Huilin Li Laboratory

Cryo-EM, Structural Biology, DNA Replication and Epigenetics

In recent years, advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have revolutionized the study of life’s most basic components. Scientists can now image molecules and molecular complexes more precisely than ever before, providing insight into the biological building blocks that play key roles in normal health and in disease. The ability to see these tiny molecules gives scientists a powerful tool when designing new therapeutic strategies for some of humanity’s greatest health threats.

The laboratory of Dr. Huilin Li leverages state-of-the-art cryo-EM technology to several ends, including uncovering the molecular machinery behind eukaryotic DNA replication, which can contribute to tumorigenesis when it goes awry; investigating the bacterial proteasome system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, which claims more than 1.5 million lives annually; and determining the structure of membrane-embedded enzyme complexes, such as oligosaccharyltransferase complex (OST), which are underrepresented in structural databases.

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  • 121 peer-reviewed papers published in 2023
  • 62 peer-reviewed papers published in high-impact journals in 2023
  • 55 clinical trials launched to date

Huilin Li, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor, Department of Structural Biology; Ralph and Grace Hauenstein Endowed Chair in Structural Biology

Areas of Expertise

Structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, biophysics, DNA replication, membrane protein biochemistry

Biography

Huilin Li, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized structural biologist with more than 20 years of experience in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). His current work focuses on the eukaryotic DNA replication, the mycobacterial proteasome system, and the protein folding and protein glycosylation.

Dr. Li earned his Ph.D. in electron crystallography from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, where he trained with the late Prof. K.H. Kuo. He then completed postdoctoral research in the labs of Dr. Bing Jap and Dr. Kenneth Downing at Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory, where he studied membrane channels and microtubule structure by cryo-EM. From there, he joined Brookhaven National Laboratory as an associate biophysicist, rising through the ranks to attain a tenured position. In 2010, he joined Stony Brook University as a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology while also maintaining a summer appointment at Brookhaven. He is now a professor and chair of Van Andel Institute’s Department of Structural Biology.

Project 1

Eukaryotic DNA Replication

Eukaryotic chromosomal replication initiation is an intricate process that requires the coordinated and tightly regulated action of numerous molecular machines. Failure to ensure once-only replication initiation per cell cycle can result in uncontrolled proliferation and genomic instability, two hallmarks of tumorigenesis. The origin recognition complex (ORC) is a six-protein machine conserved in all eukaryotes. Yeast ORC constitutively binds to and marks the replication origin throughout the cell cycle. Licensing of the DNA replication origin starts when the critical cell division cycle protein Cdc6p binds to ORC in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

In collaboration with the labs of Dr. Christian Speck and Dr. Bruce Stillman, we have mapped the architecture of ORC (Chen et al 2008 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), captured several key intermediates during origin activation and Mcm2-7 hexamer recruitment on to DNA (Sun et al 2013 Nat Struct Mol BiolSun et al 2014 Genes Dev), and elucidated how Cdc6 completes the ORC ring and activates it to load the replicative helicase (Yuan et al 2017 Nat Struct Mol BiolFeng et al 2021 Nat Commun). In 2017, we showed how the two Mcm2-7 hexamers come together on the origin DNA to form the pre-replication complex — the Mcm2-7 double-hexamer (Noguchi et al 2017 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A).

In the S phase of the cell cycle, the active CMG helicase works with the leading strand polymerase epsilon, the lagging strand polymerase delta, and the primase-polymerase alpha to synthesize new DNA. In collaboration with Dr. Michael O’Donnell’s lab, we have determined the structure of the 11-protein CMG helicase (Yuan et al 2016 Nat Struct Mol Biol) and its complex with a forked DNA (Georgescu et al 2017 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), and mapped a few key components of the replisome (Sun et al 2015 Nat Struct Mol Biol). We have determined the holoenzyme structures of the leading strand DNA polymerase epsilon and the lagging strand DNA polymerase delta (Yuan et al 2020 Nat CommunZheng et al 2020 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A). We found Ctf4 trimer can coordinate two CMG helicases and one Pol alpha-primase into a replication factory core (Yuan et al 2019 eLife). Our work has advanced the field of eukaryotic DNA replication (Li et al 2018 BioEssayO’Donnell et al NSMB 2018).

Related publications

Chen Z, Speck C, Wendel P, Tang C, Stillman B, Li H. 2008. The architecture of the DNA replication origin recognition complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiaeProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105(30):10326–10331.

Sun J, Evrin C, Samel S, Fernadez-Cid A, Riera A, Kawakami H, Zech J, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2013. Cryo-EM structure of a helicase loading intermediate containing ORC-Cdc6-Cdt1-MCM2-7 bound to DNANat Struct Mol Biol 20(8):944–951.

Sun J, Fernandez-Cid A, Riera A, Tognetti S, Yuan Z, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2014. Structural and mechanistic insights into licensing of DNA replicationGenes Dev 28:2291–2303.

Sun J, Shi Y, Georgescu RE, Yuan Z, Chait BT, Li H*, O’Donnell ME*. 2015. The architecture of a eukaryotic replisomeNat Struct Mol Biol 22(12):976–982.

