Research Report 1998-2000

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Home Introduction Schools Science Engineering SBM

Huma. & Sosc. Departments Language Centre

The twenty-first century will bring forth a phenomenal transformation of the socio-economic structure of mankind. We will witness the full bloom of the knowledge-based society in which science and technology will be

recognized as the engine of economic growth. Research and development will gain increased prominence among all human endeavors. Through research and development, knowledge will be generated, disseminated and utilized to benefit society at a pace previously unimagined.

A research university is distinguished by the quality and accomplishment in research by its faculty, staff and students. It is also characterized by the leadership it demonstrates in bringing forth the fruits of research to impact society. HKUST, since its inception in 1991, has striven to excel and to attain world-class standing in its chosen fields of pursuit.

While the University has encouraged its members to pursue any field of intellectual curiosity and challenge, it has also focused on several specific fields to establish areas of core impact and excellence. These include: advanced materials and manufacturing, biotechnology, e-commerce,

environment, executive education, financial services, infrastructure, internet and information technology, microelectronics and microsystems, molecular neuroscience, nanoscience and technology, social survey studies, South China research, technology policy studies, traditional Chinese medicine, transportation, and wireless communication.

This publication highlights the research activities of HKUST faculty members during the 1998-2000 period. It is the University's objective to engage in the forefront of global research as well as in areas of significant relevance to Hong Kong as a world city in the knowledge-based economy. We hope that this publication will serve as a useful reference to benchmark our progress toward this goal.

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Professor Otto C. C. Lin

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The twenty-first century will bring forth a phenomenal transformation of the socio-economic structure of mankind. We will witness the full bloom of the knowledge-based society in which science and technology will be recognized as the engine of economic growth. Research and development will gain increased prominence among all human endeavors. Through research and development, knowledge will be generated, disseminated and utilized to benefit society at a pace previously unimagined.

A research university is distinguished by the quality and accomplishment in research by its faculty, staff and students. It is also characterized by the leadership it demonstrates in bringing forth the fruits of research to impact society. HKUST, since its inception in 1991, has striven to excel and to attain world-class standing in its chosen fields of pursuit.

While the University has encouraged its members to pursue any field of intellectual curiosity and challenge, it has also focused on several specific fields to establish areas of core impact and excellence. These include: advanced materials and manufacturing, biotechnology, e-commerce, environment, executive education, financial services, infrastructure, internet and information technology, microelectronics and microsystems, molecular neuroscience, nanoscience and technology, social survey studies, South China research, technology policy studies, traditional Chinese medicine, transportation, and wireless communication.

This publication highlights the research activities of HKUST faculty members during the 1998-2000 period. It is the University's objective to engage in the forefront of global research as well as in areas of significant relevance to Hong Kong as a world city in the knowledge-based economy. We hope that this publication will serve as a useful reference to benchmark our progress toward this goal.

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Professor Otto C. C. Lin

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Review

Consistent with its mandate, HKUST continues to foster research excellence and to engage in collaboration with business and industry such that the fruits of our intellectual endeavours and research can make a contribution to the economic and social development of Hong Kong.

HKUST continues to engage in a diversity of R&D from the most basic or fundamental, through applied research, to developmental and prototyping activities. Further, we seek patent protection for intellectual property having commercial potential, and this is transferred to industry through licensing arrangements. One highly successful new initiative is our Entrepreneurship Program - HKUST is now incubating 18 high tech start-up companies.

The Evolving Funding Picture

In 1999-2000, HKUST secured $286.2 million for new research projects - a 27% increase over the previous year. Most of this growth came from funding for industrially relevant research. As illustrated in Figure 1, about 40% of new research is now funded by RGC; the rest being supported by UGC (11%), the Innovation and Technology Fund and other governmental initiatives (31%) or by the private sector directly (17%).

The Research Grants Council continues to be the largest single source of funding. In the internationally peer-reviewed Competitive Earmarked Research Grants program, HKUST researchers secured 153 new projects, with a success rate of 60% in this increasingly competitive annual

program. The growth in CERG funding and new projects at HKUST is shown in Figure 2.

Academic and Applied Research

We offer just a few highlights to indicate the diversity of research activities and achievements at HKUST.

In Science, Dr. Zikang Tang has fabricated uniform arrays of the world's smallest carbon nanotubes. These are the best example of one-dimensional quantum wires, with implications for fundamental and applied research into electronic properties of 1D systems. Dr. Xiaoping Wang has applied a new adaptive method to numerically challenging problems, such as solving the multiple singularities of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. This has enormous potential for addressing many singular problems in science and engineering. Dr. Yong Xie has developed an

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Figure 1 New research funding (in $ million) in 1999-2000

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effective recombinant vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease in pigs. This will contribute significantly to the region, as millions of pigs are raised each year in China. Dr. Wei-Ping Li has confirmed a conjecture for the blow-up formulae based upon the S-duality in physics. These

formulae have vertex algebra interpretations showing the existence of beautiful symmetries of vector bundles over algebraic surfaces. Dr. Mingjie Zhang was awarded a grant by the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program for an international research project on nitric oxide that could lead to more effective treatments for stroke and muscular dystrophy.

In Engineering, Dr. Oscar Au's research on MPEG4 has led to a fast motion estimation algorithm that has been recognized as a new global standard for multimedia applications. Dr. Guohua Chen has tested a novel electrocoagulation system for treating wastewater from restaurants and food processing plants. Dr. Chun-Man Chan has introduced an innovative computer-aided optimization system for the design of tall buildings. This will help cut design time and maximize usable floor area, while reducing construction costs and meeting all Hong Kong building code requirements. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated by application to two of Hong Kong's tallest new buildings; the 88-storey NE Tower at Hong Kong station and the 74-storey Tower 19 at

Kowloon station. Dr. I Ming Hsing developed a Si-based miniaturized reactor for Traditional Chinese Medicine DNA amplification. Prof. Mitchell Tseng and his team have completed HKTAIGA, a multi-faceted communications infrastructure (with on-line catalogs, messaging, advertising, etc.) to help members expand markets and conduct business over the Internet, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of the Hong Kong textile and apparel industry.

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Economics at HKUST was ranked No. 1 among all east Asian universities and comparable to excellent research universities in US by the academic journal "Economic Inquiry". Finance research is modelling asset prices, and addressing corporate governance, banking issues and market

microstructure in Asia. Drs. Ted Clark and Chris Westland have published a leading postgraduate text on Global Electronic Commerce: Theory and Cases - a good example of the impact of research on education. Drs. Rami Zwick and Soo Hong Chew co-organized the First Asia Conference on Experimental Business Research at HKUST in December 1999. Prof. Anne Tsui and colleagues edited a book on "Management and Organization in the Chinese Context", resulting from the inaugural conference of the Hang Lung Center for Organizational Research, which examines such key topics as reform of state enterprises, management of international joint ventures, business networks and guanxi, and Chinese organizational behaviour.

In collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, scholars in Humanities and Social Science, led by Prof. Ting Pang Hsin have designed a windows-based database of lexical items from Sino-Tibetan languages. They have completed a monograph on archeological and

historical evidence for the genetic classification of these languages. Through exhibitions, workshops, talks and field trips, the South China Research Center, in collaboration with the Education

Department, has exposed secondary school teachers to forefront ideas, theories, research

methodology and source material relating to Hong Kong history, heritage and culture. The output of research is thereby being transferred to secondary school education.

