Investigators and Program Directors
Haixin Sui
Research Scientist,
Wadsworth Center, Cellular and Molecular Basis of Diseases
Assistant Professor,
School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences, Structural and Cell Biology
Ph.D., Dalian University of Technology, China (1996)
Postdoctoral training, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Email: hsui@wadsworth.org
General Research Interests
Primary cilia by light and cryo-electron microscopy
Microtubules by combining single particle and helical reconstruction.
Microtubule doublets by cryo-electron tomography
Membrane proteins by electron or x-ray crystal-
lography
Proteins or protein complexes function as parts of biological systems rather than as independent entities. Our research interests lie in understanding the molecular and structural basis of macromolecular assemblies in their functional context. In particular, we aim to develop mechanistic models that explain how component proteins integrate together and perform coordinated functions within their biological systems. The core of our methodological approach relies on structural methods of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). These methods are utilized in combination with molecular, biochemical, and other biophysical or imaging techniques to study the structural architecture, functional mechanisms and regulation of macromolecular complexes in the biological systems of which they are a part. We also have interests, driven by our research goals, in developing methods of specimen preparation and image processing for cryo-EM.
The current focus of our research is on the assembly, maintenance, and regulation of primary cilia and their sensory functions that involve microtubule-based complexes and membrane proteins.