Xi Huang Lab
calligraphy by Daming Huang
Xi Huang Lab
Research
We study physical properties and mechano-electrical-chemical signaling in cancer. While extensive research has informed genetics and biochemical mechanisms in tumorigenesis, how mechanical and electrical signaling regulate cancer is less defined. Ion channels govern cell behaviors by perceiving physicochemical cues (mechanical force, membrane voltage, temperature, pH etc.) to control ion flux across membranes. We ask the following questions:
- At the systemic level, what are the mutational landscape and functional alterations of ion channels in cancer?
- At the tissue level, how do ion channels regulate tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance in genetically tractable animal models?
- At the cellular level, how do ion channels perceive physicochemical cues to control cancer cell state?
- At the molecular level, how do different ion channels form a functional network to regulate cancer cell behaviors?
- Can we use ion channel-targeting drugs to treat cancer?
Using multi-disciplinary approaches in bioinformatics, Drosophila and mouse genetics, xenograft modeling, advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and bioengineering, we discover disease mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities at the interface of cancer biology, neuroscience, and mechanobiology.
Funding partners
People
Xi Huang, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Cancer Biophysics
Senior Scientist – Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children
Senior Scientist – Arthur & Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Professor – Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Namal Abeysundara, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Co-supervised by Dr. Michael Taylor
Education:
PhD – Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta
Zaleena Akheralie, B.Sc.
Graduate Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Co-supervised by Dr. Bret Pearson
Education:
B.Sc. – Specialist in Molecular Biology and minor in Chemistry, University of Toronto
Shahrzad Bahrampour, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
PhD – Medical Science, Linköping University
Jade Chan, B.Sc.
Graduate Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Co-supervised by Dr. C.C. Hui
Education:
B.Sc. – Co-operative Program, Major: Honours Psychology, Minor: Biology, University of Waterloo
Xiaodi Chen
Research Student
Department of Biochemistry
Education:
B.Sc. student – Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto
Weifan Dong, B.Sc.
Graduate Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Education:
B.Sc. – Institute of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University
Julia Carrillo Garcia, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
PhD – Biomedicine, Pompeu Fabra University
Deekshitha Jetta, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Co-supervised by Dr. Xinyu Liu
Education:
PhD – Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo
Nicolaes Min, B.Sc.
Graduate Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Education:
B.Sc. – Specialization in Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto
Ali Momin, B.Sc.
Graduate Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Education:
B.Sc. – Specialization in Biology, Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto
Elizaveta Saitova
Research Student
Department of Molecular Genetics
Education:
B.Sc. student – Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
Yi (Byron) Xiong, MB
Visiting Research Student
Education:
MB – Bachelor of Medicine, Central South University
Hongyu Zhao, MMed
Visiting Research Student
Education:
MB – Bachelor of Medicine, Huazhong University of Science & Technology.
MMed – Master of Medicine, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
