Biological Science Faculty Member

Professor
Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2000
Graduate Faculty Status

Research and Professional Interests:

Organismal longevity begins at the cellular level. Somatic cells, which constitute the body’s tissues and organs, have a limited replicative lifespan. This means they can only divide a certain number of times before they cease functioning properly. On the other hand, germ cells, which produce eggs and sperm, have an evolutionary perspective of living forever. This is because they are responsible for transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next.
How germ cells self-renew remains an enigma. Recent findings have revealed that the quality control of the nuclear envelope during gametogenesis, commonly known as meiosis, plays a pivotal role in determining the replicative lifespan of cells. Our current research aims to establish proof of concept that meiosis in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, serves as an effective system for determining the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular rejuvenation.

Selected Publications:

1. Carson, A.L., H. Jin, and H.-G. Yu. (2026) Biogenesis of nuclear lipid droplets is regulated by a Sir2-Csa1-Lro1 signaling pathway at the INM. Journal of Cell Biology in press. DOI:10.1083/jcb.202506209.

2. Zhao, Y., J. Rai, H.-G. Yu, and H. Li. (2022) CryoEM structures of pesudouridine-free ribosome suggest impacts of chemical modifications on ribosome conformations. Structure 30(7):983-992.

3. Koch-Bojalad, A.B., L. Carson, and H.-G. Yu. (2021) Forever young: the key to rejuvenation during gametogenesis. Current Genetics 67: 231-235.
         
4. Fan, J., H. Jin, B.A. Koch, and H.-G. Yu. (2020) Mps2 links Csm4 and Mps3 to form a telomere-associated LINC complex in budding yeast. Life Science Alliance 3(12):e202000824 http://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202000824.

5. Koch, B.A., E. Staley, H. Jin, and H.-G. Yu. (2020) The ESCRT-III complex is required for nuclear pore complex sequestration and regulates gamete replicative lifespan in budding yeast meiosis. Nucleus 11(1):219-236.

6. Koch, B.A. and H.-G. Yu. (2019). Regulation of inner nuclear membrane associated protein degradation: lessons from budding yeast. Nucleus 10(1):169-180.

7. Koch, B.A.,H. Jin, R.J. Tomko Jr., and H.-G. Yu.  (2019)  The anaphase-promoting complex regulates the degradation of the inner nuclear membrane protein Mps3. Journal of Cell Biology 218: 839-854.

The following URL leads to a full list of published work at NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/hong-guo.yu.1/bibliography/public/

Graduate Students: