A joint study led by HKUST, HKU, and other institutions has been selected as one of the Top 10 Scientific Advances in China for 2023, making it the only research project from Hong Kong to be included in the list.
The study, focused on DNA replication initiation, unveiled a new mechanism in the regulation of DNA replication and was led by Prof. ZHAI Yuanliang from HKU School of Biological Sciences, Prof. DANG Shangyu from HKUST Division of Life Science (LIFS), and Prof. TYE Bik-Kwoon from HKUST Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). The team’s groundbreaking discovery of the human pre-replication complex (Pre-RC) and its atomic resolution structure provides crucial insights for developing innovative anticancer strategies that can selectively target cancer cells. The recognition received highlights the respect and esteem their work holds within the scientific community. Prof. ZHAI expressed the significance of the research in deepening our understanding of DNA replication and its potential implications in diseases like cancer. Prof. DANG emphasized the importance of their research breakthrough in enhancing the specificity of chemotherapy drugs and expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Lo Kwee Seong (LKS) Foundation in establishing the HKUST Biological Cryo-EM Center, which facilitated numerous breakthroughs in their research. The team looks forward to further advancements and hopes for new possibilities in cancer treatment.
Journal Reference:
Li, J., Dong, J., Wang, W., Yu, D., Fan, X., Hui, Y. C., Lee, C. S. K., Lam, W. H., Alary, N., Yang, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhao, Q., Chen, C., Tye, B.-K., Dang, S., Zhai, Y. The human pre-replication complex is an open complex. Cell 2023 Jan 5, 186 (1): 98-111.e21. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.008
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