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Maximina Yun Group

Regeneration of Complex Structures in Adult Vertebrates

Portrait Maximina Yun

© CRTD

Our research programme focuses on three research topics: the mechanisms underlying the plasticity of the differentiated state, the role and regulation of senescence during regeneration and the role of the immune system in regenerative contexts.

I – Mechanisms underlying the plasticity of the differentiated state

The ability of adult salamander tissues to undergo changes in their differentiated state to generate regenerative progenitors is thought to be at the core of the regeneration process. However there is as yet poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind this. We have shown that the regulation of p53 is critical to this process (Yun et al, 2013), and that during salamander muscle dedifferentiation MAPK activation is also involved (Yun et al, 2014). These studies have delivered insights that have already been applied in strategies for generating regenerative progenitors in mammalian systems (Wang et al, 2015). Currently, we are expanding the investigation of cellular and molecular factors involved in the regulation of this process using both in vitro and in vivo approaches combined with functional experiments and comparative analysis between regenerative and non-regenerative systems. Together, these studies will speed up the transition from observational findings to a mechanistic understanding of how progenitors are generated during the regenerative programme.

II – Role and regulation of senescence in regeneration

Senescence, like apoptosis, is an important protection against cancer by preventing damaged cells from proliferating. However, unlike in apoptosis, senescent cells persist and have various detrimental effects which lead to age related diseases and regenerative decline. We have recently shown that salamanders, organisms with high regenerative potential and lack of ageing signs, have a highly efficient macrophage-dependent mechanism to clear senescent cells (Yun el al, 2015; Davaapil et al, 2017). Paradoxically though, our work also suggests that senescent cells may have positive roles to play during regeneration. We are currently employing state of the art techniques including transgenesis, live imaging and single cell analysis in order to:

  1. Probe the specific mechanisms by which senescent cells are efficiently cleared, revealing both fundamental insights into natural regeneration processes and potential therapeutic targets,
  2. understand how cellular senescence is regulated in time and space during regeneration, and
  3. first prove and then unravel the exact nature of the positive role of senescent cells in regeneration, shedding light on the basic questions of why senescence persists through evolution and how it is co-opted in the regeneration process.

III – Role of the immune system in regenerative contexts

Beyond its role as a mechanism in senescent cell clearance, we are interested in how the immune system interacts with regenerating cell types in order to mount a successful regenerative response. We are currently developing transgenic, biochemical and in vitro approaches to understand what the exact roles of different immune cell types are during salamander regeneration.
Overall, our research programme seeks to expand our knowledge in these areas, as they are central to understanding how adult regeneration can take place, why certain vertebrates can regenerate whereas others cannot, and how to promote regeneration in non-regenerative organisms.

Maximina Yun Research: Figure
A red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, MH Yun, 2014. Newts are the vertebrates with the most extensive regenerative abilities, being able to regenerate a wide range of complex structures including full limbs as adults. Understanding the mechanisms underlying newt regeneration could inspire strategies to promote regenerative processes in humans.

Future Projects and Goals

The aims of our ongoing and future research are

  • Understanding the molecular basis of cellular plasticity
  • Role and regulation of cellular senescence in regeneration and tissue repair
  • Role of the immune response in regenerative contexts

Methodological and Technical Expertise

  • Salamander husbandry and transgenesis
  • Cell culture
  • FACS
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • advanced imaging technologies

CV

since 2017
Group Leader, CRTD and MPI-CBG

2016–2017
Independent Senior Research Associate, University College London, UK

2014–2016
Senior Research Associate, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK

2009–2014
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK

2009
PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge and MRC – Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), UK

2004
BSc Biological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Yun Group at TUD CRTD

Selected Publications

Davaapil H, Brockes JP, Yun MH
Conserved and novel functions of cellular senescence during vertebrate development.
Development 144 (1): 106–114 (2017)

Yun MH
Changes in regenerative capacity through lifespan.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 16(10): 25392–25432 (2015)

Yun MH, Davaapil H, Brockes JP
Recurrent turnover of senescent cells during regeneration of a complex structure.
eLife 4 (2015)

Yun MH, Gates PB, Brockes JP
Sustained ERK activation underlies reprogramming of regeneration-competent salamander cells and distinguishes them from their mammalian counterparts.
Stem Cell Reports. 3(1): 15–23 (2014)

Yun MH, Gates PB, Brockes JP
Regulation of p53 is critical for vertebrate limb regeneration.
PNAS 110 (43):17392–7 (2013)

Contact

Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden
TU Dresden
Fetscherstraße 105
01307 Dresden