Chinese Researcher in the West Thread

[Bussard Ramjet]

New faculty member probes actions of molecular machines in gene expression
2 hours 18 minutes ago

Tiny machines, which convert chemical energy into mechanical work, drive nearly all aspects of life within a cell. Shixin Liu, a biophysicist and Rockefeller’s newest tenure-track faculty member, investigates how these individual motors interact, and, in many cases, cooperate with one another to accomplish critical tasks, such as DNA transcription and gene regulation.

Shixin Liu

“Over the years, a growing number of biological machines have been investigated in great detail. We know that these machines are often coupled to one another in time and space, giving rise to new functions and new forms of regulation. Yet, little attention so far has been paid to the molecular mechanism of this interplay,” Liu says.

Liu, currently a postdoc at the University of California, Berkeley, will join Rockefeller on January 1, 2016, and will establish the Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry. Liu’s research will chiefly use single-molecule techniques to study the interactions among molecular motors involved in gene expression both in simpler bacterial systems and in more complex eukaryotic cells, like those of humans. Ultimately, he intends to explore how motor-driven processes involved in gene expression are integrated into a coherent network within the cell, and how their interplay evolves in response to environmental changes during both normal physiology and disease.

Liu did his Ph.D. research in Xiaowei Zhuang’s lab at Harvard, and postdoc work with Carlos Bustamante at UC Berkeley. During his training, he established an expertise in the two primary classes of methods for detecting and manipulating single molecules: fluorescence spectroscopy, in which molecules of interest are tagged with light-emitting fluorophores and their movement tracked, and force spectroscopy, which probes the mechanical characteristics of molecular motors by applying force or torque to these nanometer-scale engines. Unlike most traditional methods that report the average property of many molecules, single-molecule approaches monitor the action of biological complexes one at a time, thus revealing their individual characteristics and behavior. Moreover, these approaches can provide real-time, dynamic information about biological reactions, information that was otherwise difficult to obtain.

While at Harvard, Liu’s projects included examining the movement of HIV reverse transcriptase, the target of many anti-AIDS therapies, as it makes a DNA copy of viral RNA. During his postdoc, Liu studied how certain viruses, such as those that cause herpes, use a common type of ring-shaped molecular motor to pack their genetic material in a protective protein shell during viral assembly. He found that this motor coordinates the activities of its subunits in a highly controlled, yet adaptable manner. This discovery represented a new paradigm for understanding the operation of ring motors.

At Rockefeller, his research will investigate the fundamental gene expression process, during which a series of molecular machines act in concert to transcribe DNA code into RNA, and then translate RNA into protein. He is interested in interactions among the molecular machines responsible for the synthesis, translation, and degradation of messenger RNA in bacterial cells. Liu also plans to study how the DNA transcribing enzyme known as RNA polymerase reads through nucleosomes, the DNA-organizing units found in eukaryotic cells, and how this process is regulated by additional factors and epigenetic modifications. In addition to single-molecule biophysical tools, Liu will also leverage the power of modern biochemical and genomic approaches to elucidate the molecular mechanism of these complex processes.

“At Rockefeller, Shixin will join a long tradition of examining the molecular processes involved in gene expression, and I believe his particular approach of exploring the interplay between the motors responsible will contribute a unique perspective to the basic biology of gene regulation, as well as uncover implications for health and disease,” says Marc Tessier-Lavigne, the university president. “I am delighted to welcome Shixin to our community, and I anticipate seeing great things from him as his career develops.”

A native of China and the child of two biology teachers, Liu studied biology at the University of Science and Technology of China. His entry into the field coincided with a shift in the approaches taken by biologists. “I grew up in a period when biology really started to be understood in a quantitative or analytical manner, not just as a descriptive science,” he says. “I was drawn to the idea of applying approaches from physics, chemistry, or mathematics to explore the fundamentals of biology. Work at the interface between these diverse disciplines will naturally bring together people with a variety of expertise and spark novel approaches to uncovering the secrets of life.”

