Bo Huang, PhD

Professor
P_Pharmaceutical Chemistry
+1 415 476-1866

Cellular processes are carried out by coordinated participation of many biomolecules in a tiny volume. Many people have been dreaming to see clear pictures of these processes in order to understand how these molecules work together. Taking on this challenge, we are developing new visualization techniques and imaging probes by combining super-resolution microscopy, protein engineering and microfluidic automation. We are particularly interested in the following problems:

(1) Physical organization and dynamics of the genome,
(2) Architecture of large protein complexes such as the centrosome, and
(3) Spatial distribution of membrane proteins, particularly G-protein coupled receptors and neuron adhesion molecules, and how this distribution defines their signaling specificity.

In order to study these systems, we are developing the following microscopy technologies:

(1) Super-resolution and light-sheet microscopes that can visualize subcellular structures at a higher spatial resolution, record long term cell behavior, and track cells in intact animals, and
(2) New fluorescent probes based on fluorescent proteins, nanobodies and aptamers so that biological questions can be converted into "imageable" ones.

Research Summary
Understanding the spatial organization of cell signaling molecules and nuclear genome in development and cancer using microscopy and protein/cell engineering.

Publications

Focal adhesion kinase-YAP signaling axis drives drug-tolerant persister cells and residual disease in lung cancer.

Nature communications

Haderk F, Chou YT, Cech L, Fernández-Méndez C, Yu J, Olivas V, Meraz IM, Barbosa Rabago D, Kerr DL, Gomez C, Allegakoen DV, Guan J, Shah KN, Herrington KA, Gbenedio OM, Nanjo S, Majidi M, Tamaki W, Pourmoghadam YK, Rotow JK, McCoach CE, Riess JW, Gutkind JS, Tang TT, Post L, Huang B, Santisteban P, Goodarzi H, Bandyopadhyay S, Kuo CJ, Roose JP, Wu W, Blakely CM, Roth JA, Bivona TG

Spatial and temporal organization of the genome: Current state and future aims of the 4D nucleome project.

Molecular cell

Dekker J, Alber F, Aufmkolk S, Beliveau BJ, Bruneau BG, Belmont AS, Bintu L, Boettiger A, Calandrelli R, Disteche CM, Gilbert DM, Gregor T, Hansen AS, Huang B, Huangfu D, Kalhor R, Leslie CS, Li W, Li Y, Ma J, Noble WS, Park PJ, Phillips-Cremins JE, Pollard KS, Rafelski SM, Ren B, Ruan Y, Shav-Tal Y, Shen Y, Shendure J, Shu X, Strambio-De-Castillia C, Vertii A, Zhang H, Zhong S

Label-retention expansion microscopy.

The Journal of cell biology

Shi X, Li Q, Dai Z, Tran AA, Feng S, Ramirez AD, Lin Z, Wang X, Chow TT, Chen J, Kumar D, McColloch AR, Reiter JF, Huang EJ, Seiple IB, Huang B

Biogenesis, delivery, and function of extracellular RNA.

Journal of extracellular vesicles

Patton JG, Franklin JL, Weaver AM, Vickers K, Zhang B, Coffey RJ, Ansel KM, Blelloch R, Goga A, Huang B, L'Etoille N, Raffai RL, Lai CP, Krichevsky AM, Mateescu B, Greiner VJ, Hunter C, Voinnet O, McManus MT