Sichen Shao

Sichen Shao

Associate Professor of Cell Biology
Sichen Shao

Protein biosynthesis is a complex process encompassing translation, folding and modifications, and selective targeting to the correct cellular location. Each step is subject to extensive regulation and quality control that is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing disease. The Shao lab aims to dissect the mechanistic basis of these biosynthetic, regulatory, and quality control events using biochemical, cell biology, and structural biology strategies.

Our approaches center on: 1) biochemically reconstituting protein biosynthesis and quality control processes using cell culture, cell lysate-based, and completely purified systems; 2) developing methods and assays to identify, uncouple, and functionally analyze the individual steps and components of each process; and 3) using these methods to isolate biologically-relevant complexes for structural analysis, primarily via single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). Recently, these strategies have identified new protein targeting and quality control factors, elucidated the mechanisms utilized by these factors to specifically recognize rare substrates and direct them to the appropriate fates, and revealed the molecular details of these interactions.

Our current interests are focused in two main areas. First, following up on previous work on a ribosome-associated protein quality control pathway, we aim to identify and characterize additional regulatory and quality control pathways that interface with mammalian ribosomes upon perturbations to protein translation. Second, we are interested in the machinery and mechanisms that facilitate membrane protein targeting, folding, and assembly at the endoplasmic reticulum. The long-term goal of our lab is to understand in molecular detail the mechanisms underlying these fundamental cellular processes.

Contact Information

Harvard Medical School
Building C, C2-451
240 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
p: 617-432-1067

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