Publications
BY TOPICS (SELECTED PUBLICATIONS)
Ion channel regulation of tumor cell-intrinsic properties
- Francisco MA, Wanggou S, Fan JJ, Dong W, Chen X, Momin A, Abeysundara N, Min HK, Chan J, McAdam R, Sia M, Pusong RJ, Liu S, Patel N, Ramaswamy V, Kijima N, Wang LY, Song Y, Kafri R, Taylor MD, Li X#, Huang X#,§ (2020) Chloride intracellular channel 1 cooperates with potassium channel EAG2 to promote medulloblastoma growth. Journal of Experimental Medicine 217.5: e20190971 (# co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) PMID:32097463
Media coverage:
Study shows common cell protein could be targeted to treat childhood brain cancers OICR News
氯离子通道CLIC1在髓母细胞瘤的致病作用机制 BioArt
- Pigott BJ, Peters CJ, He Y, Huang X, Younger S, Jan LY, Jan YN (2019) Paralytic, the Drosophila voltage-gated sodium channel, regulates proliferation of neural progenitors. Genes & Development 1;33(23-24):1739-1750. PMID:31753914
- Huang X*, He Y*, Dubuc AM*, Hashizume R, Zhang W, Reimand J, Yang H, Wang TA, Stehbens S, Younger S, Barshow S, Zhu S, Cooper MK, Peacock J, Ramaswamy V, Garzia L, Wu X, Remke M, Forester CM, Kim CC, Weiss WA, James CD, Shuman MA, Bader GD, Mueller S, Taylor MD, Jan YN#, Jan LY# (2015) EAG2 potassium channel with evolutionarily conserved function as a brain tumor target. Nature Neuroscience 18(9): 1236-46. (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors) PMID: 26258683
Editorial highlights:
Channeling brain cancer. Sci. Signal. (2015): 8 (392), ec245
Therapy: Reinventing the wheel. Nature Reviews Cancer (2015): 15, 514
EAG2 potassium channel: A new regulator of malignancy and therapeutic target in medulloblastoma Neuro-Oncology (2015) 17(12), 1547
Voltage spikes driving medulloblastoma. Cancer Res (2015): 75, 4439
Targeting ion channels in cancer. Lab Animal (2015): 44, 370
Media coverage:
Common class of “channel blocking” drugs may find a role in cancer therapy ScienceDaily, EurekAlert!, Technology Networks, Newswise, HealthCanal, UCSF News
Potassium Channel Blockers Show Promise as Treatment for Brain Tumors OncoTherapy Network
Targeting an Ion Channel to Treat Common Pediatric Brain Tumor Northwestern University News
Ion Channels May Play a Role in a New Generation of Cancer Therapies Icagen
- Huang X, Dubuc AM, Hashizume R, Berg J, He Y, Wang J, Chiang C, Cooper MK, Northcott PA, Taylor MD, Barnes MJ, Tihan T, Chen J, Hackett CS, Weiss WA, James CD, Rowitch DH, Shuman MA, Jan YN, Jan LY (2012) Voltage-gated potassium channel EAG2 controls mitotic entry and tumor growth in medulloblastoma via regulating cell volume dynamics. Genes & Development 15; 26(16): 1780-96. (Cover Article) PMID: 22855790
Editorial highlights:
Medulloblastoma: Pump up the volume. Nature Reviews Cancer, 12, 583
Targeting ion channels. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 19, 867
Ion Channel Activity Promotes Mitotic Entry and Tumor Cell Growth. Cancer Discovery, 2, 763
Ion channel regulation of tumor cell-extracellular matrix interaction
- Chen X, Wanggou S, Bodalia A, Zhu M, Dong W, Fan JJ, Yin WC, Min HK, Hu M, Draghici D, Dou W, Li F, Coutinho FJ, Whetstone H, Kushida MM, Dirks PB, Song Y, Hui CC, Sun Y, Wang LY, Li X, and Huang X (2018) A feedforward mechanism mediated by mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 and tissue mechanics promotes glioma aggression. Neuron 100(4):799-815.e7. PMID:30344046
Editorial highlights:
Video abstract: How brain tumors stiffen and grow
Preview: Unlocking the dangers of a stiffening brain Neuron 100(4):763-765
Media coverage:
May the force not be with you SickKids News, Cancer Stem Cell News
Researchers find a new way to address the challenge of brain tumour “stiffness” OICR News
调节肿瘤组织机械特性或可成为肿瘤治疗新方式 BioArt
Ion channel regulation of tumor cell-blood vessel interaction
