Yan Lab

The Yan Lab investigates exercise-induced molecular adaptations for disease prevention, using cutting-edge technologies.

Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, cause more than 60% of the death in the USA and account for more than 75% of health care costs. Regular exercise has profound health benefits and is the most powerful intervention in disease prevention and treatment. The Yan Lab, led by Zhen Yan, Ph.D., director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Center for Exercise Medicine Research, employs the state-of-the-art molecular genetics and imaging technologies in a variety of animal models to elucidate the underlying molecular and signaling mechanisms of exercise training-induced adaptations and the impacts on health and disease.

Laboratory Equipment

Mouse Exercise Facility

The proposed animal research will be conducted in the animal care facility. The Yan Lab runs a mouse exercise facility of ~184 sq ft (Room R2094A, Riverside 2) with 40 computer-monitoring weightlifting cages (invented and patented by Dr. Yan) equipped with calibrated lever plate with adjustable weight load and 120 computer-monitoring running cages (ClockLab3) equipped with a running wheel of 0.357 m circumference. Running data are recorded and quantified using ClockLab Analysis software. Yan Lab also runs a 4-channel metabolic treadmill system (CLAMS/Oxymax, Columbus Instrument) for assessment of carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism during submaximal and exhaustive exercise. Yan Lab has a 6-channel mouse treadmill (Columbus Instruments) to measure the run-to-exhaustion distance. We measure blood lactate during and at the end of the running test to verify exhaustion with biochemical evidence. This will allow us to exclude mice with premature termination of running due to reasons other than physical exhaustion. This equipment will help us measure physical performance as an indication of physiological adaptation to exercise.

Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System (Oxymax-CLAMS)

Yan Lab runs a facility (~184 sq. ft., Room R2094B) with a Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System (Oxymax-CLAMS) allowing for 24-hour, automated, non-invasive collection of physiological and behavioral parameters. This room is equipped with an EcoMRI 3-in-1 Body Composition Analyzer for assessment of body composition in live mice as well as in harvested organs and tissue biopsies.

Muscle Contractile Function Equipment

The Yan Lab is equipped with the Aurora Scientific 305C Dual-Mode Muscle Lever System (MR4 6031) with support from the State of Virginia. This system allows longitudinal, comprehensive in vivo studies of skeletal muscle contractile function in living rodents. Oroboros O2k high-resolution respirometry. The Yan Lab is equipped with 4 Oroboros O2k high-resolution respirometers for mitochondrial and cell research. We have set up a mitochondrial diagnostic platform (MDP) for assessing mitochondrial function in either isolated mitochondria or skinned tissues. The use of the MDP is a well-described but novel mechanistic tool that provides comprehensive phenotyping of mitochondrial bioenergetics under conditions that model in vivo fluctuations in energy supply and demand.

Horiba Quantamaster Fluorescence Spectroscopy

We have set up this system for measurements of mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane potential, electron leak, and matrix dehydrogenase activities to provide insights into tissue-specific distinctions in energy transfer efficiency. This diagnostic platform has the capacity for high throughput characterization of individual respiratory complex activity and mitochondrial integrity through mPTP and calcium overload assessments.

Principal Investigator