Health News - New faculty member probes actions of molecular machines in gene expression

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

In minutes, it seems, swarms of pesky blood suckers can cover your body with nasty, itchy welts, biting through clothing and chasing victims inside.

Mosquitoes can ruin outdoor activities, or require drenching the body with repellent loaded with Deet.

Humans attack the killers by fogging their environs with chemicals, or inviting in predators, such as bats, to feast the tiny, hovering beasts.


“They can get really bad,” said Bob Ash, superintendent of parks and forestry for the city of Salina.

“We used to live on a farm, and when it rained, we knew we were going to have mosquitoes,” he said.

There are mechanical means to control skeeters that use tasty bait to lure them into traps. You also can use bug-zappers, candles, and even certain plants that tend to repel insects.

Sticky tape and fly swatters also have their traditional place in the summer wars waged between humans, animals and mosquitoes.

K-State is on the job

Kansas State University researchers are on the case, and have developed a patented method that someday could control insects.

The patent is called “Double-Stranded RNA-Based Nanoparticles for Insect Gene Silencing.” U.S. Patent 8,841,272 has been awarded to the Kansas State University Research Foundation, a nonprofit corporation responsible for managing technology transfer activities at the university, according to a story from the university released in November.

“The patent covers microscopic genetics-based technology that can help safely kill mosquitoes and other insect pests,” the release reads.

Kun Yan Zhu, professor of entomology, Xin Zhang, research associate in the division of biology; and Jianzhen Zhang, visiting scientist from Shanxi University, China, developed the technology.

There’s more to do

Zhu commented in the release, but declined to discuss it further.

“ … our work currently is still in the stage of research,” Zhu wrote in an email. “I would be glad to share with you if our research has made a significant progress.”

According to the K-State release, the technology is expected to have great potential for safe and effective control of insect pests.


For example, Zhu said, cockroach bait containing a toxic substance to kill cockroaches also could harm “whatever else ingests it.” But by targeting a specific cockroach gene, “the bait would not harm other organisms, such as pets.”

The gene-targeting technology can be applied to other insects.

“We see this having really broad applications for insect pest management,” Zhu said in the release.

Safer than chemicals

Salina’s parks and forestry department doesn’t spray for mosquitoes, Ash said, but instead treats standing water with pellets called larvicide that kill developing mosquito larvae.

He intends to research the new method under study by the K-State team.

“Anything that controls mosquitoes excites me,” Ash said. “I have not heard of that form of control. That would be worth looking into, if it’s a safer alternative than using a chemical.”

Beware of mosquitoes | Local/State News | hutchnews.com

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

This is an excerpt from the Economist article cited below:

She is not interested, though—and in that she is typical. Patrick Gaulé, a researcher in Prague, has tracked the careers of foreign-born scientists in America. He estimates that less than 9% will return during their working lives. Scientists from well-off countries are most likely to go back: the Taiwanese are about five times more likely to return than are the mainland Chinese, for example. Surveys of PhD students in America find that 82% of Chinese and 84% of Indians plan to stay.
​

http://www.economist.com/news/inter...s-can-solve-all-sorts-problems-they-are-picky

For all the talk, the most highly qualified Chinese scientists are not returning really. There should be a far more concerted effort to attract them than there is today.

@AndrewJin @Shotgunner51 @sword1947

 

[sword1947]

This is an excerpt from the Economist article cited below:

She is not interested, though—and in that she is typical. Patrick Gaulé, a researcher in Prague, has tracked the careers of foreign-born scientists in America. He estimates that less than 9% will return during their working lives. Scientists from well-off countries are most likely to go back: the Taiwanese are about five times more likely to return than are the mainland Chinese, for example. Surveys of PhD students in America find that 82% of Chinese and 84% of Indians plan to stay.
​

http://www.economist.com/news/inter...s-can-solve-all-sorts-problems-they-are-picky

For all the talk, the most highly qualified Chinese scientists are not returning really. There should be a far more concerted effort to attract them than there is today.

