Research Question

Polysaccharide-cell wall,  Biomineralization, Membrane growth distribution, and Karyo-genomic Architecture, Focusing on Dinoflagellates and their Symbionts

All compartments in a cell are connected; all living organisms solve life problems with common solutions and with different alternatives. The understandings of biological processes are enlightened with observations in challenge-response, phased genomics, mutant-phenotypes, functional networks, and evolutionary derived understandings. Biology is beholding a revolution through post-omics and post-functional screenings (yeast), with random integration and CRISPR-related technology taking on prior genetically intractable systems. Understanding holistic rationale that behold polysaccharide deposition-vesicular transport^, membrane-lipid axis, and genome physical karyotypes, encompassing the essence of growth concordance, will make a difference in basic sciences and technology.  We are charioting membrane flexoelectrics and redox-mediated phase transitions in orchestrating global changes under the auspices of self-assembly and exclusion.

Reef-building Corals are obligative symbionts with dinoflagellates of the order Symbiodinaceae. Their photosynthesis, which form the basis of coral reef bioenergy input, is conducted with ‘minicircles’ encoded essential chloroplast genes.  Coral bleaching is about inviable symbiotic relationship between them, likely attributed to differential growth concordance initiated with composite factors including seawater warming, increasing UV irradiation, pollution, and extreme weather.

It is of strategic timing for molecular dinoflagellate cell biological investigations, encompassing coral bleaching and harmful algal blooms. The ecologically profound group, which was prior genetically intractable, with long-read sequencing and transgenic technology. We also isolated many novel free-living species, including some with highest lipid levels, and one free-living species with the lowest genome size. The now genomic tractable with transformable dinoflagellate models will posit dinoflagellates in the forefronts of post-genomic biotechnology and synthetic biology.

My resume can be found in link.

My artistic statement in relation to ScienceArt Reciprocal can be found in this link.

Please refer to my DETAILED RESEARCH INTERESTS in the following links

http://intranet-lifs.hkust.edu.hk/Prof_Joseph_Wong/3Research_Interests_2027_JW.pdf

Chromosomes: Higher-order and alternative ways, phase transitions

Cellulosic Thecal Platesa & Polysaccharide synthesis: non-roset and subcellular

Cnidarians, symbiosis and biomineralization: single-cells and multiple cells

Membrane flexoelectrics and subcellular growth distribution: order vs packaging

Marine Biotechnology

Dr. Alvin Chun Man Kwok is  our Sensior Research Associate and will spearhead projects in relation to our patents and on the genomic porject on a small genome-size free-living dinoflagellate.

Representative Publication

Selected references (out of ~70)

1. Kosmo Ting Hin Yan, Alvin Chun Man Kwok, Shaoping Wen,Fang Zhang, and Wong J.T.Y. (2026) Nucleosome Assembly Protein 1 in Dinoflagellate Cells Without Architectural Nucleosomes. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7931 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177931
2. Alvin Chun Man Kwok, Kosmo Ting Hin Yan, Shaoping Wen, Shiyong Sun,Chongping Li and Wong J.T.Y. (2026)    Dinochromosome heterotermini with telosomal anchorages. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11312;  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011312
3. Kwok, A.C.M., Leung S.K., and Wong, J.T.Y. (2023) DNA:RNA hybrids are major Dinoflagellate minicircle molecular types. International Journal of Molecular Sciences
4. Kwok, A.C.M., Law, S.P.C. and Wong, J.T.Y. (2023) Oleaginous heterotrophic dinoflagellates—Crypthecodiniaceae. Marine Drugs 21 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/21/3/162
5. Kwok, A.C.M., Chan, W.S. and Wong, T.Y. (2023) Dinoflagellate amphiesma: cellular growth and ecdysial dynamics. Marine Drugs 21(2), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21020070
6. Kwok A.C. M., Li, C., Lam, W.T. and Wong J.T.Y. (2022) Responses of Dinoflagellate Cells to Ultraviolet-C Irradiation. Environmental Microbiology.
7. Kwok, A.C.M., Zhang, F., Ma, Z., Chan, W.S., Yu, V.C., Tsang, J.S.H. and Wong, J.T.Y. (2020) Functional responses between PMP3 small membrane proteins and membrane potential. Environmental Microbiology
8. Chan, W.S., Kwok, A.C.M., and Wong, J.T.Y. (2019) Knockdown of dinoflagellate cellulose synthase CesA1 resulted in malformed intracellular cellulosic thecal plates and severely impeded cyst-to-swarmer transition. Frontiers in Microbiology3389/fmicb.2019.00546
9. Kwok A.C. M. and Wong J.T.Y. (2010) Activities of a walled-bound cellulase is coupled to and is required for cell cycle progression in a dinoflagellate. Plant Cell 22:1281-1298. http://www.plantcell.org/content/22/4/1281
10. Fojtová,M, Wong J.T.Y., Dvořáčková, M, Yan, KTH, Sýkorová, E and Fajkus J (2010) Telomere maintenance in liquid crystalline chromosomes of dinoflagellates. Chromosoma
11. Leung, S.K., and Wong, J.T.Y. (2009) The replication of plastid minicircles involves rolling circle intermediates. Nucleic Acids Research 37: 1991-2002.
12. Lau, R.K.L., Kwok, A.C.M., Chan, W.K., Zhang, T.Y., and Wong, J.T.Y. (2007) Mechanical characterization of cellulosic thecal plates in dinoflagellates by nanoindentation. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 7: 452-457. (Front Cover)

In preparation and  submission

Lam, W.T. et al., Symbiodinaceae exhibit high sensitivity to low dose UVc  irradiation.

Kowk, et al., The  dinoflagellate inner chromosomal compartment.

Kwok, A.c.M. et al., Point mutation in the dinoflagellate histone-like protein HCC3 led to chromosome decompaction in vivo.

Kwok, A.C.M., Bennet,M,   et al., A new form of genome replication-segregtaion.

Yuan,W. Chan,W.S. et al., Cellulosic Thecal Plates are composed of dfferent crystalline domains.

Chan,W.S.   et al., Cesa expression exhibited feedback with cellulose synthesis inhibition leading to cell cycle arrest.

Kwok, A.C.M. et al.,  Deposition of coccoidal carbonate shell in the calcareous dinoflagellate Thoracosphaera heimii.

Removing the boundaries between arts and sciences

Tertiary level Science Communications: conecting  science compartmentation:

ScienceArt Reciprical 1:  Wong, J.T.Y., Whirling with Waters. Art and Science 2024, 8,

https://www.openscience.fr/ScienceArt-Commune-1-Whirling-with-Waters

ScienceArt  Reciprical 2. Wong, J.T.Y.  On Reception and Engagement

ScienceArt  Reciprical 3. From Diagnosis to Cancer Survivor: An ArtScience  interpretation