Yuan Z, Bai L, Sun J, Georgescu R, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2016. Structure of the eukaryotic replicative CMG helicase suggests a pumpjack motion for translocationNat Struct Mol Biol 23(3):217–224.

Noguchi Y, Yuan Z, Bai L, Schneider S, Zhao G, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2017. Cryo-EM structure of Mcm2-7 double hexamer on DNA suggests a lagging-strand DNA extrusion modelProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114(45):E9529–E9538.

Yuan Z, Riera A, Bai L, Sun J, Nandi S, Spanos C, Chen ZA, Barbon M, Rappsilber J, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2017. Structural basis of MCM2-7 replicative helicase loading by ORC-Cdc6 and Cdt1Nat Struct Mol Biol 24(3):316–324.

Georgescu R, Yuan Z, Bai L, de Luna Almeida Santos R, Sun J, Zhang D, Yurieva O, Li H*, O’Donnell ME*. 2017. Structure of eukaryotic CMG helicase at a replication fork and implications to replisome architecture and origin initiationProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114(5):E697–E706.

Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2018. The eukaryotic CMG helicase at the replication fork: Emerging architecture reveals an unexpected mechanismBioEssays 40(3).

O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2018. The ring-shaped hexameric helicases that function at DNA replication forksNat Struct Mol Biol 25(2):122–130.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Santos RLA, Zhang D, Bai L, Yao NY, Zhao G, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2019. Ctf4 organizes sister replisomes and Pol α into a replication factoryeLife e47405.

Zheng F, Georgescu RE, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2020. Structure of eukaryotic DNA polymerase δ bound to the PCNA clamp while encircling DNAProc Natl Acad Sci U S A117(48):30344–30353.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Schauer GD, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2020. Structure of the polymerase ε holoenzyme and atomic model of the leading strand replisomeNat Commun11(1):3156.

Feng X, Noguchi Y, Barbon M, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2021. The structure of ORC-Cdc6 on an origin DNA reveals the mechanism of ORC activation by the replication initiator Cdc6Nat Commun 12(1):3883.

Project 2

The Pup-proteasome System in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.5 million to 2 million people globally every year. In the U.S. alone, 13 million people have latent TB infection; and about 10% of them will develop active TB disease during their lifetime. An effective vaccine or chemotherapy has yet to be developed. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) — the bacterium that causes TB — has evolved a Pup-proteasome system that is functionally analogous to but chemically distinct from the eukaryotic Ubiquitin-proteasome system. The Pup-proteasome is required for Mtb resistance to killing by a source of nitric oxide (NO). NO is required by the host immune system to control Mtb infections. Thus, the Pup-proteasome system is a promising target for the development of anti-TB chemotherapeutics.

In collaboration with the labs of Dr. Carl Nathan, Dr. Gang Lin and Dr. Heran Darwin, we have combined cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography and protein biochemistry to elucidate the structure and function of the bacterial system. We found that the Mtb proteasome is structurally similar to the eukaryotic proteasome yet possesses unique assembly and gating mechanisms (Hu et al 2006 Mol MicrobiolLi et al 2010 EMBO J). Like its eukaryotic counterpart, the bacterial proteasome can be activated either by an ATP-dependent activator (Mpa) (Wu et al 2017 Mol Microbiol; Yin et al 2021 J Biol Chem), or by an ATP-independent activator (PafE) (Jastrab et al 2015 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S ABai et al 2016 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S AHu et al 2018 J Biol Chem). Interestingly, we found that the protein degradation tag Pup, a prokaryotic Ubiquitin-like protein, is intrinsically disordered, but folds into an α-helix upon binding to and recognized by the proteasomal ATPase Mpa (Wang et al 2010 Nat Struct Mol Biol). To facilitate the development of anti-TB chemotherapeutics, we have elucidated the structural basis for species-specific inhibition of the Mtb proteasome by oxathiazol-2-ones (Lin et al 2009 Nature), by several N,C-capped dipeptides (Hsu et al 2017 Biochemistry), and by the phenylimidazo-based and macrocyclic peptide-based inhibitors (Zhan et al 2019 J Med Chem; Zhang et al 2021 J Med Chem). Remarkably, some of the dipeptide variants exhibited potent and selective inhibition to the human immunoproteasome (Santos et al 2017 Nat Commun).

In addition to removing the damaged proteins by the Pup-proteasome system, Mtb also uses the DnaK-ClpB bi-chaperone system to rescue and refold damaged proteins. We have studied the protein disaggregation mechanism by the Mtb ClpB hexamer (Yu et al 2018 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) and revealed how ClpB and DnaK work together to synergistically disaggregate and refold protein aggregates (Yin et al 2021 Cell Rep).

Related Publications

Hu G, Lin G, Wang M, Dick L, Xu RM, Nathan C, Li H. 2006. Structure of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasome and mechanism of inhibition by a peptidyl boronateMol Microbiol 59(5):1417–1428.

Lin G*, Li D, de Carvalho L, Deng H, Tao H, Vogt G, Wu K, Schneider J, Chidawanyika T, Warren JD, Li H*, Nathan C*. 2009. Inhibitors selective for mycobacterial versus human proteasomesNature 461(7264):621–626.

