Research Description

I am an assistant professor of Cancer Biology and Genetics at The Ohio State University and a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC - James. In the Chu Lab, we have developed versatile chemoenzymatic semisynthesis techniques that allow the ligation of recombinant proteins with synthetic peptides or other small molecules through standard peptide bonds. When combined with cell-penetrating strategies, this technology is applicable to both in vitro and in vivo studies, unlocking new possibilities in chemical biology. It enables the site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids, posttranslational modifications (PTMs), isotopic probes, and molecular glues into proteins.

The longstanding goal of our research is to elucidate the molecular regulation of protein kinases and phosphatases controlled by PTMs and seek novel therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment. Currently, we aim to understand how two key signaling enzymes, protein kinase S6K1 (mTORC1-S6K1) and heterotrimeric phosphatase PP2A, are regulated by specific PTMs and allosteric mechanisms. Dysregulation of S6K1 and PP2A due to changes in PTMs is linked to various diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative disorders.

Our lab is also engaged in several additional projects including exploring early neuronal signaling responses in neuron-glioblastoma communication. We are also developing nanobody-based chemical biology tools to analyze the interactomes of signaling enzymes.

In my lab, we provide a unique and supportive training environment for students and postdoctoral fellows to advance their research. Our lab is equipped with cutting-edge facilities for producing proteins with specific chemical modifications through protein semisynthesis. Collaboration is a cornerstone of our work, both within our team and with other research groups. I am proud to be a mentor to the students and fellows in my lab, fostering a dynamic and collaborative research atmosphere.

I have published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals including Neurobiology of Disease, eLife, ACS Chemical Biology and Nature Cell Biology. I have been honored to receive multiple awards to support my research, including a National Cancer Institute Transition Career Development Award (K22). I’ve also received the President’s Research Excellence (PRE) Accelerator award from Ohio State, the Sanofi iDEA-iTech North America award Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (R35) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.