Major Research Facilities

In June 2000, the Hon Tung Chee Hwa (HKSAR Chief Executive), the Hon Michael

Kadoorie (Chairman of CLP Holdings), and Prof. Chia-Wei Woo (President of HKUST) inaugurated Hong Kong's first large-scale wind/wave tunnel facility. At a cost of about $40 million, this

sophisticated teaching and research facility will allow the tertiary community to examine wind and wave engineering and pollution dispersion problems for the engineering, construction and regulatory bodies in Hong Kong.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization

The knowledge and expertise of HKUST personnel and the results of research are transferred to society by many routes. 1862 Bachelors, 362 Masters (plus 198 EMBA/MBA) and 56 PhD

students graduated from HKUST this year. Most move into the public or private sectors in Hong Kong and carry with them the experience and know-how acquired from learning and participating in leading-edge research. This is a "diffusion" process. Faculty engage in contract research and

collaborate with companies through ITF and RGC CRC programs to develop and transfer technologies of specific industrial interest.

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invention disclosures were processed and considered by the Technology Review Committee. From these, 17 were recommended for application for a US patent, while 2 were recommended for

provisional application in the US. Eight licenses were also signed to transfer HKUST technology to industry.

Finally, entrepreneurial faculty and graduates have established many technology-based

start-up companies. By year end, 18 of these were being incubated in the Entrepreneurship Center at HKUST, in areas as diverse as biotechnology, communications, consumer electronics, e-commerce, Internet applications, microelectronics and Traditional Chinese Medicine. These companies are creating high-quality jobs and wealth to assist diversification in the Hong Kong economy by the growth of a vibrant, technology-based sector.

INSTITUTIONAL POLICY ON RESEARCH

HKUST admitted its first students in 1991. 1999-2000 was thus its ninth year of operation. While the foundation research policies have served the University well, we continue to review and fine-tune our operational practices to ensure that resources are used effectively towards achieving our mandate to serve economic, social and technological development in Hong Kong and the region.

Research is integral to the overall mission of the University. HKUST’s research policies are designed to achieve both world-class excellence and techno-economic benefits to Hong Kong through quality, focus and synergy.

Quality is achieved through human and physical resources. HKUST has attracted, and continues to attract, senior faculty of great distinction and established reputation, junior faculty of proven research capability, and postgraduate students with great promise. The University has created an environment that is both supportive and demanding. Our strong record of publication, success in winning

competitive grants and growing international reputation attest to the quality of research being conducted at HKUST.

Focus is achieved as a result of the identification of strategic areas of research and the recruitment of faculty to build strengths in these areas. Synergy is fostered by establishing research units that provide both support and coordination. Entities such as the Hongkong Telecom Institute of Information Technology, Sino Software Research Institute, Biotechnology Research Institute,

Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Centre for Display Research, Transportation Institute, and the Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Centre are showing that collaboration can be effective to stimulate research excellence and to build strengths in areas that are important both for Hong Kong and the world.

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POLICIES

It is difficult to segregate research and other policies as research is woven into the fabric of the University. Research plays a major role in personnel policies and represents a principal criterion in the appointment, advancement and retention of faculty. It is an integral component of educational programs, not just for PhD and MPhil students, but also at the undergraduate level. Faculty at the leading edge of their disciplines enrich undergraduate programs, and participation in research by undergraduates is encouraged and opportunities to do so are provided throughout the year.

The timely application of the fruits of research to serve societal needs and to create economic development opportunities is central to the mission of the University. In this regard, HKUST

encourages and assists researchers to recognize the value of intellectual property, and the University has a well-established business arm, the RandD Corporation Ltd., to protect, market and

commercialize intellectual property with developmental potential.

ORGANIZATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING

Each academic unit has a mentoring and peer review process to assist in the development of research proposals. Draft applications are reviewed by Schools for intellectual merit and by the Office of Contract and Grant Administration (OCGA) for compliance and presentation. Research proposals are finally approved for submission to the appropriate agency and signed by senior administrative officers of the University.

The University also has internal competitions for project funding from the block grant, direct allocation and private gifts. Proposals for such funding are reviewed and adjudicated by the Senate Research Committee for institution-wide funds, or by the Research Committees of the Schools or research units for funds earmarked for such units.

OCGA provides extensive administrative and support services for faculty, both in preparing proposals and in managing the awards and reporting processes.

USAGE OF DIRECT ALLOCATION GRANT

In 1999-2000, HKUST received a Direct Allocation Grant from RGC of $8.3 million. The funding was allocated to Schools on a formula basis for allocation by the Research Committees of these Schools.

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In total, the four Schools and other qualifying units at HKUST allocated funding to 169 projects from the Direct Allocation Grant, as follows:

School of Science 35 ($1.9 million) School of Engineering 42 ($2.2 million) School of Business & Management 78 ($3.2 million) School of Humanities & Social Science 14 ($0.8 million)

Consistent with the guidelines established by RGC and HKUST’s Senate Research Committee, the above resources were committed to assist newly appointed staff and junior faculty in developing their initial research activities and to support new and on-going research programs for which funding requirements are below the threshold amounts of RGC grants.

In addition, UGC funding in the amount of $1.2 million was used for Research Travel Grants. This funding was adjudicated on a competitive basis to assist senior postgraduate students and junior faculty to present the results of their research at international conferences.

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PRIORITIES

All academic Departments and Schools and organised research units have well-established processes for determining priorities. Each School has an external advisory board that provides

counsel on academic programs and research priorities. Within this framework, each department has a dynamic planning process, which includes strategic recruitment to achieve its largely research-based objectives. Each organised research unit also has its own Advisory Committee or Board with

external representation to assist in identifying needs, opportunities and developmental directions.

Internal research funding tends to be used to help junior faculty to achieve their potential, to meet the modest research program needs of some faculty, and to provide seed funding for strategic new initiatives. Excellence or potential for excellence is the dominant criterion in internal funding decisions.

EFFORTS MADE TO ATTRACT PRIVATE FUNDS

Many of the organised research units at HKUST were established through major gifts made in the early days of the University. Efforts to obtain major gifts for research continue, but recent efforts have been extended to establishing collaborative activities and contract research with the private sector, as well as the involvement in civil and commercial projects. While most of the research

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funding at HKUST still comes from RGC/UGC programs, an increasingly significant component is contributed by the private sector in Hong Kong. Industrial funding has risen steadily from $7.6 million in 1993-94 to $42.9 million in 1999-2000. This large increase demonstrates both the

commitment of HKUST to foster techno-economic development in Hong Kong and the recognition by industry of the value of developing partnerships with researchers at HKUST.

Commercial activities are in their early stages, but in time they can be expected to provide a significant source of funds for research at HKUST. Our Applied Technology Center (ATC) is expected to play a major role in such work.

OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFICULTIES IN INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION

Academics can and do collaborate well, and applications to programs such as the China/Hong Kong, Germany/Hong Kong and France/Hong Kong collaboration and joint research schemes show that the availability of resources can stimulate joint research programs.

Collaboration exists at the inter-institutional level and between research groups and individual researchers. We have established partnerships with a number of leading research universities in Mainland China and Europe.

Collaboration with our sister institutions in Hong Kong is growing. Under the right circumstances, such collaboration can reduce duplication, foster synergy among institutions and create an atmosphere of mutual assistance that is highly beneficial to both research and education and that can yield better value to the community from the investment of public resources. When sharing of resources or joint work is mandated or highly encouraged by funding agencies, collaboration can be fruitful, but it also requires careful management to ensure that such linkages are mutually

beneficial, productive and sustainable, rather than just opportunistic.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

HKUST is a research university that seeks to undertake research of the highest quality and impact from an international perspective, but in the context of an equally strong commitment to education and application. While these are compatible and synergistic goals, in practice they impose a high work load on faculty and an optimal balance is difficult to achieve. This is especially true in a young institution in which policy formulation, facilities development, and academic management also draw on the time and energies of the predominantly junior faculty.

