Bulletin No. 1, 2016

52 Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2016 Structure and Functions of Rice YchF-type G Protein Uncovered rESEArcH Prof. Lam Hon-ming (3rd left), director of the Centre for Soybean Research of the Partner State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and professor of the School of Life Sciences and his research team have uncovered the structure and functions of Rice YchF-type G-protein for the first time by employing X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis to dissect its structure. Rice YchF-type G Protein restrains plants’ defense response and stress tolerance after binding to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP)—the two main triphosphates which help deliver energy and information. The findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA in February 2016. Professor Lam’s team discovered the OsGAP1 Protein in their research on rice a few years ago, which can enhance the hydrolytic activity of ATP and GTP in Rice YchF- type G Protein, thereby eliminating the negative functions in plants’ defense response and stress tolerance. He will continue investigating this topic in order to strengthen plants’ defense response and stress tolerance, and ultimately enhance agricultural production notwithstanding environmental stresses like diseases and salinization. Novel Drug Candidate for Rare Neurological Diseases Found Since 1998, Prof. Edwin H.Y. Chan (left) from the School of Life Sciences has studied a group of rare neurological disorders and developed therapeutic interventions against these diseases. Professor Chan’s team has discovered a drug candidate P3, a 13-amino acid peptide, which can neutralize toxic RNA and rescue neurodegeneration. A patent application protecting this technology has been allowed by the US Patent and Trademark Office. P3 has the potential to be developed into therapeutic usage giving hope to individuals who suffer from rare neuronal diseases. The neurological disorders under study were collectively termed as polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, which include Huntington’s Disease and several types of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). After four years of vigorous testing, the research team successfully developed the peptidylic inhibitor P3. P3 is the first peptide-based inhibitor of its kind that is capable of neutralizing toxic RNA.