Wang T, Darwin KH, Li H. 2010. Binding-induced folding of prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) targets substrates for proteasomal degradationNat Struct Mol Biol 17(11):1352–1357.

Li D, Li H, Wang T, Pan H, Lin G, Li H. 2010. Structural basis for the assembly and gate closure mechanisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 20S proteasomeEMBO J. 29(12):2037–2047.

Jastrab JB, Wang T, Murphy JP, Bai L, Hu K, Merkx R, Huang J, Chatterjee C, Ovaa H, Gygi SP, Li H, Darwin KH. 2015. An adenosine triphosphate-independent proteasome activator contributes to the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosisProc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 112(14):E1763–1772.

Bai L, Hu K, Wang T, Jastrab JB, Darwin KH, Li H. 2016. Structural analysis of the dodecameric proteasome activator PafE in Mycobacterium tuberculosisProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113(14):E1983–1992.

Wu Y, Hu K, Li D, Bai L, Yang S, Jastrab JB, Xiao S, Hu Y, Zhang S, Darwin KH, Wang T, Li H. 2017. Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomal ATPase Mpa has a β-grasp domain that hinders docking with the proteasome core proteaseMol Microbiol 105(2):227–241.

Hsu HC, Singh PK, Fan H, Wang R, Sukenick G, Nathan C, Lin G, Li H. 2017. Structural basis for the species-selective binding of N,C-capped dipeptides to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomeBiochemistry 56(1):324–333.

Santos RLA, Bai L, Singh PK, Murakami N, Fan H, Zhan W, Zhu Y, Jiang X, Zhang K, Assker JP, Nathan CF, Li H, Azzi J, Lin G. 2017. Structure of human immunoproteasome with a reversible and noncompetitive inhibitor that selectively inhibits activated lymphocytesNat Commun 8(1):1692.

Hu K, Jastrab JB, Zhang S, Kovach A, Zhao G, Darwin KH, Li H. 2018. Proteasome substrate capture and gate opening by the accessory factor PafE from Mycobacterium tuberculosisJ Biol Chem 293(13):4713–4723.

Yu H, Lupoli TJ, Kovach A, Meng X, Zhao G, Nathan CF, Li H. 2018. ATP hydrolysis-coupled peptide translocation mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpBProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115(41)::E9560–E9569.

Samanovic MI, Hsu HC, Jones MB, Jones V, McNeil MR, Becker SH, Jordan AT, Strnad M, Xu C, Jackson M, Li H, Darwin KH. 2018. Cytokinin signaling in Mycobacterium tuberculosisMBio 19(3).

Zhan W, Hsu HC, Morgan T, Oullette T, Burns-Huang K, Hara R, Wright AG, Imaeda T, Okamoto R, Sato K, Michino M, Ramjee M, Aso K, Meinke P, Foley M, Nathan CR, Li H, Lin G. 2019. Selective phenylimidazole-based inhibitors of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomeJ Med Chem 62(20):9246–9253.

Yin Y, Kovach A, Hsu HC, Darwin KH, Li H. 2021. The mycobacterial proteasomal ATPase Mpa forms a gapped ring to engage the 20S proteasomeJ Biol Chem 100713.

Yin Y, Feng X, Yu H, Fay A, Kovach A, Glickman MS, Li H. 2021. Structural basis for aggregate dissolution and refolding by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpB-DnaK bi-chaperone systemCell Rep 35(8):109166.

Zhang H, Hsu HC, Kahne SC, Hara R, Zhan W, Jiang X, Burns-Huang K, Ouellette T, Imaeda T, Okamoto R, Kawasaki M, Michino M, Wong TT, Toita A, Yukawa T, Moraca F, Vendome J, Saha P, Sato K, Aso K, Ginn J, Meinke PT, Foley M, Nathan CF, Darwin KH, Li H, Lin G. 2021. Macrocyclic peptides that selectively inhibit the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomeJ Med Chem 64(9):6262–6272.

Project 3

Protein Glycosylation in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Proteins can be modified with sugars either via an N-linkage on asparagine or via an O-linkage on the OH of a serine or threonine. N-glycosylation in eukaryotes is catalyzed by an ER-embedded eight-protein membrane complex oligosaccharyltransferase (OST). Our earlier work mapped the subunit arrangement of the OST complex (Li et al 2008 Structure), and showed that OST binds to ribosome at a location near the nascent peptide exit tunnel (Harada et al 2009 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A). Recently, we determined the atomic model of the OST, revealing the functions for many of the subunits and, unexpectedly, several phospholipids mediating subunit-subunit interaction in the transmembrane region (Bai et al 2018 Nature). Protein O-mannosyltransferase forms either a heterodimer or a homodimer, and associates with translocon in the ER membrane to perform co-translational protein O-mannosylation. We found the Pmt1-Pmt2 heterodimer has the GT-C fold and share structural homology with OST, confirming that protein O-mannosylation and protein N-glycosylation are evolutionarily related (Bai et al. 2019 Nat Struct Mol Biol).

