Yusong GUO

Dr. Yusong Guo obtained his PhD in Cell Biology, working in Prof. Adam Linstedt’s laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University. Then he performed his postdoctoral research in Prof. Randy Schekman’s lab at UC Berkeley. Dr. Guo is currently an Assistant Professor at the Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Research Question

Molecular mechanism that regulates sorting of planar cell polarity signaling receptors at the trans Golgi network

Many epithelial tissues not only exhibit an apical-basolateral polarity but also acquire a second axis of polarity perpendicular to the apical-basal axis, referred to as planar cell polarity (PCP). Defects in PCP signaling are associated with a variety of human diseases including cancer metastasis and congenital heart disease. The establishment of PCP is controlled by a group of conserved signaling receptors that are localized asymmetrically on opposing cellular boundaries. This asymmetric localization is critical for accurate propagation of the PCP signaling process. We are interested in understanding how PCP signaling receptors are delivered to the plasma membrane as well as how their asymmetric localizations are established.

The trans Golgi network (TGN) is an essential transport hub in the biosynthetic transport pathway. At the TGN, elaborate cargo sorting machineries function to sort newly-synthesized proteins into distinct transport vesicles that are delivered to various downstream destinations. TGN sorting is an important step for accurate targeting of various proteins to their specific localizations. We aim to identify the molecular machineries that mediate sorting of the asymmetrically localized PCP signaling receptors into vesicles at the TGN utilizing cutting edge technologies in biochemistry, cell biology and fluorescent imaging. We also aim to analyze whether protein sorting at the TGN is important for establishing the asymmetric localizations of PCP signaling receptors as well as for the propagation of the PCP signaling process.

Representative Publications

1. Ma T, Li B, Wang R, Lau PK, Huang Y, Jiang L, Schekman R, Guo Y*. A mechanism for differential sorting of planar cell polarity proteins Frizzled6 and Vangl2 at the trans-Golgi Network. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2018 Jun 1; 293(22): 8410-8427. (* corresponding author)
2. Guo Y, Sirkis DW, Schekman R. Protein Sorting at the trans-Golgi Network. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2014;30:169-206.
3. Guo Y, Zanetti G, Schekman R. A novel GTP-binding protein-adaptor protein complex responsible for export of Vangl2 from the trans Golgi network. eLife. 2013; 2:e00160.
4. Guo Y, Punj V, Sengupta D and Linstedt AD. Coat-tether interaction in Golgi organization. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 2008 July; 19(7):2830-43.
5. Guo Y and Linstedt AD. COPII-Golgi protein interactions regulate COPII coat assembly and Golgi size. Journal of Cell Biology. 2006 July; 174(1): 53-63.