R. Zheng

Electrochemical DNA-based sensors for measuring cell-generated forces

This study develops electrochemical DNA-based sensors to measure cell-generated adhesion forces with high sensitivity and portability.

Single-cell morphological tracking of liver cell states to identify small-molecule modulators of liver differentiation

Deep-sea in situ and laboratory proteomics provide insights into the sulfur metabolism of a novel deep-sea bacterium, Pseudodesulfovibrio serpens sp. nov.

This study isolates and characterizes a novel deep-sea sulfate-reducing bacterium, revealing its sulfur metabolism and potential coupling with methane oxidation in deep-sea environments.

Cell-autonomous targeting of arabinogalactan by host immune factors inhibits mycobacterial growth

The paper identifies galectin-9 and AG-specific antibodies that inhibit Mtb growth by targeting arabinogalactan, offering a new immunotherapeutic strategy for TB.

IgG-inspired, multivalent protein-DNA nanostructures for high-affinity, tunable, and reversible binding to biomolecular targets

This paper designs and tests a DNA-based synthetic antibody (nano-synbody) that binds SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins with high affinity and reversibility through multivalency.

Physiological and metabolic insights into the first cultured anaerobic representative of deep-sea Planctomycetes bacteria

This study cultures a novel deep-sea Planctomycetes strain, characterizes its physiology and metabolism, and reveals nitrogen metabolism reprogramming by chronic bacteriophages.

A high-sensitivity low-nanoflow LC-MS configuration for high-throughput sample-limited proteomics

This paper introduces a high-sensitivity LC-MS setup for sample-limited proteomics, achieving 100 runs/day with 70% MS utilization and identifying ~3,000 protein groups from 250 pg of HeLa protein digest.

Multiplexed Sequential Imaging in Living Cells with Orthogonal Fluorogenic RNA Aptamer/Dye Pairs

This paper introduces seqFRIES, a method for multiplexed live-cell imaging using orthogonal RNA aptamer/dye pairs, achieving four-color imaging in ~20 minutes.

Targeted RNA Condensation in Living Cells via Genetically Encodable Triplet Repeat Tags

This study introduces a genetically encoded RNA tag to program RNA condensate formation and modulate RNA localization and function in living cells.

ABLs and TMKs are co-receptors for extracellular auxin

The paper identifies ABL1 and ABL2 as new auxin receptors that function with TMKs as co-receptors for extracellular auxin, overlapping with but distinct from ABP1.

Inhibition of the proton-activated chloride channel PAC by PIP2

This study identifies PIP2 as an inhibitor of the PAC channel, revealing its binding site and mechanism through structural and electrophysiological analyses.

Genetically Encoded RNA-based Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) Sensors

This paper introduces genetically encoded RNA-based BRET sensors for real-time target detection in living cells, using a luciferase donor and RNA-based acceptor.

Polysaccharides induce deep-sea Lentisphaerae strains to release chronic bacteriophages

The paper shows polysaccharides trigger deep-sea Lentisphaerae to release chronic bacteriophages that reprogram host polysaccharide metabolism through auxiliary metabolic genes.

Targeting Epsins by nanotherapy regulates lipid metabolism and promotes ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux to fortify atheroma regression

This study shows that targeting Epsins in macrophages with nanotherapy reduces lipid uptake and increases cholesterol efflux, promoting atheroma regression.

Cultured deep-sea PVC bacteria shed light on eukaryogenesis

The paper isolates deep-sea PVC bacteria and identifies eukaryotic-like features, suggesting membrane fusion drives eukaryogenesis.

Amelioration of hemophilia B through CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-independent targeted integration

This study uses CRISPR/Cas9 to induce homology-independent targeted integration in a rat hemophilia B model, achieving therapeutic correction with 3.66% knock-in efficiency and normalization of clotting time.

Withaferin A promotes white adipose browning and prevents obesity through sympathetic nerve-activated Prdm16-FATP1 axis

This study shows that Withaferin A promotes white adipose browning and prevents obesity by activating the Prdm16-FATP1 pathway via the sympathetic nervous system.

Targeting interleukin-1 for reversing fat browning and muscle wasting in infantile nephropathic cystinosis

This paper shows that anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, reduces fat browning and muscle wasting in Ctns-/- mice, suggesting it could treat cachexia in infantile nephropathic cystinosis.

The role of IL-1 in adipose browning and muscle wasting in CKD-associated cachexia

This study shows that blocking IL-1 receptor reduces adipose browning and muscle wasting in CKD-associated cachexia in mice.

Maribellus comscasis sp. nov., isolated from the deep-sea cold seep

This paper describes the isolation and characterization of a novel deep-sea cold seep bacterium, Maribellus comscasis sp. nov., and highlights its genomic and phenotypic features distinguishing it from related species.

Cultivation and characterization of a novel clade of deep-sea Chloroflexi: providing a glimpse of the phylum Chloroflexi involved in sulfur cycling

The paper isolates and characterizes a novel Chloroflexi strain, showing its role in sulfur cycling through assimilatory sulfate reduction.

Pseudodesulfovibrio cashew sp. nov., a novel deep-sea sulfate-reducing bacterium, linking heavy metal resistance and sulfur cycle

This paper isolates and characterizes a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium from a deep-sea cold seep, showing its ability to resist and remove heavy metals through sulfur cycling.

Characterization of the first cultured free-living representative of Candidatus Izimaplasma uncovers its unique biology

This study characterizes the first cultured free-living Candidatus Izimaplasma strain, revealing its unique DNA-degrading capabilities and ecological role in deep-sea methane seeps.

Bacteroidetes contribute to the carbon and nutrient cycling of deep sea through breaking down diverse glycans

The paper shows Bacteroidetes are key to deep-sea carbon and nutrient cycling by degrading diverse glycans through metagenomics, isolation, and transcriptomic/metabolomic analyses.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of obesity in male mice offspring by affecting the immune response

This study shows that maternal vitamin D deficiency increases obesity risk in male offspring by altering immune responses and adipose tissue inflammation.

Inherited defects in natural killer cells shape tumor immune microenvironment, clinical outcome and immunotherapy response

The paper identifies inherited defects in NK cells, antigen processing, and Wnt pathways that shape tumor immune microenvironment and clinical outcomes across 13 cancer types.