A major inhibiting factor in building research excellence remains the modest number of Ph.D. students per faculty member. This is related to the perceived lack of need and career opportunities in

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Hong Kong for persons with postgraduate degrees. While any major improvement in this situation would need a significant policy change, for example admitting more students from the Chinese mainland, there are near-term measures that are being taken. These include greater collaboration among faculty members and a greater reliance on postdoctoral researchers and professional staff.

The excellence and productivity of research at HKUST and the effectiveness with which resources provided by RGC and other agencies have been utilized should be evident from this Biennial Report of our research output.

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[BICH] [BIOL] [CHEM] [MATH] [PHYS] DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

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Department of Biochemistry

The Department of Biochemistry conducts a comprehensive research program in both basic and applied aspects of biochemistry. Departmental staff with different specialties and expertise have been and will be recruited to perform research and development in the following areas:

Cellular Biochemistry

Biotechnology and Medicinal Biochemistry Macromolecular Structure and Function

Faculty working in these areas form a co-ordinated research team. Such co-ordination takes full advantage of the faculty’s expertise in generating innovative development and

productive research.

Facilities

Both teaching and research laboratories in the Department of Biochemistry are equipped with advanced instruments. The equipment, serving both biochemical and biotechnological studies, includes a protein sequencer, oligonucleotide synthesizer, centrifugal partition chromatograph, plant growth, animal care, and cell culture facilities. There are also microcalorimeters, circular dichroism spectropolarimeter, stopped-flow kinetic apparatus, etc. for biophysical studies of protein folding. The recently installed modern 750 MHz NMR spectrometer marks another great effort of the Department to achieve first class research in structural and functional studies of biomolecules, and protein engineering.

Research Profile NANCY YUK-YU IP

Department Head and Professor; Associate Dean of Science; Director, Biotechnology Research Institute and Co-Director, Molecular Neuroscience Center

JERRY H WANG

Professor and Co-Director, Molecular Neuroscience Center JEFFREY TZE-FEI WONG

Professor and Director, Drug Delivery Technology Center JAMES HACKETT

Associate Professor ROBERT K M KO Associate Professor

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RAYMOND S C WONG

Associate Professor; Director, Plant Growth Facility and Director, Animal Care Facility WAN-KEUNG R WONG

Associate Professor YUNG HOU WONG

Associate Professor; Associate Director, Biotechnology Research Institute HONG XUE Associate Professor MINGJIE ZHANG Associate Professor GUANG ZHU Associate Professor HUEIH MIN CHEN Assistant Professor KING CHUEN CHOW Assistant Professor YI FAN HAN Assistant Professor CHUN LIANG Assistant Professor

RANDY YAT CHOI POON Assistant Professor

WU ZHENGUO Assistant Professor

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NANCY YUK-YU IP

Department Head and Professor; Associate Dean of Science; Director, Biotechnology Research Institute and Co-Director, Molecular Neuroscience Center

(23587289; [email protected])

PhD, Harvard Medical School (1983)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School (1983-84) Postdoctoral Fellow, Sloan Kettering Institute (1984-85)

Laboratory Head, Medical Genetics, Lifecodes Corporation (1987-89) Senior Staff Scientist, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (1989-93)

Visiting Researcher, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK (1989-91) Current Research Activities:

Developmental and molecular neuro-biology; neurotrophic factors and their receptors; neuronal differentiation; synapse formation and neural regeneration.

Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

Characterization of the functional roles of muscle-specific kinase during xenopus embryonic development

CERG HKUST6107/98M HK$1,072,000 Sep 1998 Emerging High Impact Area of Biochip Program

HIA HIA98/99.SC05 HK$3,775,000 Jan 1999

Identification Of The Interactive Domains In The gp130 Cytokine Family Receptors CERG HKUST6127/99M HK$1,561,700 Dec 1999

Mapping signal transduction networks by a multidisciplinary approach RCA CA99/00.SC01 HK$5,500,000 Apr 2000 TCM projects with Mainland institutes

CMI CMI99/00.SC02 HK$305,000 Apr 2000

Investigation of the roles of ephrins and their isoforms inaxon guidance and synapse formation at neuromuscular junctions

DAG DAG99/00.SC09 HK$62,000 Jun 2000 Functional Roles of G Protein Signalling at the Neuromuscular Junction

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CERG HKUST6103/00M HK$1,062,600 Nov 2000

A new family of neurotrophic factors: the ligands for the Eph-related receptor tyrosine kinases

DAG DAG97/98.SC07 HK$100,000 Mar 1998

Exploring a novel role of truncated trkB receptors during CNS neuronal development DAG DAG98/99.SC09 HK$70,000 Mar 1999

Biotechnology Research Institute - Traditional Chinese Medicine Center AOE AOE97/98.SC03 HK$125,000 Apr 1998

China Program on collaboration on TCM projects with research institutes in the Chinese Mainland

CP CP98/99.SC04 HK$300,000 Apr 1999 Development of Innovative Genechip Technology

ITC AF/150/99 HK$8,600,000 Oct 1999 High-throughput drug screening center for traditional Chinese medicine ITC AF/166/99 HK$9,665,000 Oct 1999 Development of Innovative Genechip Technology

CCFL CCFL99/00.SC01 HK$800,000 Oct 1999 Gordon research conference on molecular & cellular neurobiology

CF CF00/01.SC01 HK$100,000 May 2000

Development of quality index for Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) from Wenshan, Yunnan ITC UIM/9 HK$2,246,000 Jun 2000

Standardization and certification (S & C) of Chinese medicine

ITC ITS/173/00 HK$1,000,000 Jul 2000

Combinatorial libraries based on compounds of traditional Chinese medicine origin ITC ITS/119/00 HK$9,917,000 Oct 2000

Representative Recent Publications:

Fu, A.K.Y., Cheung, W.M.W., Ip, F.C.F. and Ip, N.Y. (1999) "Identification of genes induced by neuregulin in cultured myotubes", Mol. Cell Neurosci, 14, 241-253.

Fu, A.K.Y, Smith, F.D., Zhou, H, Chu, A.H., Tsim, K.W.K., Peng, H.B. and Ip, N.Y. (1999) "Xenopus Muscle Specific Kinase: Molecular cloning and prominent expression in neural tissues during early embryonic development", Eur. J. Neurosci, 11, 373-382.

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variants of ephrin-A3 and ephrin-A5", FEBS Lett, 458, 265-269.

Cheung, W.M.W., Chu, P.W.K., Lung, C.H., Hui, W.S., Chu, A.H. and Ip, N.Y. (2000) "Expression of retinoid receptors during the retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation of a human embryonal carcinoma cell line", J. Neurochem., 75: 34-40.

Tang, H., Zhang, Z. and Ip, N.Y. (1999) "Identification and characterization of

differentially expressed genes in denervated muscle", Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 16: 127-140. Ip, F.C.F., Glass, D.J., Gies, D.R., Cheung, J., Lai, K.O., Fu, A.K.Y., Yancopoulos, G.D. and Ip, N.Y. (2000) "Cloning and characterization of muscle specific kinase (MuSK) in chicken", Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 16: 661-673.

JERRY H. WANG

Professor and Co-Director, Molecular Neuroscience Center (23588701; [email protected])

PhD, Iowa State University (1965)

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Research Council of Canada (1965-66) Professor of Biochemistry, University of Calgary (1982-94)

Director, MRC Signal Transduction Group, University of Calgary (1990-94) Current Research Activities:

Cellular signal transduction mechanisms; cell proliferation and cancer; cell calcium and second messengers; protein phoshorylations and cellular regulation.

