Yu Fu

Yeast Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Principal Investigator
Dr.Yu Fu

Tel/Fax: +86-10-64806126
Email: fuyu@im.ac.cn

Research Area

We study the molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic DNA replication, DNA damage repair and aging.

Research Interests

Saccharomyces cerevisiaeis an ideal eukaryotic model organism in molecular and cell biology. We are using this organism to elucidate the mechanisms which underlie DNA replication, DNA damage repair and aging in eukaryotes. Our laboratory is interested in applying single-molecule, biochemical and genetic methods to study the following areas:

1. Eukaryotic DNA replication: Using single-molecule assays, we are currently exploring the molecular process of DNA replication initiation, elongation and termination in yeast cell-free extracts. We are seeking to understand the functions of DNA replicative helicase in different steps of DNA replication.
2. Dissecting DNA repair pathways in Eukaryotes: We aim to develop microfluidic-based single-molecule approaches to study DNA repair in yeast cell-free extracts. We are most interested in exploring the mechanistic details of  replication-coupled DNA repair pathways.  
3. Aging in budding yeast: One of the common methods to measure aging inSacchromyces cerevisiaeis Replicative Life Span, which measure the amount of times a yeast cell buds. We are particularly interested in determining the biochemical and epigenetic events in yeast senescence and life span resetting during gametogenesis.

Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Yu Vincent Fu, Ph.D. Professor

Education

2003-2008:   Ph.D.  Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
2000-2003:   MSc.   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
1994-1997:   MSc.   Institute of Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
1990-1994:   B.S.    Department of Life Sciences, Hubei University, China   

Professional Experience

2012-present: Professor, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2008-2012: Research fellow, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
1999-2000: Research assistant, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Novartis Research Foundation, Switzerland
1997-1999:  Research assistant, Institute of Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Permanent staff

Zhengyan Zhan Assistant Researcher zhanzhengyan1982@163.com

Graduate Students

Huijun Xue Ph.D. student xuehuijunhappy@163.com	Jian Zhao Ph.D. student zhaojian9891@163.com	Xianqiang Lian M.S. Student xianqianglian@163.com
Ershuang Zhao M.S. Student zhaoershuang13@mails.ucas.ac.cn

Recent Publications

1.Fu YV, Yardimci H, Long D, The Ho V, Guainazzi A, Bermudez V, Hurwitz J, van Oijen A, Sch？rer O, Walter JC. (2011) Selective bypass of a lagging strand roadblock by the eukaryotic replicative DNA helicase.Cell146(6): 931-941

2.Fu YVand Walter JC (2010) DNA replication: metazoan Sld3 steps forward.Current Biology20(12): 515-517

3.Fu Y, Zhu Y, Zhang K, Yeung M, Durocher D and Xiao W (2008) Rad6-Rad18 mediates a eukaryotic SOS response by ubiquitinating the 9-1-1 checkpoint clamp.Cell133(4): 601-611

4.Fu Y, Pastushok L and Xiao W (2008) DNA damage-induced gene expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.FEMS Microbiology Review32(6): 908-926

5.Fu Yand Xiao W (2006) Identification and characterization ofCRT10as a novel regulator ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeribonucleotide reductase genes.Nucleic Acids Research34(6): 1876-1883

6.Fu Yand Xiao W (2006) Study of transcriptional regulation using a reporter gene assay.Methods in Molecular Biology313:257-264  Humana Press

7. Wooff J, Pastushok L, Hanna M,Fu Yand Xiao W (2004) The TRAF6 RING finger domain mediates physical interaction with Ubc13. FEBS Letters566(1-3): 229-233

8.Fu Yand Xiao W (2003) Functional domains required for theSaccharomyces cerevisiaeMus81-Mms4 endonuclease complex formation and nuclear localization.DNA Repair2(12): 1435-1447

9. Lambermon MH,Fu Y,Kirk DA, Dupasquier M, Filipowicz W and Lorkovic ZJ(2002) UBA1 and UBA2, two proteins that interact with UBP1, a multifunctional effector of pre-mRNA maturation in plants. Molecular and Cellular Biology22(12): 4346-4357

10.Fu Y, Zeng JZ, Huang HM, Lin Q, Jiang X, Li Z, Zhou ZY and Huang HL (1999) Expression of the Single-chain antibody against human bladder carcinoma gene in tobacco.   Progressin Natural Science9(6): 528-530

11. Zeng JZ,Fu Y,Yu XC, Jiang X and Huang HL (1998) Research advances in plantibody engineering.  Chinese Science Bulletin43(16): 1705-1711