Research Interests
◆Microenvironment, signal transduction and diseases: Cells interact with extra cellular matrix through the forming cell-matrix adhesions, which in turn leads to reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and signal transduction. The assembly and disassembly of cell-matrix adhesions allow cells to move and are critical for embryonic organ development and postnatal cell function and tissue homeostasis. Conversely, defective control of cell-matrix formation is involved in cancer metastasis. The goal of our research is to obtain a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the cell-matrix adhesion is regulated. We combine cell biology and biochemical approaches to investigate cell-adhesion dynamics. Recent interests include the mechanism of assembly, disassembly, and trafficking of adhesion protein complexes that act in regulation of integrin functions. Two protein complexes that emerged from these studies are ILK-PINCH-parvin ternary complex and kindlin-migfilin-filamin complex. ILK-PINCH-parvin complex functions as a signal hub of integrin-mediated signaling by interacting with actin cytoskeleton and many diverse signalling pathways, while kindlin-migfilin-filamin complex play key roles in integrin activation. We use microscopy, including cutting edge fluorescence-based technologies to study questions at different spatial scales.
◆Pancreatic beta-cell biology: The molecular mechanism by which Binding immunoglobulin protein (Bip）acts in protecting human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) induced beta-cell damage.

Professional Experience
◆ 2020-present: Teaching Professor,Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology of China
◆ 2012-2019: Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology of China
◆ 2011-2012: Research Associate The Chinese University of Hong Kong
◆ 2009-2011: Research Associate The University of Science and Technology of Hong Kong
◆ 2003-2008: Postdoctoral Fellow National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA)

Educational Background
◆ PhD Department of Biology Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany) 2002
◆ MS Department of Biology Shandong University 1999
◆ BS Department of Biology Shandong University 1996

Selected Publication
1. Liu Z, Kwan T, Cheng, Shi Z, Liu Z, Lei Y, Wang C, Shi W, Chen X, Qi X, Cai D, Feng B, Deng Y*, Chen C and Zhao H. Efficient genome editing of genes involved in neural crest development using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in Xenopus embryos . Cell Biosci (2016) 6:22.
2. Wang C, Kam RK, Shi W, Xia Y, Chen X, Cao Y, Sun J, Du Y, Lu G, Chen Z, Chan WY, Chan SO, Deng Y*, Zhao H. The Proto-oncogene Transcription Factor Ets1 Regulates Neural Crest Development through Histone Deacetylase 1 to Mediate Output of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling. J Biol Chem. (2015) 290: 21925.
3. Shi W, Xu G, Wang C, Sperber SM, Chen Y, Zhou Q, Deng Y*, Zhao H*. Heat Shock 70-kDa Protein 5 (Hspa5) Is Essential for Pronephros Formation by Mediating Retinoic Acid Signaling.J Biol Chem. (2015) 290:577. (* co-corresponding author)
4. Lei Y, Guo X, Deng Y, Chen Y, Zhao H Generation of gene disruptions by transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) in Xenopus tropicalis embryos. Cell Biosci. (2013) 3: 21.
5. Kang ZF, Deng Y, Zhou Y, Fan RR, Chan JC, Laybutt DR, Luzuriaga J, Xu G. Pharmacological reduction of NEFA restores the efficacy of incretin-based therapies through GLP-1 receptor signalling in the beta cell in mouse models of diabetes. Diabetologia(2013) 56: 423.
6. Lei Y, Guo X, Liu Y, Cao Y, Deng Y, Chen X, Cheng CH, Dawid IB, Chen Y, Zhao H. Efficient targeted gene disruption in Xenopus embryos using engineered transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2012) 109: 17484.
7. Kam RK, Deng, Y, Chen Y, Zhao H. Retinoic acid synthesis and functions in early embryonic development.Cell Biosci. (2012) 2: 11.
8. Deng Y*, Guo Y*, Watson H, Au WC, Shakoury-Elizeh M, Basrai MA, Bonifacino JS, Philpott CC. GGA2 mediates sequential ubiquitin-independent and -dependent steps in the trafficking of ARN1 from the trans-golgi network to the vacuole. J Biol Chem (2009) 284: 23830-23841. (* co-first author)
9. Deng Y*, Golinelli-Cohen M*, Smirnova E, and Jackson CL. A COPI coat subunit interacts directly with an early-Golgi localized Arf Exchange Factor. EMBO Rep (2009) 10: 58-64. (* co-first author)
10. Kim Y*, Deng Y*, Philpott CC. GGA2- and Ubiquitin-dependent Trafficking of Arn1, the Ferrichrome Transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Biol Cell (2007) 18: 1790-1802. (* co-first author)
11. Deng Y, Schmidtmann A, Kruse S, Filatov V, Heilmeyer LM Jr, Jaquet K Thieleczek R. Phosphorylation of human cardiac troponin I G203S and K206Qlinked to familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects actomyosin interaction in different ways. J Mol Cell Cardiol (2003) 35: 1365-1374.
12. Deng Y, Schmidtmann A., Redlich A., Westerdorf B., Jaquet K, Thieleczek R. Effects of Phosphorylation and Mutation R145G on Human Cardiac Troponin I Function. Biochemistry (2001) 40: 14593-14602.