Simou Sun

Biocolloids and Biointerface Science in Diseases and the Environment

In Prof. Sun’s laboratory, we are primarily interested in how information processing distinguishes signals from noise in the biological world. Biocolloids, such as lipid nanoparticles, aerosol particles, and emulsion droplets, serve as compartmentalized carriers of information and biochemical reactors. Biointerfaces, including biomembrane surfaces and the air-water interface, provide platforms with unique physicochemical properties for signal transduction and amplification. Our research focuses on biocolloids and biointerface-mediated signaling in human health and environmental contexts. Our methods combine optical microscopy and molecular spectroscopy with biomaterial engineering and molecular and cell biology. This approach enables us to spatially and temporally resolve biochemical information at the single-particle, and sometimes single-molecule level, allowing us to uncover the physical principles underlying signaling events. As a multidisciplinary group at the intersection of physical chemistry, bioanalytics, biophysics, and chemical biology, our projects are rooted in interpreting and translating the intricate molecular information and will seek to develop innovative solutions toward addressing complex issues related to disease mechanisms, diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as coastal environment monitoring and remediation.

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Recent publications:

Sun, S.; Cox-Vázquez, S. J.; Cho, N.-J. Bazan, G. C.; Groves, J. T. Direct Imaging with Multidimensional Labeling and High-Content Analysis Allows Quantitative Categorization and Characterizations of Individual Small Extracellular Vesicles and Nanoparticles (sEVPs). In revision with Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.

Zhu, X.; Wang, W.; Sun, S.;Chng, C.-P.; Xie, Y.; Zhu, K.; He, D.; Liang, Q.; Wu, X.; Gao, W.; Miserez, A.; Yu, J.; Huang, C.; Groves, J. T.; Miao, Y. Bacterial XopR Subverts RIN4 Complex-mediated Plant Immunity via Plasma Membrane-associated Percolation. In revision with Molecular Cell.

Sun, S.; Bazan, G. C.; Groves, J. T. Quantitative Categorization and Characterizations of Individual Small Extracellular Vesicles and Nanoparticles (sEVPs) Using Direct Imaging with Multidimensional Labeling and High-Content Analysis.Provisional patent filed (no. 10202400399P).

Sun, S.; GrandPre, T.; Limmer, D. T.; Groves, J. T. Kinetic Frustration by Limited Bond Availability Controls the LAT Protein Condensation Phase Transition on Membranes. Sci. Adv. 2022, 8, eabo5295.

Poyton, M. F.; Pullanchery, S.; Sun, S.; Kusler, K.; Yang, T.; Gagliardi, L.; Cremer, P. S. Zn²⁺ Binds to Phosphatidylserine and Induces Membrane Blebbing. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 43, 18679–18686.

Sun, S.; Liu, C.; Melendez, D. R.; Yang, T.; Cremer, P. S. Immobilization of Phosphatidylinositides Revealed by Bilayer Leaflet Decoupling. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 30, 13003-13010.

Sun, S.; Sendecki, A.; Pullenchary, S.; Huang, D.; Yang, T.; Cremer, P. S. Multi-Step Interactions between Ibuprofen and Lipid Membranes. Langmuir, 2018, 34, 10782-10792.

Bilkova, E.^†; Pleskot, R.^†; Rissanen, S.^†; Sun, S.^†; Czogalla, A.; Cwiklik, L.; Rog, T.; Vattulainen, L.; Cremer, P. S.; Jungwirth, P.; Coskun, Ü. (^†Co-first authors) Calcium Directly Regulates Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Headgroup Conformation and Recognition. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2017, 139, 4019-4024.

Shengjuler, D.; Chan, Y. M.; Sun, S.; Moustafa, I. M.; Li, Z.; Gohara, D. W.; Buck, M.; Cremer, P. S.; Boehr, D. D.; Cameron, C. E. The RNA-Binding Site of Poliovirus 3C Protein Doubles as a Phosphoinositide-Binding Domain. Structure 2017, 25, 1875-1886.

Robison, A. D.; Sun, S.; Poyton, M. F.; Johnson, G. A.; Pellois, J.; Jungwirth, P.; Vazdar, M.; Cremer, P. S. Polyarginine Interacts More Strongly and Cooperatively with Supported Lipid Bilayers Compared to Polylysine. J. Phys. Chem. B 2016, 120, 9287-9296. 

Dalalian Research Fellowship, Penn State University, State College PA  -  2018

Second prize oral presentation at the Biomembrane Symposium, ACS Spring National Meeting, New Orleans LA    -  2018