LIU LAB · RESEARCH OUTPUT

Publications

Discoveries across bioelectricity, active matter, and the physical principles of living systems.

2026

Bioelectricity · Regeneration

Injury-induced electrochemical coupling triggers organ growth

Jinghui Liu, Elisa Nerli, Charlie Duclut, Amit S. Vishen, et al.

Science Advances · 12, eaec0687 (2026)

How does a wounded organ turn electrical signals into growth? Using live imaging, perturbations, and electrodiffusive theory in zebrafish fins, we uncover how rapid membrane depolarization couples to calcium signaling and activates cell proliferation through voltage-sensing phosphatase, enabling regeneration.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Injury-induced electrochemical coupling triggers organ growth

Active Matter · Cell Mechanics

Active mechanics of sea star oocytes

Peter J. Foster, Alexandra Zampetaki, Jinghui Liu, Sebastian Fürthauer, Nikta Fakhri

Physical Review Research · 8, 043103 (2026)

What determines how quickly a cell changes shape? Combining experiments on sea star oocytes with active-fluid theory, we show that cortical deformation depends on a balance between contractile stress and viscosity, both controlled by the molecular composition of actomyosin networks.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Active mechanics of sea star oocytes

2025

Optogenetics · Morphogenesis

Light-induced cortical excitability reveals programmable shape dynamics in starfish oocytes

Jinghui Liu, Tom Burkart, Alexander Ziepke, et al.

Nature Physics · 21, 846–855 (2025)

Can we program the shape of a living cell using light? By optogenetically controlling cortical excitability in starfish oocytes, we generate a spectrum of deformations—from localized pinching to traveling contraction waves—and develop a quantitative model connecting biochemical activation to cell geometry.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Light-induced cortical excitability reveals programmable shape dynamics in starfish oocytes

2024

Phase Separation · Membranes

Actin polymerization counteracts prewetting of N-WASP on supported lipid bilayers

Tina Wiegand, Jinghui Liu, Lutz Vogeley, Isabel LuValle-Burke, et al.

PNAS · 121, e2407497121 (2024)

How do protein condensates form and dissolve on biological membranes? Using a reconstituted lipid-bilayer system, we show that N-WASP forms surface condensates through a prewetting transition, while actin polymerization opposes their formation. This reveals a physical mechanism for dynamically regulating cortical organization.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Actin polymerization counteracts prewetting of N-WASP on supported lipid bilayers

2021

Topology · Biochemical Waves

Topological braiding and virtual particles on the cell membrane

Jinghui Liu, Jan F. Totz, Pearson W. Miller, Alasdair D. Hastewell, et al.

PNAS · 118, e2104191118 (2021)

Can living cells exhibit dynamics reminiscent of particles in quantum matter? We track the trajectories of topological defects in biochemical waves on starfish egg membranes, revealing spontaneous braiding, virtual particle-like excitations, and connections between cellular activity and topological information.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Topological braiding and virtual particles on the cell membrane

Pattern Formation · Cell Shape

A hierarchy of protein patterns robustly decodes cell shape information

Manon C. Wigbers, Tzer Han Tan, Fridtjof Brauns, Jinghui Liu, S. Zachary Swartz, Erwin Frey, Nikta Fakhri

Nature Physics · 17, 578–584 (2021)

How do cells coordinate biochemical activity despite changes in their shape? Combining experiments and theory, we show that a hierarchy of cytosolic gradients, bistable regulation, and excitable Rho signaling enables starfish oocytes to adapt their biochemical patterns to cellular geometry.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of A hierarchy of protein patterns robustly decodes cell shape information

2020

Topology · Active Matter

Topological turbulence in the membrane of a living cell

Tzer Han Tan, Jinghui Liu, Pearson W. Miller, Melis Tekant, Jörn Dunkel, Nikta Fakhri

Nature Physics · 16, 657–662 (2020)

Can the surface of a living cell behave like a turbulent fluid? We discover defect-mediated turbulence in biochemical signaling waves on starfish egg membranes, showing that their collective dynamics obey statistical principles closely related to classical and quantum fluid systems.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Topological turbulence in the membrane of a living cell

2016

Ecology · Collective Dynamics

Resource availability modulates the cooperative and competitive nature of a microbial cross-feeding mutualism

Tim A. Hoek, Kevin Axelrod, Tommaso Biancalani, Eugene A. Yurtsev, Jinghui Liu, Jeff Gore

PLOS Biology · 14, e1002540 (2016)

What determines whether microbial species cooperate or compete? Using engineered yeast communities and mathematical modeling, we demonstrate how nutrient availability drives transitions between mutualism, competition, and extinction, revealing dynamical signatures that can anticipate ecological collapse.

Read publication ↗

Visual summary of Resource availability modulates the cooperative and competitive nature of a microbial cross-feeding mutualism