University of Southern California · PhysiologyThe DYRK1A Nexus
Karen T Chang · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Karen T. Chang's lab at USC investigates the role of a specific kinase, DYRK1A/MNB, in regulating brain cell communication and function. They use fruit flies as a model organism to explore how this kinase impacts synaptic growth, neurotransmitter release, and cognitive disorders. Through their research, they aim to uncover the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and autism by identifying how proteins involved in cellular processes are influenced by DYRK1A.
DYRK1Asynaptic growthneurodegenerative diseasesautophagyneuropeptide release
Research Aims
3AIM 01Examine the role of MNB/DYRK1A in regulating autophagy at the synapse.
AIM 02Investigate how MNB-dependent phosphorylation affects TDP-43 aggregation in models of dementia.
AIM 03Determine the role of MNB/DYRK1A in regulating neuropeptide release.
Skills the Lab Values
Drosophila modelingkinase activity assaysphosphorylation profilingautophagy assessmentneurotransmitter analysis
Output against the department
Publications47bottom 7% of dept.267th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.0kbottom 12% of dept.252nd of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.