A5100362078- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Magnetic Bearings and Levitation Dynamics
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
- Freezing and Crystallization Processes
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Tribology and Lubrication Engineering
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
Yale University
2016-2025
Peking University People's Hospital
2025
Peking University
2011-2025
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2007-2024
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
2024
Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
2024
Xiamen University
2023-2024
Capital Medical University
2013-2024
Tsinghua University
2020-2024
Beijing Ditan Hospital
2024
We used electron tomography to directly visualize trilobed presumptive envelope (env) glycoprotein structures on the surface of negatively stained HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) virions. Wild–type HIV-1 SIV virions had an average 8–10 trimers per virion, consistent with predictions based biochemical evidence. Mutant SIVs, biochemically demonstrated contain high levels viral env proteins, averaged 70–79 virion in tomograms. These correlations strongly indicate that...
Adsorption and genome ejection are fundamental to the bacteriophage life cycle, yet their molecular mechanisms not well understood. We used cryo-electron tomography capture T7 virions at successive stages of infection Escherichia coli minicells ~4-nm resolution. The six phage tail fibers were folded against capsid, extending orienting symmetrically only after productive adsorption host cell surface. Receptor binding by triggered conformational changes resulting in insertion an extended tail,...
Bacterial type III secretion machines are widely used to inject virulence proteins into eukaryotic host cells. These evolutionarily related bacterial flagella and consist of a large cytoplasmic complex, transmembrane basal body, an extracellular needle. The complex forms sorting platform essential for effector selection needle assembly, but it remains largely uncharacterized. Here we use high-throughput cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) visualize intact in virulent Shigella flexneri strain...
Significance The bacteriophage T4 tail is a complex nanomachine that undergoes succession of structural changes as it infects bacterium. We analyzed cryo-electron microscopic images at different stages infection. Three-dimensional visualization key intermediates revealed unprecedented details, allowing better understanding this fundamental and highly efficient process. Contrary to common descriptions, most long fibers are folded back against the virion before infection, not all interact with...
Therapeutic manipulation of the gut microbiota holds great potential for human health. The mechanisms bacteria use to colonize therefore present valuable targets clinical intervention. We now report that phase separation enhance fitness in mammalian gut. establish intrinsically disordered region (IDR) broadly and highly conserved transcription termination factor Rho is necessary sufficient vivo vitro commensal
Bacterial flagella and type IV pili (TFP) are surface appendages that enable motility mechanosensing through distinct mechanisms. These structures were previously thought to have no components in common. Here, we report TFP some share proteins PilO, PilN, PilM, which identified as part of the Helicobacter pylori flagellar motor. H. mutants lacking PilO or PilN migrated better than wild semisolid agar because they continued swimming rather aggregated into microcolonies, mimicking...
Heart muscle has the unique property that it can never rest; all cardiomyocytes contract with each heartbeat which requires a complex control mechanism to regulate cardiac output physiological requirements. Changes in calcium concentration thin filament activation. A separate but linked regulates thick activation, frees sufficient myosin heads bind filament, thereby producing required force. Thick filaments contain additional nonmyosin proteins, myosin-binding protein C and titin, latter...
Transport by discrete vesicular carriers is well established at least in part because of recent discoveries identifying key protein mediators vesicle formation, docking, and fusion. A general mechanism sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) required for the transport a divergent group all eukaryotes. Many endothelia have an abundant population non-coated plasmalemmal vesicles or caveolae, which been reported with considerable controversy function transport. We recently shown that like other...
Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal epithelium and causes diarrheal disease worldwide. Innate epithelial immune responses are key mediators of host's defense to C. parvum. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional level involved in regulation both innate adaptive responses. Using an vitro model human cryptosporidiosis, we analyzed parvum-induced miRNA biliary cells (i.e., cholangiocytes). Our results demonstrated...
The chemoreceptors of Escherichia coli localize to the cell poles and form a highly ordered array in concert with CheA kinase CheW coupling factor. However, high-resolution structure has been lacking, molecular basis assembly thus remained elusive. Here, we use cryoelectron tomography flagellated E. minicells derive 3D map intact array. Docking structures into provides model core signaling complex, which CheA/CheW dimer bridges two adjacent receptor trimers via multiple hydrophobic...
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been found to widely exist in eukaryotes and play important roles key biological processes. To extend our knowledge of lncRNAs crop plants we performed both non-directional strand-specific RNA-sequencing experiments profile transcriptomes various rice maize organs at different developmental stages. Analysis more than 3 billion reads identified 22 334 long intergenic (lincRNAs) 6673 pairs sense natural antisense transcript (NAT). Many lincRNA genes...
Myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C) is a thick filament playing an essential role in muscle contraction, and MyBP-C mutations cause heart skeletal disease millions worldwide. Despite its discovery 40 y ago, the mechanism of function remains unknown. In vitro studies suggest that could regulate contraction unique way—by bridging thin filaments—but there has been no evidence for this vivo. Here we use electron tomography exceptionally well preserved to demonstrate does indeed bind actin intact...
The bacterial flagellar motor is a remarkable nanomachine that provides motility through rotation. Prior structural studies have revealed the stunning complexity of purified rotor and C-ring assemblies from motors. In this study, we used high-throughput cryo-electron tomography image analysis intact Borrelia burgdorferi to produce three-dimensional (3-D) model in situ without imposing rotational symmetry. Structural details B. burgdorferi, including layer outer surface proteins, were clearly...
The Ten-Eleven-Translocation 2 (TET2) gene, which oxidates 5-methylcytosine in DNA to 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC), is a key tumor suppressor frequently mutated hematopoietic malignancies. However, the molecular regulation of TET2 expression poorly understood. We show that under extensive microRNA (miRNA) regulation, and such targeting an important pathogenic mechanism Using high-throughput 3′ UTR activity screen, we identify >30 miRNAs inhibit cellular 5hmC. Forced TET2-targeting vivo...