@AndrewJin @Shotgunner51 @sword1947

well, we respect to their choice. they are audlts, they know where they can contribute their knowledge to most people.

 

[qwerrty]

lol no need for this thread. chinese names as author or co-author listed in nearly all high impact science & tech research papers published from north america

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

lol no need for this thread. chinese names as author or co-author listed in nearly all high impact science & tech research papers published from north america

And hence my point of China being one of the biggest losers of Human Capital in the world.

 

[qwerrty]

And hence my point of China being one of the biggest losers of Human Capital in the world.

i've seen a lot yankees made comments that they should kick em all out from high-tech places because of china hacking... and my reaction you'd do china a big favor..

 

[Shotgunner51]

This is an excerpt from the Economist article cited below:
She is not interested, though—and in that she is typical. Patrick Gaulé, a researcher in Prague, has tracked the careers of foreign-born scientists in America. He estimates that less than 9% will return during their working lives. Scientists from well-off countries are most likely to go back: the Taiwanese are about five times more likely to return than are the mainland Chinese, for example. Surveys of PhD students in America find that 82% of Chinese and 84% of Indians plan to stay.
​

For all the talk, the most highly qualified Chinese scientists are not returning really. There should be a far more concerted effort to attract them than there is today.
@AndrewJin @Shotgunner51 @sword1947

US is still preferred destination for a lot of best brains, and hence the country will continue to lead the world in tech. Brain drain, yes that's a challenge that most countries are facing, especially low return-rate like mainland China.

It's important for China to study (1) why US is capable of attracting foreign talents, or (2) why some other countries like Taiwan have much higher return rate. For the first question, I doubt even if China knows the answer anything can be done in the short run given US' uniqueness in its ethnic formation, immigration policy and political history. More efforts should be spent in studying question #2, the findings will be much more useful, and pragmatic.

And that's why in China there is an intensive study on the East Asia model, covering not just industrialization but social/civil performances. Hope mainland China can first decrease brain drain in the near future, and then become a magnet for world talents in the long run.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Taiwan has a higher return rate because everyone who wanted to leave has already left for the US. 1 million Taiwanese in the west already.

I see alot of conflicting results on return rateas well .

it is also my experience that Chinese scientists in the US always pick very safe and conservative research topics .meanwhile native scientists like Pan Jianwei take huge risks to make it big .

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

US is still preferred destination for a lot of best brains, and hence the country will continue to lead the world in tech. Brain drain, yes that's a challenge that most countries are facing, especially low return-rate like mainland China.

It's important for China to study (1) why US is capable of attracting foreign talents, or (2) why some other countries like Taiwan have much higher return rate. For the first question, I doubt even if China knows the answer anything can be done in the short run given US' uniqueness in its ethnic formation, immigration policy and political history. More efforts should be spent in studying question #2, the findings will be much more useful, and pragmatic.

And that's why in China there is an intensive study on the East Asia model, covering not just industrialization but social/civil performances. Hope mainland China can first decrease brain drain in the near future, and then become a magnet for world talents in the long run.

To be very frank, China also had an immense melting pot in its older days. China is literally made up of all the people at that time who sustained a civilized, non-nomadic life.

It is only today that Chinese have started to identify with either "Han," or with Mongoloid features.

This is partially a result of technological limitations of yester years. China of yester years was so inclusive that had there been better modes of travel, and had different races interacted, China would already have had a cultural identity that was devoid of any racial prejudice. (Racial differences have themselves been created due to very limited contacts between certain groups of people)

As I have said many times before. Having the ability to attract the best talent, (leave alone retain talent) is the bulwark of being a world power.

Even the US initially was formed for white European settlers. Neither Natives, or Blacks, or Chinese had any rights, or any stake. It was only gradually that the idea of the US, and of being American itself has morphed to include every person on planet. That is indeed a big positive. Just look at American Universities. They are either filled with foreigners, or with first or second generation immigrants.