Molecular basis for therapeutic modulation of learning and memory & The Molecular Neuroscience Center (MNC)

AOE AOE97/98.SC06 HK$390,520 Apr 1998 The structure and function relationship of neuronal cdc2-like kinase CERG HKUST6088/98M HK$1,000,000 Sep 1998

Understanding gene function and molecular bases of disease using transgenic and gene targeting technology - The role of p39nck5ai in neuronal and muscle differentiation by gene targeting

RCA CA98/99.SC03-1 HK$250,000 Mar 1999 Molecular neuroscience

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HIA HIA99/00.SC01 HK$1,200,000 Mar 2000 C42-A Novel Neuronal Cyclin-dependent Kinase 5 Activator-binding Protein CERG HKUST6195/00M HK$1,044,000 Sep 2000

Chin, K., Ohki, S., Tang, D., Cheng, H., Wang, J.H. and Zhang, M. (1999) "Identification and Structural Characterization of a Cdk Inhibitory Peptide Derived from Neuronal-specific Cdk5 Activator", The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 274 (11): 7120-7127.

Ching, Y.P., Qi, Z. and Wang, J.H. (2000) "Cloning of Three Novel Neuronal Cdk5 Activator Binding Proteins", Gene, 242, 285-294.

Wang, X., Ching, Y., Lam, W., Qi, Z., Zhang, M. and Wang, J.H. (in press) "Identification of a common protein association region in neuronal cdk5 activator", J. Biol.Chem.

Egan, C., Durda, D., Cheng, H., Wang, J.H. and Fujita, D.J. (1999) "Activation of Src in Human Breast Tumor Cell Lines: Elevated Levels of Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase Activity that Preferentially Recognizes the Src Carboxy Terminal Negative Regulatory Tyrosine 530", Oncogene, (18): 1227-1237.

Ching, Y., Qi, Z. and Wang, J.H. (1999) "Potential Novel Protein Inhibitor of Neuronal Cdc2-like Kinase", Miami Nature Biotechnology Winter Symposia, The University

Biochemistry and Molecular Biol..., Miami, U.S.A, 6 - 10 February 1999, S69a.

Lam, J.K., Tsim, K.W.K. and Wang, J.H. (1998) "Differential Roles of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 5 Activator Proteins in Muscle Differentiation", The 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology, The American Society for Cell Biology, San Francisco, U.S.A, 12 - 16 December 1998, B340.

JEFFREY TZE-FEI WONG

Professor and Director, Drug Delivery Technology Center (23587288; [email protected])

PhD, University of Toronto (1963)

Research Associate, University of Oregon (1963-65)

Professor of Biochemistry, University of Toronto (1976-90) Current Research Activities:

Coevolution of the genetic code and pathways of amino acid biosynthesis; substrate recognition by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases; drug delivery technologies..

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Identity elements of transfer RNA for tryptophan: For enzyme binding and aminoacylation CERG HKUST6087/98M HK$1,284,000 Sep 1998

Co-operative research centre for soluble receptor biology

CRC CRC98/01.SC04 HK$3,000,000 Jun 2000

Structural Elucidation Of 13C- And 15N- Doubly Labelled Transfer RNA For Tryptophan By Multidimensional NMR

CERG HKUST6196/00M HK$1,156,800 Sep 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Yan, X., Xue, H., Liu, H., Wong, M.S., Hang, J., Wong, J.T. and Zhu, G. (2000) "NMR studies of Bacillus subtilis tRNATrp hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli: Assignment of imino proton signals and determination of thermal stability", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275 (10): 6712-6716.

Wong, J.T. (1991) "Origin of Genetically Encoded Protein Synthesis: A Model Based on Selection for RNA Peptidation", Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, 21: 165-176.

Xue, H., Shen, W., Giege, R. and Wong, J.T. (1993) "Identity Elements of tRNATrp: Identification and Evolutionary Conservation", J. Biol. Chem., 268: 9316-9322.

Xue, H and Wong, J.T. (1994) "Preparation of Conjugated Hemoglobins", Methods in Enzymology (ed. Everse, J., Winslow, R.M. and Vandegriff, K.D.), 231: 308-322. Tsai, S.P. and Wong, J.T. (1996) "Enhancement of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate by Polymerized Hemoglobin", Art Cells Blood Subs. & Immob. Biotech., 24(5): 513-523. Winslow, R.M., Vandegriff, K.D. and Intaglietta, M. (1997) "Dextran-hemoglobin In

Advances in Blood Substitutes Industrial Opportunities and Medical Challenges", Intaglietta (eds. Tsai, S.P. and Wong, T.J.), Boston: Birkhauser, Chapter 12.

JAMES HACKETT Associate Professor

PhD, University College Dublin (1978)

Research Fellow, University of Adelaide (1980-84) Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide (1992)

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Current Research Activities:

Microbial pathogenesis; vaccine development; plasmid stability mechanisms; fermentation. Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

The characterization of putative chromosomal stabilization genes in escherichia coli CERG HKUST6092/98M HK$645,000 Oct 1998

Prevention of intestinal bacterial infections by blocking or removing human intestinal cell receptor proteins

DAG DAG99/00.SC02 HK$45,000 Nov 1999

A Search For Human Epithelial Cell Receptors Recognizing The Structural PilS Protein, And The Pilus-tip PilV Proteins of the Salmonella Typhi Type IV Pili

CERG HKUST6197/00M HK$763,200 Jul 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Zhang, X.L., Morris, C. and Hackett. J. (1997) "Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and function of a site-specific recombinase encoded in the major pathogenicity island of salmonella typhi, Gene, 202, 139-146.

Wong, D.K.H., Lam, K.H.E., Chan, C.K.P., Wong, Y.C.V., Wong, W.R. and Hackett, J. (1998) "Extracellular expression of human epidermal growth factor encoded by an

Escherichia coli K-12 plasmid stabilized by the ytl2-incR system of Salmonella typhimurium", J. Indus. Microbiol. and Biotech, 21, 31-36.

Sivakesava, S., Xu, Z.N., Chen, Y.H., Hackett, J., Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Lam, T.L. and Siu, K.L. (1999) "Production of excreted human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) by an efficient recombinant Escherichia coli system", Process Biochemistry, 34, 893-900.

Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Chen, Y.H., Hackett, J., Lam, T.L., Liu, D., Ma, M.C. and Siu, K.L. (1999) "Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) excreted by recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 has the correct N-terminus and is fully bioactive", Process Biochemistry, 35, 1-5. Wong, D.K.H., Morris, C., Lam, T.L., Wong, W.R. and Hackett, J. (1999) "Identification of O-antigen polymerase transcription and translation start signals and visualization of the protein in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium", Microbiology, 145, 2443-2451.

Zhang, X.L., Tsui, I.S.M., Yip, C.M.C., Fung, A.W.Y., Wong, D.K.H., Dai, X., Yang, Y. and Hackett, J. (2000) "Salmonella typhi uses Type IVB pili to enter human intestinal epithelial cells", Infection and Immunity, 68, 3067-3073.

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ROBERT K. M. KO Associate Professor

PhD, University of British Columbia (1990)

Research Associate, Chinese University of Hong Kong (1990-91) Current Research Activities:

Free radica-related mechanisms in tissue injuries; protection against such injuries by antioxidane; antioxidant properties of TCMs in relation to their anti-aging activities. Representative Recent Publications:

Ip, S.P., Yiu, H.Y. and Ko, K.M. (2000) "Differential effect of schisandrin B and dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (DDB) on hepatic mitochondrial glutathione redox status in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated mice", Mol.Cell.Biochem, (205): 111-114.

