Xin LIANG Ph.D.
Associate Professor
1999-2003 B.Sc. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2003-2007 Ph.D. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2008-2014 Postdoctoral fellow MPI-CBG
2015-2019 Max-Planck Partner Group Leader Tsinghua University
2015- Assistant Professor, Associate Professor Tsinghua University
Research interest
How do molecules assemble to form a cell, and how do cells organize into tissues? Our research seeks to answer these fundamental questions by uncovering the structural and dynamic principles that govern cellular organization. We investigate cytoskeleton-based molecular complexes that shape cellular architecture and function during development. By combining optical and electron microscopy with biophysical measurements, genetics, and biochemical approaches, we examine how these complexes assemble, operate, and adapt in living systems. In selected projects, we collaborate closely with theoretical physicists to integrate experimental observations with cross-scale modeling. Our primary model systems include Drosophila sensory neurons and mouse neurons, complemented by studies in other cell types such as fly germ cells, cultured mammalian cells, and vertebrate ciliated cells. By dissecting the specific molecular mechanisms in these model systems, we aim to elucidate general principles that govern cellular dynamics and organization across diverse biological contexts.
Courses offered
Physiology (undergraduate), 48 lectures
Selected publications
1) Wang, S., Hu, Y.T., Chen, Y.R., Weng, K.F., Yang, J.R., Li, D., Cui, L., Chen, W., Wu, M.H., Sun, L.D., He, J. F. Song, X. W. Zhang, J. W. Xi, Y. H. Fu, J. Y. Ma, R. Liang, X. (2026). Localized Active Transport Shapes the Nanoscopic Features at the Tip of Mechanosensory Cilia. Journal of Cell Biology.
2) Shao, J., Zhang, R., Wu, P., Xu, H., Zhou, Z., Chen, W., Gu, L., Wang, L., Luo, S., Ren, J., Huan, Q. Huang, X. Xie, Q. Wang, Y. Ji, W. Feng, W. Liang, X. Meng, W. (2026). Systematic identification of microtubule lumen proteins reveals a taxane-sensitive luminal resident JPT2 regulating MEC17 accessibility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 123, e2520123123.
3) Zhu, J.L., and Liang, X. (2025). TUBA4A: The Tale of an Unconventional Tubulin. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken). 10.1002/cm.70044. (Invited review)
4) Chen, W., Song, Y.L., He, J.F., and Liang, X. (2025). MCAK recognizes the nucleotide-dependent feature at growing microtubule ends. Elife 12. 10.7554/eLife.92958.
5) Song X.W., Cui L.H., Wu M.H., Wang S., Song Y.L., Liu Z., Xue Z.Y., Chen W., Zhang Y.J., Li H., Sun L.D., Liang X. (2023) DCX-EMAP is A Core Organizer for the Ultrastructure of Drosophila Mechanosensory Organelles. Journal of Cell Biology 2023 Oct 2;222(10) (Cover and spotlight article)
6) Liu, Z., Wu, M.H., Wang, Q.X., Lin, S.Z., Feng, X.Q., Li, B., and Liang, X. (2022). Drosophila mechanical nociceptors preferentially sense localized poking. eLife 11. (eLife insight & eLife digest)
7) Sun, L., Cui, L., Liu, Z., Wang, Q., Xue, Z., Wu, M., Sun, T., Mao, D., Ni, J., Pastor-Pareja, J.C., Liang, X. (2021). Katanin p60-like 1 sculpts the cytoskeleton in mechanosensory cilia. Journal of Cell Biology 220. (Cover article)
8) Li, S., Wan, K.Y., Chen, W., Tao, H., Liang, X., and Pan, J. (2020). Functional exploration of heterotrimeric kinesin-II in IFT and ciliary length control in Chlamydomonas. Elife 9.
9) Song, Y., Zhang, Y., Pan, Y., He, J., Wang, Y., Chen, W., Guo, J., Deng, H., Xue, Y., Fang, X., Liang, X. (2020). The microtubule end-binding affinity of EB1 is enhanced by a dimeric organization that is susceptible to phosphorylation. Journal of Cell Science 133.
10) Sun, L., Gao, Y., He, J., Cui, L., Meissner, J., Verbavatz, J.M., Li, B., Feng, X., and Liang, X. (2019a). Ultrastructural organization of NompC in the mechanoreceptive organelle of Drosophila campaniform mechanoreceptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 116, 7343-7352. (Highlighted in Faculty 1000)
Awards
2015 Max-Planck Partner Group Program
Contact information
Email: xinliang@tsinghua.edu.cn
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7915-8094/print