Taiwan has a higher return rate because everyone who wanted to leave has already left for the US. 1 million Taiwanese in the west already.

I see alot of conflicting results on return rateas well .

it is also my experience that Chinese scientists in the US always pick very safe and conservative research topics .meanwhile native scientists like Pan Jianwei take huge risks to make it big .

1. There aren't many conflicting results if you look carefully for data. This is data for PhD students from Mainland undergoing their PhD in the US, who are being asked for their preference to stay or return after PhD. This is based on preference and not necessarily the reality. Also, this is asking for immediate return, and excludes those who may return subsequently, say after 2-3 years of some research in a commercial lab.

That said, with 82% refusing to return after their PhD is already very dire condition.

2. Pan Jianwei is an exception, for he seems to be very Nationalistic as well. I remember his first words to his supervisor in Europe was, "That he wants to return to China to create a lab like this."

Also, you are wrong. Most of the China's best minds stay in the US. Just have a look at world's best material scientists. The most cited, (I forget the name) is Chinese, yet he is in US.

3. I have created this page, because I am a China tech scene watcher, and as such get regular news regarding China tech space from Google News, and it has become frustrating for me to keep reading articles, which have been picked up because of the mention of the word "China" and "technology," but have nothing to do with China's technology in the sense that it was not created by a Chinese lab, or company, but by a Chinese in US.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

And hence my point of China being one of the biggest losers of Human Capital in the world.

How could China be called a loser while the gap between China and US in technology is not widening but fast closing

 

[Jlaw]

US is still preferred destination for a lot of best brains, and hence the country will continue to lead the world in tech. Brain drain, yes that's a challenge that most countries are facing, especially low return-rate like mainland China.

It's important for China to study (1) why US is capable of attracting foreign talents, or (2) why some other countries like Taiwan have much higher return rate. For the first question, I doubt even if China knows the answer anything can be done in the short run given US' uniqueness in its ethnic formation, immigration policy and political history. More efforts should be spent in studying question #2, the findings will be much more useful, and pragmatic.

And that's why in China there is an intensive study on the East Asia model, covering not just industrialization but social/civil performances. Hope mainland China can first decrease brain drain in the near future, and then become a magnet for world talents in the long run.

the only people China can attract now are lousy English teachers. Not because they can teach proper English, but because they are white

 

[Shotgunner51]

To be very frank, China also had an immense melting pot in its older days. China is literally made up of all the people at that time who sustained a civilized, non-nomadic life.

It is only today that Chinese have started to identify with either "Han," or with Mongoloid features.

This is partially a result of technological limitations of yester years. China of yester years was so inclusive that had there been better modes of travel, and had different races interacted, China would already have had a cultural identity that was devoid of any racial prejudice. (Racial differences have themselves been created due to very limited contacts between certain groups of people)

As I have said many times before. Having the ability to attract the best talent, (leave alone retain talent) is the bulwark of being a world power.

Even the US initially was formed for white European settlers. Neither Natives, or Blacks, or Chinese had any rights, or any stake. It was only gradually that the idea of the US, and of being American itself has morphed to include every person on planet. That is indeed a big positive. Just look at American Universities. They are either filled with foreigners, or with first or second generation immigrants.

Remember I said these?

"I doubt even if China knows the answer anything can be done in the short run given US' uniqueness in its ethnic formation, immigration policy and political history"

"... and then become a magnet for world talents in the long run"​

Thanks, actually you have elaborated my point well! I am impressed by your knowledge about ancient Chinese history, yes during Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, it was like today's US, a melting pot of civilizations. When will China resume this? Frankly speaking I don't know, just hope it will happen again sometime in the future.

 

[Jlaw]

Liberal Chinese will destroy China society in the future. @ChineseTiger1986 . I see more of them day by day don't you agree?

 

[Shotgunner51]

How could China be called a loser while the gap between China and US in technology is not widening but fast closing

You are right bro, and imagine the gap if China does not suffer from this brain drain problem!