overview

I obtained my Ph.D. with a major in Bioinorganic Chemistry, focusing on metallodrugs against cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). After then, I worked at the Institute of Biosciences & Technology (IBT), Texas A&M University (TMAU) as a postdoc and research scientist dissecting and regulating Calcium Signaling by biochemistry, cell biology, and synthetic biology strategies. I accumulated strong research expertise on Ca2+ signaling in the immune system from mechanistic dissection of SOCE channels to tailoring cell functions using optical and chemical tools. I was promoted as a Research Assistant Professor in Oct 2020 to pursue my independent research program with interests in (i) Design and screening of Ca2+ channel modulators (compounds & peptide/protein drugs) to treat channelopathy or improve T cell immunotherapy; (ii) Delineate novel regulatory mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling in health and disease; (iii) Devise optogenetic, chemical and synthetic biology tools for translational research and biomedical applications. I have been engaged in the interface between chemistry and biology for almost 15 years, with specific training and expertise in Ca2+ imaging, protein engineering, protein chemistry, cell biology, and immunotherapy. So far, I have published 20+ publications as a lead author or corresponding author in well-respected journals, including Nature Communications, JACS, Angew Chem, Advanced Science, Chemical Science, eLife, and PLOS Biology with citations > 2000 times.



My current research interests:

1. Design and screening of CRAC Ca2+ channel modulators including small molecules, peptide/protein drugs, and antibody/nanobody to treat Channelopathy or improve T cell-based immunotherapy.

2. Delineate the regulatory network of the CRAC channel in healthy and diseased states

3. Devising optogenetic, chemical, and synthetic biology tools for precise control of cellular physiology

education and training
selected publications
Academic Articles45
  • Zhou, Y., Jennette, M. R., Ma, G., Kazzaz, S. A., Baraniak, J. H., Nwokonko, R. M., ... Gill, D. L. (2023). An apical Phe-His pair defines the Orai1-coupling site and its occlusion within STIM1.. Nature Communications. 14(1), 6921.
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  • Ali, S., Ma, G., & Zhou, Y. (2023). Shedding light on ORAI1 channel with genetic code expansion.. Cell Calcium. 113, 102755-102755.
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  • Haruehanroengra, P., Zheng, Y. Y., Ma, G., Lan, T., Hassan, A., Zhou, Y., & Sheng, J. (2022). Probing the Substrate Requirements of the InVitro Geranylation Activity of Selenouridine Synthase (SelU).. ChemBioChem. 23(15), e202200089.
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  • Xie, J., Ma, G., Zhou, L., He, L., Zhang, Z., Tan, P., ... Han, W. (2022). Identification of a STIM1 Splicing Variant that Promotes Glioblastoma Growth.. Advanced Science. 9(11), e2103940-2103940.
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  • Zhou, Y., Nwokonko, R. M., Ma, G., Baraniak, J. H., Wang, J., Jennette, M. R., ... Gill, D. L. (2022). A key amino acid in STIM1 mediates coupling to gate the Orai1 channel. Biophysical Journal. 121(3), 374A-374A.
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Chapters2
  • Ma, G., He, L., Jing, J. i., Tan, P., Huang, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2018). Engineered Cross-Linking to Study the Pore Architecture of the CRAC Channel.. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). CRAC CHANNEL: METHODS AND PROTOCOLS. 147-166. Springer Nature.
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  • Ma, G., Wen, S., Huang, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2017). The STIM-Orai Pathway: Light-Operated Ca2+ Entry Through Engineered CRAC Channels.. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. STORE-OPERATED CA2+ ENTRY (SOCE) PATHWAYS: EMERGING SIGNALING CONCEPTS IN HUMAN (PATHO)PHYSIOLOGY, 2ND EDITION. 117-138. Springer Nature.
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Conference Papers5
  • Gudlur, A., Zeraik, A. E., Hirve, N., Vangipurapu, R., Bobkov, A., Ma, G., ... Hogan, P. G. (2018). STIM1 Function Is Controlled by Multiple Ca2+ Binding Sites in its Luminal Domain. Biophysical Journal. 114(3), 285A-285A.
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  • Zhang, Q., He, L., Ma, G., & Zhou, Y. (2017). An Potogenentic Toolkit for Reversible Labeling and Remote Manipulation of Cytoskeleton In Situ. Biophysical Journal. 112(3), 430A-430A.
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  • Ma, G., He, L., Zhang, Q., & Zhou, Y. (2017). Optogenetic Dissection of STIM1 Conformational Switch and Oligomerization. Biophysical Journal. 112(3), 94A-94A.
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  • He, L., Zhang, Y., Ma, G., Tan, P., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., ... Zhou, Y. (2016). Near-Infrared Photoactivatable Control of Calcium Signaling. Biophysical Journal. 110(3), 360A-360A.
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  • Jing, J. i., He, L., Sun, A., Quintana, A., Ding, Y., Ma, G., ... Zhou, Y. (2016). Proteomic Mapping and Optogenetic Control of ER-PM Junctions in Living Cells. Biophysical Journal. 110(3), 258A-258A.
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First Name
Guolin
Last Name
Ma
mailing address
2121 W. Holcombe Blvd. Rm 935;
Houston, TX 77030
USA