Faculty

My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms underlying inner ear development. The mammalian inner ear is complex organ and normal function of this organ is intimately dependent on its three-dimensional structure. Our goal is to identify some of the key signaling molecules that instruct its formation during development and provide context for genes that are known to be associated with hearing and balance disorders in humans. In the long run, we hope to come up with strategies and therapeutics that will alleviate these disorders.

• Tao Jiang, Katie Kindt, Doris K Wu. (2017) Transcription factor Emx2 controls stereociliary bundle orientation of sensory hair cells. eLife6:e23661 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.23661
• Young Rae Ji, Sunita Warrier, Tao Jiang, Doris K Wu, Katie S Kindt. (2018) Directional selectivity of afferent neurons in zebrafish neuromasts is regulated by Emx2 in presynaptic hair cells. eLife7:e35796 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.35796
• Jinwoong Bok, Colleen Zenczak, Chan Ho Hwang, and Doris K. Wu. (2013) Auditory ganglion source of Sonic hedgehog regulates timing of cell cycle exit and differentiation of mammalian cochlear hair cells. PNAS110 (34) 13869-13874; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1222341110
• Jinwoong Bok, Steven Raft, Kyoung-Ah Kong, Soo Kyung Koo, Ursula C. Dräger, and Doris K. Wu. (2011) Transient retinoic acid signaling confers anterior-posterior polarity to the inner ear. PNAS108 (1) 161-166; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1010547108
• Yanhan Huang, Jennifer Hill, Andrew Yatteau, Loksum Wong, Tao Jiang, Jelena Petrovic, Lin Gan, Lijin Dong and Doris K. Wu (2018) Reciprocal negative regulation between Lmx1a and Lmo4 is required for inner ear formation. J of Neuroscience38 (23) 5429-5440; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2484-17.2018

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