Fuyu Yang

Biography

1946-1950　Zhejiang University, China, B.Sc. in Chemistry 1956-1960　Moscow State University, Russia, Ph. D in Biology 1960- Investigator, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Honor Director, National Laboratory of Biomaromolecules.1946-1950　Zhejiang University, China, B.Sc. in Chemistry 1956-1960　Moscow State University, Russia, Ph. D in Biology 1960- Investigator, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Honor Director, National Laboratory of Biomaromolecules.

Research Interest

The main research focus of our group is on the modulation of cell fate by lipid-protein interactions within intracellular membrane structures (especially mitochondria and lysosomes). 1. The modulation and effects of lipid-protein interactions within mitochondria and lysosomes on the induction of apoptosis and autophagy of cells. Our recent findings suggested that chymotrypsin is not just a digestive enzyme secreted exclusively by the pancreas, but also cached in the lysosomes of a broad array of different cell types with different origins. Upon proapoptotic stimuli, it can be redistributed into the cytosol, where it cleaves different effector molecules and thus initiates mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and autophagy. We will explore the mechanisms of the formation of Bid-dependent lipidic pores by different approaches. Also the modulation of mitochondrial dynamics by chymotrypsin-dependent pathways will be investigated. 2. The effects of the dynamics of intracellular membrane structures on the migration and invasion of tumor cells. Recently we demonstrated that the membrane proteins Drp1 and Mfn1/2 might regulate the migration and invasion of tumor cell, probably by modulating the dynamic balance between the fission and fusion of mitochondria. We also found that the membrane protein Nix is involved in the reprogramming of cell metabolism via initiation of selective mitophagy. Based on these findings, we will pay more attention on the effects of interactions and dynamics of intracellular membrane structures on the survival, migration and invasion of tumor cells.