Date: Wednesday, 13 April 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

via Zoom: https://hku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtfuyorD0qG9Wtw4m_PqbDx2TVv0FOL6Mz

Meeting ID: 910 9502 6011

Passcode: 670218

5:00 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Di FENG (Post-doctoral Fellow)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Michael Shing Yan HUEN
Presentation Title: Investigation of a novel function of Vangl in the endoplasmic reticulum
Abstract: Vangl1 and Vangl2 are two core planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins that are indispensable in polarity establishment and tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. Disruption and aberrant activation of Vangl lead to a variety of developmental defects and cancer malignancy, respectively. The level and quality of Vangl proteins are tightly controlled for their normal functions. Our previous studies have shown that two important posttranslational modifications, phosphorylation and ubiquitination interplay to regulate Vangl protein homeostasis. Phosphorylation stabilizes, whereas ubiquitination induces the degradation of Vangl proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Intriguingly, we found the ER-stalled Vangl exhibits a novel function in a specific autophagy process. By interacting with and regulating a set of key mediators in autophagy, Vangl may play an unexpected but important role in the regulation of ER homeostasis.

5:30 p.m. 

Speaker: Dr. Nelson Zezhuo SU (Post-doctoral Fellow)
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joshua Wing Kei HO
Presentation Title: Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of human cartilage malignancy and degeneration
Abstract: Cartilage is a connective tissue which resists compressive forces, enhances bone resilience, and provides support on bony areas. Chondrosarcoma is the malignancy of cartilage that can arise from benign lesion. Early surgical intervention can improve clinical outcomes of chondrosarcoma patients, but there is no early molecular marker. Single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) on 10 chondrosarcomas revealed that DDIT3 (commonly known as CHOP) was a potential early chondrosarcoma maker. This finding was further validated by immunohistochemistry and corroborated with public RNA array data of an independent cohort of 102 chondrosarcomas patients. Recently, our group applied scRNA-seq to study a degenerative disease of cartilage – osteoarthritis (OA). OA diagnosis is mainly based on radiological features, which made early detection difficult. Our scRNA-seq analysis of nine OA patients revealed that THY1+ fibroblasts in synovial fluid could be a potential early maker and mediated osteoclastogenesis and inflammation.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss Veronica Kwok at 3917 9515.