RESEARCH

Our laboratory aims to unravel key signaling pathways that control synapse formation and plasticity via regulation of intracellular transport and cytoskeleton. We have recently identified arginine methylation of molecular motor and RNA-binding protein as crucial mechanisms in synapse development, and demonstrated a cross-talk between arginine methylation and actin cytoskeleton dynamics at the synapse.

Objectives

1. Investigate the dendritic transport mechanism of mRNAs using advanced imaging to visualize trafficking of molecules and synthesis of proteins, as well as the regulation of motor and RNA-binding proteins by post-translational modifications.

2. Delineate the mechanisms of inherited brain disorders. Through generation of mutant mice and animal behavioral study, we investigate the molecular basis of epilepsy causes by gene mutations.

3. Employ CRISPR to edit the genome of human induced pluripotent stem cells and uncover the effects of neurodegeneration-causing mutations on human neuron.