Yim, T.K. and Ko, K.M. (1999) "Methylenedioxy group and Cyclooctadiene ring as

structural determinants of schisandrin in protecting against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats", Biochemical Pharmacology, 57, 77-81.

Yim, T.K. and Ko, K.M. (1999) "Schisandrin B protects against myocardial

ischemia-reperfusion injury by enhancing myocardial glutathione antioxidant status", Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 196, 151-156.

Yim, T.K., Wu, W.K., Pak, W.F. and Ko, K.M. (in press) "Hepatoprotective action of an oleanolic acid-enriched extract of Ligustrum Lucidum fruits is mediated through an

enhancement on hepatic glutathione regeneration capacity in mice", Pytotherapy Res. Yim, T.K., Wu, W.K., Pak, W.F., Mak, D.H.F., Liang, S.M. and Ko, K.M. (2000) "Myocardial protection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury by a Polygonum multiflorum extract supplemented Dang-Gui decoction for enriching blood , a compound formulation, ex vivo", Phytotherapy Res, (14): 195-199.

Yim, T.K., Wu, W.K., Mak, D.H.F. and Ko, K.M. (1999) "Myocardial protective effect of an anthraquinone-containing extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex vivo", Planta Medica, 64, 607-611.

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RAYMOND S. C. WONG

Associate Professor; Director, Plant Growth Facility and Director, Animal Care Facility

PhD, South Dakota State University (1975)

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto (1975-77) Research Associate, University of Toronto (1978-82) Chief Biochemist, Allelix Crop Technologies (1988-90) Current Research Activities:

Plant biotechnology; oilseed Brassica and vegetable Brassica; oilseed storage lipid biosynthesis; food biochemistry and related research.

Development of Innovative Genechip Technology

ITC AF/150/99 HK$8,600,000 Oct 1999

Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Lam, T.L., Hackett, J., Ma, M.C., Siu, K.L., Wong, R.S.C. and Wong, W.R. (1999) "Human epidermal growth factor excreted by recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 has the correct N-terminus and is fully bioactive", Process Biochemistry, 35, 1-5. Sivakesava, S., Hackett, J., Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Lam, T.L., Siu, K.L., Wong, R.S.C. and Wong, W.R. (1999) "Production of excreted human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) by an efficient recombinant Escherichia coli system", Process Biochemistry, 34, 893-900.

Xiang, Y., Wong, W.R, Ma, M.C. and Wong, R.S.C. (2000) "Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brassica campestris ssp. parachinensis with synthetic Bacillus

thuringiensis cry1Ab and cry1Ac genes", Plant Cell Reports, 19: 251-256.

Lam, T.L., Wong, R.S.C and Wong, W.R. (1997) "Enhancement of Extracelluar

Production of a Cellulomonas Fimi Exoglucanase in Escherichia Coli by the Reduction of Promoter Strength, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 20: 482-488.

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WAN-KEUNG R. WONG Associate Professor

PhD, University of British Columbia (1986)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Allelix Biochemicals Inc. (1986-87) Project Leader, Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (1988-90) Current Research Activities:

Cloning and expression of genes in E. coli, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharamyces cerevisiae; excretion of proteins from E. coli; cellulosic waste management.

Application of recombinant cellulases to cellulose hydrolysis

DAG DAG98/99.SC04 HK$60,000 Dec 1998

Cloning, expression and characterization of an endonuclease gene from Bacillus Subtilis DAG DAG00/01.SC03 HK$40,000 Jan 2001

Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Chen, Y.H., Hackett, J., Lam, T.L., Siu, K.L., Wong, R.S.C. and Wong, W.R. (1999) "Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) excreted by recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 has the correct N-terminus and is fully bioactive", Process

Biochemistry, 35, 1-5.

Sivakesava, S., Hackett, J., Huang, R.C., Lam, E., Lam, T.L., Siu, K.L., Wong, R.S.C. and Wong, W.R. (1999) "Production of excreted human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) by an efficient recombinant Escherchia coli system", Process Biochemistry, 34, 893-900.

Wong, D.K.H., Lam, K.H.E., Chan, C.K.P., Wong, Y.C.V., Wong, W.R. and Hackett, J. (1998) "Extracellular expression of human epidermal growth factor encoded by an

Escherichia coli K-12 plasmid stabilized by the ytl2-incR system of Salmonella typhimurium", Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 21, 31-36.

Xiang, Y., Wong, W.R., Ma, M.C. and Wong, R.S.C. (2000) "Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brassica camprestris ssp. parachinensis with synthetic Bacillus

thuringiensis cryIAb and cryIAc genes", Plant Cell Reports, 19, 251-256.

Lin, Q., Ewart, K.V., Yan, Q., Wong, W.R., Yang, D.S.C. and Hew, C.L. (1999) "Secretory expression and site-directed mutagenesis studies of the winter flounder skin-type antifreeze polypeptides", Eur. J. Biochem, 264, 49-54.

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Tong, L., Lin, Q., Wong, W.R., Ali, A., Lim, D., Sung, W., Hew, C.L. and Yang, D.S.C. (2000) "Extracellular expression, purification and characterization of a winter flounder antifreeze polypeptide from Escherichia coli", Protein Expression and Purification, 18, 175-181.

YUNG HOU WONG

Associate Professor; Associate Director, Biotechnology Research Institute

PhD, University of Cambridge (1988)

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco (1989-92) Current Research Activities:

Receptor pharmacology; signal transduction; drug screening; neuropeptides; tumor biology. Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

Construction of chimeric G protein a- subunits for promiscuous receptor coupling: Applications in drug discovery

CERG HKUST6096/98M HK$1,286,000 Sep 1998

Construction of Constitutively Active Mutants of The ORL1 Receptor As Tools For Discovering Novel Analgesics

CERG HKUST6139/99M HK$1,403,000 Oct 1999 Mapping signal transduction networks by a multidisciplinary approach RCA CAG99/00.SC01 HK$5,500,000 Apr 2000 Regulation of the C-jun N-terminal Kinase by Opioid Receptors

CERG HKUST6115/00M HK$763,200 Sep 2000

Determining the signaling capacity of chemokine receptors which function as co-receptors for HIV entry

DAG DAG98/99.SC14 HK$60,000 Dec 1998 Development of Innovative Genechip Technology

ITC AF/150/99 HK$8,600,000 Oct 1999 High-throughput drug screening center for traditional Chinese medicine

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ITC AF/166/99 HK$9,665,000 Oct 1999 High-throughput drug screening center for traditional Chinese medicine PHY PHY99/00.SC01 US$128,497 Oct 1999

Mody, S.M., Joshi, S.A., Ho, M.K.C. and Wong, Y.H. (2000) "Incorporation of

Ga_z-Specific Sequence at the Carboxy Terminus Increases the Promiscuity of Ga₁₆ Towards Gi-Coupled Receptors", Mol. Pharmacology, 57, 13-23.

Law, P.Y., Wong, Y.H. and Loh, H.H. (2000) "Molecular Mechanisms and Regulation of Opioid Receptor Signaling", Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol, 40, 389-430.

Chan, J.S.C., Lee, J.W.M., Ho, M.K.C. and Wong, Y.H. (2000) "Preactivation Permits Subsequent Stimulation of Phospholipase C by Gi-Coupled Receptors", Mol. Pharmacol, 57, 700-708.

Antonelli, V., Bernasconi, F., Wong, Y.H. and Vallar, L. (2000) "Activation of B-Raf and Regulation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade by the Goa Chain", Mol. Biol. Cell, 11, 1129-1142.

Tso, P.H., Yung, L.Y. and Wong, Y.H. (2000) "Regulation of Adenylyl Cyclase, ERK1/2 and CREB by Gz Following Acute and Chronic Activation of the d-Opioid Receptor", J. Neurochem, 74, 1685-1693.

