Research

Every living cell in our body is composed of hundreds of thousands of proteins. These proteins are highly coordinated in their functions and are fundamental to life. The broad theme of our research is to understand the molecular basis of some key protein-protein interactions and their dysfunctions in human diseases. To this end, we focus on integrins, a major class of cell-surface receptors, and their associated proteins.

Discovered two decades ago, integrins have been established as major components of cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, cell morphology, and cell motility. Using structural biology techniques, especially nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we have been building a molecular landscape of the integrin-mediated protein interaction network.

Our work has significantly advanced the field by providing atomic-level visualization of some important parts of this network. In collaboration with a group of cell biologists and clinical scientists, we have undertaken structure-based functional investigation and have gained some critical insights into the dysfunction of this network at both cellular and pathophysiological levels. In particular, we have linked our recent atomic findings about the integrin network to the pathogenesis of several human disorders, such as thrombosis and cardiac failure.

We will continue to resolve the molecular puzzle of this network to gain a fundamental understanding of integrin-mediated cellular events. Our studies may ultimately lead to better approaches for investigating and treating such disorders as cancer and heart disease.