Ming-Chih Lai
JobTitle： Associate Professor
CurrentJob： Associate Professor
E-mail： mclai@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Phone： Office Tel：3354
Education： Ph. D., Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan
Expertise： RNA metabolism, Cancer Research & Molecular Virology
Research Direction
A. Functional study of DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX3
DEAD-box RNA helicases play essential roles in almost all aspects of mRNA metabolism, including ribosome biogenesis, transcription, RNA processing, RNA export, translation, and RNA decay. Previously, we demonstrated that DDX3 is crucial for the translation of selected mRNAs that have long or structured 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs). Since the RNA helicase activity of DDX3 is necessary for its function in translation, we proposed that DDX3 may facilitate ribosome scanning by resolving secondary structures in the 5’ UTR of selected mRNAs during translation initiation. It would be interesting to investigate the biological functions of DDX3-mediated translational control. However, several questions remain unanswered, including:
(a) The role of DDX3 in miRNA biogenesis and RNA interference
(b) The importance of DDX3 in oogenesis and female fertility
(c) The impact of DDX3 on neuronal development
(d) The involvement of DDX3 in neurodegenerative diseases
B. The mechanisms of hypoxia-induced translation in human colon cancer cells
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. In Taiwan, CRC has ranked first in cancer incidence for the past 15 years. Many patients with invasive or metastatic CRC die within five years due to treatment failure. Therefore, new strategies and improved therapeutics are required for CRC treatment. Hypoxia, a condition characterized by low oxygen levels, occurs in various physiological and pathological conditions, including tumor development. Tumor hypoxia significantly contributes to tumor progression and is associated with a poor prognosis. A better understanding of how hypoxia induces changes in gene expression may open up new prospects for future cancer treatments. Our current research focuses on the following issues:
(a) Characterizing the molecular mechanisms behind hypoxia-induced translation in human colon cancer cells
(b) Identifying RNA-binding proteins that activate the translation of specific mRNAs under hypoxic conditions
(c) Searching for diagnostic biomarkers and potential anti-cancer targets for CRC
C. To improve recombinant protein productivity in Chinese hamster ovary cells
It is important to note that nearly 80% of approved human therapeutic antibodies are produced by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In order to increase the production of recombinant proteins and reduce cell culture costs, we plan to utilize genetic engineering techniques to improve CHO cell lines.
Publications
1. Hung-Hsuan Li, Hsin-Yuan Hung, Jau-Song Yu, Ming-Chih Lai*. (2024 Dec). Hypoxia-induced translation of collagen-modifying enzymes PLOD2 and P4HA1 is dependent on RBM4 and eIF4E2 in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. FEBS J. (SCI, 2023 IF= 5.5, Ranking 58/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
2. Shang-Yu Tsai, Chih-Hung Lin, Yu-Ting Jiang, Guo-Jen Huang, Haiwei Pi, Hsin-Yuan Hung, Woan-Yuh Tarn, Ming-Chih Lai*. (2024 Nov). DDX3 is critical for female fertility via translational control in oogenesis. Cell Death Discovery 10(1):472. (SCI, 2023 IF= 6.1, Ranking 49/205 in CELL BIOLOGY)
3. Ming-Chih Lai*, Yen-Ling Yu, Chiao-Nung Chen, Jau-Song Yu, Hsin-Yuan Hung, Shih-Peng Chan*. (2024 Nov). DDX3 participates in miRNA biogenesis and RNA interference through translational control of PACT and interaction with AGO2. FEBS Open Bio doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13920. (SCI, 2023 IF= 2.8, Ranking 184/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
4. Ming-Chih Lai*, Yi-Pin Chen, Ding-An Li, Jau-Song Yu, Hsin-Yuan Hung, Woan-Yuh Tarn* (2022 Feb) DDX3 interacts with USP9X and participates in deubiquitination of the anti-apoptotic protein MCL1. FEBS J. 289(4): 1043-1061. (SCI, 2023 IF= 5.5, Ranking 58/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
5. Ming-Chih Lai, Han-Hsiang Chen, Peng Xu, Robert YL Wang*. (2020 Jan). Translation control of Enterovirus A71 gene expression. Journal of Biomedical Science 27(1):22. (SCI, 2023 IF= 9.0 Ranking 30/205 in CELL BIOLOGY)
6. Tsung-Ming Chen, Ming-Chih Lai, Yi-Han Li, Ya-Ling Chan, Chih-Hao Wu, Yu-Ming Wang, Chun-Wei Chien, San-Yuan Huang, H. Sunny Sun*, Shaw-Jenq Tsai*. (2019 Mar). hnRNPM induces translation switch under hypoxia to promote colon cancer development. EBioMedicine 41: 299-309. (SCI, 2023 IF= 9.7, Ranking 12/189 in MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL)
7. Yu-Chang Ku, Min-Hua Lai, Chen-Chia Lo, Yi-Chuan Cheng, Jian-Tai Qiu, Woan-Yuh Tarn, Ming-Chih Lai*. (2018 Dec). DDX3 participates in translational control of inflammation induced by infections and injuries. Mol. Cell. Biol. 39(1): e00285-18. (SCI, 2023 IF= 3.2, Ranking 155/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
8. Jeng-Ting Chen, Chien-Chun Liu, Jau-Song Yu, Hung-Hsuan Li, Ming-Chih Lai*. (2018 Sep). Integrated omics profiling identifies hypoxia-regulated genes in HCT116 colon cancer cells. J. Proteomics 188: 139-151. (SCI, 2023 IF= 2.8, Ranking 35/85 in BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS)
9. Ming-Chih Lai*, Chiao-May Chang, H. Sunny Sun*. (2016 Apr). Hypoxia induces autophagy through translational up-regulation of lysosomal proteins in human colon cancer cells. PLOS ONE 11(4): e0153627. (SCI, 2023 IF= 2.9, Ranking 31/134 in MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES)
10. Ming-Chih Lai*, H. Sunny Sun, Shainn-Wei Wang, Woan-Yuh Tarn*. (2016 Jan). DDX3 functions in antiviral innate immunity through translational control of PACT. FEBS J. 283(1): 88-101. (SCI, 2023 IF= 5.5, Ranking 58/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
11. Tsung-Ming Chen, Yu-Heng Shih, Joseph T. Tseng, Ming-Chih Lai, Chih-Hao Wu, Yi-Han Li, Shaw-Jenq Tsai*, H. Sunny Sun*. (2014 Mar). Overexpression of FGF9 incolon cancer cells is mediated by hypoxia-induced translational activation. Nucleic Acids Res. 42(5): 2932-2944. (SCI, 2023 IF= 16.6, Ranking 6/313 in BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
Awards
- The 16th Symposium on New Knowledge in Cellular and Molecular Biology Poster Paper Award
- The 1st Yongxin Li Tiande Medical Technology Award-Outstanding Paper Award & Chairman’s Special Award
- National Science Council Research Award for the 89th Academic Year (Category B)
- National Science Council Research Award for the 88th academic year (Category B)