Cheng Hong
Professor
Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences
China
Biography
CHENG Hong is a Professor in Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, China. Research Areas: mRNA export, gene expression, HBV, coupling, TREX. Research Interests: In eukaryotes, expression of protein-coding genes is a complex multi-step pathway which begins with transcription and processing of nascent pre-mRNA in the nucleus. These processing steps include 5’ capping, splicing to remove introns and polyadenylation at the 3’ end. The mature mRNA is then exported to the cytoplasm to translate into proteins. Each step in gene expression pathway is carried out by a distinct machine. Machines in gene expression pathway are directly coupled to each other through the direct interactions between proteins present in each machine. This extensive coupling may enhance the efficiency and fidelity of gene expression. Our group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism for RNA export and the coupling between mRNA export to other steps in gene expression pathway. 1. Regulation and function of mRNA export. a. The mechanisms for mRNA export factors. b. Coupling between mRNA export to other steps in gene expression. c. Formation, structure and function of the mRNA export machinery (TREX complex). 2. Mechanism and function of viral RNA export.
Research Interest
In eukaryotes, expression of protein-coding genes is a complex multi-step pathway which begins with transcription and processing of nascent pre-mRNA in the nucleus. These processing steps include 5’ capping, splicing to remove introns and polyadenylation at the 3’ end. The mature mRNA is then exported to the cytoplasm to translate into proteins. Each step in gene expression pathway is carried out by a distinct machine. Machines in gene expression pathway are directly coupled to each other through the direct interactions between proteins present in each machine. This extensive coupling may enhance the efficiency and fidelity of gene expression. Our group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism for RNA export and the coupling between mRNA export to other steps in gene expression pathway. 1. Regulation and function of mRNA export. a. The mechanisms for mRNA export factors. b. Coupling between mRNA export to other steps in gene expression. c. Formation, structure and function of the mRNA export machinery (TREX complex). 2. Mechanism and function of viral RNA export.
Publications
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Shi M, Zhang H, Wu XD, He ZS, Wang LT, Yin SY, Tian B, Li GH*, Cheng H*.ALYREF mainly binds to the 5’ and the 3’ regions of the mRNA in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res (2017).
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Fan J, Kuai B, Wu GF, Wu XD, Chi BK, Wang LT, Wang K, Shi ZB, Zhang H, Chen S, He ZS, Wang SY, Zhou ZC, Li GH*, Cheng H*.Exosome cofactor hMTR4 competes with export adaptor ALYREF to ensure balanced nuclear RNA pools for degradation and export. EMBO J.(2017)
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Wang K, Shi M, Cheng H*. Microinjection and fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for studying mRNAexport in mammalian cells.Methods MolBiol(2017).1648:95-102.
