Research Question

1. Sensory neurobiology: mechanotransduction in hair cells in the inner ear;
2. Mechanical and chemical regulation of ion channels; and
3. Molecular mechanobiology.

My research interest is mainly focused on mechanical and chemical regulation of ion channels. Recently, my lab is particularly interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of mechanotransduction in hair cells in the inner ear, one of the key questions in sensory neurobiology. We employ a multidisciplinary approach that harnesses the power of cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, and biophysics.

Representative Publications

1. Zhou Z, Yu X, Jiang B, Feng W, Tian Y, Liu Z, Wang J, and Huang P. Alternative splicing of 3 genes encoding mechanotransduction-complex proteins in auditory hair cells. eNeuro, in press, 2020.
2. Yu X, Zhao Q, Li X, Chen Y, Tian Y, Liu S, Xiong W, and Huang P. Deafness mutation D572N of TMC1 destabilizes TMC1 expression by disrupting LHFPL5 binding. PNAS, 117(47), 29894, 2020.
3. Li X, Yu X, Chen X, Liu Z, Wang G, Li C, Wong EYM, Sham, MH, Tang J, He J, Xiong W, Liu Z, and Huang P. Localization of TMC1 and TMHS in auditory hair cells in neonatal and adult mice. FASEB Journal, 33 (6), 6838, 2019.
4. Hu W*, Yu X*, Liu Z*, Sun Y, Chen X, Yang X, Li X, Lam WK, Duan Y, Cao X, Steller H, Liu K, and Huang P. The complex of TRIP-Br1 and XIAP ubiquitinates and degrades multiple adenylyl cyclase isoforms. eLife, 6, e28021, 2017.
5. Zhang WK, Wang D, Duan Y, Loy MMT, Chan HC, and Huang P. Mechanosensitive gating of CFTR. Nature Cell Biology, 12(5): 507-12, 2010