2006 - 2010 B.S., Dezhou University, Biophysics

2010 - 2011 Ph.D, University of Science and Technology of China

2011 - 2015 Ph.D, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences

2015 - 2019 Postdoctoral Fellow, Oregon Health & Science University

2020 - Principal Investigator, CAS Institute of Biophysics 　

Structure and Function of Membrane Protein.

2025

1. Qiao Ma^#, Kunpeng Ma^#, Yanli Dong^#, Yufei Meng^#, Jun Zhao^#, Renjie Li, Qinru Bai, Di Wu, Daohua jiang, Jianyuan Sun, Yan Zhao*. Binding mechanism and antagonism of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter VAChT. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 2025;32(5):818-827.

2. Yue Li^#, Yufei Meng^#, Na Li^#, Jun Zhao^#, Renjie Li, Qinru Bai, Gang Wang, Yan Zhao*. Structural basis for pharmacotherapeutic action of triple reuptake inhibitors. Nature Communications. 2025;17(1):61.

3. Jiawei Su^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Zhengji Yin^#, Zixuan Zhang, Jun Zhao, Yufei Meng, Renjie Li, Yiwei Gao, Hongwei Zhang, Rilei Yu*, Yan Zhao*. Molecular insights into the α6β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function and ligand recognition. Nature Communications. 2025 Apr 2;16(1):3153.

4. Zhuoya Yu^#, Tuo Hu^#, Jiawei Su^#, Jun Zhao^#, Renjie Li, Qiao Ma, Qihao Chen, Qinru Bai, Yanli Dong, Pu Yuan, Na Li, Xuejun Cai Zhang, Yan Zhao*. Molecular mechanism of drug inhibition of URAT1. Nature Communications. 2025;16(1):6551.

5. Na Li^#, Yiqing Wei^#, Renjie Li^#, Yufei Meng, Jun Zhao, Qinru Bai, Gang Wang, Yan Zhao*. Modulation of the human GlyT1 by clinical drugs and cholesterol. Nature Communications. 2025;16(1):2412.

6. Yuhang Wang^#, Jiawei Su^#, Jun Zhao^#, Renjie Li, Qinru Bai, Hongyi Song, Yufei Meng, Qiao Ma, Yan Zhao*. Mechanisms of transport and analgesic compounds recognition by glycine transporter 2, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025;122(48):e2506722122.

7. Hao Xu^#, Qinru Bai^#, Han Wang^#, Jun Zhao^#, Aiping Guo, Renjie Li, Qihao Chen, Yiqing Wei, Na Li, Zhuo Huang, Yan Zhao*. Structural characterization reveals substrate recognition by the taurine transporter TauT. Cell Discovery. 2025;11(1):28.

8. Qihao Chen^#, Yuhang Wang^#, Renjie Li^#, Qinru Bai, Yan Zhao*. The induced-fit and catalytic mechanisms of human G6PC1. Cell Discovery. 2025;11(1):62.

9. Hao Xu^#, Yimin Zhang, Qinru Bai, Lingli He, Qihao Chen, Yunlong Qiu, Renjie Li, Jie Yu, Jun Zhao, Yan Zhao*. Substrate and inhibitor binding of human GABA transporter 3. Structure. 2025;33(12):2049-2057.e5.

10. Yunlong Qiu^#, Yiwei Gao, Qinru Bai, Yan Zhao*. Ion coupling and inhibitory mechanisms of the human presynaptic high-affinity choline transporter CHT1. Structure. 2025;33(2):321-329.e5.

11. Weidong An^#, Yiwei Gao^#, Laihua Liu^#, Qinru Bai, Jun Zhao, Yan Zhao*, Xuejun C Zhang*. Structural basis of urea transport by Arabidopsis thaliana DUR3. Nature Communications. 2025;16(1):1782.

2024

1. Yue Li^#, Xianping Wang^#, Yufei Meng^#, Tuo Hu^#, Jun Zhao#, Renjie Li, Qinru Bai, Pu Yuan, Jun Han, Kun Hao, Yiqing Wei, Yunlong Qiu, Na Li, Yan Zhao*. Dopamine reuptake and inhibitory mechanisms in human dopamine transporter. Nature. Aug, 2024.

2. Tuo Hu^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Jun Zhao^#, Yufei Meng, Kristine Salomon, Qinru Bai, Yiqing Wei, Jinghui Zhang, Shujing Xu, Qiuyun Dai, Rilei Yu, Bei Yang, Claus J. Loland*, Yan Zhao*. Transport and inhibition mechanisms of the human noradrenaline transporter. Nature. July, 2024.

3. Yiqing Wei^#, Renjie Li^#, Yufei Meng^#, Tuo Hu^#, Jun Zhao^#, Yiwei Gao, Qinru Bai, Na Li, Yan Zhao*, Transport mechanism and pharmacology of the human GlyT1. Cell. 2024 Mar;187(7):1719-1732.e14.

