Semi-Annual Notable News - Biochemistry News

Xhemalçe Lab Published Research on NAT10 Protein as a Possible New Cancer Therapy

Blerta Xhemalce, PhD — Dr. Blerta Xhemalçe

The Xhemalçe lab published a paper in Science Advances titled, "NAT10 and N⁴-acetylcytidine restrain R-loop levels and related inflammatory responses". NAT10 is a protein that frequently appears at high levels in cancer cells, helping them grow, metastasize and resist treatment, while also making it a prime target for new therapies. The Xhemalçe lab recently discovered an important mechanism for how NAT10 regulates gene expression and inflammation.

Blerta Xhemalçe, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, led the team that studied the complex tangles of DNA and RNA known as R-loops that sometimes appear when DNA is copied to make RNA. They found NAT10 can modify these tangles in ways that make it harder for the cell to launch an inflammatory response by hiding potential molecular triggers that could cause inflammation. Their study provides new insights into how cells manage genetic information and control inflammatory responses at a molecular level and suggests that NAT10 could be a good drug target in anti-cancer and anti-viral therapies.

scientific image with schematic of a simplified model of how NAT10 and ac4C might suppress TLR7 activation. — Schematic of a simplified model of how NAT10 and ac4C might suppress TLR7 activation

Research Updates

Bou-Nader Lab

Congratulations to Charles Bou-Nader, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, and his lab for receiving the following grant: "Molecular basis of R-loop mediated HIV integration," from Gilead Research Scholars.

Recent publications from the Bou-Nader lab include: "Purification and Analysis of eIF2α Phosphorylation by Stress-Activated Protein Kinase Gcn2 from S. cerevisiae," in Methods in Molecular Biology; and "Structures of complete HIV-1 TAR RNA portray a dynamic platform poised for protein binding and structural remodeling," in Nature Communications.

Liang Lab

Bo Liang, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry with tenure in the Emory School of Medicine, effective September 1, 2025.

Roberts Lab

Blaine Roberts, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry with tenure in the Emory School of Medicine, effective September 1, 2025.

Shekhar Lab

Shashank Shekhar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physics, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Emory University, published a paper in Nature Physics titled, “Cooperative hydrodynamics accompany multicellular-like colonial organization in the unicellular ciliate Stentor”. Their work uncovers novel insights into how physical forces shape the evolution of multicellularity and was featured in New York Times.

Eric J. Sundberg and Diego Sastre — Pictured left to right: Eric J. Sundberg, PhD, and Diego Sastre, PhD

Sundberg Lab

Eric Sundberg, PhD, Emory School of Medicine Endowed Professor of Biochemistry and Department Chair, and Dr. Diego Sastre, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, published a paper, "Potent efficacy of an IgG-specific endoglycosidase against IgG-mediated pathologies, " in Cell, October 2024.

Liu Lab

Xu Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, received an NIH grant, "Multifaceted Regulation of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Transcriptional Activities."

Events

Bou-Nader Lab Hosted Visit of French Senator

The Bou-Nader lab hosted a visit from the French Senator Mathilde Ollivier, Senior Consular Anne-Laure Desjonqueres, and Chiara Pero, Office of Science of Technology of the French embassy, April 2025 (pictures below).

Left to right: Chiara Pero, Anne-Laure Desjonquères, Mathilde Ollivier, and Charles Bou-Nader

Trainees and Fellows

Avci Lab

Mahmut Demirturk, MD, Research Scholar in the Avci Lab, is the recipient of the 2025 Early Career Investigator Award from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation for his grant, "Immune Modulation by Macrophage Galactose C-Type Lectin Alleviate Murine Model of Colitis".

Ortlund Lab

Marek Bogacz, PhD, Ortlund Lab, was promoted from Postdoctoral Fellow to Associate Scientist of Biochemistry.