Topic： Cryo-ET study on the molecular architecture of biomolecular condensates at their cellular context

Speaker： Prof. Xiaojie Zhang

Host： Prof. Shujun Cai

Time： May 21, 10:00 - 11:30 am

Venue： The Learning Studio

Abstract:

The cryo-focused ion beam (FIB) milling technology opens a window for direct visualization of macromolecular interactions at their cellular environment. Combining cryo-FIB, cryo-electron tomography (ET) and cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), we are interested in leveraging cross-scale technologies to study molecular architecture of cellular condensates. I will present our unexpected discovery about persistent mumps virus infection in HeLa cell model, enabled by cellular cryo-ET in combination with quantitative mass spectrometry. We identified stress-induced reactivation of mumps virus and revealed the corresponding cellular, molecular, and structural changes within the viral replication condensates. Our current research interests include the condensates involved in tumorigenesis, as many tumor-related proteins can form micron-scale cellular condensates (via phase separation) and participate in critical events such as signaling and metabolism. By studying the assembly modes and function of condensates involved in these events, we hope to ultimately contribute to the development of new strategies for cancer treatment.

Introduction:

Dr. Xiaojie Zhang received her Ph.D. from Tsinghua University and conducted postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) from 2017 to 2023. She joined the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University in June 2023, where she holds dual appointments at the School of Life Science and Technology as Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor. Her research has consistently focused on investigating the phase separation phenomena (biomolecular condensates) through structural biology approaches, particularly cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and cryo-light microscopy, with publications in Cell (2023), STAR Protoc (2024), and Curr Opin Struct Biol (2020) and so on. She has been selected for Shanghai Rising-Star Program, and Pudong Pearl Talent Program.