Ph.D., Louisiana State University

Molecular Biophysics

Dr. Bu studies the structure and dynamics of cell signaling proteins. These proteins function as molecular switches, which can fail to work properly for various reasons, causing diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. The research group uses small angle X-ray and neutron scattering and other structural methods, as well as biochemical and cell biological experiments to study these proteins and their interactions. In addition, they develop and apply methods of quasielastic neutron scattering, particularly neutron spin echo spectroscopy, to study nanoscale protein dynamics and motion. - See more at: http://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Chemistry/Faculty-Bios/Zimei-Bu#sthash.JXq5DEpC.dpuf

Callaway, DJ and Bu, Z., Nanocale internal protein motion visualized by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Biophysical Reviews, Springer, 2015, in press

Chen X, Ali Khajeh J, Ju JH, Gupta YK, Stanley CB, Do C, Heller WT, Aggarwal AK, Callaway DJ, Bu Z, Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate clusters the cell adhesion molecule CD44 and assembles a specific CD44-Ezrin hetero complex, as revealed by small angle neutron scattering. J. Biol. Chem., 2015, in press

Ali Khajeh, J., Ju, J., Atchiba, M., Allaire,M., Stanley, C., Heller, W.T., Callaway, D.J., Bu, Z., Molecular conformation of the full-length tumor suppressor NF2/Merlin - a small angle neutron scattering study. J Mol Biol. 2014 Jul 29;426(15):2755-68.doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.05.011

Callaway DJ, Farago B, Bu Z., Nanoscale protein dynamics: a new frontier for neutron spin echo spectroscopy., Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2013 Jul;36(7):76. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2013-13076-1

Bhattacharya S, Ju JH, Orlova N, Khajeh JA, Cowburn D, Bu Z., Ligand-induced dynamic changes in extended PDZ domains from NHERF1., J Mol Biol. 2013 Jul 24;425(14):2509-28.doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.04.001

Jayasundar JJ, Ju JH, He L, Liu D, Meilleur F, Zhao J, Callaway DJ, Bu Z., Open Conformation of Ezrin Bound to Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate and to F-actin Revealed by Neutron Scattering., J. Bio. Chem. 287:37119-33, 2012doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.380972

Bu, Z. and Callaway, D.J.E., Proteins MOVE! Protein dynamics and long-range allostery in cell signaling, Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 83:163-221, 2011doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-381262-9.00005-7

Farago, B., Li, J., Cornilescu, G., Callaway, D.J.E., Bu, Z. Activation of nanoscale allosteric protein domain motion revealed by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Biophys J. 99:3473-82, 2010doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.09.058

Bhattacharya, S., Dai, Z., Li, J., Baxter, S., Callaway, D.J., Cowburn, D., Bu, Z. A conformational switch in the scaffolding protein NHERF1 controls autoinhibition and complex formation. J. Bio. Chem. 285:9981-94, 2010doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.074005

Li, J., Callaway, D.J., Bu, Z. Ezrin induces long-range interdomain allostery in the scaffolding protein NHERF1. J. Mol. Biol. 392(1):166-80, 2009doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.07.005

Cheng H, Li J, Fazlieva R, Dai Z, Bu Z, Roder H. Autoinhibitory interactions between the PDZ2 and C-terminal domains in the scaffolding protein NHERF1. Structure 17(5):660-9, 2009

Li, J., Poulikakos, P.I., Dai, D., Testa, J.R., Callaway,D.J., Bu, Z. PKC phosphorylation disrupts NHERF autoinhibition and promotes CFTR macromolecular assembly. J. Bio. Chem. 282:27086-27099, 2007doi: 10.1074/jbc.M702019200

Dawson, J.B., Bu, Z. (co-corresponding), Lemmon, M.A. Ligand-induced structural transitions in ErbB receptor extracellular domains. Structure 15:942-954, 2007.

Bu, Z., Shi, Y., Callaway, D.J., Tycko, R. Molecular alignment within b sheets in Ab14-23 fibrils: solid state NMR experiments and theoretical predictions. Biophys. J. 92:594-602, 2007.

Samuel, D., Cheng, H., Riley, P.W., Canutescu, A.A., Nagaswami, C., Weisel, J.W., Bu, Z., Walsh, P.N., Roder, H. Solution structure of the A4 domain of factor XI sheds light on the mechanism of zymogen activation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104:15693, 2007.

Fang, M., Cheng, H., Dai, Z., Bu, Z., Sigal, L.J. Immunization with a single extracellular enveloped virus protein produced in bacteria provides partial protection from a lethal Orthopoxvirus infection in a natural host. Virology 345:231-43, 2006.

Shi, Y., Stouten, P.F.W., Pillalamarri, N., Barile, L., Rosal, R.V., Teichberg, S., Bu, Z. (co-corresponding), Callaway, D.J. Quantitative determination of the topological propensities of amyloidogenic peptides. Biophys. Chem. 120:55-61, 2006.

Bu, Z. (co-corresponding), Biehl, R., Monkenbusch, M., Richter, D., Callaway, D.J. Coupled protein domain motion in Taq DNA polymerase revealed by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102:17646-17651, 2005.

Li, J., Dai, Z., Jana, D., Callaway, D.J.E., Bu, Z. Ezrin controls the macromolecular complexes formed between an adaper protein Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. J. Biol. Chem. 280:37634-37643, 2005.

Ho, D.L., Byrnes, W.M., Ma, W.P., Shi, Y., Callaway, D.J.E., Bu, Z. Structure-specific DNA-induced conformational changes in Taq polymerase revealed by small angle neutron scattering. J. Biol. Chem. 279:39146-39154, 2004.