We aim to understand the molecular mechanisms of fundamental biological processes, especially DNA replication and innate immunity. DNA replication is a crucial biological process in which a cell duplicates its genetic material to ensure the accurate transmission of genetic information to daughter cells. The innate immune system, on the other hand, is the first line of defense against pathogens, and is capable of recognizing and responding to harmful invaders through pattern recognition receptors. The connection between DNA replication and the innate immune system lies in the fact that DNA replication is an essential process for cell survival and must therefore be tightly regulated to prevent errors and malfunctions. Similarly, the innate immune system must be able to distinguish between self and non-self to prevent over-reactivity and tissue damage, and both processes require precise regulation to function correctly. As such, the two systems are closely linked, and disruptions in either can lead to cellular and immune dysfunction, increasing the risk of disease. We now are unitizing the state-of- art technologies and elegant biochemistry tools to understand how these networks function, which will benefit to the development of new treatments against a number of diseases including cancers and inflammation.

1) Li Wan, Szymon Juszkiewicz, Daniel Blears, Prashanth Kumar Bajpe, Zhong Han, Peter Faull, Richard Mitter, Ambrosius. Snijders, Aengus Stewart, Ramanujan S. Hegde, and Jesper Q. Svejstrup. (2021) Translation stress and collided ribosomes are co-activators of cGAS. Molecular Cell.

2) Szymon Juszkiewicz, Shaun Speldewinde, Li Wan, Jesper Svejstrup, and Ramanujan S Hegde. (2020) The ASC-1 complex disassembles collided ribosomes. Molecular Cell, 79: 603-614.

3) Jinhua Han*, Li Wan*, Guixing Jiang, Liping Cao, Tian Tian, Feiyu Xia, Yi Luo, Yi Wang, Michael S.Y. Huen, Ting Liu, and Jun Huang. (2021) ATM controls the extent of DNA end resection by eliciting sequential posttranslational modifications of CtIP. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA  (* co-first author)

4) Li Wan, and Jun Huang. (2014) The PSO4 complex associates with RPA and modulates the activation of ATR. J Biol Chem, 289: 6619-6626

5) Li Wan*, Jiangman Lou*, Yisui Xia*, Bei Su, Ting Liu, Jiamin Cui, Yingying Sun, Huiqiang Lou, and Jun Huang. (2013) hPrimpol1/CCDC111 is a human DNA primase-polymerase required for the maintenance of genome integrity. EMBO Reports, 14: 1104-1112. (* co-first author)

6) Li Wan*, Jinhua Han*, Ting Liu*, Shunli Dong, Feng Xie, Hongxia Chen, and Jun Huang. (2013) Scaffolding protein SPIDR/KIAA0146 connects the Bloom syndrome helicase with homologous recombination repair. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110: 10646-10651. (* co-first author)

7) Ting Liu*, Li Wan*, Yue Wu, Junjie Chen, Jun Huang. (2011) hSWS1-SWSAP1 is an evolutionarily conserved complex required for efficient homologous recombination repair. J Biol Chem, 286: 41758-41766. (* co-first author)