Our laboratory focuses on developing novel single-molecule tools in single cells to study the structure, function and dynamics of macromolecular assemblies. For example, we developed single-molecule gene expression reporting systems and chromosomal DNA conformation markers to probe the dynamics of gene regulation and transcription in bacterial cells. We also pioneered the use of superresolution imaging to probe the bacterial cell division machinery. Recently we expanded our horizons by collaborating with experts of different fields in biology to map the spatial organization of the genome and epigenetic markers of single human cells, and to develop new single-molecule based technologies for sensitive early detection of cancer markers in blood samples. Four major research directions are detailed below.
In bacteria, cell division is carried out by a highly conserved supramolecular complex, the divisome. Understanding the structure and function of the divisome is important for developing new antibiotics.
Recent studies suggest that genes are spatially organized; where they are and how they are organized are important for their transcription activities.
Gene expression is inherently stochastic. How cells battle noise in gene expression in order to achieve robust growth and development has been the subject of intense studies.
