Dr. Tingting Yang

Biography

Tingting Yang is an Associate Professor in the Ophthalmic Sciences at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Her research focuses on the structure and function regulation of ion channels in the eye and the pathological mechanisms of diseases associated with these channels. Recent work has concentrated on family calcium (Ca2+)-activated chloride (Cl-) channels, particularly bestrophins, which are widely distributed across bacteria and mammals. Yang's studies reveal that two human bestrophin paralogs, bestrophin-1 (Best1) and bestrophin-2 (Best2), are crucial in various (patho)physiological events in the eye. The Best1 channel, located in the retinal pigment epithelium, is essential for generating vision-related electrical signals known as light peaks, with over 250 genetic mutations in the BEST1 gene linked to a spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases, such as early-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy. Best2, present in the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, plays a role in aqueous humor formation and drainage, influencing intra-ocular pressure (IOP). Abnormalities in IOP maintenance can lead to glaucoma, making Best2 a promising target for pharmaceuticals aimed at lowering IOP. Yang employs a multidisciplinary platform that includes cryo-electron microscopy, crystallography, electrophysiology, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in her work, which encompasses solving the structures of Best1 and Best2, understanding their regulatory mechanisms, and establishing gene therapies for relevant diseases.

Research Interests