Yong-Hui Zheng, PhD
Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Contact
Building & Room:
COMRB 8053
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Lab
Building & Room:
COMRB 8068
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About
Class I fusion proteins are expressed from HIV-1, influenza, Ebola, and SARS-COV-2 to mediate virus entry and infection. Although these viruses belong to different families, their fusion proteins share identical features in structure and biosynthesis. We are studying how host factors attack class I fusion proteins during expression in the secretory pathway and how they interact with their receptors for membrane fusion.
Currently, we have four major projects to elucidate:
- How the calnexin cycle and class I α-mannosidases target class I fusion proteins to ER-to-lysosome-associated degradation (ERLAD) via Macro-ER-phagy and Micro-ER-phagy.
- How MARCHF E3 ubiquitin ligases inhibit their maturation in the Golgi by blocking glycosylation and furin-cleavage.
- How SERINC5 inhibits their fusogenic activity on the plasma membrane and how SERINC5 is counteracted by HIV-1 Nef, MLV glycoGag, and EIAV S2.
- How human coronaviruses and filoviruses interact with Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) to enter cells.
Given their key role in infection, our studies may lead to the development of novel antivirals that broadly target these highly pathogenic human viruses.
Education
PhD, Hokkaido University