Our lab is committed to decoding the molecular foundations of life through cryo-electron microscopy.
Welcome to the Yuan Lab at Nankai University, where we explore the molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic DNA replication through the lens of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and biochemical reconstitution.
Our research aims to visualize how large protein complexes coordinate the precise yet dynamic events of DNA melting, unwinding, and synthesis. Using state-of-the-art cryo-EM, we capture high-resolution snapshots of multi-subunit replication assemblies to understand how their conformational changes drive molecular function.
A current focus of the lab is the SV40 Large T antigen (LTag), a model helicase that provides critical insight into how origin melting transitions into active DNA translocation. By resolving intermediate structural states, we aim to reveal the fundamental principles that govern helicase-driven DNA remodeling.
Beyond LTag, we are broadly interested in the architecture and dynamics of replication and repair protein complexes, integrating structural, biochemical, and mechanistic approaches to uncover how these machines safeguard genome integrity.
At the Yuan Lab, we believe that visualizing molecular mechanisms is key to understanding life’s most essential biological processes — and to inspiring the next generation of discovery in structural biology.
