M. Zhao

BOOST: a robust ten-fold expansion method on hour-scale

BOOST is a rapid expansion microscopy method that achieves ~10x linear expansion in 90 minutes using microwave-assisted chemistry, improving throughput for various biological specimens.

Dynamics and Activation of Membrane-Bound B Cell Receptor Assembly

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to identify two dynamical events in B-cell receptor activation upon antigen binding.

Structural Insights into the Roles of PARP4 and NAD+ in the Human Vault Cage

This study determines the structure of the human vault cage with PARP4 and NAD+, revealing binding interfaces and NAD+ pockets, and shows proteomics differences in PARP4-depleted vaults.

Unveiling the mechanisms of black phosphorus nanosheets-induced viable but non-culturable state in Bacillus tropicus

This study investigates how black phosphorus nanosheets induce a viable but non-culturable state in Bacillus tropicus, revealing suppressed metabolism and respiratory pathways as key mechanisms.

Inhibitor of cardiolipin biosynthesis-related enzyme MoGep4 confers broad-spectrum anti-fungal activity

The paper identifies MoGep4 as a key enzyme in cardiolipin biosynthesis in M. oryzae, showing that its inhibitor AXD has broad-spectrum antifungal activity against plant pathogens.

Non-additivity of the functional properties of individual P450 species and its manifestation in the effects of alcohol consumption on the metabolism of ketamine and amitriptyline

The paper investigates how alcohol affects drug metabolism by analyzing interactions between P450 enzymes in human liver microsomes, finding alcohol increases low-affinity enzyme roles and alters enzyme-specific metabolic rates.

A PTER-dependent pathway of taurine metabolism linked to energy balance

This study identifies PTER as the taurine N-acetyltransferase/hydrolase, showing its role in regulating N-acetyltaurine levels and linking it to energy balance and metabolic phenotypes.

HER2 Prognostic Significance and Therapeutic Implications in Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma: Insights from Multi-Omics Profiling

This study identifies HER2 as a prognostic marker in GCA and suggests anti-inflammatory and immune checkpoint inhibition as therapeutic strategies for HER2-negative patients.

Testing the mettle of METAL: A comparison of phylogenomic methods using a challenging but well-resolved phylogeny

The paper compares phylogenomic methods using a well-resolved bird species tree, finding that ML concatenation performs best, while METAL shows promise with large datasets.

Discovery of Alkenyl Oxindole as a Novel PROTAC Moiety for Targeted Protein Degradation via CRL4DCAF11 Recruitment

The paper develops JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates that degrade BRD4 via the ubiquitin-proteasome system and recruits CRL4DCAF11, identifying HL435 as a potent antitumor lead.

Transcriptomic and epigenetic responses shed light on soybean resistance to Phytophthora sansomeana

This study examines transcriptomic and epigenetic responses in soybean lines resistant and susceptible to Phytophthora sansomeana, identifying key genes and regulatory mechanisms involved in defense.

Thiosulfinate tolerance gene clusters are common features of Burkholderia onion pathogens.

This study identifies thiosulfinate tolerance gene clusters in onion-associated Burkholderia species and shows their role in allicin tolerance and growth in onion extracts.

Mitochondrial uncoupler and retinoic acid synergistically induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation in neuroblastoma

A barley MLA receptor is targeted by a non-ribosomal peptide effector of the necrotrophic spot blotch fungus for disease susceptibility

This study identifies Scs6, a barley gene required for susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana, and shows it is targeted by a non-ribosomal peptide effector.

Adherent reformed islets: a long-term primary cell-based platform for exploring mouse and human islet biology.

This study develops a long-term primary cell-based platform called reformed islets to study mouse and human islet biology, showing they retain key physiological and functional features of native islets.

The microbial community of rust layer biofilm was driven by seawater microbial community

The paper analyzes microbial communities in rust layer biofilm and seawater, identifying dominant taxa and their interactions, and provides insights into microbial corrosion mechanisms in marine environments.

Programmable delivery of fluoxetine via wearable bioelectronics for wound healing in vivo

This paper introduces a wearable bioelectronic bandage that delivers fluoxetine on-demand to wounds, reducing inflammation and accelerating healing in mice.

Natural malaria infection elicits rare but potent neutralizing antibodies to the blood-stage antigen RH5

The paper identifies potent neutralizing antibodies against the malaria antigen RH5 from natural infection, showing they target similar epitopes as vaccine-induced antibodies.

Electrostatic modulation of signaling at cell membrane: Waveform- and time-dependent electric control of ERK dynamics

This study shows that alternating current electric fields can modulate ERK signaling in epithelial cells through waveform- and timing-dependent electrostatic interactions.

PTPN2 copper-sensing rapidly relays copper level fluctuations into EGFR/CREB activation and associated CTR1 transcriptional repression

The paper identifies PTPN2 as a copper sensor that modulates EGFR/CREB signaling and CTR1 transcriptional repression in response to copper level changes.

Non-cell autonomous cardiomyocyte regulation complicates gene supplementation therapy for LMNA cardiomyopathy

This study shows that gene supplementation for LMNA cardiomyopathy is ineffective when targeting cardiomyocytes alone, as non-cell autonomous effects dominate, suggesting alternative therapeutic targets.

Tandemly duplicated MYB genes specifically in the Phaseoleae lineage are functionally diverged in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis

The paper investigates functional divergence of tandemly duplicated MYB genes in soybean, showing they regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis differently in various tissues.

Snapshots of ribosome dynamics near atomic-resolution in situ: full insight into the eukaryotic elongation cycle

The paper uses cryo-EM to analyze ribosome conformations in yeast, revealing dynamics of the eukaryotic elongation cycle with elongation factors.

CytoSIP: An annotated structural atlas for interactions involving cytokine or cytokine receptor

CytoSIP provides a database of cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions with SNPs, interfaces, and disease associations to aid drug design and precision medicine.

RAPSYN-Mediated Neddylation of BCR-ABL Alternatively Determines the Fate of Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Leukemia

This study identifies RAPSYN-mediated neddylation of BCR-ABL as a mechanism driving Ph+ leukemia progression and presents it as a therapeutic target.

Structural basis and functional roles for Toll-like receptor binding to Latrophilin adhesion-GPCR in embryo development

This study identifies TOL-1 as a ligand for LAT-1 in C. elegans, showing their interaction is essential for embryonic development.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that tumor-infiltrating natural killer cells are activated by localized ablative immunotherapy and share anti-tumor signatures induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors

This study shows that localized ablative immunotherapy activates NK cells and shares anti-tumor gene signatures with immune checkpoint inhibitors, correlating with improved patient survival.

Discovery of microsized RNA-derived RNAs and polypeptides in human cells

The paper discovers a new RNA-to-polypeptide pathway involving msRNAs, msdRs, and msdPs, with potential cancer-related applications.

Doxorubicin inhibits phosphatidylserine decarboxylase and confers broad-spectrum antifungal activity

The paper shows doxorubicin inhibits MoPSD2, a phosphatidylserine decarboxylase in Magnaporthe oryzae, reducing fungal growth and crop disease severity.

Alteration of pro-carcinogenic gut microbiota is associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma tumorigenesis

This study identifies associations between gut microbiota composition and serum metabolites with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, suggesting potential risk factors for tumorigenesis.