ZC, Gu P, Liu C, Han J* (2021). A subset of DN1p neurons integrates thermosensory inputs to promote wakefulness via CNMa signaling. Current Biology, 31:2075–2087.
9. Shen Y#, Zhang ZC#,*, Cheng S#, Liu A, Zuo J, Xia S, Liu X, Liu W, Jia Z, Xie W, Han J* (2021). PQBP1 promotes translational elongation and regulates hippocampal mGluR-LTD by suppressing eEF2 phosphorylation. Molecular Cell, 81:1425–1438.
10. Wu J, Ji X, Gu Q, Liao B, Dong W*, Han J* (2021). Parallel Synaptic Acetylcholine Signals Facilitate Large Monopolar Cell Repolarization and Modulate Visual Behavior in Drosophila. Journal of Neuroscience, 41:2164–2176.
11. Gu Q#, Wu J#, Tian Y, Cheng S, Zhang ZC*, Han J* (2020). Gαq splice variants mediate phototransduction, rhodopsin synthesis, and retinal integrity in Drosophila. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295:5554–5563. (Cover Story)
12. Mu Y, Tian Y, Zhang ZC*, Han J* (2019). Metallophosphoesterase regulates light-induced rhodopsin endocytosis by promoting an association between arrestin and the adaptor protein AP2. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294:12892–12900. (Cover Story)
13. Li Q#, Li Y#, Wang X#, Qi J, Jin X, Tong H, Zhou Z, Zhang ZC, Han J* (2017). Fbxl4 Serves as a Clock Output Molecule that Regulates Sleep through Promotion of Rhythmic Degradation of the GABAA Receptor. Current Biology, 27:3616–3625.
14. Liu L#, Tian Y#, Zhang XY, Zhang X, Li T, Xie W, Han J* (2017). Neurexin Restricts Axonal Branching in Columns by Promoting Ephrin Clustering. Developmental Cell, 41:94–106. (Cover Story)
15. Wang X, Mu Y, Sun M, Han J* (2017). Bidirectional regulation of fragile X mental retardation protein phosphorylation controls rhodopsin homoeostasis. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, 9:104–116.
16. Wan D#, Zhang ZC#, Zhang X, Li Q, Han J* (2015). X chromosome-linked intellectual disability protein PQBP1 associates with and regulates the translation of specific mRNAs. Human Molecular Genetics, 24:4599–4614.
17. Li T, Tan Y, Li Q, Chen H, Lv H, Xie W, Han J* (2015). The Neurexin-NSF interaction regulates short-term synaptic depression. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290:17656–17667. (Cover Story)
18. Hu W, Wang T, Wang X, Han J* (2015). Ih Channels Control Feedback Regulation from Amacrine Cells to Photoreceptors. PLOS Biology, 13:e1002115.
19. Li Y#, Zhou Z#, Zhang X, Tong H, Li P, Zhang ZC, Jia Z, Xie W*, Han J* (2013). Drosophila Neuroligin 4 Regulates Sleep through Modulating GABA Transmission. Journal of Neuroscience, 33:15545–15554.
20. Tian Y, Li T, Sun M, Wan D, Li Q, Li P, Zhang Z, Han J*, Xie W* (2013). Neurexin Regulates Visual Function via Mediating Retinoid Transport to Promote Rhodopsin Maturation. Neuron, 77:311–322.
21. Hu W, Wan D, Yu X, Cao J, Guo P, Li HS, Han J* (2012). Protein Gq modulates termination of phototransduction and prevents retinal degeneration. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287:13911–13918.
22. Cao J#, Li Y#, Xia W, Reddig K, Hu W, Xie W, Li HS*, Han J* (2011). A Drosophila metallophosphoesterase mediates deglycosylation of rhodopsin. The EMBO Journal, 30:3701–3713.
23. Han J#, Reddig K, Li HS* (2007). Prolonged Gq activity triggers fly rhodopsin endocytosis and degradation and reduces photoreceptor sensitivity. The EMBO Journal, 26:4966–4973.
24. Han J#, Gong P#, Reddig K#, Mitra M, Guo P, Li HS* (2006). The fly CAMTA transcription factor potentiates deactivation of the G protein-coupled light receptor rhodopsin. Cell, 127:847–858.