# preferredTitle
Professor, Director, Chancellor EDGES Fellow & Presidential Impact Fellow

# positions[].label
Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow

# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

# overview
We are a synthetic biology and bioengineering lab focused on developing technologies that enable remote and programmable control of protein activity, cell signaling and designer cells. We pioneer chemical and synthetic biology approaches to address challenges in health and disease. We are particularly interested in (i) illuminating novel regulatory mechanisms of signal transduction that remain unresolved in Ca2+ signaling and inter-organelle communications; (ii) pioneering widely-applicable molecular tools for precise control of cellular events, (epi)genome engineering, and gene transcription; and (iii) developing innovative theranostic devices, programmable biologics and intelligent cell-based therapies (CAR-T) for cancer and neurodegeneration intervention. The tight integration among mechanistic studies, biomedical engineering, and translational sciences is a hallmark of my research. See highlights in: "Let there be light" (Scientia); "Optogenetics sparks new research tool" (NIH Biomedical Beat)

# keywords[]
Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel

# keywords[]
Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Calcium Release-activated Calcium Channel Protein 1 (orai1)

# keywords[]
Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels

# keywords[]
Calcium Release-activated Calcium (crac) Channel

# keywords[]
Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels

# keywords[]
Basic Helix-loop-helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
3201 Cardiovascular Medicine And Haematology

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
3403 Macromolecular And Materials Chemistry

# keywords[]
Clinical Trials And Supportive Activities

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Human

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein 2

# keywords[]
Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2

# keywords[]
Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1, Alpha Subunit

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Human

# keywords[]
Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
3201 Cardiovascular Medicine And Haematology

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Zhejiang University - (Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Georgia State University - (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Georgia State University - (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)

# awardsAndHonors[].label
Junior Faculty Research Excellence Award

# publications[].label
Cam Interaction and Binding Mode Study with Peptide from Intracellular Loop of Cx50

# publications[].label
Reprogramming chemically induced dimerization systems with genetically encoded nanobodies.

# publications[].label
Targeted DNA methylation in vivo using an engineered dCas9-MQ1 fusion protein.

# publications[].label
Identification of the calmodulin binding domain of connexin 43.

# publications[].label
Site-specific modification of calmodulin Ca(+) affinity tunes the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor activation profile.

# publications[].label
A Chemogenetic Toolkit for Inducible, Cell TypeSpecific Actin Disassembly (Small Methods 7/2025)

# publications[].label
Probing Ca2+-binding capability of viral proteins with the EF-hand motif by grafting approach.

# publications[].label
Non-cross-linked collagen type I microfibers for improved hemostasis and wound healing

# publications[].label
Inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway in myeloid cells effectively improves myocardial healing related to TET2 deficiency-induced DNA damage response

# publications[].label
Control of IP3 receptor trafficking at the ERmitochondrial contact sites

# publications[].label
STIM1 and lipid interactions at ER-PM contact sites.

# publications[].label
Expanding PROTACtable genome universe of E3 ligases.

# publications[].label
Interrogating Physiological Functions with Light and Chemicals.

# publications[].label
Visible light excited ratiometric-GECIs for long-term in-cellulo monitoring of calcium signals.

# publications[].label
Identification of A STIM1 Splicing Variant that Promotes Tumor Growth

# publications[].label
STIM2 interacts with AMPK and regulates calcium-induced AMPK activation.

# publications[].label
Engineering of NEMO as calcium indicators with large dynamics and high sensitivity.

# publications[].label
Recent developments in fluorescent aptasensors for detection of antibiotics

# publications[].label
Rational design of protein-based MRI contrast agents.

# publications[].label
TRIM59 deficiency curtails breast cancer metastasis through SQSTM1-selective autophagic degradation of PDCD10.

# publications[].label
Calciomics: prediction and analysis of EF-hand calcium binding proteins by protein engineering.

# publications[].label
Engineering of photo-inducible binary interaction tools for biomedical applications.

# publications[].label
Caffeine-Operated Synthetic Modules for Chemogenetic Control of Protein Activities by Life Style.

# publications[].label
Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and Orai1 mediate histamine-evoked calcium entry and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

# publications[].label
Mechanism of Activation of Calcium Channel Orai1 by its Regulatory Partner Stim1

# publications[].label
Tet2 Inactivation Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

# publications[].label
Optogenetic Tools for Spatiotemporal Interrogation of Cytoskeletal Dynamics.

# publications[].label
The STIM-Orai Pathway: Light-Operated Ca2+ Entry Through Engineered CRAC Channels.

# publications[].label
Pore architecture of the ORAI1 store-operated calcium channel.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
A molecular toolbox for interrogation of membrane contact sites.

# publications[].label
STIM-ORAI interactions that control the CRAC channel.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic control of calcium influx in mammalian cells.

