Dr. Hao Zuo employs structural biology, biochemistry, and animal models to study how the microenvironment regulates cellular functions and to develop therapeutic strategies for related diseases. He has elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which drugs and signaling molecules modulate cell-surface membrane receptors (GPCRs), with findings published in Nature and PNAS. Through multi-omics analyses of the bone cell microenvironment, he has further proposed multiple therapeutic approaches for bone loss and tumor bone metastasis, including immunotherapy and combination drug treatments, with results reported in Cancer Research and Nature Communications. He has been selected for the Shanghai High-Level Overseas Talent Program and related talent initiatives.

Structural biology of membrane protein complexes

Molecular mechanisms of membrane proteins in human diseases 

Structure-based drug discovery targeting receptors

1.    Hao Zuo¹, Jinseo Park¹, Aurel Frangaj, Jianxiang Ye, Guanqi Lu, Jamie J. Manning, Wesley B. Asher, Zhengyuan Lu, Guobin  Hu, Liguo Wang, Joshua Mendez, Edward Eng, Zhening Zhang, Xin Lin, Robert Grasucci, Wayne A. Hendrickson, Oliver B. Clarke, Jonathan A. Javitch, Arthur D. Conigrave, Qing R. Fan: Promiscuous G-protein activation by the calcium-sensing receptor. Nature (2024) 629(8011):481-488.

2.    Hao Zuo, Yihong Wan: Inhibition of myeloid PD-L1 suppresses osteoclastogenesis and cancer bone metastasis. Cancer Gene Therapy (2022) 29(10):1342-1354.

3.    Jinseo Park¹, Hao Zuo¹, Aurel Frangaj¹, Ziao Fu¹, Laura Y. Yen¹, Zhening Zhang¹, Lidia Mosyak, Vesna N. Slavkovich, Jonathan Liu, Kimberly M. Ray, Baohua Cao, Francesca Vallese, Yong Geng, Shaoxia Chen, Robert Grassucci, Venkata P. Dandey, Yong Zi Tan,  Edward Eng, Yeji Lee, Brian Kloss, Zheng Liu, Wayne A. Hendrickson, Clinton S. Potter,  Bridget Carragher, Joseph Graziano, Arthur D. Conigrave, Joachim Frank,  Oliver B. Clarke, and  Qing R. Fan: Symmetric activation and modulation of the human calcium-sensing receptor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. (2021) 118 (51) e2115849118.

4.    Hao Zuo¹, Dengbao Yang¹, Yihong Wan: Fam20C regulates bone resorption and breast cancer bone metastasis through osteopontin and BMP4. Cancer Research (2021) 81 (20), 5242-5254.

5.    Hao Zuo, Dengbao Yang, Qiwen Yang, Haidong Tang, Yang-Xin Fu, Yihong Wan: Differential Regulation of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by PARP1 and PARP2. Nature Communications (2020) 11, 1578.

6.    Hao Zuo¹, Ian Glaaser¹, Yulin Zhao¹, Igor Kurinov¹, Lidia Mosyak¹, Haonan Wang¹, Jonathan Liu¹, Jinseo Park, Aurel Frangaj, Emmanuel Sturchler, Ming Zhou, Patricia McDonald, Yong Geng, Paul Slesinger, Qing Fan: Structural basis for auxiliary subunit KCTD16 regulation of the GABA_B receptor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. (2019) 116(17), 8370-‌8379.

7.    Hao Zuo and Yung H. Wong: Association of activated Gα_q to the tumor suppressor Fhit is enhanced by phospholipase Cβ. BMC Cancer (2015) 15:775.

8.    Hao Zuo, Anthony S.L. Chan, Hermann Ammer, and Yung H. Wong: Activation of Gα_q subunit up-regulates the expression of the tumor suppressor Fhit. Cellular Signalling (2013) 25:2440–2452.

9.    Hao Zuo, Grace P.W. Chan, Jing Zhu, Wendy W. S. Yeung, Anthony S.L. Chan, Hermann Ammer, and Yung H. Wong: Activation state-dependent interaction between Gα_q subunits and the Fhit tumor suppressor. Cell Communication and Signaling (2013) 11:59.

10.  Hao Zuo, Yihong Wan: Metabolic Reprogramming in Mitochondria of Myeloid Cells. Cells (2020) 9(1), 5.

11.  Hao Zuo, Yihong Wan: Nuclear Receptors in Skeletal Homeostasis. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. (2017) 125:71-107.