Membrane Protein Research and NMR spectroscopy

Computational biology; bioinformatics; theoretical biophysics and chemistry; molecular model development; protein-protein interaction; (Non)-equilibrium dynamics, conformational changes and interactions of essential enzymes, RNA molecules, ribosome, ion channels and growth factors; peptide and protein design. (wet and dry)

Structural and functional analyses of vaccinia viral proteins and protein-protein complexes; solid-state NMR characterization of steroidal conformation.

Physical Cell Biology

Using cryo-electron microscopy, single-molecular imaging, and bioorthogonal chemical methods to probe the dynamics and kinetics underlying the machinery of transcription, splicing, virus entry or other processes.

Investigating the structural dynamics and mechanisms of membrane proteins using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry.

Structural dynamics of tyrosine phosphatases; host-microbiome interaction

Structural mechanism of protein ubiquitination involved in human diseases; structural biology and protein chemistry.

CryoEM, protein crystallography, glycan binding protein for diagnosis, plant submergence responses, DNA repair machinery

• Metabolic regulation of bacterial growth and division
• Cell wall synthesis and cell shape
• Host-pathogen interactions

To unravel the signaling mechanisms in immune responses and tumor development by the reconstitution of the signaling complexes and subsequent structural and functional studies.

We focused on development and application of novel computational methods, including artificial intelligence approaches, for drug discovery and structural bioinformatics.

Integrative structural biology focusing on the functional dynamics of biomedically important protein targets, including coronavirus spike proteins. Tools include cryo-EM, NMR, crystallography, SAXS, MS and molecular modeling to help glean insights into the structural basis of functional regulations.

Surface Physical and Materials Chemistry, Chemical and Systems Biology.

Protein folding and misfolding; mechanism and prevention of prion formation; therapy of Alzheimer's disease.

• Autophagy
• Organelle damage responses
• Cell imaging
• Optogenetics

• DNA damage and Repair
• Genome stability and Cancer
• Biochemistry

Molecular dynamics in live cells by advanced optical microscopy

Nanomagnetism and Bioelectronics, MagnetoBiology.

1. The effects of biomechanical forces on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
2. Cancer immunotherapy

Our lab is interested in revealing hidden biological rhythms and in deciphering their underlying regulatory principles. Rhythmic systems that we investigate include oscillators, toggle switches and trigger waves, especially those that govern cellular survival, death, and differentiation. We take a multifaced quantitative approach integrating concepts and methods in biology, mathematics, engineering and informatics. Our ultimate goal is to reveal general principles in biology for its design and control.

Research: The spatial organization of the cellular cytoplasm has fascinated cell biologists since the advent of microscopy. My research is centered on unraveling the complexities underlying the organization and functionality of micron-sized microtubule arrays. Specifically, I investigate their roles in facilitating mitosis progression, ciliogenesis, and neuronal maturation. Additionally, I explore how nuclear transport factors influence the organization of microtubule-based structures, such as the spindle and anemone, through both canonical and non-canonical activities. Beyond fundamental cell biology, my research extends to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer drug resistance. Given the significance of tubulin as a target for anti-cancer drugs, we are focusing on elucidating the mechanisms responsible for drug resistance. This study aims to deepen our understanding of cancer drug resistance and potentially uncover new avenues for the development of more effective cancer treatments. In pursuit of these objectives, we reconstitute and image the self-organization of microtubule-based structures from the protein building blocks. In the lab, we apply an interdisciplinary approach, including biochemical, structural biology, biophysical and cell biology methods, to uncover cellular mechanisms. Through our endeavors, the ultimate goal is to unveil the mechanistic links connecting cytoskeletal organization with essential cell functions.