This paper introduces ORCA, a platform that uses oncogenic RNA sensing to target and ablate cancer cells, demonstrating efficacy in colorectal cancer models.

bioRxiv · Nov 3, 2026 · PreprintSynthetic Biology

Post-Transcriptional Modular Synthetic Receptors

Xiaowei Zhang, Luis Santiago Mille, Kristjan Eerik Kaseniit, Arden P. Lee, Meng Zhang, Connor C. Call, Yixin Hu, Yunxin Xie, Xiaojing J. Gao

The paper introduces LIDAR, a post-transcriptional synthetic receptor platform using RNA editing to sense ligands and produce functional outputs, enabling complex multicellular behavior programming.

Nature Chemical Biology · Mar 28, 2025Peer-reviewedSynthetic Biology

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Teneurin Signaling in Synaptic Partner Matching

Chuanyun Xu, Zhuoran Li, Cheng Lyu, Yixin Hu, Colleen N. McLaughlin, Kenneth Kin Lam Wong, Qijing Xie, David J. Luginbuhl, Hongjie Li, Namrata D. Udeshi, Tanya Svinkina, D.R. Mani, Shuo Han, Tongchao Li, Yang Li, , Liqun Luo

This study identifies the intracellular signaling pathway of teneurins in synaptic partner matching using Drosophila models.

Cell · Jul 11, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Evolution of DNA Replication Origin Specification and Gene Silencing Mechanisms

Yixin Hu, Ammar Tareen, Yi-Jun Sheu, William T. Ireland, Christian Speck, Huilin Li, Leemor Joshua‐Tor, Justin B. Kinney, Bruce Stillman

The paper identifies sequence-specificity in DNA replication origins mediated by Orc4 α-helix in S. cerevisiae and links its evolution to gene silencing mechanisms.

Nature Communications · Oct 14, 2020Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology