To translate genetic information into biological function, a nascent polypeptide must fold into the correct structure, assemble with interaction partners, localize to the appropriate cellular destination, and undergo chemical modifications as well as regulated quality control. In the Shan lab, we aim to decipher the molecular basis of diverse protein biogenesis pathways, and to use them as models to understand how accuracy is generated from noisy and degenerate molecular signals in biology.
An overarching theme of our research is to unravel the dynamics of molecular machines engaged in protein biogenesis, which provide the energetic driving force and enable the spatiotemporal regulation of the pathway. We combine the approach of mechanistic enzymology with biophysical tools such as steady-state and single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, and EPR; these high resolution studies are further buttressed by genetics, molecular cell biology, systems level analysis, and mathematical modeling.
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Biochemical Reconstitutions
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Ribosome profiling
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Fluorescence spectroscopy
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Single-molecule microscopy
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Enzymology
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NMR spectroscopy
Jan 2024
Shu-ou is the winner of the 2024 NAS Award in Molecular Biology. Congratulations, Shu-ou!
Feb 2023
Wren Steifel joins the lab. Welcome, Wren!
Aug 2022
Congratulations to Ruilin for passing the candidacy!
July 2022
Congratulations to Hao-Hsuan for successfully defending his PhD thesis!
Welcome, Radek, to Pasadena! Radek is our new captain on the single molecule TIRF microscope.
June 2022
Congratulations to Chien-I for successfully defending her PhD thesis!
Check out our new paper about SecA-driven cotranslational protein translocation. Congratulations to Zikun and Shuai! Ribosome profiling reveals multiple roles of SecA in cotranslational protein export
Congratulations to Hao-Hsuan for the new article in Science! Check out how NAC acts as a molecular gatekeeper on the ribosome to impart specificity of protein targeting.Mechanism of signal sequence handover from NAC to SRP on ribosomes during ER-protein targeting.
Ribosome profiling reveals multiple roles of SecA in cotranslational protein export.
Zhu Z‡, Wang S‡, Shan SO*. (2022)
Nat Commun. PMID: 35697696
Ribosome-nascent Chain Interaction Regulates N-terminal Protein Modification.
Yang CI, Kim J, Shan SO*. (2022)
J Mol Biol. PMID: 35278477
Mechanism of signal sequence handover from NAC to SRP on ribosomes during ER-protein targeting.
Jomaa A‡, Gamerdinger M‡, Hsieh HH‡, Wallisch A, Chandrasekaran V, Ulusoy Z, Scaiola A, Hegde RS, Shan SO*, Ban N*, Deuerling E*. (2022)
Science. PMID: 35201867
Fidelity of Cotranslational Protein Targeting to the Endoplasmic Reticulum.
Hsieh HH, Shan SO*. (2021) Int J Mol Sci. PMID: 35008707
Subunit cooperation in the Get1/2 receptor promotes tail-anchored membrane protein insertion.
Chio US‡, Liu Y‡, Chung S, Shim WJ, Chandrasekar S, Weiss S, Shan SO*. (2021) J Cell Biol. PMID: 34614151