O-glucosylation is a novel type of O-glycosylation. We recently studied enzymes that add a glucose-xylose-xylose trisaccharide on Notch receptor. We solved the structure of Rumi that adds the first glucose to Notch and found that Rumi recognizes a six-amino-acid sequence on many of the 36 EGF motifs of Notch and a hydrophobic patch (Yu et al 2016 Nat Chem Biol). Our study suggested that mutated forms of Rumi could be the cause of cancers because these mutant enzymes are unable to modify Notch. This observation links Rumi defects with cancers. XXYLT1 is a retaining glycosyltransferase that adds the third sugar of the trisaccharide — a xylose — to Notch. The chemical mechanism for retaining enzymes such as XXYLT1 had been controversial in the field for several decades. Our structural studies unambiguously supported the SNi-like retaining mechanism and disproved the double displacement mechanism (Yu et al 2015 Nat Chem Biol). We further solved the structure of an EGF motif covalently modified by a full O-glucose trisaccharide (Takeuchi et al 2017 J Biol Chem). The structure reveals that the glycan fills up a surface groove of the EGF with multiple contacts with the protein, providing a chemical basis for the stabilizing effects of the glycans.

Concomitant to their glycosylation, nascent membrane proteins are inserted into the lipid bilayer with the help of membrane chaperones such as the ER membrane complex whose structure was determined by us recently (Bai et al 2020 Nature). Then, the glycosylated and folded membrane proteins are trafficked from ER through Golgi to reach cell surface membrane. This transport process is facilitated by several lipid flippases. We have determined the structure and substrate binding and flipping mechanisms for three yeast lipid flippases: Drs2-Cdc50 (Bai et al 2019 Nat Commun), Neo1 (Bai et al 2021 Nat Commun), and Dnf1/Dnf2-Cdc50 (Bai et al 2020 eLife).

Related Publications

Li H, Chavan M, Schindelin H, Lennarz WJ, Li H. 2008. Structure of the oligosaccharyl transferase complex at 12 Å resolutionStructure 16(3):432–440.

Harada Y, Li H, Li H, Lennarz WJ. 2009. Oligosaccharyltransferase directly binds to ribosome at a location near the translocon-binding siteProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(17):6945–6949.

Yu H, Takeuchi M, LeBarron J, Kantharia J, London E, Bakker H, Haltiwanger RS, Li H*, Takeuchi H*. 2015. Notch-modifying xylosyltransferase structures support an SNi-like retaining mechanismNat Chem Biol 11(11):847–854.

Yu H, Takeuchi H, Takeuchi M, Liu Q, Kantharia J, Haltiwanger RS, Li H. 2016. Structural analysis of Notch-regulating Rumi reveals basis for pathogenic mutationsNat Chem Biol 12(9):735–740.

Takeuchi H, Yu H, Hao H, Takeuchi M, Ito A, Li H, Haltiwanger RS. 2017. O-Glycosylation modulates the stability of epidermal growth factor-like repeats and thereby regulates Notch traffickingJ Biol Chem 292(38):15964–15973.

Bai L, Wang T, Zhao G, Kovach A, Li H. 2018. The atomic structure of a eukaryotic oligosaccharyltransferase complexNature 555(7696):328–333.

Bai L, Kovach A, You Q, Hsu C, Zhao G, Li H. 2019. Autoinhibition and activation mechanisms of the eurkaryotic lipid flippase Drs2p-Cdc50pNat Commun 10(1):4142.

Bai L, Kovach A, You Q, Kenny A, Li H. 2019. Structure of the eukaryotic protein O-mannosyltransferase Pmt1-Pmt2 complexNat Struct Mol Biol 26(8):704–711.

Bai L, You Q, Feng X, Kovach A, Li H. 2020. Structure of the ER membrane complex, a transmembrane-domain insertaseNature 584:475–478.

Bai L, Kovach A, You Q, Hsu C, Zhao G, Li H. 2019. Autoinhibition and activation mechanisms of the eurkaryotic lipid flippase Drs2p-Cdc50pNat Commun 10(1):4142.

Bai L, You Q, Jain BK, Duan HD, Kovach A, Graham TR, Li H. 2020. Transport mechanism of P4 ATPase phosphatidylcholine flippaseseLife 9:e62163.

Bai L, Jain BK, You Q, Duan HD, Takar M, Graham TR, Li H. 2021. Structural basis of the P4B ATPase lipid flippase activityNat Commun 12:5963.

Project 4

Molecular Mechanisms of Energy Conservation

Energy conservation in modern-day mitochondria relies on oxygen as the ultimate electron acceptor. However, life evolved 4 billion years ago, and atmospheric oxygen was available only 2.5 billion years ago. In the absence of oxygen, ancestral life has used proton or elemental sulfur as electron acceptors, mediated by the ancestral respiratory complexes such as the membrane-bound hydrogenase (MBH) and membrane-bound sulfane sulfur reductase (MBS), which now exist in hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus. We have recently solved the structures of MBH (Yu et al 2018 Cell) and MBS (Yu et al 2021 Nat Commun), shedding light on their redox-coupled ion pumping mechanisms and their evolutionary relationships with the modern-day respiratory Complex I (Yu et al 2021 JBC review).

