Pingbo Huang obtained his Bachelor degree in Biology from Peking University and received a Ph.D. degree in Physiology from University of Cincinnati. Then he did his postdoctoral research at University of North Carolina at Chape Hill. He joined Division of Life Science at HKUST in 2003.

Research Question

1. Sensory neurobiology: molecular mechanism of the mechanotransduction in hearing and deafness;
2. Mechanical and chemical regulation of ion channels; and
3. Molecular mechanobiology.

My research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanism of the mechanotransduction (conversion of sound, a mechanical vibration, into neuronal firing) in sensory hair cells in hearing and deafness, one of the key questions in sensory neurobiology that has puzzled researchers for more than 4 decades. We are also interested in mechanical and chemical regulation of other ion channels.  We employ a multidisciplinary approach that harnesses the power of cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, and engineering.

Representative Publications

1. Cao X*, Zhou Z*, Tian Ye, Liu Z, Cheng KO, Chen X, Hu W, Wong YK, Li X, Zhang H, Hu, R², and Huang P. Opposing roles of E3 ligases TRIM23 and TRIM21 in regulation of ion channel ANO1 protein levels, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 296, 100738, 2021 (Featured as one of the “Editors’ Picks”).
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