- Chen X*, Momin A*, Wanggou S*, Wang X, Min HK, Dou W, Gong Z, Chan J, Dong W, Fan JJ, Xiong Y, Talipova K, Zhao H, Chen YX, Veerasammy K, Fekete A, Kumar SA, Liu H, Yang Q, Son JE, Dou Z, Hu M, Pardis P, Juraschka K, Donovan LK, Zhang J, Ramaswamy V, Selvadurai HJ, Dirks PB, Taylor MD, Wang LY, Hui CC, Abzalimov R, He Y, Sun Y, Li X#, Huang X#,§ (2023) Mechanosensitive brain tumor cells construct blood-tumor barrier to mask chemosensitivity. Neuron 111(1):30-48 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) (Cover Article) PMID:36323321
Editorial highlight:
Preview: Breaking down the barrier to medulloblastoma treatment: Piezo2 knockout disrupts the BTB and increases vascular permeability. Neuron 111(1):3-5
Media coverage:
New research rethinks the blood-tumour barrier and identifies novel path to brain cancer treatment SickKids News (Number 1 research story on SickKids.ca in 2022), EurekAlert!, Medical Xpress, News-Medical, Technology Networks
Breaking through the blood-tumour barrier to better treat brain cancer OICR News
Study provides path for overcoming blood-tumor barrier in treating medulloblastoma The Science Advisory Board
Touch receptor plays a role in blood-tumor barrier BioWorld
机械敏感性肿瘤细胞构成的全新血-肿瘤屏障阻碍脑肿瘤化疗 BioArt
New tools for studying ionic dynamics
- Wang X*, Wang T*, Chen X, Law J, Shan G, Tang W, Gong Z, Pan P, Liu X, Yu J, Ru C#, Huang X#, Sun Y# (2022) Microrobotic swarms for intracellular measurement with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. ACS Nano 16(7):10824-10839 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors) PMID:35786860
Review on ion channels in cancer
- Momin A*,#, Bahrampour S*, Min HK*, Chen X*, Wang X, Sun Y, Huang X#,§ (2021) Channeling force in the brain: mechanosensitive ion channels choreograph mechanics and malignancies. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 42(5):367-384 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) (Cover Article) PMID: 33752907
- Fan JJ# and Huang X#,§ (2020) Ion channels in cancer: orchestrators of electrical signaling and cellular crosstalk. Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology (# co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) PMID: 32894333
- Huang X# and Jan LY# (2014) Targeting potassium channels in cancer. Journal of Cell Biology 206(2): 151-62. (# co-corresponding authors) PMID: 25049269
BY YEARS (ALL PUBLICATIONS)
2015 – Present (The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto)
- Chen X*, Momin A*, Wanggou S*, Wang X, Min HK, Dou W, Gong Z, Chan J, Dong W, Fan JJ, Xiong Y, Talipova K, Zhao H, Chen YX, Veerasammy K, Fekete A, Kumar SA, Liu H, Yang Q, Son JE, Dou Z, Hu M, Pardis P, Juraschka K, Donovan LK, Zhang J, Ramaswamy V, Selvadurai HJ, Dirks PB, Taylor MD, Wang LY, Hui CC, Abzalimov R, He Y, Sun Y, Li X#, Huang X#,§ (2023) Mechanosensitive brain tumor cells construct blood-tumor barrier to mask chemosensitivity. Neuron 111(1):30-48 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) (Cover Article) PMID:36323321
- Hendrikse LD*, Haldipur P*, Saulnier O*, Millman J, Sjoboen AH, Erickson A, Ong W, Gordon V, L C-M, Mercier AL, Shokouhian M, Suárez RA, Ly M, Borlase S, Scott DS, Vladoiu MC, Farooq H, Sirbu O, Nakashima T, Nambu S, Funakoshi Y, Bahcheli A, Diaz-Mejia J, Golser J, Bach K, Phuong-Bao T, Skowron P, Wang E, Kumar S, Balin P, Visvanathan A, Lee JJY, Ayoub R, Chen X, Chen X, Mungall KL, Luu B, Bérubé P, Wang YC, Pfister SM, Delattre O, Kim S-K, Bourdeaut F, Doz FP, Masliah-Planchon J, Grajkowska WA, Loukides J, Dirks PB, Fèvre-Montange M, Jouvet A, French PJ, Kros JM, Zitterbart K, Bailey SD, Eberhart CG, Rao AAN, Giannini C, Olson JM, Garami M, Hauser P, Phillips JJ, Ra YS, de Torres C, Mora J, Li KKW, Ng H-K, Poon WS, Pollack IF, López-Aguilar E, Gillespie GY, Van Meter TE, Shofuda T, Vibhakar R, Thompson RC, Cooper MK, Rubin JB, Kumabe T, Jung S, Lach B, Ferrucci V, Antonellis