Electron bifurcation was first discovered by Peter Mitchell in respiratory Complex III and is quinone-based. Recently, flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB) is found to be a widespread energy conservation mechanism in microbial metabolism. These oxidoreductase-type enzymes catalyze endergonic reduction of low-potential, high-energy substrates by simultaneously coupling them to the reduction of high-potential, low-energy substrates in an exergonic reaction. Electron bifurcation is therefore used by microorganisms as a general mechanism to produce low-potential, high-energy electrons without the expenditure of ATP. In collaboration with the Michael Adams lab, we have recently solved the structures of the membrane-associated Fix/EtfABCX (Feng et al 2021 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) and the NiFe-HydABCSL (Feng et al 2022 Sci Adv, in print), revealing their electron transport pathways and potential bifurcation mechanisms.

Related Publications

Yu H, Wu CH, Schut G, Haja D, Zhao G, Peters J, Adams M, Li H. 2018. Structure of an ancient respiratory systemCell 173(7):1636-1649.

Yu H, Haja DK, Schut GJ, Wu CH, Meng X, Zhao G, Li H, Adams MWW. 2020. Structure of the respiratory MBS complex reveals iron-sulfur cluster catalyzed sulfane sulfur reduction in ancient lifeNat Commun 11(1):5953.

Yu H, Schut G, Haja D, Adams M, Li H. 2021. Evolution of complex I-like respiratory complexes. J Biol Chem 296: 100740. (Invited review)

Feng X, Schut G, Lipscomb G, Li H, Adams M. 2021. Cryoelectron microscopy structure and mechanism of the membrane-associated electron-bifurcating flavoprotein Fix/EtfABCX. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118(2).

Feng X, Schut G, Haja D, Adama M, Li H. 2022. Structure and electron transfer pathways of an electron bifurcating NiFe-hydrogenaseSci Adv.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

For a full list of Dr. Li’s publications, please visit his NCBI bibliography.

He Q, Wang F, Yao NY, O’Donnell ME*, Li H*. 2024. Structures of the human leading strand Polε–PCNA holoenzymeNat Commun 15(7847).
*Co-corresponding authors

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Yao NY, Yurieva O, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2024. Mechanism of PCNA loading by Ctf18-RFC for leading-strand DNA synthesis. Science 385(6708).

Feng X, Schut GJ, Adams MWW, Li HStructures and electron transport paths in the four families of flavin-based electron bifurcation enzymes. In: Harris JR, Marles-Wright J (eds). Macromolecular Protein Complexes V: Structure and Function, Springer-Nature: 383-408.

Duan HD, Li H. 2024. Consensus, controversies, and conundrums of P4-ATPases: the emerging face of eukaryotic lipid flippasesJ Biol Chem 300(6):107387.

Wang F, He Q, Yao NY, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2024. The human ATAD5 has evolved unique structural elements to function exclusively as a PCNA unloaderNat Struct Mol Biol.

Yuan Z, Li H. 2024. Primase and polymerase α tango to make an RNA-DNA hybrid primerFEBS J 291(9):1889–1891.

He Q, Wang F, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2024. Cryo-EM reveals a nearly complete PCNA loading process and unique features of the human alternative clamp loader CTF18-RFC. Proc Nat Acad Sci U S A 121(18):e2319727121.

Duan HD, Jain BK, Li H, Graham TR*, Li H*. 2024. Structural insight into an Arl1-ArfGEF complex involved in Golgi recruitment of a GRIP-domain golginNat Commun 15:1942.
*Co-corresponding authors

Zheng F, Yao NY, Georgescu RE, Li H*, O’Donnell ME*. 2024. Structure of the PCNA unloader Elg1-RFCSci Adv 10(9).
*Co-corresponding authors

Xiao X, Fay A, Santos Molina P, Kovach A, Glickman MS, Li H. 2024. Structure of the M. tuberculosis DnaK−GrpE complex reveals how key DnaK roles are controlled. Nat Comm 15:660.

Hsu HC, Li D, Zhan W, Ye J, Liu YJ, Leung A, Qin J, Crespo B, Gamo FJ, Zhang H, Cui L, Roth A, Kirkman LA, Li H, Lin G. 2023. Structures revealing mechanisms of resistance and collateral sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to proteasome inhibitorsNat Commun 14(1):8302.

Zheng F, Georgescu RE, Yao NY, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2023. Structures of 9-1-1 DNA checkpoint clamp loading at gaps from start to finish and ramification on biologyCell Rep 42(7):112694.

Feng X, Spiering MM, de Luna Almeida Santos R, Benkovic SJ, Li H. 2023. Structural basis of the T4 bacteriophage primosome assembly and primer synthesisNat Commun 14(1):4396.

