Dr Haibo Jiang
Research Fellow
Haibo is using NanoSIMS and complementary techniques to investigate biological problems, in particular human biology. These projects are in collaboration with Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Physical Laboratory, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Carlifornia, Los Angeles, and Department of Plant Sciences.
Research Projects:
Metabolism of Glutamine in Cancer:
It is now widely acknowledged that the metabolism of cancer cells is remarkably different from that of the normal cells from which cancer cells are derived. Otto Warburg, discovered the altered metabolism of cancer cells in the 1920s, showing that cancer cells have a higher glycolysis metabolism than normal tissues. However, the increased glucose uptake is still insufficient to provide energy and carbon for cancer cells. In the 1950s, scientists recognized the importance of glutamine as a nutrient for cancer cells, and another important metabolism, glutaminase. In collaboration with Professor Adrian Harris and Dr. Elena Favaro in Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, this project involves using NanoSIMS investigate the metabolization of glutamine in cancer cells, and explore related effects, such as gene knockdown, on the metabolization.
Mechanism of Antimicrobial Peptides Lipid Bilayers Interactions:
The discovery of antimicrobial peptides opened up great opportunities for new therapeutic strategies. However, the clinical use of AMPs is still challenging at the moment. To make the AMP products become an effective and safe drug in the coming years, understanding the mechanism of AMP antimicrobial activities is one critical step. The high resolution of the NanoSIMS and the ability to detect isotopes is a real advantage for this field. In collaboration with Professor Max Ryadnov, Dr. Santanu Ray, and Ms. Paulina Rakowska, this project involves using NanoSIMS and other high resolution techniques to provide detailed information about the interaction.
Glycoprotein Degradation:
In collaboration with Professor Terry Butters, Dr. Dominic Alonzi, and Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin from Biochemistry Department in Oxford University, this project involves the NanoSIMS investigating the degradation metabolism of glycoproteins by stable isotopes labeling.
Publications:
Methods (2014) 68(2) 317-324.
*Joint first authors
PloS one, 9(6) (2014) e99346.
Cell Metabolism 19(5) (2014) 849-860
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