(a). Research Papers (with links to PDF or open-access full text)
Liu J, Wang B, Catrow JL, Pearce Q, Ji Z, Yang SW, Balakrishnan A, Cox JE, Ma DK*. Induction and regulation of a reversible form of suspended animation in C. elegans. Nature Communications (accepted). doi: 10.64898/2026.02.19.706910. PMID: 41756843 *Corresponding author
Ji Z, Wang B, Chandra R, Liu J, Yang S, Long Y, Egan M, Han F, Wang H, L'Etoile N, Ma DK*. Non-visual light modulates behavioral memory and gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Elife. 2026 Feb 24;14:RP108507. doi: 10.7554/eLife.108507. PMID: 41733336 *Corresponding author
Ji Z, Liu J, Wang B, Wei S, Bian Y, Zeng W, Chung CI, Ma Z, Zhang J, Shu X, Ma DK*. A genetically encoded ionic-stress sensor reveals protons as a sleep driver. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jan 30:2026.01.27.702131. doi: 10.64898/2026.01.27.702131.
PMID: 41659565 *Corresponding author
Ji Z, Pandey T, de Belly H, Yao J, Wang B, Weiner OD, Tang Y, Guang S, Xu S, Lou Z, Goddard TD, Ma DK*. AlphaFold2-Guided Functional Screens Reveal a Conserved Antioxidant Protein at ER Membranes. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Mar 5:2024.06.19.599784. doi: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599784. PMID: 38948723 *Corresponding author
Jiang WI, Vale GDD, Pearce Q, Kong K, Zhou W, McDonald JG, Cox JE, Singhal NS, Ma DK*. Conserved lipid metabolic reprogramming confers hypoxic and aging resilience. EMBO Rep. 2026 Feb;27(3):704-728. doi: 10.1038/s44319-025-00664-6. Epub 2025 Dec 11. PMID: 41381735 *Corresponding author
Jiang WI, Cao Y, Xue Y, Ji Y, Winer BY, Chandra R, Zhang XF, Zhang M, Singhal NS, Pierce JT, Chen S, Ma DK*. Suppressing APOE4-induced neural pathologies by targeting the VHL-HIF axis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Feb 4;122(5):e2417515122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2417515122. Epub 2025 Jan 28. PMID: 39874294 *Corresponding author
Pandey T, Wang B, Wang C, Zu J, Deng H, Shen K, do Vale GD, McDonald JG, Ma DK*. LPD-3 as a megaprotein brake for aging and insulin-mTOR signaling in C. elegans. Cell Reports. 2024 Mar 26;43(3):113899. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113899. Epub 2024 Mar 5. PMID: 38446666 *Corresponding author
Jiang WI, De Belly H, Wang B, Wong A, Kim M, Oh F, DeGeorge J, Huang X, Guang S, Weiner OD, Ma DK*. Early-life stress triggers long-lasting organismal resilience and longevity via tetraspanin. Science Advances. 2024 Jan 26;10(4):eadj3880. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj3880. Epub 2024 Jan 24. PMID: 38266092 *Corresponding author
Pandey T, Kalluraya C, Wang B, Xu T, Huang X, Guang S, Daugherty MD*, Ma D.K.* Acquired stress resilience through bacteria-to-nematode horizontal gene transfer. EMBO J. (2023); 42(24):e114835. doi: 10.15252/embj.2023114835. PMID: 37953666; PMCID: PMC10473587. BioRxiv *Corresponding author
Wang C, Wang B, Long Y, Zhang C*, Ma, D.K.* GPCR signaling regulates severe stress-induced organismic death in C. elegans. Aging Cell. (2023); e13735. PMID: 36415159. BioRxiv *Corresponding author
Wang C, Wang B, Pandey T, Long Y, Zhang J, Oh F, Sima J, Guo R, Liu YK, Zhang C, Mukherjee S, Bassik MC, Lin WC, Deng H, Vale G, McDonald JG, Shen K, Ma, D.K.* A megaprotein-based molecular bridge critical for lipid trafficking and cold resilience. Nature Communications. (2022);13(1):6805. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34450-y. PMID: 36357390. BioRxiv *Corresponding author
Wang B, Pandey T, Long Y, Delgado-Rodriguez S.E., Daugherty MD*, Ma, D.K.* Co-opted genes of algal origin protect C. elegans against cyanogenic toxins. Current Biology. (2022) 21;32(22):4941-4948.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.041. PMID: 36223775 BioRxiv *Corresponding author
