Author

Chai‐An Mao

The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonORCID 0000-0002-9700-6964Unclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Neuroscience· 2 Developmental Biology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Organism:mouse· 3 Research Focus:cell type annotation· 2 Approach:experimental assay· 2 Assay:bulk RNA-seq· 1 Research Focus:differential expression· 1 Research Focus:gene regulatory network inference· 1 Assay:proteomics· 1 Approach:statistical model· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Ching-Kang CheniD· 2 shared Takae KiyamaiD· 2 shared Anna NaglisiD· 1 shared Brad A. AmendtiD· 1 shared Cheryl K. Mitchell· 1 shared Christophe RibelaygaiD· 1 shared Christopher M. Whitaker· 1 shared Dan SuiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2020-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 18 mutual co-author links

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2 shared papersDevelopmental Biology

Ching-Kang ChenORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

3 papers

Recent·Most cited

Retinal electrical synapse plasticity is required for optimal visual performance

Ya‐Ping Lin, Cheryl K. Mitchell, Nange Jin, Stephan Tetenborg, Nikki Allyn Brantley, Zhijing Zhang, Anna Naglis, Ye Long, Hongyan Li, Suzette Luke, Chai‐An Mao, Steven W. Wang, Christophe Ribelayga, John O’Brien

This study shows that reducing electrical synapse coupling in retinal circuits is necessary for optimal daylight vision.

bioRxiv · Jul 28, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience

Tbr2-Dependent Parallel Pathways Regulate the Development of Distinct ipRGC Subtypes

Takae Kiyama, Ching-Kang Chen, Halit Yusuf Altay, Yu-Jiun Chen, Leviette Sigala, Dan Su, Steven L. Eliason, Brad A. Amendt, Chai‐An Mao

This study identifies two Tbr2-dependent transcription factors, Irx1 and Tbx20, that regulate distinct pathways for the formation and maintenance of six ipRGC subtypes in mice.

Communications Biology · Feb 1, 2026Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology

Tbr2-expressing retinal ganglion cells are ipRGCs

Chai‐An Mao, Ching-Kang Chen, Takae Kiyama, Nicole Weber, Christopher M. Whitaker, Ping Pan, Tudor C. Badea, Stephen C. Massey

This study identifies Tbr2-expressing retinal ganglion cells as intrinsically photosensitive RGCs and shows Tbr2 regulates Opn4 transcription for ipRGC development and maintenance.

bioRxiv · Jun 17, 2020 · PreprintNeuroscience