Nannan Chen Professor, PhD Supervisor
Email: nannanchen27@seu.edu.cn
Office：Room B401, Huichuan Building, Dongda Road No.2, Nanjing
Biography:
Nannan Chen received her bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University and her PhD from the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Brandeis University. In October 2023, she joined the School of Life Sciences and Technology at Southeast University as a professor.
Research:
Neurons communicate through neurotransmission, in which neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals between cells. Traditional views consider neurotransmission to be singular and stable; however, emerging evidence shows that neurons can release multiple transmitters or change their transmitter identity, a phenomenon known as cotransmission and neurotransmitter switching. These dynamic modes of signaling reshape synaptic communication and influence neural circuit function. In addition, neurotransmission is a highly energy-demanding process that relies on mitochondrial metabolism to support vesicle loading, synaptic release, and sustained neuronal activity.
Using Drosophilaas a model organism, our laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cotransmission and neurotransmitter switching, how these processes regulate neural circuit function, and how mitochondrial metabolism supports neurotransmission. We further explore how dysregulation of neurotransmission and its metabolic support contributes to neurological disorders.
Selected Publications：
1. Junwei Yu，Yunpeng Zhang，Kelsey Clements，Nannan Chen* and Leslie C. Griffith*. “Genetically-encoded markers for confocal visualization of single dense core vesicles”. Communications Biology 2025 (Co-corresponding author)
2. Ivy Chi Wai Chan*, Nannan Chen*, John Hernandez*, Hagar Meltzer*, Annie Park*, Aaron Stahl*. “Future avenues in Drosophila mushroom body research.” Learning & Memory 2024 (Co-first author).
3. Nannan Chen*, Yunpeng Zhang*, Emmanuel J. Rivera-Rodriguez*, Albert D. Yu, Michael Hobin, Michael Rosbash and Leslie C. Griffith. “Widespread posttranscriptional regulation of cotransmission”. Science Advances 2023 (Co-first author)
4. Nannan Chen, Yunpeng Zhang, Mohamed Adel, Elena A. Kuklin, Martha L. Reed, Jacob D. Mardovin, Baskar Bakthavachalu, K. VijayRaghavan, Mani Ramaswami and Leslie C. Griffith. “Local translation provides the asymmetric distribution of CaMKII required for associative memory formation”, Current Biology 2022
5. Mohamed Adel, Nannan Chen, Yunpeng Zhang, Martha L. Reed, Christina Quasney and Leslie C. Griffith. “Pairing-dependent plasticity in a dissected fly brain is input-specific and requires synaptic CaMKII enrichment and nighttime sleep”, Journal of Neuroscience 2022
6. Mingmin Zhou*, Nannan Chen*, Jingsong Tian, Jianzhi Zeng, Yunpeng Zhang, Xiaofan Zhang, Jing Guo, Jinghan Sun, Yulong Li, Aike Guo, Yan Li. “Suppression of GABAergic neurons through D2-like receptor secures efficient conditioning in Drosophila aversive olfactory learning”, PNAS 2019. (Co-first author)
7. Nannan Chen, Aike Guo and Yan Li. “Aging accelerates memory extinction and impairs memory restoration in Drosophila”, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2015.
8. Yan Yin, Nannan Chen., Shixing Zhang and Aike Guo. “Choice strategies in Drosophila are based on competition between olfactory memories”, European Journal of Neuroscience 2009.