Overview
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) represent a major vehicle to expand a cellular proteome and are known to be involved in the regulations of diverse diseases. A protein can be potentially modified by >200 types of post-translational modifications, which are catalyzed by enzymes encoded by more than 5% of the genome in higher eukaryotes. A combination of a dozen PTM sites in a substrate protein could lead to more than a million possible protein structures with potentially different functions. Given the high abundance and diversities, PTMs are likely the most complex regulatory mechanisms in cells. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms under which PTMs regulate cellular pathways and diseases remain largely unknown, except several most extensively studied ones. Functional characterizations of PTMs at the molecular level have been slow, largely due to a lack of suitable information infrastructure and technology infrastructure. Our research aims to address the problems by developing systems-biological technologies and using them to dissect PTM pathways. We also integrate these powerful technologies with biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology to decode PTM networks that have major implications for human health and are not amenable to conventional techniques.
Research Projects