(5df) From Genetic and Metabolic Engineering to Cell Mechanics and Genetic Diseases

My research initiated from genetic and metabolic engineering. By rationally design of functional genes and selection of host stains, we can produce and enhance the productivity of many natural products such as functional proteins and secondary metabolites. We successfully expressed and obtained functional host-toxic peptides (human beta defensins) in E.coli and cell-free system. Their antimicrobial function were tested in disease-causing bacteria. We also construct an S. cerevisiae stain with high productivity of S-Adenosyl methionine by gene modification and industrial scale-up, which has been used in industrial SAM-e production. The techniques I learned from those projects are systematic and can be applied into many exciting areas such as producing energy products, medical products and other functional molecules.

Beyond bacteria and yeast, my research extended to mamallian cell later on. Those researches focus on fundamental analysis of a family of elastic proteins (spectrin repeat proteins) in vitro and in vivo. We are also interested in their relationship with several genetic diseases especailly laminopathies. The detailed projects include: 1) the study of thermodynamic stalibity of nesprin proteins by using molecular clonging techniques and structure analysis equipment. 2) the study of mechanical properties of alpha II spectrin network in cell by using fluorescent immunostain & bioimaging techniques, micromanipulation equipment and force-generating apparatus. We found that nesprins are stablized by its central adaptive domain and alpha II spectrin is essential to the mechanical integrities of nuclear envelope and cell membrane. The techniques I learned from those projects can also be applied into many interesting areas such as biophysics, health care, pathology, etc.

My research experience spreads gene, protein, bacteria, yeast and mamalian cells and related techniques. In my future research, I will focus on applying those knowledge and techniqes into the areas of energy, healthcare and biophysics and hopefully creating new techniqes and tools.