With biomembranes hosting nearly a third of our proteome, how proteins fold and function in membranes presents a fundamental question in biology and medicine. The Gao group is interested in elucidating the key driving forces of protein folding and association within the lipid bilayers. Our research program is rooted in bioorganic chemistry that enables “atomic surgery” on membrane proteins to introduce structural perturbations with atomic precision. Biophysical analyses of these chemically-altered proteins will reveal the linchpin chemical features for the proper function of membrane proteins. Specifically we are working on two related areas: 1) develop chemical reporters and inhibitors of protein dimerization in lipid bilayers; 2) engineer pore-forming peptide toxins that selectively attack cancer cells.

Representative Key Publications:

Fang Wang, Luoheng Qin, Patrick Wong, and Jianmin Gao, “Facile synthesis of tetrafluoro-tyrosine and its application in pH triggered membrane lysis”, Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 236-9.

Hong Zheng and Jianmin Gao, “Highly Specific Heterodimerization Mediated by Quadrupole Interactions”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 8635-9.

Luoheng Qin, Julian Vastl and Jianmin Gao, “Highly Sensitive Amyloid Detection Enabled by Thioflavin T Dimers”, Molecular Biosystems, 2010, 6, 1791-1795.