4. Di Wu^#, Qihao Chen^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Bo Huang^#, Jun Zhao^#, Yuhang Wang, Jiawei Su, Feng Zhou, Rui Yan, Na Li, Yan Zhao*, Daohua Jiang*. Transport and inhibition mechanisms of human VMAT2. Nature. 2024 Feb;626(7998):427-434.

5. Di Wu^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Qihao Chen^#, Jun Zhao^#, Bo Huang^#, Yuhang Wang, Jiawei Su, Na Li, Daohua Jiang*, Yan Zhao*. Structural snapshots of human VMAT2 reveal insights into substrate recognition and proton coupling mechanism. Cell Research. May, 2024.

6. Yunlong Qiu^#, Yiwei Gao^#, Bo Huang, Qinru Bai, Yan Zhao*. Transport mechanism of presynaptic high-affinity choline uptake by CHT1. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 2024 Apr;31(4):701-709.

7. Yiqing Wei^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Lili Wang^#, Xiaojing Li^#, Na Li, Qinru Bai, Yuhang Wang, Renjie Li, Yufei Meng, Hao Xu, Xianping Wang, Yanli Dong, Zhuo Huang*, Xuejun Cai Zhang*, Yan Zhao*. Structural bases of inhibitory mechanism of Ca_V1.2 channel inhibitors. Nature Communications. 2024 Mar 30;15(1):2772.

8. Yanli Dong^#, Zhuoya Yu^#, Yue Li^#, Bo Huang, Qinru Bai, Yiwei Gao, Qihao Chen, Na Li, Lingli He, Yan Zhao*. Structural insight into the allosteric inhibition of human sodium-calcium exchanger NCX1 by XIP and SEA0400. EMBO J. 2024 Jan;43(1):14-31.

2023

1. Yiwei Gao^#, Shuai Xu^#, Xiaoli Cui^#, Hao Xu, Yunlong Qiu, Yiqing Wei, Yanli Dong, Boling Zhu, Chao Peng, Shiqi Liu, Xuejun Cai Zhang, Jianyuan Sun, Zhuo Huang*, Yan Zhao*. Molecular insights into the gating mechanisms of voltage-gated calcium channel CaV2.3. Nature Communications. 2023 Jan 31;14(1):516.

2. Yue Li^#, Tian Yuan^#, Bo Huang^#, Feng Zhou, Chao Peng, Xiaojing Li, Yunlong Qiu, Bei Yang, Yan Zhao*, Zhuo Huang*, Daohua Jiang*. Structure of human NaV1.6 channel reveals Na⁺ selectivity and pore blockade by 4,9-anhydro-tetrodotoxin. Nature Communications. 2023 Feb 23;14(1):1030.

3. Yuhang Wang^#, Chengcai Pan, Qihao Chen, Qing Xie, Yiwei Gao, Lingli He, Yue Li, Yanli Dong, Xingyu Jiang* & Yan Zhao*. Architecture and autoinhibitory mechanism of the plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter SOS1 in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications. 2023. Jul 26;14(1):4487.

2022

1. H. Zhang^#, J. Su^#, B. Li^#, Y. Gao, M. Liu, L. He, H. Xu, X. C. Zhang, Y. Zhao. Structure of human glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2022: 1-7.

2. Z. Zhang^#, H. Chen^#, Z. Geng^#, Z. Yu, H. Li, Y. Dong, H. Zhang, Z. Huang*, J. Jiang*, Y. Zhao*, Structural basis of ligand binding modes of human EAAT2, Nature Communications. 2022 Jun 9;13(1):3329.

3. Y. Dong^#, H. Li^#, A. Ilie^#, Y. Gao, A. Boucher, X. C. Zhang*, J. Orlowski*, Y. Zhao*, Structural basis of autoinhibition of the human NHE3-CHP1 complex, Science advances. 2022 May 27;8(21):eabn3925.

4. L. He^#, Z. Yu^#, Z. Geng^#, Z. Huang^#, C. Zhang, Y. Dong, Q. Chen, L. Sun, X. Ma, B. Huang, X. Wang, Y. Zhao, Structure, gating and pharmacology of human Ca_V3.3 channel. Nature Communications. 2022.Apr 19;13(1):2084.

5. X. Li^#, F. Xu^#, H. Xu^#, S. Zhang, Y. Gao, H. Zhang, Y. Dong, Y. Zheng, B. Yang, J. Sun, X. C. Zhang, Y. Zhao*, D. Jiang*. Structural basis for modulations of human Na_V1.3 by clinical drug and selective antagonist. Nature Communications.  2022 Mar 11;13(1):1286.

2021

1. Lingli He^#, Jiahui Sun^#, Yiwei Gao^#, Bin Li, Yuhang Wang, Yanli Dong, Weidong An, Hang Li, Bei Yang, Yuhan Ge, Xuejun Cai Zhang*, Yun Stone Shi* & Y. Zhao*. Kainate receptor modulation by NETO2. Nature. 2021 Nov;599(7884):325-329.

