Lü Laboratory

Overview

The laboratory of Dr. Wei Lü utilizes single-particle electron cryo-microscopy and other biophysical/biochemical methods to study the structure and function of membrane proteins.

Visit the Du and Lü labs’ joint website here.

* co-first author
# co-corresponding author

Mihaljević L*, Ruan Z*, Osei-Owusu J, Lü W#, Qiu Z#. 2023. Inhibition of the proton-activated chloride channel PAC by PIP2. eLife 12:e83935.

Osei-Owusu J*, Ruan Z*, Mihaljević L, Matasic D, Chen KH, Lü W#, Qiu Z# 2022. Molecular mechanism underlying desensitization of the proton-activated chloride channel PAC (2022) eLife:11:e82955.

Osei-Owusu J, Kots E, Ruan Z, Mihaljević L, Chen KH, Tamhaney A, Ye X, Lü W, Weinstein H, Qiu Z. 2022. Molecular determinants of pH sensing in the proton-activated chloride channel. Proc Natl Acad U S A 119(31):e2200727119.

Müller C*, Zhang L*, Zipfel S, Topitsch A, Lutz M, Eckert J, Prasser B, Chami M, Lü W, Du J#, Einsle O#. 2022. Molecular interplay of an assembly machinery for nitrous oxide reductase. Nature.

Ruan Z*, Haley E*, Orozco I*, Sabat M, Myers R, Roth R, Du J#, Lü W#. 2021. Structures of the TRPM5 channel elucidate mechanisms of activation and inhibition. Nat Struct Mol Biol.

Yu J*, Zhu HT*, Lape R, Greiner T, Du J, Lü W, Sivilotti L#, Gouaux E#. 2021. Mechanism of gating and partial agonist action in the glycine receptor. Cell.

Ruan Z*, Osei-Owusu J*, Du J, Qiu Z#, Lü W#. 2020. Structures and pH-sensing mechanism of the proton-activated chloride channel. Nature.

Ruan Z, Orozco IJ, Du J#, Lü W#. 2020. Structures of human Pannexin 1 reveal ion pathways and mechanism of gating. Nature.

Huang Y, Fliegert R, Guse AH, Lü W#, Du J#. 2019. A structural overview of the ion channels of the TRPM family. Cell Calcium.

Choi W*, Clemente N*, Sun W, Du J#, Lü W#. 2019. The structures and gating mechanism of human calcium homeostasis modulator 2. Nature.

Haung Y, Roth B, Lü W^#, Du J^#. 2019. Ligand recognition and gating mechanism through three ligand-binding sites of human TRPM2 channel. eLife.

Haley E, Choi W, Fan C, Sun W, Du J, Lü W. 2019. Expression and purification of the human lipid-sensitive cation channel TRPC3 for structural determination by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. J Vis Exp (143):e58754, doi:10.3791/58754.

Huang Y, Winkler PA, Sun W, Lü W^#, Du J^#. 2018. Architecture of the TRPM2 channel and its activation mechanism by ADP-ribose and calcium. Nature.

Fan C*, Choi W*, Sun W, Du J#, Lü W#. 2018. Structure of the human lipid-gated cation channel TRPC3. eLife:e36852.

Winkler PA*, Huang Y*, Sun W*, Du J, Lü W. 2017. Electron cryo-microscopy structure of a human TRPM4 channel. Nature.

Lü W*, Du J*, Goehring A, Gouaux E. 2017. Cryo-EM structure of the triherteromeric NMDA receptor and its allosteric modulation. Science 355(6331):eaal3729.

Mansoor SE, Lü W, Oosterheert W, Shekhar M, Tajkhorshid E, Gouaux E. 2016. X-ray structures define human P2X(3) receptor gating cycle and antagonist action. Nature 538(7623):66–71.

Du J*, Lü W*, Wu S, Cheng Y, Gouaux E. 2015. Glycine receptor mechanism elucidated by electron cryo-microscopy. Nature 526 (7572):224–229.       

Rycovska-Blume A, Lü W, Andrade S, Fendler K, Einsle O. 2015. Structural and functional studies of NirC from Salmonella typhimurium. Methods Enzymol556:475–497.

Lee CH*, Lü W*, Michel JC, Goehring A, Du J, Song X, Gouaux E. 2014. NMDA receptor structures reveal subunit arrangement and pore architecture. Nature 511(7508):191–197.      

Lü W, Du J, Schwarzer NJ, Wacker T, Andrade SL, Einsle O. 2013. The formate/nitrite transporter family of anion channels. Biol Chem 394(6):715–727.

Lü W, Schwarzer NJ, Du J, Gerbig-Smentek E, Andrade SL, Einsle O. 2012. Structural and functional characterization of the nitrite channel NirC from Salmonella typhimurium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109(45):18395–18400.

Lü W, Du J, Schwarzer NJ, Gerbig-Smentek E, Einsle O, Andrade SL. 2012. The formate channel FocA exports the products of mixed-acid fermentation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109(33):13245–13259.

Guttenberg G, Hornei S, Jank T, Schwan C, Lü W, Einsle O, Papatheodorou P, Aktories K. 2012. Molecular characteristics of Clostridium perfringens TpeL toxin and consequences of mono-O-GlcNAcylation of Ras in living cells. J Biol Chem 287(30):24929–24940.

Du J*, Say RF*, Lü W, Fuchs G, Einsle O. 2011. Active-site remodeling in the bifunctional fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase/phosophotase. Nature 478(7370):534–537.     

Guttenberg G, Papatheodorou P, Genisyuerek S, Lü W, Jank T, Einsle O, Aktories K. 2011. Inositol hexakisphosphate-dependent processing of Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin and Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin. J Biol Chem 286(17):14779–14789.

Lü W, Du J, Wacker T, Gerbig-Smentek E, Andrade SL, Einsle O. 2011. pH-dependent gating in a FocA formate channel. Science 332(6027):352–354.

Maier S, Schleberger P, Lü W, Wacker T, Pflüger T, Litz C, Andrade SL. 2011. Mechanism of disruption of the Amt-GInK complex by P(II)-mediated sensing of 2-oxoglutarate. PLoS One 6(10):e26327.

Helfmann S, Lü W, Litz C, Andrade SL. 2010. Cooperative binding of MgATP and MgADP in the trimeric P(II) protein GInK2 from Archaeoglobus fulgidus. J Mol Biol 402(1):165–177.

Lü W, Du J, Stahl M, Tzivelekidis T, Belyi Y, Gerhardt S, Aktories K, Einsle O. 2010. Structural basis of the action of glucosyltransferase Lgt1 from Legionella pneumonphila. J Mol Biol 396(2):321–331.