楊維元 Wei Yuan Yang

探索細胞如何移除受損胞器 解決胞器自噬問題

My lab continues to establish and explore the use of optogenetics-based organelleimpairment schemes to study organelle biology. We pursue these schemes as they allow one to 1. Target any organelle of interest, 2. Choose where (in cells) organelles are to be damaged, 3. Tune the number of organelles damaged, and 4. Vary the degree of damage each organelle receives. These properties open up unique avenues in organelle research. We initially utilized the optogenetics-based organelle-impairment schemes to address questions related to organellophagy (organelle turnover by autophagy). We started by utilizing optogenetics to initiate known pathways (e.g., Parkin-mediated mitophagy), followed by its use for discovering new processes (e.g., lysophagy). In the last few years, we have built up an experimental pipeline that permits us to define the molecular-level details of the various types organellophagy (e.g., on mitophagy and pexophagy). In addition, we also started to explore areas outside of organellophagy. For example, we now monitor how cancer cells release extracellular vesicles following injuries to their plasma membrance.

得獎感言

除了感謝所有身邊的人的幫助之外，更要感謝國科會設立這個獎項，讓研究人員能稍受鼓舞，繼續向前。