Burgie ES, Li H, Gannam ZTK, McLoughlin KE, Vierstra RD*, Li H*. 2023. The structure of Arabidopsis phytochrome A reveals topological and functional diversification among the plant photoreceptor isoformsNat Plants 9(7):1116–1129.
*Co-corresponding authors

Hsu HC, Wang J, Kjellgren A, Li H, DeMartino GN. 2023. Ηigh-resolution structure of mammalian PI31-20S proteasome complex reveals mechanism of proteasome inhibition. J Biol Chem 299(7):104862.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Li H*, O’Donnell ME*. 2023. Molecular choreography of primer synthesis by the eukaryotic Pol α-primaseNat Commun 14(1):3697.
*Co-corresponding authors

Wang F, He Q, Zhan W, Yu Z, Finkin-Groner E, Ma X, Lin G, Li H. 2023. Structure of the human UBR5 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Structure.

Li H, Chapla D, Amos RA, Ramiah A, Moremen KW, Li H. 2023. Structural basis for heparan sulfate co-polymerase action by the EXT1–2 complex. Nat Chem Biol.

Bai L, Li H. 2022. Cryo-EM structures of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex. FEBS J 289(1):102–112.

Langston LD, Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2022. SV40 T-antigen uses a DNA shearing mechanism to initiate origin unwinding. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 119(49):e2216240119.

Li H, Lee WS, Feng X, Bai L, Jennings BC, Liu L, Doray B, Canfield WM, Kornfeld S, Li H. 2022. Structure of the human GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase αβ subunits reveals regulatory mechanism for lysosomal enzyme glycan phosphorylation. Nature Struct Molec Biol 29(4):348–356.

Li H, O’Donnell M, Kelch B. 2022. Unexpected new insights into DNA clamp loaders. Bioessays 44(11):e2200154.

Schut GJ, Haja DK, Feng X, Poole FL, II, Li H, Adams MWW. 2022. An abundant and diverse new family of electron bifurcating enzymes with a non-canonical catalytic mechanism. Front Microbiol 13:946711.

Wang F, Feng X, He Q, Li H, Li H. 2022. The S. Cerevisiae Yta7 ATPase hexamer contains a unique bromodomain tier that functions in nucleosome disassembly. J Biol Chem 102852.

Xiao X, Feng X, Yoo JH, Kovach A, Darwin KH, Li H. 2022. The β-grasp domain of proteasomal ATPase Mpa makes critical contacts with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 20S core particle to facilitate degradation. mSphere 7(5):e00227422.

Zheng F, Georgescu R, Yao NY, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2022. Cryo-EM structures reveal that RFC recognizes both the 3′- and 5′-DNA ends to load PCNA onto gaps for DNA repair. eLife 11:e77469.

Li H*, Burgie S*, Gannam ZTK, Li H#, Vierstra RD#. 2022. Plant phytochromes B is an asymmetric dimers with unique signaling potential. Nature 604(7904): 127-133.
* Co-first authors
# Co-corresponding authors

Li H#, Lee WS#, Feng X, Bai L, Jennings JC, Liu L, Doray B, Canfield WM, Kornfeld S*, Li H*. 2022. Structure of the human GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase αβ subunits reveals regulatory mechanism for lysosomal enzyme glycan phosphorylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 29(4): 348-356.
# Co-first authors
* Co-corresponding authors

Zheng F, Georgescu RE, Yao NY, O’Donnell ME*, Li H*. 2022. DNA is loaded through the 911 DNA checkpoint clamp in the opposite direction of the PCNA clampNat Struc Mol Biol 29(4): 378-385.
Co-corresponding authors

Feng X, Schut G, Haja D, Adama M, Li H. 2022. Structure and electron transfer pathways of an electron bifurcating NiFe-hydrogenase. Sci Adv 8(8): eabm7546.

Hsu HC, Wang M, Kovach A, Darwin AJ, Li H. 2022. Pseudomonas aeruginosa C-terminal processing protease CtpA assembles into a hexameric structure that requires activation by a spiral-shaped lipoprotein-binding partnermBio 13(1): e0368021.

Zhao P, Zhao C, Chen D, Yun C, Li H*, Bai L*. 2021. Structure and activation mechanism of the hexameric plasma membrane H+-ATPaseNat Commun 12:6439.
*Co-corresponding authors
Included as an Editor’s Highlight

Bai L, Jain BK, You Q, Duan HD, Takar M, Graham TR, Li H. 2021. Structural basis of the P4B ATPase lipid flippase activityNat Commun 12:5963.

Du M, Yuan Z, Werneburg GT, Henderson NS, Chauhan H, Kovach A, Zhao G, Johl J, Li H, Thanassi DG. 2021. Processive dynamics of the usher assembly platform during uropathogenic Escherichia coli P pilus biogenesisNat Commun 12(1):5207.

Yu H, Schut GJ, Haja DK, Adams MWW, Li H. 2021. Evolution of complex I-like respiratory complexesJBC Rev 296:100740.

Yin Y, Feng X, Yu H, Fay A, Kovach A, Glickman MS, Li H. 2021. Structural basis for aggregate dissolution and refolding by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpB-DnaK bi-chaperone systemCell Rep 35(8):109166.

Zhang H, Hsu HC, Kahne SC, Hara R, Zhan W, Jiang X, Burns-Huang K, Ouellette T, Imaeda T, Okamoto R, Kawasaki M, Michino M, Wong TT, Toita A, Yukawa T, Moraca F, Vendome J, Saha P, Sato K, Aso K, Ginn J, Meinke PT, Foley M, Nathan CF, Darwin KH, Li H, Lin G. 2021. Macrocyclic peptides that selectively inhibit the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomeJ Med Chem 64(9):6262–6272.