Wang X, Jiang W, Luo S, Yang X, Wang C, Wang B, Dang Y, Shen Y, Ma, D.K.* The C. elegans homolog of human panic-disorder risk gene TMEM132D orchestrates neuronal morphogenesis through the WAVE-regulatory complex. Mol Brain. (2021) 16;14(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s13041-021-00767-w. *Corresponding author
Zhang Z, Luo S, Barbosa GO, Bai M, Kornberg TB, Ma, D.K.* The conserved transmembrane protein TMEM-39 coordinates with COPII to promote collagen secretion and regulate ER stress response. PLoS Genetics (2021) e1009317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009317. *Corresponding author
Luo S, Wang X, Bai M, Jiang W, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Ma, D.K.* The conserved autoimmune-disease risk gene TMEM39A regulates lysosome dynamics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021) Feb 9;118(6):e2011379118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2011379118. *Corresponding author
Singhal, N., Bai, M., Lee, E. M., Luo, S., Cook, K.R., Ma, D.K.* Cytoprotection by a naturally occurring variant of ATP5G1 in Arctic ground squirrels. eLife (2020) ;9:e55578 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.55578. *Corresponding author
Zhang, Z., Bai, M., Barbosa, G., Chen A., Wei, Y., Luo, S., Wang, X., Wang, B., Tsukui, T., Li, H., Sheppard D., Kornberg, T.B., Ma, D.K.* Broadly Conserved Roles of TMEM-131 Family Proteins in Intracellular Collagen Assembly and Secretory Cargo Trafficking. Science Advances (2020) Vol. 6, no. 7, eaay7667 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay7667. *Corresponding author
Lee, D., An, S., Jung, Y., Yamaoko, Y., Ryu, Y., Go, G., Beigi, A., Yang., J.S., Jung G.Y., Ma, D.K., Ha, C., Taubert, S., Lee, Y., Lee, S.J. MDT-15/MED15 permits longevity at low temperature via enhancing lipidostasis and proteostasis. Plos Biology (2019) 17(8):e3000415 doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000415.
Chen S, Luo S, Zhang Z, Ma D.K.* VHL-1 inactivation and mitochondrial antioxidants rescue C. elegans dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Protein Cell. (2019) 10(8):610-614. PMID: 30945137. doi: 10.1007/s13238-019-0621-4. *Corresponding author
Xu Z, Hu Y, Deng Y, Chen Y, Hua H, Huang S, Nie Q, Pan Q, Ma D.K., Ma L. WDR-23 and SKN-1/Nrf2 Coordinate with the BLI-3 Dual Oxidase in Response to Iodide-Triggered Oxidative Stress. G3 (Bethesda) (2018) pii: g3.200586.2018. doi: 10.1534/g3.118.200586.
Vozdek. R., Long. Y., Ma, D.K.* The receptor tyrosine kinase HIR-1 Coordinates HIF-independent Response to Hypoxia-Induced Extracellular Matrix Remodeling. Science Signaling. (2018) Oct. 2 2;11(550). *Corresponding author [PDF]
Jiang, W., Wei, Y., Long, Y., Owen, A., Wang, B., Wu, X., Luo, S., Dang, Y., Ma, D.K.* A Genetic Program Mediates Cold-warming Response and Promotes Stress-induced Phenoptosis in C. elegans. eLife. (2018) Apr 17;7. pii: e35037. doi: 10.7554/eLife.35037. *Corresponding author [PDF]
Bai, M.R., Vozdek, R., Hnizda, A., Jiang, C., Wang, B., Kuchar, L., Li, T., Zhang, Y., Wood, C., Feng, L., Dang, Y., Ma, D.K.* Conserved Roles of C. elegans and Human MANFs in Sulfatide Binding and Cytoprotection. Nature Communications. (2018) Mar 1;9(1):897. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03355-0. *Corresponding author [PDF]
Prolyl 4-hydroxylase 2 promotes B-cell lymphoma progression via hydroxylation of Carabin. Jiang W, Zhou X, Li Z, Liu K, Wang W, Tan R, Cong X, Shan J, Zhan Y, Cui Z, Jiang L, Li Q, Shen S, Bai M, Cheng Y, Li B, Tan M, Ma D.K., Liu JO, Dang Y. Blood. (2018) 131(12):1325-1336. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-07-794875. *Corresponding author [PDF]
Ma, D.K.*, Li, Z., Lu A., Sun F.,Chen S., Rothe M., Menzel R., Sun F., Horvitz H.R*. Acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase drives heat adaptation by sequestering fatty acids. Cell (2015);161(5):1152-63. *Corresponding authors [PDF]
