Haiyan Yu

Identification of the protein precursor for thyroid hormone synthesis in the basal chordate ascidian Styela clava

This study identifies the thyroid hormone (TH) precursor protein in the ascidian Styela clava, demonstrating endogenous TH synthesis and evolutionary conservation of the TG protein function.

The endoderm cell trajectory of urochordate Styela clava reveals the dual developmental origin and evolution of digestive tract

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to trace endoderm cell trajectories in Styela clava, revealing dual origins of the digestive tract and conserved regulatory programs across chordates.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of zygotic genome activation in basal chordates revealed by interspecific hybrids

The paper studies zygotic genome activation in ascidian hybrids, identifying two waves of gene reactivation and spatial patterns linked to cell mechanics.