PD, Zollo M, Robinson S, Stearns DS, Van Meir EG, Porrati P, Finocchiaro G, Massimino M, Carlotti CG, Faria CC, Roussel MF, Boop F, Chan JA, Aldinger KA, Razavi F, Silvestri E, McLendon RE, Thompson EM, Ansari M, Garre ML, de León FCP, Aguilar PE, Conti MPPD, Morrissy AS, Cavalli FMG, Wu X, Daniels C, Rich JN, Jones SJM, Moore RA, Marra MA, Huang X, Reimand J, Ellison DW, Sorensen PHB, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Weiss WA, Pugh TJ, Garzia L, Kleinman CL, Stein LD, Jabado N, Malkin D, Ayrault O, Doble B, Ramaswamy V, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE#, Suzuki H#, Millen KJ#, Taylor MD# (2022) Failure of human rhombic lip differentiation constitutes medulloblastoma. Nature (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors) 609(7929): 1021-2018 PMID: 36131014
- Law J*, Wang X*, Luo M, Xin L, Du X, Dou W, Wang T, Shan G, Wang Y, Song P#, Huang X, Yu J#, Sun Y# (2022) Microrobotic swarms for selective embolization. Science Advances 22;8(29):eabm5752 PMID: 35857830
- Wang X*, Wang T*, Chen X, Law J, Shan G, Tang W, Gong Z, Pan P, Liu X, Yu J, Ru C#, Huang X#, Sun Y# (2022) Microrobotic swarms for intracellular measurement with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. ACS Nano 16(7):10824-10839 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors) PMID:35786860
- Yang Q, Jiang N, Zou H, Fan X, Liu T, Huang X, Wanggou S, Li X (2022) Alterations in 3D chromatin organization contribute to tumorigenesis of EGFR-amplified glioblastoma. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 20:1967-1978 PMID: 35521558
- Son JE#, Dou Z, Wanggou S, Chan J, Mo R, Li X, Huang X, Kim K, Michaud JL, Hui CC# (2021) Ectopic expression of Irx3 and Irx5 in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus contributes to defects in Sim1 haploinsufficiency. Science Advances 7(44):eabh4503 (# co-corresponding authors) PMID: 34705510
- Zhang Z, Dai C, Shan G, Chen X, Liu H, Abdalla K, Kuznyetsova I, Moskovstev S, Huang X, Librach C, Jarvi K, Sun Y (2021) Quantitative selection of single human sperm with high DNA integrity for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertility and Sterility 116(5):1308-1318. PMID: 34266663
- Son JE*, Dou Z*, Kim K, Wanggou S, Cha VSB, Mo R, Zhang X, Ketela T, Chen X, Li X, Huang X, Hui CC (2021) Expression of Irx3 and Irx5 in Ins2-Cre+ cells regulates hypothalamic postnatal neurogenesis and leptin response. Nature Metabolism 3(5):701-713 (* contributed equally) PMID: 33859429
- Pryszlak M*, Wiggans M*, Chen X, Jaramillo JE, Burns SE, Richards LM, Pugh TJ, Kaplan DR, Huang X, Dirks PD, Pearson BJ (2021) The DEAD-box helicase DDX56 is a conserved stemness regulator in normal and cancer stem cells. Cell Reports 34(13):108903 (* contributed equally) PMID: 33789112
- Momin A*,#, Bahrampour S*, Min HK*, Chen X*, Wang X, Sun Y, Huang X#,§ (2021) Channeling force in the brain: mechanosensitive ion channels choreograph mechanics and malignancies. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 42(5):367-384 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) (Cover Article) PMID: 33752907
- Shahzad U, Taccone M, Kumar S, Okura H, Krumholtz S, Ishida J, Mine C, Gouveia K, Edgar J, Smith C, Hayes M, Huang X, Derry BW, Taylor MD, and Rutka JT (2021) Modeling human brain tumours in flies, worms, and zebrafish: From proof of principle to novel therapeutic targets. Neuro-Oncology 23(5):718-731. PMID: 33378446
- Fan JJ# and Huang X#,§ (2020) Ion channels in cancer: orchestrators of electrical signaling and cellular crosstalk. Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology (# co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) PMID: 32894333
