Department of Biological Sciences : Dr. Song-Tao Liu's Research

Song-Tao Liu Assistant Professor Ph.D. Shanghai Institute of Biochemictry, 1997

 Research Interest

Faithful chromosome segregation is essential to maintain the genomic stability during cell division. Errors in the process may cause gain or loss of chromosomes (aneuploidy) and lead to cancer development in somatic cells and birth defects in germ line cells. One of the major players that contribute to the high fidelity of chromosome segregation is the centromere/kinetochore complex. We have been interested in dissecting the composition, assembly, regulation and activities of the centromere/kinetochore complex, aiming to provide mechanistic insights into how the genomic integrity is maintained during chromosome segregation. We have used a broad range of experimental approaches in our studies including biochemical purification, molecular and cell biological analysis, advanced live cell imaging and chemical biological methods among others.

Current projects in the lab include:

1. With over 100 proteins that have been discovered to associate with the centromere/kinetochore complex either constitutively or temporarily in human cells, we are eager to learn how these proteins interact with each other to form the functional kinetochore complex during mitosis. We intend to perform (sub)genomic and proteomic analyses to derive a comprehensive protein-protein interaction map between kinetochore proteins.
2. Several DNA damage checkpoint/repair proteins have been localized at kinetochores during mitosis. We would like to explore the structural and functional significance of such localization patterns and the potential link between the DNA damage checkpoint and the mitotic checkpoint.
3. We are investigating the least studied mitotic checkpoint kinase hMPS1 to explore in-depth how it functions in the mitotic checkpoint signaling pathways.

Publications

 Huang, H. M., Feng, J., Famulski, J., Rattner, J. B., Liu, S.T., Kao, G.D., Muschel, R., Chan, G.K.T. and Yen, T.J. (2007 ) Tripin/hSgo2 recruits MCAK to the inner centromere to correct defective kinetochore attachments. Journal of Cell Biology. 177:413-24.

 Zhang, R., Liu, S.T., Chen, W., Bonner, M., Pehrson, J., Yen, T.J. and Adams, P.D. (2006) HP1 proteins are essential for a dynamic nuclear response that rescues the function of perturbed heterochromatin in primary human cells. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 27: 949-62.

 Liu, S.T., Rattner, J.B., Jablonski, S.A. and Yen, T. J. (2006) Mapping the assembly pathways that specify formation of the trilaminar kinetochore plates in human cells. Journal of Cell Biology. 175: 41-53. (“In This Issue” featured article, “Faculty of 1000” selection).

 Hsu, T.C., Chang, C.H., Lin, MC, Liu, S.T., Yen, T. J. and Tsay, G.J. (2005) Anti-CENP-H antibodies in patients with Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatology International. 26(4):298-303.

 Joseph, J., Liu, S.T., Jablonski, S.A., Yen, T. J. and Dasso, M. (2004) The RanGAP1/RanBP2 complex is essential for microtubule-kinetochore interactions in vivo. Current Biology. 14: 611-617.

 Liu, S.T., Hittle, J. C., Jablonski, S.A., Campbell, M.S., Yoda, K. and Yen, T.J. (2003) Human CENP-I specifies localization of CENP-F, MAD1 and MAD2 to kinetochores and is essential for mitosis. Nature Cell Biology. 5(4): 341-5.

 Williams, B.C., Li Z.X., Liu, S.T., Williams, E.V., Leung, G., Yen, T.J. and Goldberg, M.L. (2003) Zwilch, a New Component of the ZW10/ROD Complex Required for Kinetochore Functions.  Molecular Biology of the Cell. 14(4): 1379-91.

 Liu, S.T., Chan, G.K.T., Hittle, J.C., Fujii G., Lees M. and Yen T.J. (2003) Human MPS1 kinase is required for mitotic arrest induced by the loss of CENP-E from kinetochores. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 14(4): 1638-51.

 Hu, H.L., Liu, S.T., Yang Y., Chang, W.Z. and Hong G.F. (2000) In Rhizobium leguminosarum, NodD represses its own transcription by competing with RNA polymerase for binding sites. Nucleic Acids Research 28: 2784-2793.

 Liu, S. T., Lu, H. F. and Hong, G. F. (1998) NodD binds to target DNA in isologous octamer. Science in China, Series C. 41:592-599.

 Liu, S. T., Chang, W. Z., Cao, H. M., Hu, H. L., Chen, Z. H., Ni, F. D., Lu, H. F. and Hong, G. F. (1998) A HU-like protein binds to specific sites within nod promoters of Rhizobium leguminosarum. Journal of Biological Chemistry 273:20568-20574.

 Liu, S. T., and Hong, G. F. (1998) Three minute G+A specific reaction for DNA sequencing. Analytical Biochemistry 255: 158-159.

Invited Reviews

Chan, G.K., Liu, S.T., and Yen, T. J. (2005) Kinetochore structure and function. Trends in Cell Biology. 15(11):589-98.

 Liu, S.T., van Deursen, J. M. and Yen T.J. (2003) The role of mitotic checkpoint in maintaining genomic stability. Current Topics in Developmental Biology. 58: 27-51.

 Jablonski, S. A., Liu, S.T., and Yen, T.J. (2003) Targeting the kinetochore for mitosis-specific inhibitors. Cancer Biology and Therapy. 2(3): e21-26.