Contact information
Biography
Yin Dong studied biochemistry at the University of Warwick for his undergraduate degree, before undertaking a PhD at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof Karen Morrison. He then worked at the Structural Genomics Consortium as a post-doctoral research associate with Prof Liz Carpenter. He won a MRC Career Development Fellowship to start his independent research at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences under the mentorship of Prof David Beeson, working in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine.
Yin Yao Dong
PhD, Bsc
Associate Professor
- Head of Neurosciences Group at the WIMM
- Manager of functional diagnostics for the National Referral Service for Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes.
My research is focused on diseases of the neuromuscular junction
Research groups
Research
My reasearch is focused on the neuromuscular junction, which is the cholinergic synapse between motor neurons and skeletal muscles that enables all voluntary movement. I use my diverse training in biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology to lead a multidisciplined team studying the biology of this synapse in normal and different disease states like genetic (including congenital) myasthenic syndromes and congenital disorders of glycosylation.
We work closely with a range of collaborators in academia and industry, as well as clinicians and charities to translate our research into benefits for patients. We carry out functional testing of genetic variants of unknown significance to help doctors diagnose genetic disorders. We also work with industrial collaborators to determine if new treatments they develop improve the symptoms of disease in a variety of experimental models.
Key publications
Structures of DPAGT1 Explain Glycosylation Disease Mechanisms and Advance TB Antibiotic Design.
Journal article
Dong YY. et al, (2018), Cell, 175, 1045 - 1058.e16
K2P channel gating mechanisms revealed by structures of TREK-2 and a complex with Prozac.
Journal article
Dong YY. et al, (2015), Science, 347, 1256 - 1259
The structural basis of ZMPSTE24-dependent laminopathies
Journal article
Quigley A. et al, (2013), Science, 340, 1604 - 1607
Recent publications
Mouse Model of Fast-Channel Genetic Myasthenic Syndrome Carrying Chrne p.P141L Mutation.
Journal article
Webster RG. et al, (2026), Biomolecules, 16
Positive allosteric modulator selective for adult muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Journal article
Webster RG. et al, (2026), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 123
Protocol for stable cell line production to express muscle-type nicotinic receptor.
Journal article
Li A. et al, (2026), STAR Protoc, 7
Congenital myasthenic syndrome: is it time for a name change to genetic myasthenic syndrome?
Journal article
Ramdas S. et al, (2026), Brain
Structures of the human adult muscle-type nicotinic receptor in resting and desensitized states.
Journal article
Li A. et al, (2025), Cell Rep, 44