People
Wang Zheng, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience
University of Wisconsin–Madison
We study
Mechanotransduction is the ability of cells to detect and respond to physical forces. It is essential for our senses such as touch and hearing, and is also involved in a wide range of other biological processes. Disruptions in mechanotransduction can lead to neurological disorders and brain development abnormalities.
The Zheng Lab aims to uncover the cellular and molecular basis of mechanotransduction events during brain development, and understand how mechanosensitive ion channels govern brain physiology and pathology.
We are currently studying mechanosensitive TMEM63 ion channels. Mutations in these channels are linked to severe human neurological disorders. Mutations in TMEM63B, for example, cause early-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy and neurodegenerative brain changes.
Our goal is to understand how TMEM63 channels are activated by force and how this activation relates to brain physiology and pathology. We combine structural, biophysical, and in vivo approaches to define the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction in the developing brain.
We are housed in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, within the School of Medicine and Public Health.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience
University of Wisconsin–Madison