SUMMARY
Researcher Hong Cao, M.D., focuses on the membrane and cytoskeletal interactions that drive dynamic cellular processes. These include vesicle transport, metastasis and migration, which are essential to the health of the lungs and liver. Disruptions of these dynamic functions can lead to life-threatening diseases such as hepatitis or cancer.
Focus areas
- Investigation of ATG9B and a novel function at the mitochondria. Dr. Cao focuses on identifying autophagy-related protein 9b (ATG9B) distribution and function at the mitochondria in lung cancer cells. His team uses techniques spanning biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and animal modeling to better understand the mechanisms that regulate metastasis. These investigative methods offer deeper insights for identifying new therapeutic strategies to be developed and tested for treating metastatic lung cancer.
- Discovery of how MxB targets and regulates liver mitochondria. Dr. Cao has previously reported that myxovirus-resistance protein B (MxB), a member of the antiviral dynamin family, participates in mitochondrial integrity. Dr. Cao is working to find out how MxB targets to mitochondria. His team seeks to understand whether MxB interacts with other dynamin family members, such as optic atrophy type 1 (OPA1), dynamin-like protein 1 (DLP1) or dynamin 2 (Dyn2), to regulate the form and function of inner cristae, as well as mechanisms of mitochondrial homeostasis.
- Characterization of the molecular path, kinetics, and contributions of hepatitis B subviral particle (SVP) secretion. Dr. Cao focuses on identifying the short hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion pathway based on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) stable cell model. His group uses techniques of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology to understand how the short HBsAg is secreted from cells.
Significance to patient care
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Dr. Cao and his collaborators are revealing a new basic mechanism for lung cancer that has translational potential.
Mitochondrial function is key to hepatocyte health. Dr. Cao's work is providing significant new insights into the mechanisms regulating mitochondrial dynamics, function and genome stability in normal and pathophysiological states.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Dr. Cao's studies are identifying an HBsAg trafficking pathway with potential to develop new medicines to stop HBV packaging and secretion.