Haiying Hang

Biography

2000-2004, Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology, Columbia University. 1988-1994, Ph. D., Radiation Oncology, Colorado State University. 1983-1986, MS., Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science.  

Research Interest

We work in two areas: (1) protein in vitro evolution, especially therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies; (2) genome instability. We established two protein display systems (bacterial display and mammalian cell display) to artificially evolve proteins for new features. We have realized (1) efficient construction of large antibody libraries and quick enrichment of target antibodies by combining Fab bacterial display with “precision flow cytometric sorting”; (2) quick optimization of therapeutic antibodies by combining CHO cell display and multi-parameter flow cytometric sorting. We have successfully used the two systems in generating therapeutic and diagnostic proteins, as well as a biological sensor for detecting cadmium which is a contaminant in the environment. The second area we work on is the mechanisms of maintenance of genome integrity. Genome integrity is maintained by a network consisting of many proteins including factors controlling cell cycle and repairing damaged DNA. Defects of cell cycle control or DNA repair pathways can lead to tumorigenesis. The 9-1-1 protein complex is a ring-structure composed of the three proteins Rad9, Rad1 and Hus1. The three proteins function both in the 9-1-1 ring form and as individuals in cell cycle control and in various pathways. We have dissected many detailed mechanisms by which the three proteins work in cell cycle control and DNA repair.