- Francisco MA, Wanggou S, Fan JJ, Dong W, Chen X, Momin A, Abeysundara N, Min HK, Chan J, McAdam R, Sia M, Pusong RJ, Liu S, Patel N, Ramaswamy V, Kijima N, Wang LY, Song Y, Kafri R, Taylor MD, Li X#, Huang X#,§ (2020) Chloride intracellular channel 1 cooperates with potassium channel EAG2 to promote medulloblastoma growth. Journal of Experimental Medicine 217.5: e20190971 (# co-corresponding authors, § lead contact) PMID:32097463
- Pigott BJ, Peters CJ, He Y, Huang X, Younger S, Jan LY, Jan YN (2019) Paralytic, the Drosophila voltage-gated sodium channel, regulates proliferation of neural progenitors. Genes & Development 1;33(23-24):1739-1750. PMID:31753914
- Suzuki H*, Kumar SA*, Shuai S, Diaz-Navarro A, Gutierrez-Fernandez A, De Antonellis P, Cavalli FMG, Juraschka K, Farooq H, Shibahara I, Vladoiu MC, Zhang J, Abeysundara N, Przelicki D, Skowron P, Gauer N, Luu B, Daniels C, Wu X, Forget A, Momin A, Wang J, Dong W, Kim SK, Grajkowska WA, Jouvet A, Fèvre-Montange M, Garrè ML, Nageswara Rao AA, Giannini C, Kros JM, French PJ, Jabado N, Ng HK, Poon WS, Eberhart CG, Pollack IF, Olson JM, Weiss WA, Kumabe T, López-Aguilar E, Lach B, Massimino M, Van Meir EG, Rubin JB, Vibhakar R, Chambless LB, Kijima N, Klekner A, Bognár L, Chan JA, Faria CC, Ragoussis J, Pfister SM, Goldenberg A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Bailey SD, Garzia L, Morrissy AS, Marra MA, Huang X, Malkin D, Ayrault O, Ramaswamy V, Puente XS, Calarco JA, Stein L, Taylor MD (2019) Recurrent noncoding U1 snRNA mutations drive cryptic splicing in SHH medulloblastoma. Nature 574(7780):707-711 (* contributed equally) PMID:31664194
- Wang YA, Li XL, Mo YZ, Fan CM, Tang L, Xiong F, Guo C, Xiang B, Zhou M, Ma J, Huang X, Wu X, Li Y, Li GY, Zeng ZY, Xiong W (2018) Effects of tumor metabolic microenvironment on regulatory T cells. Molecular Cancer 17(1):168. PMID:30477520
- Chen X, Wanggou S, Bodalia A, Zhu M, Dong W, Fan JJ, Yin WC, Min HK, Hu M, Draghici D, Dou W, Li F, Coutinho FJ, Whetstone H, Kushida MM, Dirks PB, Song Y, Hui CC, Sun Y, Wang LY, Li X, and Huang X (2018) A feedforward mechanism mediated by mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 and tissue mechanics promotes glioma aggression. Neuron 100(4):799-815.e7. PMID:30344046
- Frattini V, Pagnotta SM, Tala, Fan JJ, Russo MV, Lee SB, Garofano L, Zhang J, Shi P, Lewis G, Sanson H, Frederick V, Cerulo L, Rolland DCM, Mall R, Mokhtari K, Elenitoba-Johnson KSJ, Sanson M, Huang X, Ceccarelli M, Lasorella A, Iavarone A (2018) A metabolic function of FGFR3-TACC3 gene fusions in cancer. Nature 553, 222–227. PMID:29323298
- Park NI, Guilhamon P, Desai K, McAdam RF, Langille E, O’Connor M, Lan X, Whetstone H, Coutinho FC, Vanner RJ, Ling E, Prinos P, Lee L, Selvadurai, H, Atwal G, Kushida M, Clarke ID, Voisin V, Cusimano MD, Bernstein M, Das S, Bader G, Arrowsmith CH, Angers S, Huang X, Lupien M, Dirks PB. (2017) ASCL1 reorganizes chromatin to direct neuronal fate and suppress tumorigenicity. Cell Stem Cell 21(2):209-224.e7. PMID: 28712938
- Agnihotri S, Golbourn B, Huang X, Remke M, Younger S, Cairns RA, Chalil A, Smith CA, Krumholtz SL, MacKenzie D, Rakopoulos P, Ramaswamy V, Taccone MS, Mischel PS, Fuller GN, Hawkins C, Stanford WL, Taylor MD, Zadeh G, Rutka JT. (2016) PINK1 is a Negative Regulator of Growth and the Warburg Effect in Glioblastoma. Cancer Research 76(16):4708-19. PMID: 2732564
- Morrissy AS*, Garzia L*, Shih DJH, Zuyderduyn S, Huang X, Skowron P, Remke M, Cavalli FMG, Ramaswamy V, Lindsay P, Jelveh S, Donovan LK, Wang X, Luu B, Zayne K, Li Y, Mayoh C, Thiessen N, Mercier E, Mungall KL, Yusanne M, Tse K, Zeng T, Shumansky K, Roth AJL, Shah S, Farooq H, Kijima N, Holgado BL, Lee JJY, Matan-Lithwick S, Liu J, Mack SC, Manno A, Michaelraj KA, Nor C, Peacock J, Qin L, Reimand J, Rolider A, Thompson YY, Wu X, Pugh T, Ally A, Bilenky M, Butterfied YSN, Carlsen R, Cheng Y, Chuah E, Corbett RD, Dhalla N, He A, Lee D, Li HI, Long W, Mayo M, Plettner P, Qian JQ, Schein JE, Tam A, Wong T, Birol