Luke Chao
Massachusetts General Hospital
Simches Building, CPZN 6808
185 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA 02114
The Chao Lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane shape. We apply an approach integrating structural biology, biophysics, bioinformatics and physiology, to investigate membrane remodeling and ultrastructure in mitochondria and bacteria. Our future directions explore new facets of in situ structure, focusing on morphological specialization dependent on tissue type, mitochondrial responsiveness to cell state, and organelle diversification across evolution.
Selected Publications:
Benning FMC, Bell TA, Nguyen TH, ..., Chao LH. Ancestral sequence reconstruction of the Mic60 Mitofilin domain reveals residues supporting respiration in yeast. Protein Sci. 2025 Jul;34(7):e70207. doi: 10.1002/pro.70207. PMID: 40545685; PMCID: PMC12183332.
Fry MY, Navarro PP, ..., Chao LH. In situ architecture of Opa1-dependent mitochondrial cristae remodeling. EMBO J. 2024 Feb;43(3):391-413. doi: 10.1038/s44318-024-00027-2. Epub 2024 Jan 15. PMID: 38225406; PMCID: PMC10897290.
Navarro PP, Vettiger A, ..., Bernhardt TG, Chao LH. Cell wall synthesis and remodelling dynamics determine division site architecture and cell shape in Escherichia coli. Nat Microbiol. 2022 Oct;7(10):1621-1634. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01210-z. Epub 2022 Sep 12. PMID: 36097171; PMCID: PMC9519445.
Ge Y, et al. Two forms of Opa1 cooperate to complete fusion of the mitochondrial inner-membrane. Elife. 2020 Jan 10;9:e50973. doi: 10.7554/eLife.50973. PMID: 31922487; PMCID: PMC7299343.