Dr. Yun Wah Lam received his PhD training in the lab of Dr. Davina Opstelten at the University of Hong Kong. After receiving his PhD in 1997, he joined the group of Prof. Angus Lamond in Dundee, Scotland, where he developed an interest in the relationship of the architecture of mammalian cell nucleus and the regulation of gene expression. Lam uses live-cell imaging techniques and classical biochemical approaches to study protein localization and interactions in the cell nucleus. In parallel, he is involved in an international effort to map the human nucleolus proteome. Recently, in collaboration with Jens Andersen (Odense) and Matthias Mann (Munich), he adopted the technique of SILAC (Stable Isotope Labeling with Amino acids in Cell culture) to quantify, by mass spectrometry, the global dynamics of the human nucleolar proteome in response to changes in metabolic conditions. The resulting paper, having received over 100 citations in 24 months, was featured as the "ScienceWatch hot paper" in The Scientist magazine (March 2007). Lam was the recipient of the second prize of the Roche "Imagining the future" contest in 2006. He joined City University of Hong Kong in 2007.
Research Interests and
Projects
Proteomics allow the large-scale identification
of proteins in complex biological systems, but it
often only produces static snapshots of proteomes
that fail to describe and explain the dynamic nature
of cellular behaviours. In contrast, modern cell
imaging techniques allow the quantitative analysis
of the spatial and temporal distribution of
biomolecules in living cells, but only a relatively
small number of proteins can be studied in one
experiment. Our lab strives to bring together these
two powerful methodologies to tackle fundamental
biological questions. To this end, we perform
quantitative mass spectrometry to measure the flux
of a large number of proteins through subcellular
spaces and to track the proteomic changes within
cellular complexes through time. In parallel, we
record these dynamic cellular behaviours in live
cells using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. From
these two angles, we aim at building coherent
pictures of intracellular events under different
growth and metabolic conditions. This lab aims to
apply this dual approach to a range of topics, from
basic cell biology to environmental sciences.
Project lists as principal investigator
Funded by UGC Sources
- Subcellular distribution of microRNAs: Another dimension of regulation?
- Proteomic study on nuclear reprogramming during cell differentiation
- The Proteomic Landscape of the Human Nucleolus during Senescence
Funded by Non-UGC Sources
- Teaching development grant:"Using programmed learning to help applied biology students to prepare for laboratory classes"(Completed)
- New staff startup grant: “A novel approach for studying mammalian nuclear import using SILAC-based proteomics"(Completed)
Selected Publications
Full pulbications can be viewed
here
- Dong, Miao; Liang, Yimin; Ramalingam,
Rajkumar; Tang, Sze Wing; Shen, Wei; Ye, Rui;
Gopalakrishnan, Singaram; Au, Doris Wai Ting; Lam,
Yun Wah. Proteomic characterization of the
interactions between fish serum proteins and
waterborne bacteria reveals the suppression of
anti-oxidative defense as a serum-mediated
antimicrobial mechanism. Fish & Shellfish
Immunology. Elsevier. 2017.
- Zhou, Shu Fan; Gopalakrishnan,
Singaram; Xu, Yuan Hao; Yang, Jie; Lam, Yun Wah;
Pang, Stella W. A Unidirectional Cell Switching
Gate by Engineering Grating Length and Bending
Angle. PloS one. Public Library of Science.
2016;11(1):e0147801.
- Tang, QY; Qian, WX; Xu, YH;
Gopalakrishnan, S; Wang, JQ; Lam, YW; Pang, SW.
Control of cell migration direction by inducing
cell shape asymmetry with patterned topography.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A.
Wiley Online Library. 2015;103(7):2383-2393.
- Poon, Ellen; Keung, Wendy; Liang, YM;
Ramalingam, Rajkumar; Yan, Bin; Zhang, Shaohong;
Chopra, Anant; Moore, Jennifer; Herren, Anthony;
Lieu, Deborah K. Proteomic analysis of human
pluripotent stem cell-derived, fetal and adult
ventricular cardiomyocytes reveals pathways
crucial for cardiac metabolism and maturation.
Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. Am Heart
Assoc. 2015;CIRCGENETICS. 114.000918.
- Tang, Qing Yuan; Tong, Wing Yin; Shi,
Jue; Shi, Peng; Lam, Yun Wah; Pang, Stella W.
Influence of engineered surface on cell
directionality and motility. Biofabrication. IOP
Publishing. 2014;6(1):15011.
- Liang, Yi Min; Wang, Xian; Ramalingam,
Rajkumar; So, Kin Yan; Lam, Yun Wah; Li, Zhou
Fang. Novel nucleolar isolation method reveals
rapid response of human nucleolar proteomes to
serum stimulation. Journal of proteomics.
Elsevier. 2012;77:521-530.
- Li, Zhou Fang; Liang, Yi Min; Lau, Pui
Ngan; Shen, Wei; Wang, Dai Kui; Cheung, Wing
Tai; Xue, Chun Jason; Poon, Lit Man; Lam, Yun
Wah. Dynamic localisation of mature microRNAs in
Human nucleoli is influenced by exogenous
genetic materials. PLoS One. Public Library of
Science. 2013;8(8):e70869.
- Babaei, Fatemeh; Ramalingam, Rajkumar;
Tavendale, Amy; Liang, Yimin; Yan, Leo So Kin;
Ajuh, Paul; Cheng, Shuk Han; Lam, Yun Wah. Novel
blood collection method allows plasma proteome
analysis from single zebrafish. Journal of
proteome research. ACS Publications.
2013;12(4):1580-1590.
- Cai, Xiaoning; Ramalingam, Rajkumar;
San Wong, Hau; Cheng, Jinping; Ajuh, Paul;
Cheng, Shuk Han; Lam, Yun Wah. Characterization
of carbon nanotube protein corona by using
quantitative proteomics. Nanomedicine:
Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine. Elsevier.
2013;9(5):583-593.
- Tong, Wing Yin; Shen, Wei; Yeung,
Connie WF; Zhao, Ying; Cheng, Shuk Han; Chu,
Paul K; Chan, Danny; Chan, Godfrey CF; Cheung,
Kenneth MC; Yeung, Kelvin WK. Functional
replication of the tendon tissue
microenvironment by a bioimprinted substrate and
the support of tenocytic differentiation of
mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials. Elsevier.
2012;33(31):7686-7698.
- Dong, Hongjuan; Shen, Wei; Cheung,
Myra Ting Wai; Liang, Yimin; Cheung, Hon Yeung;
Allmaier, Günter; Au, Oscar Kin-Chung; Lam,
Yun Wah. Rapid detection of apoptosis in
mammalian cells by using intact cell MALDI mass
spectrometry. Analyst. Royal Society of
Chemistry. 2011;136(24):5181-5189.
- Tong, WY; Liang, YM; Tam, Vivian; Yip,
HK; Kao, YT; Cheung, KMC; Yeung, KWK; Lam, YW.
Biochemical characterization of the
cell-biomaterial interface by quantitative
proteomics. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.
ASBMB. 2010;9(10):2089-2098.
- Lam, Yun W; Evans, Vanessa C; Heesom,
Kate J; Lamond, Angus I; Matthews, David A.
Proteomics analysis of the nucleolus in
adenovirus-infected cells. Molecular & Cellular
Proteomics. ASBMB. 2010;9(1):117-130.
