- PhD, Stanford University (2019)
Education & Training
Ion channels at synapses have big jobs. Ion channels conduct signals, maintain homeostasis, and convert chemical neurotransmitter signals into electrical currents. Furthermore, during forms of synaptic plasticity, ion channel numbers, organization, and properties change in meaningful ways that encode information. How do channels carry out all of these functions? How do disruptions in ion channels cause disease? And how can we target these channels for therapeutic benefit?
In the Hale lab, we examine ion channel structure using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) in which we take thousands of images of millions of channels and create three-dimensional reconstructions of the structures of these channels. Using this approach we identify how these channels function, how their function goes awry and the mechanisms of action of drugs targeting synaptic ion channels
Hale, W.D., Wang, H., Huganir, R.L. & Twomey, E.C. Structural basis for activation and conformational plasticity of the GluA4 AMPA receptor. Nat Commun (2026) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68953-9
Merrion, H.G., Barber, C.N., Renuse, S., Cutler, J., Kreimer, S., Bygrave, A.M., Meyers, D.J., Hale, W.D., Pandey, A., & Huganir, R.L. Dynamic extracellular interactions with AMPA receptors. (2025) DOI 10.1073/pnas.2517436122
Hale, W.D., Montaño Romero, A., Koylass, N., Warrick, C.R., Qiu, Z., Huganir, R.L. & Twomey, E.C. Structure of Transmembrane AMPA Receptor Regulatory Protein Subunit γ2. Nat Comms. 16, 671 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56027-1
Hale, W.D., Montaño Romero, A., Gonzalez, C.U., et al. Allosteric competition and inhibition in AMPA receptors. Nat Struct Mol Biol (2024) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-024-01328-0
Hale W.D., Südhof, T.C. & Huganir, R.L. Engineered adhesion molecules drive synapse organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 120, e2215905120 (2023).
Wu X., Morishita W.K., Riley A.M., Hale W.D., Sudhof T.C., Malenka R.C. Neuroligin-1 Signaling Controls LTP and NMDA Receptors by Distinct Molecular Pathways. Neuron 2019. 102(3):621-635.e3 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.02.013.
Zhang B., Gokce O., Hale W.D., Brose N., Südhof T.C. Autism-Associated Neuroligin-4 Mutation Selectively Impairs Glycinergic Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Brainstem Synapses. J Exp Med. Jun 2018, 215 (6) 1543-1553; DOI: 10.1084/jem.20172162
Chanda S., Hale W.D., Zhang B., Wernig M., Südhof T.C. Unique versus Redundant Functions of Neuroligin Genes in Shaping Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapse Properties. J Neurosci. 2017 Jul 19;37(29):6816-6836
