Prof. DUAN, Liting
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, CUHK
Area of Expertise: Synthetic Biology, Optogenetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology
ltduan@cuhk.edu.hk
Tel: 3943 8268
Location: ERB1116
Lab webpage: http://duanlab.net/
About
Liting received a Bachelor degree in Chemistry from Renmin University of China (People’s University of China) in 2010 where she worked on the fabrication and application of micro/nano-patterned structures using hot micro-contact printing. She moved from material engineering to biochemistry/biophysics for her doctoral studies at Stanford University (Ph.D. in Chemistry 2016). Her thesis focused on the development of optogenetic strategies to control intracellular activities. During postdoctoral research, she further studied and engineered the photosensory proteins interactions for optimized optogenetic toolkit at Stanford. In July 2018, she joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Chinese University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor.
Professional Education and Training
2016 Ph.D. in Chemistry, Stanford University
2010 B.S. in Chemistry, Renmin University of China
Research Interest
We harness the power of optogenetics to advance biological and biomedical research. Our team is dedicated to developing optical strategies that enable precise, non-invasive control of crucial intracellular processes such as signaling pathways and organelle activities. These innovative strategies are tailored to achieve exceptional specificity and spatiotemporal resolution, opening new avenues for scientific discoveries and advancements in gene therapy.
Course Teaching in CUHK
BMEG2011 Biomedical Engineering Laboratory and Hospital Experience
BMEG3140 Molecular and Cellular Engineering Laboratory
BMEG3330 Neuroengineering
ENGG5601 Biomechanics & Biomaterials
HONORS & AWARDS
Selected Publications
Y. Song‡, Z. Zhao‡, L. Xu‡, P. Huang, J. Gao, J. Li, X. Wang, Y. Zhou, J. Wang, W. Zhao, L. Wang, C. Zheng, B. Gao, L. Jiang, K. Liu, Y. Guo , X. Yao, L. Duan*.Using an ER-specific optogenetic mechanostimulator to understand the mechanosensitivity of the endoplasmic reticulum. (2024). Developmental Cell.
X. Liu, L. Xu, Y. Song, X. Li, C. Wong, R. Chen, J. Feng, Y. Gou, Y. Qu, H. Chow, S. Yao, Y. Wang, S. Gao, X. Liu, L. Duan *. Force-induced tail-autotomy mitochondrial fission and biogenesis of matrix-excluded mitochondrial‐derived vesicles for quality control. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Y. Wang‡, Z. Bi‡, Y. Song, L. Duan*, S. Chen*. Selective activation of photoactivatable fluorescent protein based on binary holography. (2024). Biomedical Optics Express.
Y. Song, P. Huang, X. Liu, Z. Zhao, Y. Wang, B. Cui*, L. Duan*. Light-inducible Deformation of Mitochondria in Live Cells. Cell Chemical Biology. (2022).
P. Huang, Z. Zhao, L. Duan*. Optogenetic activation of intracellular signaling based on light-inducible protein-protein homo-interactions. Neural Regeneration Research. (2022) Jan;17(1):25-30.
P. Huang, A. Liu, Y. Song, J. Hope, B. Cui, L. Duan*. Optical activation of TrkB signaling. J. Mol. Biol. (2020). 432(13), 3761.
L. Duan‡ , J. Hope‡, S. Guo‡, Q. Ong, A. Fracois, L. Kaplan, G. Sherrer, B Cui*. Optogenetic control of TrkA signaling. ACS Synth. Biol., 2018, 7 (7), 1685.
L. Duan, J. Hope, Q. Ong, H. Lou, N. Kim, C. McCarthy, V. Acero, M. Lin*, B. Cui*. Understanding CRY2 interactions for optical control of intracellular signaling. Nat. Commun., 2017, 8(1),547.
L. Duan‡, D. Che‡, K. Zhang, Q. Ong, S. Guo, B. Cui*. Optogenetic control of molecular motors and organelle distributions in cells. Chem. Biol., 2015, 22(5), 671.
D. Che‡ , L. Duan‡ , K. Zhang, B. Cui*. The dual characteristics of light-induced cryptochrome 2 homo-oligomerization and hetero-dimerization for optogenetic manipulation in mammalian cells. ACS Syn. Biol., 2015, 4 (10), 1124.
