Huaqing Cai
Institute of Biophysics
Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
Biography
1997-2001 Peking University, B.S. 2001-2007 Yale University, Ph.D. 2007-2015 Johns Hopkins University, Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate 2015- Institute of Biophysics, CAS, Principle Investigator 1997-2001 Peking University, B.S. 2001-2007 Yale University, Ph.D. 2007-2015 Johns Hopkins University, Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate 2015- Institute of Biophysics, CAS, Principle Investigator
Research Interest
Cells have remarkable abilities to sense and respond to environmental cues. Not only the identity but the spatial and temporal dynamics of external signals encodes rich information. Spatial signaling is central to chemotaxis (directed cell migration along external chemical gradients), which plays a key role in a broad spectrum of biological processes such as organ formation, neuronal wiring, immune response, stem cell homing, and contributes topathological conditions including inflammatory diseases and cancer metastasis. Using cell biological, biochemical, optogenetic and chemical-genetic approaches, we aim to unravel the intricate design of the signal transduction networks involved in chemotaxis, elucidate their working principlesat both single-cell and population level,and provide mechanistic understanding of their action underboth development and disease conditions.
Publications
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Senoo H, Cai H, Wang Y, Sesaki H, Iijima M. The Novel RacE Binding Protein GflB Sharpens Ras Activity at The Leading Edge of Migrating Cells. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 2016 May 15;27(10):1596-1605.