Ho, M.K.C., and Wong, Y.H. (2000) "The amino terminus of Ga_zis required for receptor recognition whereas its a4/ ß6 loop is essential for inhibition of adenylyl cyclase", Molecular Pharmacology, 58, 993-1000.

HONG XUE

Associate Professor

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Structure and function of neuroreceptors; identity elements of transfer RNA. Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

Analysis of bacillus subtilis tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase interactions with the transfer RNA for tryptophan by NMR

CERG HKUST6192/97M HK$1,478,040 Jan 1998

Molecular basis for therapeutic modulation of learning and memory & the Molecular Neuroscience Center (MNC)

AOE AOE97/98.SC06 HK$390,520 Apr 1998

Establishment of a catalogue of genes expressed in human liver cancer and mental diseases ITC AF/47/98 HK$2,000,000 Jul 1998

Establishment of Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre

ITC AF/9/97 HK$794,500 Sep 1998

Understanding gene function and molecular bases of disease using transgenic and gene targeting technology - The role of the alpha 1 chain of GABA receptor in neuronal function. RCA CA98/99.SC03-2 HK$250,000 Mar 1999

Identifying IG-like domains in invertebrates and bacteria: a challenge for bioinformatic methods

G-HK G-HK98/99.SC05 HK$30,000 Apr 1999

Characterization of a fragment of GABAa receptor hyperexpressed in escherichia coli DAG DAG98/99.SC05 HK$70,000 Jun 1999

Archaebacterial Tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase: Properties and tRNATrp Recognition CERG HKUST6196/99M HK$1,414,560 Dec 1999

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study of GABAa receptor structure F-HK F-HK99/00.SC01 HK$30,600 Jan 2000 Co-operative research centre for soluble receptor biology

CRC CRC98/01.SC04 HK$3,000,000 Jun 2000 A crystallization trial of GABA receptor hyperexpressed in E Coli

CP CP98/99.SC01-A HK$52,500 Aug 2000

Isolation and identification of neurologically active constituents from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

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Human Tryptophanyl-tRNA Synthetase: Properties And TRNA Trp Recognition CERG HKUST6206/00M HK$763,200 Dec 2000

Hang, J., Shi, H., Li, D., Liao, Y., Lian, D., Xiao, Y. and Xue, H. (2000) "Ligand binding and structural properties of segments of GABAa receptor a1 subunit overexpressed in Escherichia coli", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275 (25): 18818-18823.

Hui, K.M., Wang, X.H. and Xue, H. (2000) "Interaction of flavones from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis with benzodiazepine site", Planta Medica, 66 (1): 91-93.

Rachedi, A., Rebhan, M. and Xue, H. (2000) "GABA agent: a database system for retrieving integrated data on GABA receptors", Bioinformatics, 16 (4): 301-312.

Xue, H. (1998) "Identification of major phylogenetic branches of inhibitory ligand gated channel receptors", J. Mol. Evol, 47,323-333.

Xue, H., Hang, J., Chu, R., Xiao, Y., Li, H., Lee, P. and Zheng, H. (1999) "Delineation of a membrane-proximal b-rich domain in GABAa receptor by progressive deletions", J. Mol. Biol, 285 (1): 55-61.

Xue, H., Zheng, H., Li, H.M., Kitmitto, A., Zhu, H.M., Lee, P. and Holzenburg, A. (2000) "A fragment of recombinant GABAA receptor a1 subunit forming rosette-like

homo-oligomers", Journal of Molecular Biology, 296 (3): 739-742.

MINGJIE ZHANG Associate Professor

PhD, University of Calgary (1993)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Ontario Cancer Institute (1994-95) Current Research Activities:

Multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance; protein structure and function; neuronal signal transduction.

Structural determination and functional characterization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor ---PIN

CERG HKUST6084/98M HK$932,000 Sep 1998 The structure and function relationship of neuronal cdc2-like kinase

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CERG HKUST6088/98M HK$1,000,000 Sep 1998 The PDZ Domain of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase: Made to be Versatile CERG HKUST6198/99M HK$1,543,360 Sep 1999

Origin of the domain swapping of the DLC8 dimer observed in the NMR and X-ray structures

DAG DAG99/00.SC06 HK$45,000 Dec 1999

Cytoplasmic Dynein Light Chains as Target Adaptors of the Motor Complex: A Structural and Functional Study

CERG HKUST6207/00M HK$1,490,400 Aug 2000 Nitric oxide in excitable tissues: physiology and disease

HFSP HFSP99/00.SC01 US$171,429 Aug 2000

Discovery and structure-based design of potent nNOS inhibitors from TCM using SAR by NMR

CP CP98/99.SC01-B HK$23,000 Aug 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Chin, C., Ohki, S., Cheng, H., Wang, J.H. and Zhang, M. (1999) "Identification and Structural Characterization of a Cdk Inhibitory Peptide Derived from Neuronal Specific Cdk5 Activator", J. Biol. Chem, 274, 7120-7127.

Fan, J., Zhang, Q., Li, M., Yamazaki, T., Shimizu, M. and Zhang, M. (1998) "Protein Inhibitor of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (PIN) Binds to a 17 Amino Acid Residues Fragment of the Enzyme", J. Biol. Chem, 273, 33472-33481.

Lo, K.W., Zhang, Q., Li, M. and Zhang, M. (1999) "Apoptosis-linked Gene ALG-2 Is a New member of Calpain Small Subunit Subfamily Ca2+ -binding protein", Biochemistry, 38, 7498-7508.

Tochio, H., Hung, F., Li, M., Bredt, D.S. and Zhang, M. (2000) "Solution Structure and Backbone Dynamics of the Second PDZ Domain of Postsynaptic Density-95", J. Mol. Biol, 295, 225-237.

Tochio, H., Ohki, S., Zhang, Q., Li, M. and Zhang, M. (1998) "Solution Structure of a Protein Inhibitor of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase", Nature Struct. Biol, 5, 965-969. Tochio, H., Zhang, Q., Mandal, P., Li, M. and Zhang, M. (1999) "Solution Structure of the Extended Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase PDZ Domain Complexed with an Associated Peptide", Nature Struct. Biol, 6, 417-421.

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GUANG ZHU Associate Professor

PhD,University of Maryland, College Park (1992)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institutes of Health (1992-93)

Research Associate, Dept of Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park(1993-94)

Application and development of multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques for structure and function study of biomacromolecules.

Development and application of multidimensional NMR signal processing and experimental methods for a structure and function study of skp1

CERG HKUST6083/98M HK$1,296,000 Sep 1998

Structure-function Studies of the Cntf Receptor Complex and the Development of NMR Techniques for Studies of the Structure and Interactions of Large Modular Proteins CERG HKUST6199/99M HK$1,675,520 Sep 1999

Theoretical studies of the NMR properties of marcobiomolecules in a dilute liquid crystalline medium

DAG DAG99/00.SC07 HK$45,000 Dec 1999 Co-operative research centre for soluble receptor Biology

CRC CRC98/01.SC04 HK$3,000,000 Jun 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Kong, X.M., Sze, K.H. and Zhu, G. (1999) "Gradient and Sensitivity Enhanced

Multiple-quantum Coherence and Its Application in Heteronuclear Multi-dimensional NMR Experiments", J. Biomolecular NMR, 14, 133-140.

Sze, K.H., Kong, X. and Zhu, G. (1999) "Measuring 3JCH by 3D J-Resolved HMBC Experiment", Tetrahedran lett, 40, 5587-5591.