# publications[].label
Calcium Entry Channels in Non-Excitable Cells

# publications[].label
Design of Smart Antibody Mimetics with Photosensitive Switches.

# publications[].label
Functional elements on SIRPalpha IgV domain mediate cell surface binding to CD47.

# publications[].label
The disordered N-terminal domain of DNMT3A recognizes H2AK119ub and is required for postnatal development.

# publications[].label
RNA-mediated condensation of TFE3 oncofusions facilitates transcriptional hub formation to promote translocation renal cell carcinoma.

# publications[].label
Single-Atom Fluorescence Switch: A General Approach toward Visible-Light-Activated Dyes for Biological Imaging.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic engineering for precision cancer immunotherapy.

# publications[].label
Calciomics: integrative studies of Ca2+-binding proteins and their interactomes in biological systems.

# publications[].label
Comprehensive characterization of circular RNAs in ~1000 human cancer cell lines.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic engineering for ion channel modulation.

# publications[].label
Modulating ion channels with nanobodies.

# publications[].label
Intelligent cell-based therapies for cancer and autoimmune disorders.

# publications[].label
Nano-optogenetic engineering of CAR T cells for precision immunotherapy with enhanced safety.

# publications[].label
Glycosphingolipids Regulate Phosphatidylserine Transport at ERPM Contact Sites

# publications[].label
TET2-Mediated Dysregulation of Heterochromatin in Age-Related Clonal Hematopoiesis

# publications[].label
A single-component optogenetic toolkit for programmable control of microtubule.

# publications[].label
Remote control of cellular immunotherapy

# publications[].label
A combination strategy targeting enhancer plasticity exerts synergistic lethality against BETi-resistant leukemia cells.

# publications[].label
Molecular interaction and functional regulation of connexin50 gap junctions by calmodulin.

# publications[].label
PERTURBATION OF TET2 CONDENSATION INDUCES GENOME-WIDE PROMISCUOUS DNA HYPOMETHYLATION AND CURTAILS LEUKEMIA CELL GROWTH

# publications[].label
A single EF-hand isolated from STIM1 forms dimer in the absence and presence of Ca2+.

# publications[].label
Viral calciomics: interplays between Ca2+ and virus.

# publications[].label
Perturbing TET2 condensation promotes aberrant genome-wide DNA methylation and curtails leukaemia cell growth.

# publications[].label
A "light" touch on PI3K to interrogate cancer drug resistance.

# publications[].label
Engineering Supramolecular Organizing Centers for Optogenetic Control of Innate Immune Responses.

# publications[].label
Optogenetics for transcriptional programming and genetic engineering.

# publications[].label
Harnessing natural killer cells to develop next-generation cellular immunotherapy.

# publications[].label
A cysteine-rich metal-binding domain from rubella virus non-structural protein is essential for viral protease activity and virus replication.

# publications[].label
Differential Lipid Binding Specificities of RAP1A and RAP1B are Encoded by the Amino Acid Sequence of the Membrane Anchors.

# publications[].label
Prediction of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins and analysis of bacterial EF-hand proteins.

# publications[].label
Repurposing salicylic acid as a versatile inducer of proximity.

# publications[].label
Developing Novel Nanobodies Against the 5-Methylcytosine Dioxygenases TET2

# publications[].label
A STIMulating journey into optogenetic engineering.

# publications[].label
Ion channel signalling mechanisms in physiology and disease.

# publications[].label
STIM1 triggers a gating rearrangement at the extracellular mouth of the ORAI1 channel.

# publications[].label
The design and implementation of a rescue terminal with vital signs telemonitoring based on Beidou 1 navigation satellite system.

# publications[].label
Ectopic FGFR1 Increases Intracellular Pool of Cholesterol in Prostate Cancer Cells.

# publications[].label
Identification of a Ca2+-binding domain in the rubella virus nonstructural protease.

# publications[].label
Early Driver, Late Bystander: Stage-Specific Roles of DNMT3A R882 Mutations Unveiled in Human AML.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

# publications[].label
Calmodulin regulates Ca2+-sensing receptor-mediated Ca2+ signaling and its cell surface expression.

# publications[].label
Developing Optogenetic Approaches to Study Ca2+ Signaling Processes.

# publications[].label
Science-based strategies of antibacterial coatings with bactericidal properties for biomedical and healthcare settings

# publications[].label
Finding NEMO: The quest for next-generation genetically encoded calcium indicators.

# publications[].label
STIM1 gates the store-operated calcium channel ORAI1 in vitro.

# publications[].label
Maternal high-fat dietalters Tet-mediated epigenetic regulation during heart development.

# publications[].label
HETEROCHROMATIN DYSREGULATION DURING HEMATOPOIETIC STEM PROGENITOR CELL (HSPC) AGING

# publications[].label
A Chemogenetic Toolkit for Inducible, Cell Type-Specific Actin Disassembly.

# publications[].label
A striatal cell-type-specific engram encodes alcohol memory and is suppressed by extinction training

# publications[].label
Engineering of Genetically Encoded Calcium Channel Blockers

# publications[].label
The LINK-A lncRNA activates normoxic HIF1 signalling in triple-negative breast cancer.

# publications[].label
Red-shifted optogenetics comes to the spotlight.

# publications[].label
Decoding the dynamic DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation landscapes in endodermal lineage intermediates during pancreatic differentiation of hESC.

