Chuanzhou LI

Title: Associate Professor

Department: Department of Medical Genetics

Email: chuanzhouli@hust.edu.cn

Clinical Focus:

Research Focus/Interests: We previously work on tau and Fyn molecules, two key molecules in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and revealed a novel role of Fyn in regulating local synthesis of tau at somatodendritic compartment in the neuron. Our finding exquisitely demonstrates for the first time that, extracellular amyloid-beta can directly cause intracellular tau accumulation via local protein translation. We are particularly interested in how protein translation is regulated by tau and involved in neurodegeneration, as well as the regulatory function of Fyn. In addition, another protein tyrosine kinase Pyk2, encoded by an AD-risk gene PTK2B, has been focused on in our lab. Pyk2 is engaged in many Ca2+-dependent neuronal processes. Of note, it interacts with tau and Fyn and was recently discovered to play an important role in learning and memory. We aim to explore its physiological role on its own and pathological function in AD pathology.