Xin Gu

Xin Gu, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Assistant Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Her research focuses on elucidating ubiquitin-independent protein degradation mechanisms, particularly the midnolin-proteasome pathway, which selectively degrades transcription factors critical for cellular responses. The Gu Lab employs biochemical, structural, and genetic approaches to study these pathways' roles in physiology and disease, with long-term goals of developing therapeutic strategies for cancer, immune disorders, and neurological conditions.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Peking University
• Ph.D. in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Postdoctoral Research, Department of Neurobiology, HMS

Research Interests: The lab investigates mechanisms of protein homeostasis, focusing on midnolin-mediated proteasomal degradation. Key areas include understanding how this pathway regulates stimulus-responsive transcription factors, its crosstalk with chromatin biology and metabolism, and its role in organismal health. The lab also seeks to identify novel ubiquitin-independent degradation pathways.

Publications: Recent work highlights structural insights into midnolin-proteasome interactions, nutrient-sensing pathways (e.g., mTORC1), and the role of Sestrin in dietary adaptation. These studies underscore the lab’s interdisciplinary approach to cellular mechanisms.

Lab & Collaborations: The Gu Lab is recruiting postdocs, graduate students, and research assistants with expertise in biochemistry, structural biology, and mouse models. The team emphasizes inclusivity and collaboration, fostering an environment for innovative research. The lab’s future directions include developing pharmacological tools to target midnolin pathways and exploring their therapeutic potential.