I, Zhao Y, Faria CC, Pimentel J, Bendel AE, Fults DW, Walter AW, Kumabe T, Tominaga T, Collins VP, Cho YJ, Hoffman C, Lyden D, Wisoff J, Garvin JH, Stearns DS, Massimi L, Schuller U, Sterba J, Zitterbart K, Puget S, Ayrault O, Dunn SE, Tirapelli DPC, Carlotti CG, Wheeler H, Hallahan AR, Ingram W, MacDonald TJ, Olson JJ, Van Meir EG, Lee JY, Wang KC, Kim SK, Cho BK, Pietsch T, Fleischack G, Tippelt S, Ra YS, Bailey S, Lindsay JC, Clifford SC, Eberhart CG, Cooper MK, Packer R, Massimino M, Garre ML, Bartels U, Tabori U, Hawkins C, Dirks P, Bouffet E, Rutka JT, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Weiss WA, Collier LS, Dupuy AJ, Korshunov A, Jones DTW, Kool M, Northcott PA, Pfister SM, Largaespada DA, Mungall AJ, Moore RA, Jabado N, Bader GD, Jones JM, Malkin D, Marra MA#. Taylor MD#. (2016) Divergent Clonal Selection Drives Medulloblastoma at Recurrence. Nature 529, 351–357 (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors). PMID: 26760213
2010 – 2015 (University of California, San Francisco)
- Huang X*, He Y*, Dubuc AM*, Hashizume R, Zhang W, Reimand J, Yang H, Wang TA, Stehbens S, Younger S, Barshow S, Zhu S, Cooper MK, Peacock J, Ramaswamy V, Garzia L, Wu X, Remke M, Forester CM, Kim CC, Weiss WA, James CD, Shuman MA, Bader GD, Mueller S, Taylor MD, Jan YN#, Jan LY#. (2015) EAG2 potassium channel with evolutionarily conserved function as a brain tumor target. Nature Neuroscience 18(9): 1236-46. (* contributed equally, # co-corresponding authors) PMID: 26258683
- Song Y, Sretavan D, Salegio E, Berg J, Huang X, Cheng T, Xiong X, Meltzer S, Han C, Nguyen TT, Bresnahan JC, Beattie MS, Jan LY, Jan YN. (2015) Regulation of axon regeneration by the RNA repair and splicing pathway. Nature Neuroscience 18(6): 817-25. PMID: 25961792
- Hashizume R, Andor N, Ihara Y, Lerner R, Gan H, Chen X, Fang D, Huang X, Tom MW, Ngo V, Solomon D, Mueller S, Paris PL, Zhang Z, Petritsch C, Gupta N, Waldman TA, James CD. (2014) Pharmacologic inhibition of histone demethylation as a therapy for pediatric brainstem glioma. Nature Medicine (12): 1394-1396. PMID: 25401693
- Huang X# and Jan LY#. (2014) Targeting potassium channels in cancer. Journal of Cell Biology 206(2): 151-62. (# co-corresponding authors) PMID: 25049269
- Huang X, Dubuc AM, Hashizume R, Berg J, He Y, Wang J, Chiang C, Cooper MK, Northcott PA, Taylor MD, Barnes MJ, Tihan T, Chen J, Hackett CS, Weiss WA, James CD, Rowitch DH, Shuman MA, Jan YN, Jan LY. (2012) Voltage-gated potassium channel EAG2 controls mitotic entry and tumor growth in medulloblastoma via regulating cell volume dynamics. Genes & Development 15; 26(16): 1780-96. (Cover Article) PMID: 22855790
- Cheng FY*, Huang X*, Sarangi A, Ketova T, Cooper MK, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2012) Widespread contribution of Gdf7 lineage to cerebellar cell types and implications for Hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma formation PLoS ONE. 7(4): e35541. (* contributed equally) PMID: 22539980
2004 – 2010 (Vanderbilt University)
- Huang X, Liu J, Ketova T, Fleming JT, Grover VK, Cooper MK, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2010) Transventricular delivery of Sonic hedgehog is essential to cerebellar ventricular zone development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 107(18): 8422-7. PMID: 20400693
- Huang X, Sarangi A, Ketova T, Litingtung Y, Cooper MK, Chiang C. (2010) Intracranial orthotopic allografting of medulloblastoma cells in immunocompromised mice. Journal of Visualized Experiments (44). pii: 2153. PMID: 20972404
- Huang X, Ketova T, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2010) Isolation, enrichment and maintenance of medulloblastoma stem cells. Journal of Visualized Experiments (43). pii: 2086. PMID: 20834221
