Cao Ying

Biography

Ying Cao Department: Molecular and Cell Biology, Professor Ying Cao Department: Molecular and Cell Biology, Professor

Research Interest

Our long term goal is to understand the molecular mechanism of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) by using zebrafish. PKD is characterized by cyst formation in the kidney, which eventually leads to renal failure. Autosomal dominant form of PKD (ADPKD) is one of the most common monogenetic human disease, with prevalence 1:800 in live birth. Current model indicates that cilium, a cell surface organelle, plays an important role in pathogenesis of PKD. Thus, PKD belongs to a more wide spectrum of diseases, ciliopathies, which refer to diseases caused by defective cilia and include cystic kidney, liver and pancreatic disease, Situs inversus / left-right defect, Neural tube closure and patterning defect, polydactyly, deafness, blindness, obesity, et al. Understanding the pahogenesis of PKD will also help us to understand these diseases. Although PKD is linked to cilium, the involved signaling pathway remains elusive. Furthermore, there is no effective therapy except kidney transplantation. Therefore, we try to understand the molecular mechanism and find new therapy by focusing on the following aims: 1) systematic dissection of the relationship among cell polarity, cilia and PKD; 2) Determination of epigenetic alterations in PKD; 3) Herbal screen in zebrafish PKD model.