2. Yanli Dong^#, Yiwei Gao^#, Shuai Xu^# Yuhang Wang, Zhuoya Yu, Yue Li, Bin Li, Bei Yang, Xuejun Cai Zhang, Daohua Jiang*, Zhuo Huang*, Y. Zhao*. Closed-state inactivation and pore-blocker modulation mechanisms of human Ca_V2.2. Cell Reports. 2021. 37, 109931.

3. Yanli Dong^#, Yiwei Gao^#, Alina Ilie, DuSik Kim, Annie Boucher, Bin Li, Xuejun C. Zhang*, John Orlowski* & Y. Zhao*. Structure and mechanism of the human NHE1-CHP1 complex. Nature Communications. 2021. 9;12(1):3474.

4. Rong Y, Jiang J.H, Gao Y.W, Guo J.L, Song D.F, Liu W.H, Zhang M.M, Zhao Y*, Xiao B.L*, Liu Z.F*. TMEM120A contains a specific coenzyme A-binding site and might not mediate poking- or stretch-induced channel activities in cells. Elife, 2021.10, e71474.

Before 2019

1. Y. Zhao^#, S. Chen^#, A. C. Swensen, W. J. Qian, E. Gouaux, Architecture and subunit arrangement of native AMPA receptors elucidated by cryo-EM. Science, 2019. 364, 355-362.

2. Y. Zhao^#, S. Chen^#, C. Yoshioka, I. Baconguis, E. Gouaux. Architecture of fully occupied GluA2 AMPA receptor–TARP complex elucidated by cryo-EM. Nature, 2016.536(7614): 108-111.　

3. S. Chen^#, Y. Zhao^#, Y. Wang, M. Shekhar, E. Tajkhorshid and E. Gouaux. Activation and desensitization mechanism of AMPA receptor - TARP complex by cryo-EM. Cell, 2017.170, 1234-1246.

4.Y. Zhao^#, G. Mao^#, M. Liu, L. Zhang, X. Wang, X.C. Zhang. Crystal structure of the E. coli peptide transporter YbgH. Structure, 2014.22(8): 1152-1160.　　

5. J. Heng, Y. Zhao, M. Liu, Y. Liu, J. Fan, X. Wang, Y. Zhao, and XC. Zhang. Substrate-bound structure of the E. coli multidrug resistance transporter MdfA. Cell research, 2015.25(9): 1060. 　　

6. G. Mao^#, Y. Zhao^#, X. Kang, Z. Li, Y. Zhang, X. Wang, F. Sun, K. Sankaran and XC. Zhang. Crystal structure of E. coli lipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase. Nature communications, 2016.7: 10198.　　

7. B. Cao^#, Y. Zhao^#, Y. Kou, D. Ni, X.C. Zhang and Y. Huang. Structure of the nonameric bacterial amyloid secretion channel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014.111(50): E5439-E5444.　　　

8. D. Jiang^#, Y. Zhao^#, X. Wang^#, J. Fan, J. Heng, X. Liu, W. Feng, X. Kang, B. Huang, J. Liu and X.C. Zhang. Structure of the YajR transporter suggests a transport mechanism based on the conserved motif A. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014.110(36): 14664-14669.　　

9. S. Qiao, Q. Luo, Y. Zhao, X.C. Zhang, Y. Huang. Structural basis for lipopolysaccharide insertion in the bacterial outer membrane. Nature, 2014.511(7507): 108.

10. J. Fan, D. Jiang, Y. Zhao, J. Liu, and X.C. Zhang. Crystal structure of lipid phosphatase Escherichia coli phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase B. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014.111(21): 7636-7640. 　　

11. X.C. Zhang, Y. Zhao, J. Heng, D. Jiang. Energy coupling mechanisms of MFS transporters. Protein Science, 2015.24(10): 1560-1579.　

12. D. Jiang^#, Y. Zhao^#, J. Fan, X. Liu, Y. Wu, W. Feng, X.C. Zhang. Atomic resolution structure of the E. coli YajR transporter YAM domain. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2014.450(2): 929-935.　　

13. Y. Xin, Y. Zhao, J. Zheng, H. Zhou, X. C. Zhang, C. Tian, & Y. Huang. Structure of YidC from Thermotoga maritima and its implications for YidC-mediated membrane protein insertion. The FASEB Journal, 2018. 32(5), 2411-2421.　　　　

14. W. Zhang, F. Zeng, Y. Liu, Y. Zhao, H. Lv, L. Niu, M. Teng and X. Li (2013). Crystal Structures and RNA-Binding Properties of the RRMs of hnRNP-L: Insights into Its Roles in Alternative-splicing Regulation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2014 288(31), 22636-22649.　　

(From Yan Zhao, January 30, 2026)