Susu He

Research Summary

Working on the structural biology of bacterial transcriptional factors related to virulence. Basic focus is on CifR, LasR and Anr from Pseudomonas aeruginosa which are regulators for the virulence gene cif, in response to quorum sensing and oxygen-limiting condition, respectively. The major interest is trying to solve the crystal structure of these regulator proteins and also regulator-operator DNA complex so as to understand the regulation mechanism. Based on the structure, this study is further aimed to screen for/ design specific drugs in using these regulator as drug target.

Publications

Susu He, Michael Chandler, Alessandro M. Varani, Alison B. Hickman, John P. Dekker and Fred Dyda. Mechanisms of evolution in high-consequence drug resistance plasmids. mBio 2016 7(6):e01987-16.

Erik Snesrud#, Susu He# (co-first author), Michael Chandler, John P. Dekker, Alison B. Hickman, Patrick McGann, and Fred Dyda. A Model for Transposition of the Colistin Resistance Gene mcr-1 by ISApl1. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (2016) Oct 21;60(11):6973-6976.

Laure Lavatine#, Susu He# (co-first author), Anne Sarcos, Catherine Guynet, Brigitte Marty, Mick Chandler and Bao Ton-Hoang. Single strand transposition at the host replication fork. Nucleic Acids Research (2016) Sep 19;44(16):7866-83.

Susu He, Alison Burgess Hickman, Alessandro M. Varani, Patricia Siguier, Michael Chandler, John P. Dekker, and Fred Dyda. Insertion Sequence IS26 reorganizes plasmids in clinically isolated multidrug resistant bacteria by replicative transposition. mBio (2015) 6(3):e00762-15

Susu He, Corneloup A, Guynet C, Lavatine L, Caumont-Sarcos A, Siguier P, Marty B, Dyda F, Chandler M, Ton Hoang B. The IS200/IS605 family and “peel and paste” single-strand transposition mechanism. Microbiol Spectrum (2015). 3(4):MDNA3-0039-2014.doi:10.1128

Susu He, Catherine Guynet, Patricia Siguier, Alison B. Hickman, Fred Dyda, Michael Chandler and Bao Ton-Hoang. IS200/IS605 family single strand transposition: mechanism of IS608 strand transfer. Nucleic Acids Research (2013). 1;41(5):3302-13.

Susu He, Alison B. Hickman, Fred Dyda, Neil P. Johnson, Michael Chandler and Bao Ton-Hoang. Reconstitution of a functional IS608 single-strand transpososome: role of non-canonical base pairing. Nucleic Acids Research (2011). 39(19):8503-12.

Zhenming Chi, Jing Li, Lin Wang, Susu He and Xianghong Wang. Pichia pastoris INO1 gene expression affects intracellular maltase activity and MAL1+ gene expression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Indian journal of biochemistry and biophysics (2008), 45 (3), 174-178

Shumin Yao, Zhenming Chi and Susu He. Studies on inositol-mediated expression of MAL gene encoding maltase and phospholipid biosynthesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (2006), 33(6), 417-422.

Shumin Yao, Zhenming Chi and Susu He. Regulation of MAL1+ gene expression encoding maltase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe by added inositol. Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Vol. 43, (2006), pp. 143-147.

Zhenming Chi, Susu He and Shumin Yao. Effects of Pichia pastoris INO1 expression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe on phosphatidylinositol (PI) synthesis and expression of INV + encoding invertase. Enzyme and Microbial Technology (2005), 37(4), 395-401.

Conference Presentations and Invited Talks

Susu He. Two for the price of one: structures of DNA-bound and apo CifR from a single crystal lattice. Oral talk. The 15th Annual North Eastern Structure Symposium: Biomolecular Design and Structure Prediction. Farmington, CT, U.S. Oct. 2018.

Susu He, Kelli L. Hvorecny, Noor M. Taher, Fred Dyda and Dean R. Madden. Molecular structure determination of transcriptional factor CifR regulating a virulence factor from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Poster. NIH, NIGMS Seventh Biennial National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence. Washington, D.C. June 2018.

Susu He. Structural study of transcriptional factor CifR regulating a virulence factor from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Invited talk. NIDDK, Bethesda, MD, U.S. March 2018.

Susu He, Alison Burgess Hickman, Michael Chandler, John Dekker and Fred Dyda. The highly active insertion sequence IS26 reorganizes plasmids in clinically isolated multidrug-resistant bacteria by replicative transposition. Poster. Gram negative resistance symposium. Tahoe, U.S. March 2015.

Laure Lavatine, Susu He, Anne Sarcos, Mick Chandler and Bao Ton-Hoang. Single strand transposase at host replication fork. Poster. Les Eléments Génétiques Mobiles (GDR). Paris, France Dec. 2013.

Susu He, Catherine Guynet, Patricia Siguier, Alison Hickman, Fred Dyda, Mick Chandler, Bao Ton-Hoang. Single strand transposition: mechanism of IS608 strand transfer. Oral talk. Les Eléments Génétiques Mobiles: du mécanisme aux populations, une approche intégrative. Paris, France. Dec. 2012.

Susu He, Alison B. Hickman, Fred Dyda, Neil P. Johnson, Mick Chandler, Bao Ton-Hoang. Reconstitution of a functional IS608 single-strand transpososome: role of non-canonical base pairing. Poster. Programme du XVIIème Congrès National sur les Éléments Transposables. Lyon, France. July 2011.

Susu He, Bao Ton-Hoang, Catherine Guynet, Orsolya Barabas, Alison Burgess Hickman, Fred Dyda and Michael Chandler. In vitro study of IS608 TnpA-DNA synaptic complex. Poster. Workshop on site-specific recombination, transposition and DNA dynamics. Ile d’Oléron, France. Sep. 2010.

Susu He, Kerstin Bystricky, Jean-Marie François and Jean-Luc Parrou. Acid trehalase (Ath1), a dual location protein targeting to cell surface and vacuole in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Oral talk. Levures, Modèles et Outils VIII. Alpes Maritimes, France. Oct. 2009.

Susu He, Jean-Marie Francois and Jean-luc Parrou. Acid trehalase (Ath1p), a secreted protein targeted to the cell surface in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Poster. Yeast enetics and molecular biology meeting. Toronto, Canada. July 2008.

Susu He, Jean-Marie Francois and Jean-luc Parrou. Secretion mechanism of acid trehalase in saccharomyces cerevisiae. Poster. 3rd European Federation of Biotechnology Conference on Physiology of Yeasts and Filamentous Fungi PYFF3. Helsinki, Finland. June 2007.

Scientific Journal Reviewer

Medicine | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries | Oriental Journal of Chemistry