Keller J., Ellieva A., Ma, D.K., Ju J., Nehk E., Konkel A., Falck J.R., Schunck W.H., Menzel R. CYP-13A12 of the nematode C. elegans is a PUFA-epoxygenase involved in behavioural response to reoxygenation. Biochemical Journal (2014) Nov 15;464(1):61-71. [PDF]
Ma, D.K., Rothe M., Zheng S., Bhatla N., Pender C.L., Menzel R., Horvitz H.R. Cytochrome P450 drives a HIF-regulated behavioral response to reoxygenation by C. elegans. Science (2013) Vol. 341 no. 6145 pp. 554-558. PMID: 23811225 [PDF]
Ma, D.K., Vozdek, R., Bhatla, N., Horvitz, H.R. CYSL-1 interacts with the O2-sensing hydroxylase EGL-9 to promote H2S-modulated hypoxia-induced behavioral plasticity in C. elegans. Neuron (2012) 73, 925-940. PMID: 22876258 [PDF]
Guo, J.U., Ma, D.K., Mo, H., Ball, M.P., Jang, M.H., Bonaguidi, M.A., Balazer, J.A., Eaves, H.L., Xie, B., Ford, E., Zhang, K., Ming, G.L., Gao, Y., Song, H. Neuronal activity modifies the DNA methylation landscape in the adult brain. Nature Neuroscience (2011) 14(10), 1345-51. PMID: 21874013 [PDF]
Ma, D.K.*, Jang, M.H., Guo, J.U., Flavell, R.A., Ming, G.L., Song, H-j*. Neuronal activity-induced Gadd45b promotes epigenetic DNA demethylation and adult neurogenesis. Science (2009) 323(5917), 1074-7. PMID: 19119186. *Corresponding authors [PDF]
Ma, D.K., Ponnusamy, K, Song, M.R., Ming, G.L., Song, H-j. Molecular genetic analysis of FGFR1 signalling reveals distinct roles of MAPK and PLCgamma1 activation for self-renewal of adult neural stem cells. Molecular Brain (2009) 2(1), 16. PMID: 19505325 [PDF]
Ma, D.K., Chiang, C.H., Ponnusamy K, Ming, G.L., Song, H-j. G9a and Jhdm2a regulate embryonic stem cell fusion-induced reprogramming of adult neural stem cells. Stem Cells (2008) 26:2131-2141. PMID: 18535151 [PDF]
Duan, X., Chang, J.H., Ge, S., Faulkner, R.L., Kim, J.Y., Kitabatake, Y., Liu, X.B., Yang, C.H., Jordan, J.D., Ma, D.K., Liu, C.Y., Ganesan, S., Cheng, H.J., Ming, G.L., Lu, B, Song, H. DISC1 regulates integration of newly generated neurons in the adult brain. Cell. (2007) 130(6):1146-58. PMID: 17825401 [PDF]
(b). Reviews and commentaries
Gupta L, Amati S, Ma DK, Singhal NS. Beyond the cold: New insights for neuroprotection and neurorecovery from functional genomics. Exp Neurol. 2026 Feb;396:115558. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115558. Epub 2025 Nov 12. PMID: 41238150
Pandey T, Ma D.K. Stress-Induced Phenoptosis: Mechanistic Insights and Evolutionary Implications. Biochemistry. 2022 Dec; 87(12):1504-1511. PMID: 36717459.
Singhal NS, Sun CH, Lee EM, Ma D.K. Resilience to Injury: A New Approach to Neuroprotection? Neurotherapeutics. 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 31997268
Singhal NS, Lee EM, Ma D.K. Neuronal GDPGP1 and glycogen metabolism: friend or foe? J Cell Biol. 2020 Feb 3;219(2). pii: e202001006. PMID: 31971543
Ma D.K., Ringstad N. The neurobiology of sensing respiratory gases for the control of animal behavior. Frontiers in Biology. (2012) 7(3):246-253. PMID: 22876258 [PDF]
Ma D.K., Marchetto M.C., Guo J.U., Ming G.L., Gage F.H., Song H. Epigenetic choreographers of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain. Nature Neuroscience (2010) 13(11):1338-44. PMID: 20975758 [PDF]
Ma D.K., Kim, W, Ming, G.L., Song, H-j. Activity-dependent extrinsic regulation of adult hippocampal and olfactory bulb neurogenesis. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences (2009) 1170:664-73. PMID: 19686209 [PDF]
Ma D.K., Bonaguidi, M., Ming, G.L., Song, H-j. Adult neural stem cells in the mammalian central nervous system. Cell Research (2009) 19(6):672-82. PMID: 19436263 [PDF]
Ma D.K., Guo, J.U., Ming, G.L., Song, H-j. DNA excision repair proteins and Gadd45 as molecular players for active DNA demethylation. Cell Cycle (2009) 19(6):672-82. PMID: 19377292 [PDF]
Ma D.K., Ming, G-l., and Song, H-j. Glial influences on neural stem cell development: cellular niches for adult neurogenesis. Current Opinion in Neurobiology (2005) 15:514-20. PMID: 16144763 [PDF]