10 Jan 2025
10.00 – 11.45
LT31
Scientific Lecture
Speaker: Professor Chuan He, the University of Chicago, USA
Lecture Title: Chromatin regulation by RNA methylation
Abstract: Over 170 types of post-transcriptional RNA modifications have been identified in all kingdoms of life. We have discovered RNA demethylation and shown that reversible RNA modification could impact a wide range of biological processes. We have also characterized proteins that selectively recognize m6A-modified mRNA and affect the translation status and lifetime of the target RNA. I will present our recent discoveries on chromatin state regulation by chromatin-associated regulatory RNA (carRNA) methylation. We found that carRNAs contain different chemical marks which facilitate recruitment of chromatin factors to shape local and global chromatin state. This new mode of chromatin regulation plays critical roles in animal and plant development. Some of these carRNA methylation-dependent pathways also explain oncogenic roles of well-known oncogenes, which provides potential new targets for future anti-cancer therapies. I will present our most recent work on how TET2 mutations led to chromatin activation and leukemogenesis through carRNA methylation modulation. Details can be found here.
09 Jan 2025
10.00 – 11.45
LT31
Public Lecture
Speaker: Professor Chuan He, the University of Chicago, USA
Lecture Title: Nucleic Acid Chemical Labeling
Abstract: I will present our efforts to design and develop molecular probes that can selective label nucleic acids in vitro and inside cells. These probes allow RNA secondary structure mapping, profiling single-stranded DNA for active transcription annotation, mapping RNA-RNA interactions inside cells, and covalent targeting of nucleic acids. I will use two examples to highlight advantages of these new chemical biology technologies in uncovering new biology. In the first example, we have employed kethoxal-assisted single-stranded DNA sequencing (KAS-seq) to elucidate a new T cell activation pathway mediated through a diet nutrient lipid component. In the second example, we have developed kethoxal-assisted RNA–RNA interaction sequencing (KARR-seq) to study RNA-RNA base pairing. Using a further optimized KARR-seq we have detected thousands of previously unknown small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA)-mRNA interactions and discovered a new pathway that facilitates protein secretion and membrane protein biogenesis through SNORA73. Details can be found here.
24 Oct 2023
10.30 – 12.00
U-Hall Auditorium
Scientific Lecture
Speaker: Professor Omar M. Yaghi, James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Lecture Title: Molecular Weaving
Abstract:The synthesis of covalently-linked organic extended structures has been a long-standing objective. The fundamental problem is that attempts to link organic molecular building blocks into extended structures often led to intractable amorphous solids and ill-defined materials, thus impeding development of this field. This changed when the reaction and crystallization conditions for making covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were worked out and reported in 2005 for 2D COFs and 2007 for 3D COFs. This advance extended the field of organic chemistry beyond discrete molecules (0D) and polymers (1D) to infinite layered (2D) and network (3D) extended structures.
The ability to combine the strong bond approach of reticular chemistry with the mechanical bond results in unprecedented class of molecularly woven structures. This presentation will outline the strategies for carrying out molecular weaving using covalent organic framework building blocks. The result is a vast chemical space in which robustness and porosity are combined with flexibility to yield materials of exceptional resiliency and mechanical properties. The reaction chemistry and crystallization methodologies for producing woven structures in which threads are interlaced, and rings and polyhedra are interlocked will be discussed. The inclusion chemistry and evolution of dynamics in these systems will also be presented. Details can be found here.
23 Oct 2023
10.30 – 12.00
U-Hall Auditorium
Public Lecture
Speaker: Professor Omar M. Yaghi, James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Lecture Title: Reticular Chemistry for Carbon Capture and Water Harvesting from Desert Air
Abstract: The extra carbon in the air is impacting our climate in ways detrimental to our lives and livelihoods. This climate challenge is also exacerbating the long-standing water stress in the world. Reticular Chemistry in the form of ultra-porous crystals called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can be designed to seek out and capture carbon dioxide from air to address the climate challenge. The thermal and chemical stability as well as the flexibility with which these harvesting structures can be made and modified has also led to trapping water from air to provide clean water anywhere in the world at any time of the year. Details can be found here.
17 Jan 2023
10.30 – 12.00
U-Hall Auditorium
Public Lecture
Speaker: Professor David MacMillan, the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, USA.
Lecture Title: The Path to Invention and Discovery in Catalysis
Abstract: This lecture will describe the development of asymmetric organocatalysis in his laboratory. As part of this overview, he will explore concepts of chemical reactivity, catalysis, and the asymmetry of organic molecules. He will examine the impact of organocatalysis on modern synthetic chemistry and explore real-world applications of this technology. He will discuss the ways in which organocatalysis created a bridge to the development of a new field of research in his lab: visible light photoredox catalysis. Last, he will look to the future and consider how organocatalysis may continue to impact scientific research and society. Details can be found here.
16 Jan 2023
10.30 – 12.00
U-Hall Auditorium
Scientific Lecture
Speaker: Professor David MacMillan, the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, USA.
Lecture Title: The Development of Asymmetric Organocatalysis and Metallaphotoredox
Abstract: This lecture will first discuss the advent of organocatalysis in his laboratory. As part of this overview, he will highlight why organic catalysts have become widely explored in modern synthetic chemistry. This lecture will also discuss the application of visible light photocatalysis to the discovery or invention of transformations that will be conceptually or synthetically valuable. He will describe why a healthy balance of reaction discovery and mechanistic understanding has been important to the development of a field of research that is now being widely adopted in both industrial and academic settings. In particular, he will discuss the application of photocatalysis to the development of new metallaphotoredox reactions involving copper, a development that we hope will have an impact on the discovery of new biologically relevant molecules. Finally, he will examine an exciting recent application of photoredox catalysis in his group; namely, the high-resolution µMap technology, which provides a powerful means to probe biological pathways at the subcellular level. Details can be found here.