- Huang X, Ketova T, Fleming JT, Wang H, Dey SK, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2009) Sonic hedgehog signaling regulates a novel epithelial progenitor domain of the hindbrain choroid plexus. Development. 136(15): 2535-43. PMID: 19570847
Editorial highlight:
Shh, choroid plexus growth in progress. Development. (2009) 136: e1502
- Oh S*, Huang X*, Liu J, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2009) Shh and Gli3 activities are required for timely generation of motor neuron progenitors. Developmental Biology 331(2): 261-9. (* contributed equally) PMID: 19433083
- Huang X*, Goudy SL*, Ketova T, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2008) Gli3-deficient mice exhibit cleft palate associated with abnormal tongue development. Developmental Dynamics 237(10): 3079-87 (* contributed equally) PMID: 18816854
- Fogel JL, Chiang C, Huang X, Agarwala S. (2008) Ventral specification and perturbed boundary formation in the mouse midbrain in the absence of Hedgehog signaling. Developmental Dynamics 237(5): 1359-72. PMID: 18429041
- Huang X, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2007) Region-specific requirement for cholesterol modification of sonic hedgehog in patterning the telencephalon and spinal cord. Development 134(11): 2095-10 PMID: 17507410
- Huang X, Litingtung Y, Chiang C. (2007) Ectopic sonic hedgehog signaling impairs telencephalic dorsal midline development: implication for human holoprosencephaly. Human Molecular Genetics 16(12): 1454-68. PMID: 17468181
- Oh S, Huang X, Chiang C. (2005) Specific requirements of sonic hedgehog signaling during oligodendrocyte development. Developmental Dynamics 234(3): 489-96. PMID: 15880651
Lab socials
Lab tour
Be part of our team
We always wish to hear from talented candidates who are interested in joining our lab.
There are two priorities in the Huang lab:
1. Performing mechanistic studies to discover the unknown functions of ion channels during development and tumourigenesis
2. Realizing the best potential and fostering the career development of all lab members
Before every lab member joins, both scientific and career goals will be discussed with the PI, and a plan to achieve these goals will be laid out. Both postdoctoral fellows and graduate students will be able to choose from a number of projects depending on his/her interests, and they are encouraged to test their own ideas and develop new directions.
Postdoctoral fellows are expected to independently lead projects with input from the PI and other lab members. While graduate students will initially work closely with the PI and senior members in the lab, they will also be fostered to develop independence and become the pilots of their projects.
Besides the general lab duties, lab manager and research assistants are also encouraged to take on scientific projects depending on his/her interests and talents. Everyone is expected to work smart and do the best science, and the PI will make every effort to develop a collegial lab environment and promote the professional growth of all lab members.
The lab succeeds when its members succeed!
Prospective postdoctoral fellows can apply directly by sending their CV and cover letter outlining their research interests to Dr. Huang
Individuals interested in joining the lab as a graduate student must be admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto
Undergraduate students can join the lab as long as they are enrolled in any department at a recognized university
Contact information
Dr. Xi Huang
Senior Scientist
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
686 Bay Street, Room 16.9704
Toronto, ON M5G 0A4
Office: (416) 813-7654 Ext: 309526
Main Lab: 16.9420 (Ext: 309527)
Fly Lab: 15.9400 (Ext: 309528)
Ms. Nalma Uy
Administrative Assistant to Dr. Xi Huang
Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
686 Bay Street, 16.9801-U1
Toronto, ON M5G 0A4
(416) 813-7654 Ext: 309120