# publications[].label
Calcium sensing by the STIM1 ER-luminal domain.

# publications[].label
Targeting mutant TP53 as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

# publications[].label
Ternary-code DNA methylation dynamics: A new era for scalable mapping.

# publications[].label
Identification and dissection of Ca(2+)-binding sites in the extracellular domain of Ca(2+)-sensing receptor.

# publications[].label
Genetically encoded tags for real time dissection of protein assembly in living cells.

# publications[].label
Calmodulin mediates the Ca2+-dependent regulation of Cx44 gap junctions.

# publications[].label
TET2 modulates spatial relocalization of heterochromatin in aged hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

# publications[].label
Initial activation of STIM1, the regulator of store-operated calcium entry.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic control of T cells for immunomodulation.

# publications[].label
A Combination Strategy Targeting Enhancer Plasticity Exerts Synergistic Lethality Against Beti-Resistant Leukemia Cells

# publications[].label
Integrative Single-Cell Analysis Reveals the Regulation of Transposable Elements in HSPCs during the Aging Process

# publications[].label
Store-Operated Calcium Entry Mediated byORAIand STIM.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic inhibition of light-captured alcohol-taking striatal engrams facilitates extinction and suppresses reinstatement.

# publications[].label
Heterochromatin deregulation during hematopoietic stem progenitor cell (HSPC) aging

# publications[].publisher
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

# publications[].label
Near-infrared photoactivatable control of Ca²⁺ signaling and optogenetic immunomodulation

# publications[].label
Shedding light on ORAI1 channel with genetic code expansion.

# publications[].label
Rewiring Calcium Signaling for Precise Transcriptional Reprogramming.

# publications[].label
Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies AC9 as a key regulator of ER Ca2+ homeostasis involved in neuronal differentiation

# publications[].label
Chronic alcohol drinking persistently suppresses thalamostriatal excitation of cholinergic neurons to impair cognitive flexibility.

# publications[].publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation

# publications[].label
Targeting epigenetic regulatory machinery to overcome cancer therapy resistance.

# publications[].label
Tmem178 negatively regulates store-operated calcium entry in myeloid cells via association with STIM1.

# publications[].label
Calcium oscillations coordinate feather mesenchymal cell movement by SHH dependent modulation of gap junction networks.

# publications[].label
Optical control of protein delivery and partitioning in the nucleolus.

# publications[].label
Identification of molecular determinants that govern distinct STIM2 activation dynamics.

# publications[].label
Expanding the Chemogenetic Toolbox by Circular Permutation.

# publications[].label
Multiple Ca(2+)-binding sites in the extracellular domain of the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor corresponding to cooperative Ca(2+) response.

# publications[].label
Calcium-dependent association of calmodulin with the rubella virus nonstructural protease domain.

# publications[].label
Optogenetic engineering of STING signaling allows remote immunomodulation to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

# publications[].label
Elucidation of a novel extracellular calcium-binding site on metabotropic glutamate receptor 1{alpha} (mGluR1{alpha}) that controls receptor activation.

# publications[].label
Minimal Requirement for Store-Operated Calcium Entry: STIM1 Gates ORAI1 Channels in Vitro

# publications[].label
TMEM110 regulates the maintenance and remodeling of mammalian ER-plasma membrane junctions competent for STIM-ORAI signaling.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Systematic Profiling of DNMT3A Variants Reveals Protein Instability Mediated by the DCAF8 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Adaptor.

# publications[].publisher
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

# publications[].label
Harnessing Viral Proteases for Cellular and Molecular Engineering

# researcherOn[].label
Role of TET dioxygenase associated immune mechanisms in cardiac injury and repair

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

# researcherOn[].label
Synthetic biology toolkit for precise tuning of T cell activity

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Engineering Smart Antibody-like Protein Scaffolds with precision switches

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Optogenetic Toolkit for Remote Control of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of General Medical Science

# researcherOn[].label
TET-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation in Cardiac Development

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

# researcherOn[].label
Optogenetic Toolkit for Precise Epigenome Editing in Cancer Cells

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas - (Austin, Texas, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Optogenetic toolkit for precise control of organellar calcium signaling

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Molecular Control of Calcium Influx at the ER-Plasma Membrane Junctions

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of General Medical Science

# researcherOn[].label
Selective targeting of a Rho GTPase mutant for peripheral T cell lymphoma treatment

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Acute Leukemia by Targeting CRAC Channels

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
American Cancer Society - (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M University -IBT; Ibt Center For Translational Cancer Research; 1201 TAMUS

# organizations[]
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

# schools[]
Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

# inTheNews[].label
Researchers at Texas A&M using caffeine to help fight off viruses like COVID-19