^{Structural Biology}

Sun Lab

Exploring structural and pharmacological properties of membrane proteins and protein machinery

About the Sun Lab

Proteins interpret, execute, and maintain a cell’s genetic blueprint. We use structural biology and biophysical methods to explore the function of enzymes and signaling molecules. Understanding how these molecules can be used as drug targets will help improve disease treatments for our patient population.

Our research summary

Our laboratory studies – at an atomic level – these macromolecules that are critical for every biological process in humans. Leveraging our expertise in structural biology and biophysics, we dissect the molecular mechanisms of how these machines work and aim to better understand how to target those molecular machines to treat human disease.

The research in our laboratory centers on two aspects of biological questions. First, we aim to understand how cells or organisms generate and respond to stress signals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Second, our laboratory investigates important disease-causing protein machineries through biophysical and biochemical approaches. By revealing how these machineries work and what goes wrong under disease conditions, we strive to develop in-depth molecular understandings to provide knowledge foundation for future therapeutics.

Selected Publications

Structural basis of human ghrelin receptor signaling by ghrelin and the synthetic agonist ibutamoren

Liu H, et al Nature Communications 2021

Structural analysis of the full-length human LRRK2

Myasnikov et al. Cell, 2021

Structural basis of human KCNQ1 modulation and gating

Sun J et al. Cell, 2020

Crystal structure of the plant dual-affinity nitrate transporter NRT1.1

Sun J et al. Nature, 2014

Cryo-EM structure of a KCNQ1/CaM complex reveals insights into congenital long QT syndrome

Sun J et al. Cell, 2017

Structures of mouse DUOX1-DUOXA1 provide mechanistic insights into enzyme activation and regulation

Sun J et al. Nat Struct Mol Biol, 2020

Allosteric activation of ubiquitin-specific proteases by beta-propeller proteins UAF1 and WDR20

Li H et al. Mol Cell, 2016

Molecular mechanism underlying the plant NRT1.1 dual-affinity nitrate transporter.

Sun J et al. Front Physiol, 2015

See All Publications from Dr. Sun

About Ji Sun

Dr. Ji Sun earned his BS at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and PhD from the University of Washington, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Roderick Mackinnon, MD, at the Rockefeller University. At St. Jude, Dr. Sun is a member of the Department of Structural Biology and studies molecular signaling at the atomic level. This innovative research program will lead to a better understanding of disease and the potential for new treatments.

Ji Sun Bio