Research Summary
The regulation of gene transcription by RNA polymerase II is critical for development and differentiation, and its misregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of cancers and HIV.
My research project focuses on the functional role of Super Elongation Complexes (SECs) in the control of HIV gene expression. SECs, a group of highly related complexes that contain transcription elongation activators/co-activators P-TEFb, ELL2, AFF4/1, ENL, and AF9, is recruited by HIV-1 Tat and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) proteins to activate the expression of HIV-1 and MLL-target genes. My colleagues and I are investigating the molecular mechanism by which SECs contribute to the reactivation of HIV latency. Insight into this mechanism will hopefully provide effective strategies for eradicating latent HIV reservoirs.
Impact in China
Parallel to the development of Chinese economy and society, life sciences and biomedical research are also developing rapidly, and there is an increasing need for more scientific exchanges between China and the outside world. I cherish this excellent opportunity to learn the most advanced scientific concepts and research designs/methods from leading scientists at UC Berkeley. I hope to become a bridge to facilitate more scientific exchanges between UC Berkeley and my home institution, Fudan University in China, in the future.
Publications
Zhang Z, Wang B, Wan B, Yu L, Huang Q. Molecular dynamics study of carbon nanotube as a potential dual-functional inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Jul 12;436(4):650-4.
Jiang DK, Sun J, Cao G, Liu Y, Lin D, Gao YZ, Ren WH, Long XD, Zhang H, Ma XP, Wang Z, Jiang W, Chen TY, Gao Y, Sun LD, Long JR, Huang HX, Wang D, Yu H, Zhang P, Tang LS, Peng B, Cai H, Liu TT, Zhou P, Liu F, Lin X, Tao S, Wan B, Sai-Yin HX, Qin LX, Yin J, Liu L, Wu C, Pei Y, Zhou YF, Zhai Y, Lu PX, Tan A, Zuo XB, Fan J, Chang J, Gu X, Wang NJ, Li Y, Liu YK, Zhai K, Zhang H, Hu Z, Liu J, Yi Q, Xiang Y, Shi R, Ding Q, Zheng W, Shu XO, Mo Z, Shugart YY, Zhang XJ, Zhou G, Shen H, Zheng SL, Xu J, Yu L. Genetic variants in STAT4 and HLA-DQ genes confer risk of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Genet. 2013 Jan;45(1):72-5.
Li R, Wan B*, Zhou J, Wang Y, Luo T, Gu X, Chen F, Yu L. APC/C(Cdh1) targets brain-specific kinase 2 (BRSK2) for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45932.
Zhou J, Wan B*, Liu XM, Li R, Wang Y, Yu L. MK5 is degraded in response to doxorubicin and negatively regulates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Oct 26;427(3):581-6.
Chen XY, Gu XT, Saiyin H, Wan B, Zhang YJ, Li J, Wang YL, Gao R, Wang YF, Dong WP, Najjar SM, Zhang CY, Ding HF, Liu JO, Yu L. Brain-selective kinase 2 (BRSK2) phosphorylation on PCTAIRE1 negatively regulates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. J Biol Chem. 2012 Aug 31;287(36):30368-75.
Zhou J, Wan B*, Li R, Gu X, Zhong Z, Wang Y, Yu L. Jab1 interacts with brain-specific kinase 2 (BRSK2) and promotes its degradation in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Jun 15;422(4):647-52.
Xia Y, Tang L, Yao L, Wan B, Yang X, Yu L. Literature and patent analysis of the cloning and identification of human functional genes in China. Sci China Life Sci. 2012 Mar;55(3):268-82.
Xie F, Lang Q, Zhou M, Zhang H, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Wan B, Huang Q, Yu L. The ietary flavonoid luteolin inhibits Aurora B kinase activity and blocks proliferation of cancer cells. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2012 Aug 15;46(5):388-96.
Xu M, Yu L, Wan B, Yu L, Huang Q. Predicting inactive conformations of protein kinases using active structures: conformational selection of type-II inhibitors. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e22644.
Luo T*, Wan B*, Li R, Chen X, Wang Y, Jun Z, Yu L. AMP-activated protein kinase supports the NGF-induced viability of human HeLa cells to glucose starvation. Mol Biol Rep. 2010 Jul;37(6):2593-8.
Zhu P, Jiang W, Cao L, Yu W, Pei Y, Yang X, Wan B, Liu JO, Yi Q, Yu L.IL-2 mRNA stabilization upon PMA stimulation is dependent on NF90-Ser647 phosphorylation by protein kinase CbetaI. J Immunol. 2010 Nov 1;185(9):5140-9.
Huang C, Wan B, Gao B, Hexige S, Yu L. Isolation and characterization of novel human short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase SCDR10B which is highly expressed in the brain and acts as hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Acta Biochim Pol. 2009; 56(2):279-89.
Zhang SQ, Wan B, Ma XL, Zheng HM. Worsened MRI findings during the early period of treatment with penicillin in a patient with general paresis. J Neuroimaging. 2008 Oct;18(4):360-3.
Pei Y, Zhu P, Dang Y, Wu J, Yang X, Wan B, Liu JO, Yi Q, Yu L. Nuclear export of NF90 to stabilize IL-2 mRNA is mediated by AKT-dependent phosphorylation at Ser647 in response to CD28 costimulation. J Immunol. 2008 Jan 1;180(1):222-9.
(*Co-first author)