Yan, X.Z., Xue, H., Liu, H.Z., Hang, J., Wong, J. and Zhu, G. (2000) "NMR Studies of Bacillus subtilis tRNATrp Hyper-expressed in E.coli: Assignment of Imino Proton Signals

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and Determination of Thermal Stability", J. Biological Chemistry, 275, 6712-6716. Zhu, G., Xia, Y.L., Sze, K.H. and Yan, X.Z. (1999) "2D and 3D TROSY Enhanced NOESY of 15N Labeled Proteins", J. Biomlecular NMR, 14, 377-381.

Zhu, G., Kong, X.M. and Sze, K.H. (1999) "Gradient and Sensitivity Enhancement of Transverse Relaxation-Optimized Spectroscopy with Water Flip-Back", J. Biomolecular NMR, 13, 77-81.

Zhu, G., Xia, Y.L., Nicholson, L. and Sze, K.H. (2000) "TROSY-Based NMR dynamics study of proteins labeled with 15N", J. Magnetic Resonance, 143, 423-426.

HUEIH MIN CHEN Assistant Professor

PhD,University of Texas, Arlington (1988)

Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota (1989-92)

Research Fellow II, National Medical Center of the City of Hope (1992-93) Current Research Activities:

Peptide antibiotics; chemical antibiotics; constructions of anti-cancer peptides; protein folding; protein chemistry.

Dynamics of the Permeabilization of Custom Antibacterial Peptides on Lipid Bilayers CERG HKUST6192/99M HK$918,500 Aug 1999

Chan, S.C., Yan, W.L., Wang, W., Smith, D., Sheu, F.S. and Chen, H.M. (1998) "Microscopic observations of the different morphological changes by the anti-bacterial peptides on Klebsiella pneunomiae and HL-60 leukaemia cells", Journal of Peptide Science, 4, 413-425.

Chen, H.M., Dimagno, T.J., Wang, W., Leung, E., Lee, C.H. and Chan, S.I. (1999) "The effect of E75 of staphylococcal nuclease on enzyme activity, protein stability and protein unfolding", European J. of Biochemistry, 261, 599-609.

Wang, W., Smith, D.K. and Chen, H.M. (1999) "The effect of pH on the structure binding and model membrane lysis by cecropin B and analogs", Biochimi. Biophs. Acta (General subject), 1473, 418-430.

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Wang, W., Smith D., Moulding, K. and Chen, H.M. (1998) "The dependence of

membrane permeability by the anti-bacterial peptide cecropin B and its analogs CB-1, CB-3 on liposomes of different composition", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 273, 27438-27448. Hung, S., Wang, W., Chan, S.I. and Chen, H.M. (1999) "Membrane lysis by the custom anti-bacterial peptides cecropins B1 and B3: A spin-label electron spin resonance study on the phospholipid bilayers", Biophysical Journal, 77, 3120-3133.

Sailam, S., Arunkumar, A.I., Yu, C. and Chen, H.M. (2000) "Conformational study of a custom antibacterial peptide cecropin B1: Implication of the lytic activity", Biochim. Biophys. Acta (Protein Struc. Mol. Enzy.), 1479, 275-285.

KING-CHUEN CHOW Assistant Professor

Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Institution of Washington (1988-92) Current Research Activities:

Stress response of living organisms; improvement of stress tolerance of plant strains by genetic engineering; gene overexpression systems for plants; molecular evolution. Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

Isolation and characterization of the cDNAs that encode antifreeze proteins of winter rye DAG DAG97/98.SC02 HK$73,780 Feb 1998

Chow, K.C. and Tung, W.L. (1998) "Overexpression of dnaK/dnaJ and groEL confers Freeze Tolerance to Escherichai coli", Biochemical and Biophysical Research

Communications, 253, 502-505.

Chow, K.C. (2000) "Hsp70 (DnaK) - an evolution facilitator?", Trends in Genetics, 16 (11), 484-485.

Chow, K.C. and Tung, W.L. (1999) "Electrotransformation of Chlorella vulgaris", Plant Cell Reports, 18, 778-780.

Chow, K.C. and Tung, W.L. (2000) "Magnetic field exposure stimulates transposition through the induction of DnaK/J synthesis", Biochem Biophys Res Comm, 270 (3): 745-748. Chow, K.C. and Tung, W.L. (2000) "Magnetic field exposure enhances DNA repairing through the induction of DnaK/J synthesis", FEBS Letters, 478, 133-136.

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Chow, K.C., Wong, W.R. and Lam, K.H.E. (1998) "Construction of an efficient Bacillus subtilis system for extracellular production of heterologous proteins", J. Biotechnology, 63, 167-177.

YI-FAN HAN Assistant Professor

PhD, Medical College of Ohio (1991)

Research Fellow, National Institutes of Health (1991-94) Visiting Scientist, Hoechst AG (1985-86)

Memory enhancers and analgesics, including those from Chinese medicinal herbs; protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in neuronal functions.

Studies of Bis(7)-THA, a novel dimeric AChE inhibitor, on cholinesterase activities and spatial memory: comparison with E2020, Huperzine A and THA

DAG DAG98/99.SC02 HK$60,000 Jan 1999

Studies of Bis-THAs, Novel Dimeric AChE Inhibitors, on Cholinesterase Activities and Spatial Memory : Comparison with E2020, Huperzine A, and THA

CERG HKUST6236/99M HK$709,500 Sep 1999 Collaboration with Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS

CMI CMI99/00.SC01 HK$150,000 Apr 2000

Isolation and identification of neurologically active constituents from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

ITC UIM/40 HK$1,636,600 Dec 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Han, Y.F., Carlier, P.R., Chow, E.S.H., Wang, H, Lieu, T.X. and Pang, Y.P. (1999) "Evaluation of short-tether bis-THA AChE inhibitor. A further test of the dual binding site

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hypothesis", Bio-organic & Medicinal Chem. Lett, 8, 351.

Wang, H, Carlier, P.R., Ho, W.L., Lee, N.T.K., Li, C.P.L., Pang, Y.P. and Han, Y.F. (1999) "Effects of Bis(7)-tacrine, a novel anti-Alzheimer's agent, on rat brain AChE", Neuroreport, 10, 789.

Liu, J, Ho, W.L., Lee, N.T.K., Carlier, P.R., Pang, Y.P. and Han, Y.F. (2000)

"Bis(7)-tacrine, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, reverses AF64A-induced deficits in navitational memory in rats", Neuroscience Letters, 282, 165-168.

Wang, H, Carlier, P.R., Ho, W.L., Lee, N.T.K., Pang, Y.P. and Han, Y.F. (1999) "Reversal of scopolamine-induced deficits in spatial navigation performance in rats by bis(7)-THA:a novel dimeric AChE inhibitor", Acta Pharmacol Sinica, 20, 211.

Wu, D.C, Xiao, X.Q, Chen, P.M.Y., Ng, A.K.Y., Chung, W., Carliet, P.R., Yu, Y. and Han, Y.F. (2000) "Protection against ischemic injury in primary cultured astrocytes of mouse cerebral cortex by bis(7)-tacrine, a novel anti-Alzheimer's agents", Neuroscience Letters, 288, 1-4.

Chao, Y.L., Wang, H., Xue, H., Carlier, P.R., Hui, K.M., Pang, Y.P., Li, Z.W. and Han, Y.F. (1999) "Bis(7)-tacrine, a novel dimeric AChE inhibitor, is a potent GABAa receptor antagonist", NeuroReport, 10, 795.

CHUN LIANG Assistant Professor

PhD,Brown University (1993)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1993-98) Current Research Activities:

Mechanism and cell cycle control of DNA replication in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; control of DNA replication in normal and cancer cells.