Yin Y, Kovach A, Hsu HC, Darwin KH, Li H. 2021. The mycobacterial proteasomal ATPase Mpa forms a gapped ring to engage the 20S proteasomeJ Biol Chem 100713.

Bai L, Li H. 2021. Cryo-EM structures of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex. FEBS J.

Li H, Zheng F, O’Donnell M. 2021. Water skating: How polymerase sliding clamps move on DNAFEBS J.

Feng X, Schut GJ, Lipscomb GL, Li H, Adams MWW. 2021. Cryoelectron microscopy structure and mechanism of the membrane-associated electron-bifurcating flavoprotein Fix/EtfABCXProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118(2).

Bai L, Li H. 2021. Protein N-glycosylation and O-mannosylation are catalyzed by two evolutionarily related GT-C glycosyltransferasesCurr Opin Struct Biol 68:66–73.

Bohl T, Bai L, Li H. 2021. Recent progress in structural studies on the GT-C superfamily of protein glycosyltransferases. Subcell Biochem96:259–271.

Li H, Yao NY, O’Donnell ME. 2020. Anatomy of a twin DNA replication factoryBiochem Soc Trans 48(6):2769–2778.

Zheng F, Georgescu RE, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2020. Structure of eukaryotic DNA polymerase δ bound to the PCNA clamp while encircling DNAProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(48):30344–30353.

Yu H, Haja DK, Schut GJ, Wu CH, Meng X, Zhao G, Li H, Adams MWW. 2020. Structure of the respiratory MBS complex reveals iron-sulfur cluster catalyzed sulfane sulfur reduction in ancient lifeNat Commun 11(1):5953.

Yuan Z, Li H. 2020. Molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic origin initiation, replication fork progression, and chromatin maintenance. Biochem J 477(18):3499–3525.

Yuan Z, Schneider S, Dodd T, Riera A, Bai L, Yan C, Magdalou I, Ivanov I, Stillman B, Li H, Speck C. 2020. Structural mechanism of helicase loading onto replication origin DNA by ORC-Cdc6Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(30):17747–17756.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Schauer GD, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2020. Structure of the polymerase ε holoenzyme and atomic model of the leading strand replisomeNat Commun 11(1):3156.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Bai L, Zhang D, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2020. DNA unwinding mechanism of a eukaryotic replicative CMG helicaseNat Commun 11(1):688.

Bai L, You Q, Jain BK, Duan HD, Kovach A, Graham TR, Li H. 2020. Transport mechanism of P4 ATPase phosphatidylcholine flippaseseLife.

Bai L, You Q, Feng X, Kovach A, Li H. 2020. Structure of the ER membrane complex, a transmembrane-domain insertaseNature.

Yuan Z, Georgescu R, Santos RLA, Zhang D, Bai L, Yao NY, Zhao G, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2019. Ctf4 organizes sister replisomes and Pol α into a replication factoryeLife e47405.

Zhan W, Hsu HC, Morgan T, Oullette T, Burns-Huang K, Hara R, Wright AG, Imaeda T, Okamoto R, Sato K, Michino M, Ramjee M, Aso K, Meinke P, Foley M, Nathan CR, Li H, Lin G. 2019. Selective phenylimidazole-based inhibitors of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomeJ Med Chem.

Bai L, Kovach A, You Q, Hsu C, Zhao G, Li H. 2019. Autoinhibition and activation mechanisms of the eurkaryotic lipid flippase Drs2p-Cdc50pNat Commun 10(1):4142.

Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2019. DNA replication from two different worldsScience 363(6429):814–815.

Bai L, Kovach A, You Q, Kenny A, Li H. 2019. Structure of the eukaryotic protein O-mannosyltransferase Pmt1−Pmt2 complexNat Struct Mol Biol.

Bai L, Li H. 2019. Cryo-EM is uncovering the mechanism of eukaryotic protein N-glycosylationFEBS 286(9):1638–1644.

Hu K, Jordan AT, Zhang S, Dhabaria A, Kovach A, Rangel M, Ueberheide B, Li H, Darwin KH. 2019. Characterization of guided entry of tail-anchored proteins 3 homologues in Mycobacterium tuberculosisJ Bacteriol.

Samanovic MI, Hsu HC, Jones MB, Jones V, McNeil MR, Becker SH, Jordan AT, Strnad M, Xu C, Jackson M, Li H, Darwin KH. 2018. Cytokinin signaling in Mycobacterium tuberculosisMBio 19(3).

O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2018. The ring-shaped hexameric helicases that function at DNA replication forksNat Struct Mol Biol 25(2):122–130.

Du M, Yaun Z, Yu H, Henderson N, Sarowar S, Zhao G, Werneburg GT, Thanassi DG, Li H. 2018. Handover mechanism of the growing pilus by the bacterial outer-membrane usher FimDNature.

Yu H, Wu CH, Schut GJ, Haja DK, Zhao G, Peters JW, Adams MWW, Li H. 2018. Structure of an ancient respiratory systemCell.

Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2018. The eukaryotic CMG helicase at the replication fork: Emerging architecture reveals an unexpected mechanismBioEssays40(3):1700208.    
*Highlighted in Advanced Science News.

Bai L, Wang T, Zhao G, Kovach A, Li H. 2018. The atomic structure of a eukaryotic oligosaccharyltransferase complexNature.

Bai L, Yuan Z, Sun J, Georgescu R, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2017. Architecture of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae replisomeAdv Exp Med Biol 1042:207–228.

Noguchi Y, Yuan Z, Bai L, Schneider S, Zhao G, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2017. Cryo-EM structure of Mcm2-7 double hexamer on DNA suggests a lagging-strand DNA extrusion modelProc Natl Acad Sci U S A.

Wu Y, Hu K, Li D, Bai L, Yang S, Jastrab JB, Xiao S, Hu Y, Zhang S, Darwin KH, Wang T, Li H. 2017. Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomal ATPase Mpa has a β-grasp domain that hinders docking with the proteasome core proteaseMol Microbiol 105(2):227–241.

Yuan Z, Riera A, Bai L, Sun J, Nandi S, Spanos C, Chen ZA, Barbon M, Rappsilber J, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2017. Structural basis of MCM2-7 replicative helicase loading by ORC-Cdc6 and Cdt1Nat Struct Mol Biol 24(3):316–324.

Georgescu R, Yuan Z, Bai L, de Luna Almeida Santos R, Sun J, Zhang D, Yurieva O, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2017. Structure of eukaryotic CMG helicase at a replication fork and implications to replisome architecture and origin initiationProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114(5):E697–E706.

Yu H, Takeuchi H, Takeuchi M, Liu Q, Kantharia J, Haltiwanger RS, Li H. 2016. Structural analysis of Notch-regulating Rumi reveals basis for pathogenic mutationsNat Chem Biol 12:735–740.

Yuan Z, Bai L, Sun J, Georgescu R, O’Donnell ME, Li H. 2016. Structure of the eukaryotic replicative CMG helicase suggests a pumpjack motion for translocationNat Struct Mol Biol 23(3):217–224.

O’Donnell M, Li H. 2016. The eukaryotic replisome goes under the microscopeCurr Biol 26(6):R247-56.

Bai L, Hu K, Wang T, Jastrab JB, Darwin KH, Li H. 2016. Structural analysis of the dodecameric proteasome activator PafE in Mycobacterium tuberculosisProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113(14):E1983-92.

Sun J, Shi Y, Georgescu RE, Yuan Z, Chait BT, Li H, O’Donnell ME. 2015. The architecture of a eukaryotic replisomeNat Struct Mol Biol 22:976–982.

Yu H, Takeuchi M, LeBarron J, Kantharia J, London E, Bakker H, Haltiwanger RS, Li H, Takeuchi H. 2015. Notch-modifying xylosyltransferase structures support an SNi-like retaining mechanismNat Chem Biol 11(11):847–854.

Sun J, Fernandez-Cid A, Riera A, Tognetti S, Yuan Z, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2014. Structural and mechanistic insights into licensing of DNA replicationGenes Dev 28:2291–303.

Sun J, Evrin C, Samel S, Fernadez-Cid A, Riera A, Kawakami H, Zech J, Stillman B, Speck C, Li H. 2013. Cryo-EM structure of a helicase loading intermediate containing ORC-Cdc6-Cdt1-MCM2-7 bound to DNANat Struct Mol Biol 20(8):944–951.

Li H, Stillman B. 2012. The origin recognition complex: a biochemical and structural viewSubcell Biochem 62:37–58.

Sun J, Li H. 2010. How to operate a cryo-electron microscopeMethods Enzymol 481:231-49.

Li D, Li Hua, Wang T, Lin G, Li H. 2010. Structural basis for the assembly and gate closure mechanisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 20S proteasomeEMBO J 29:2037–2047.

Wang T, Darwin KH, Li H. 2010. Binding-induced folding of prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) targets substrates for proteasomal degradationNat Struct and Mol Biol 17:1352–1357.

Lin G, Li D, de Carvalho L, Deng H, Tao H, Vogt G, Wu K, Schneider J, Chidawanyika T, Warren JD, Li H, and Nathan C. 2009. Inhibitors selective for mycobacterial versus human proteasomesNature 461:621–626.

H. Diessel Duan, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Nancy Duchaine

Senior Administrative Assistant I, Department of Structural Biology

Qing He, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Li Laboratory

Structural biology of DNA replication and repair

Hao-Chi Hsu, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Sofia Ievleva

Ph.D. Candidate, VAI Graduate School

Thesis project title to be determined

Farha Khan, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Amanda Kovach, B.S.

Lab Manager, Department of Structural Biology

Meinan Lyu, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Feng Wang, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Merissa (Xiansha) Xiao, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Li Laboratory

Proteasome and protein folding system involved in multi-drug resistance in Mycobacteria

Qinglong You, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

Epigenetic mechanisms in DNA damage point

Fengwei Zheng, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Department of Structural Biology

DNA replication and repair