Mechanism and cell cycle control of DNA replication in the budding yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae

DAG DAG98/99.SC01 HK$100,000 Nov 1998

Mechanism and cell cycle control of DNA replication in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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A novel molecular method for diagnosis, early detection and mass screening of urinary bladder carcinoma

DAG DAG99/00.SC04 HK$45,000 Nov 1999

Identificaton of proteins for initiation of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using novel genetic screening strategies

CERG HKUST6203/00M HK$954,000 Sep 2000 Development of anticancer drugs using the antisense strategy

DAG DAG00/01.SC01 HK$60,000 Dec 2000 Representative Recent Publications:

Gerbi, S.A., Bielinsky, A., Liang, C., Lunyak, V. and Urnov, F. (1999) "Methods to Map Origins of Replication in Eukaryotes", Eukaryotic DNA Replication: A Practical Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1-42.

Weinreich, M., Liang, C. and Stillman, B. (1999) "The Cdc6p Nucleotide Binding Motif is Required for Loading Mcm Proteins onto Chromatin", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 96, 441-446.

Fu, X. and Liang, C. (1999) "A Multicopy Suppressor Screen for Orc4 Interacting Proteins in S. cerevisiae", Eukaryotic DNA Replication, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., USA, 15-19, Sep 99, 71.

Zhang, Y. and Liang, C. (1999) "Identification of the Budding Yeast Mcm5 Interacting Proteins by a Multicopy Suppressor Screen", Eucaryotic DNA Replication, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring harbor, N.Y., USA, 15-19 Sep 99, 226.

Liang, C. and Stillman, B. (1997) "Persistent initiation of DNA replication and chromatin bound MCM proteins during the cell cycle in cdc6 mutants", Genes Dev., 11, 3375-3386. Liang, C., Weinreich, M. and Stillman, B. (1995) "ORC and Cdc6p interact and determine the frequency of initiation of DNA replication in the genone", Cell, 81, 667-676.

RANDY YAT CHOI POON Assistant Professor

PhD, Cambridge University (1994)

Postdoctoral Fellow, The Salk Institute (1994-96) Current Research Activities:

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Penetration of mammalian cell membranes with peptides DAG DAG97/98.SC03 HK$68,106 Jan 1998

Characterization of the cyclin-dependent kinase interactors skp1 and skp2 in normal and transformed cells

CERG HKUST6090/98M HK$1,072,000 Aug 1998

Novel approach for identifying human cell cycle control genes by rescue of yeast deletion mutants

DAG DAG98/99.SC03 HK$60,000 Jan 1999

Functional Characterization of Prohibitin in Cell Cycle Control and Senescence CERG HKUST6194/99M HK$709,500 Aug 1999

Delivery of genes into mammalian cells by retrovirus systems DAG DAG99/00.SC03 HK$45,000 Jan 2000

The effects of ectopic expression of the evolutionary diverged yeast Cak1p in human cells DAG DAG00/01.SC02 HK$60,000 Dec 2000

Arooz, T., Yam, C.H., Siu, W.Y., Lau, A., Li, K.K.W. and Poon, R.Y.C. (2000) "On the concentrations of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in extracts of cultured human cells", Biochemistry, 19: 9494-9501.

Yam, C.H., Ng, R.W.M., Siu, W.Y., Lau, A. and Poon, R.Y.C. (1999) "Regulation of Cyclin A-Cdk2 Activity by SCF Component Skp1 and F-box Protein Skp2", Molecular and Cellular Biology, 19, 635-645.

Yam, C.H., Siu, W.Y., Arooz, T., Chiu, C.H.S., Lau, A., Wang, X.Q. and Poon, R.Y.C. (1999) "MDM2 and MDMX inhibit the transcriptional activity of ectopically expressed SMAD proteins", Cancer Research, 59, 5075-5078.

Yam, C.H., Siu, W.Y., Lau, A. and Poon, R.Y.C. (2000) "Degradation of cyclin A does not require its phosphorylation by CDC2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275, 3158-3167.

Yam, C.H., Siu, W.Y., Kaganovich, D., Ruderman, J.V. and Poon, R.Y.C. (2001) "Cleavage of Cyclin A at R70/ R71 by the Bacterial Protease Ompt.", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 98, 497-501.

Ongkeko, W.M., Wang, X.Q., Siu, W.Y., Lau, A., Yamashita, K., Harris, A.L., Cox, L.S. and Poon, R.Y.C. (1999) "MDM2 and MDMX target p53 for degradation but stabilize p73", Current Biology, 9, 829-832.

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WU ZHENGUO Assistant Professor

PhD, University of Western Ontario (1995)

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego (1996-99) Current Research Activities:

Signal transduction pathways mediated by kinases; roles and regulation of MAP kinases during normal muscle differentiation and in muscle tumors (Rhabdomyosarcoma). Active Projects as Principal Investigator:

The role of serine/threonine kinase PRAK during muscle differentiation DAG DAG99/00.SC05 HK$99,000 Nov 1999

Transcriptional Regulation of Myogenin during Myogenesis by P38 Map Kinase and Insulin-like Growth Factors

CERG HKUST6205/00M HK$763,200 Jul 2000

Molecular mechanisms by which the JNK signalling pathway inhibits muscle differentiation DAG DAG00/01.SC04 HK$60,000 Dec 2000

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Puri, P.L., Wu, Z., Zhang, P., Wood, L.D., Bhakta, K.S., Han, J., Feramisco, J.R. and Karin, M. (2000) "Induction of terminal differentiation by constitutive activation of p38 MAP kinase in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells", Genes Dev., 14, 574-584.

Xu, Q. and Wu, Z. (2000) "The insulin-like growth factor - phosphatidylinositol

3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway regulates myogenin expression in normal myogenic cells but not in habdomyosarcoma-derived RD cells", J. Biol. Chem., 275, 36750-7.

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Department of Biology

The faculty in the Department of Biology are committed to creative, scholarly research. The major foci of departmental research interests are:

Molecular Biology: gene regulation; molecular biology of plant organelles; tumor virology; molecular basis of carcinogenesis; gene therapy; phytohormone biosynthesis and action; plant senescence; molecular biology of stress response in algae.

Cell and Developmental biology: cell signaling; receptors and signal transduction; cell division, differentiation, transformation, and death; membrane biophysics; molecular neurobiology; growth factors; neural regeneration; neurotransmitter receptors.

Marine/Environmental Biology: harmful algal blooms; larval ecology; marine fouling and antifouling; marine and estuarine pollution; marine population dynamics; environmental decontamination.

Biotechnology:gene transfer; immuno-diagnostics; cancer drug development; bioproduction of natural products.

The first two areas encompass molecular genetics, developmental biology, microbiology, molecular pharmacology and immunology, and genetic engineering in plants and animals. The Department focuses on a few key areas and emphasizes co-operative efforts with other research groups. One of the focus areas is the delineation of the signaling mechanisms of cell fate regulation at subcellular and molecular levels. In addition, molecular approaches are emphasized to study many important aspects of neurobiology, including neuronal differentiation, neural regeneration and structure of neurotransmitter receptors. The plant physiology and molecular biology areas focus on research with great potential for

technological applications in the coming decades. The fundamental molecular, cellular and genetic basis of tumor development and the applied aspects of identification of tumor

markers and cancer therapy are areas of focus in cancer research.

The marine biology and environmental biology cover molecular and organismic studies of toxic red tide algae and bacteria and other marine organisms. Modern techniques in

environmental and biological monitoring, ecotoxicology, remote sensing (satellite), biotechnology and mathematical modeling are used in these studies. Special attention is directed towards improving the quality of coastal and marine environments of Hong Kong and the utilization of natural resources in these environments. The Department is in