# Weng Lab

> Decoding the Chemical Language of Nature


## Posts

- [How two inactive plant proteins team up to make the scent of almonds](https://wenglab.net/how-two-inactive-plant-proteins-team-up-to-make-the-scent-of-almonds/): Our latest paper on benzaldehyde synthase structure and mechanism is out. We reveal how petunia benzaldehyde synthase assembles two individually inactive protein subunits into a four-part enzyme that produces benzaldehyde—the source of the flower’s almond-like scent. This was a wonderful collaboration with Natalia Dudareva and the Purdue University team. Special congratulations to first author Jason Matos, whose leadership and persistence drove this work forward. Here’s the news release.
- [Meet the researcher who thinks plants could help save the world](https://wenglab.net/meet-the-researcher-who-thinks-plants-could-help-save-the-world/): Grateful to Northeastern Global News for highlighting our lab’s work to uncover and engineer the chemistry of medicinal plants for human health.
- [Findings in toxic plants could help in the development of safer heart and cancer drugs](https://wenglab.net/findings-in-toxic-plants-could-help-in-the-development-of-safer-heart-and-cancer-drugs/): Our paper on elucidation of cardenolide biosynthesis in foxglove is out. Here’s the news release from Northeastern Global News.
- [Jing-Ke Weng receives 2026 ASPB Charles Albert Shull Award](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-receives-2026-aspb-charles-albert-shull-award/): Jing-Ke Weng has received the 2026 Charles Albert Shull Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). This award recognizes our lab’s work on how plants generate chemical innovation and how that knowledge can advance medicine, agriculture, and sustainability. Here is the news release from IPHI. This recognition belongs to all past and current members of the Weng lab, whose creativity, dedication, and teamwork have made this journey possible.
- [Ashwagandha is having a moment. These researchers opened the door to more life-altering benefits](https://wenglab.net/ashwagandha-is-having-a-moment-these-researchers-opened-the-door-to-more-life-altering-benefits/): Our paper on elucidation and engineering of withanolide biosynthesis is out. Here’s the news release from Northeastern Global News.
- [From Mold to Gold: a Fungal Fold Strikes Copper for Greener Drugs](https://wenglab.net/from-mold-to-gold-a-fungal-fold-strikes-copper-for-greener-drugs/): Our paper on DUF3328 as a family of binuclear copper-dependent metalloenzymes in fungi is out. Here’s the news release from IPHI.
- [Scientists make major breakthrough that rewrites the understanding of plant evolution.](https://wenglab.net/scientists-make-major-breakthrough-that-rewrites-the-understanding-of-plant-evolution/): Our paper on tracing the evolutionary trajectory of of the dechloroacutumine halogenase in moonseed plant is out today. Here’s the news release from Northeastern Global News.
- [Researchers resurrect extinct gene in plants with major implications for drug development.](https://wenglab.net/researchers-resurrect-extinct-gene-in-plants-with-major-implications-for-drug-development/): Our paper on the resurrection of an extinct gene in coyote tobacco—revealing a remarkable story of the evolutionary dynamics of plant cyclic peptides—is out today. Here’s the news release from Northeastern Global News.
- [‘Cracking’ the Code](https://wenglab.net/cracking-the-code/): Our lab’s research on peanut allergies and plant-human interactions was featured in Sampan.org. The article dives into our interdisciplinary work combining plant science and AI to tackle food allergies and beyond. Read the full article here.
- [Weng Lab research covered by the French science magazine Sciences et Avenir](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-research-covered-by-french-science-magazine-sciences-et-avenir/): We’re excited to share that our recent research on TAS2Rs has caught the attention of the French science magazine Sciences et Avenir! Their article highlights how our work could pave the way for new insights into tackling food allergies, drawing inspiration from an unexpected source—frogs. Curious to learn more? Check out the full story here.
- [Could allergy-free peanuts be the future? This Northeastern researcher wants to find out](https://wenglab.net/could-allergy-free-peanuts-be-the-future-this-northeastern-researcher-wants-to-find-out/): Our recent collaboration with Dr. Seth Rakoff-Nahoum at Boston Children’s Hospital, focusing on mapping the biogeography of plant food-human interactions relevant to food allergies, has been highlighted by Northeastern Global News. Click here to read more.
- [This researcher wants to know why frogs are so good at tasting bitter things — and what it could mean for humans](https://wenglab.net/this-researcher-wants-to-know-why-frogs-are-so-good-at-tasting-bitter-things-and-what-it-could-mean-for-humans/): Our study on the vertebrate bitter taste receptor family has been published. Read the paper in PLOS Genetics, and the news release from Northeastern Global News.
- [Weng Lab alum Colin Kim chosen as a Hanna Gray Fellow by HHMI](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-alum-colin-kim-chosen-as-a-hanna-gray-fellow-by-hhmi/): Former Weng Lab PhD student Colin Kim, now a postdoc in the Ryan Nett Lab at Harvard University, has been named a 2024 Hanna Gray Fellow. The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program provides up to $1.5 million in support to each fellow over a period of up to eight years. Congratulations, Colin! Read the news release here, and a spotlight article about Colin here.
- [Establishing a Tracking Methodology To Determine Food-and-Health Links](https://wenglab.net/establishing-a-tracking-methodology-to-determine-food-and-health-links/): The Weng Lab at Northeastern University and the Rakoff-Nahoum Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital are joining forces to develop a groundbreaking method for precisely tracing food molecules as they travel through the human body, paving the way for new insights into food-host interactions and improved disease prevention and treatment. Please see the news piece here.
- [As Partners in Cutting-Edge Biomedical Research, Pew-Supported Scientists Seek Answers](https://wenglab.net/as-partners-in-cutting-edge-biomedical-research-pew-supported-scientists-seek-answers/): Our collaborative project “Redefining the link between food and human health” with Dr. Seth Rakoff-Nahoum at Boston Children’s Hospital was selected for funding through the 2024 Pew Innovation Fund. Here is the news release.
- [Wellesley College to Host Jing-Ke Weng's Talk on Plant Chemistry Amid Botanical Art Exhibition](https://wenglab.net/wesley-college-to-host-talk-on-plant-chemistry-amid-botanical-art-exhibition/): Wellesley College is pleased to announce an upcoming lecture by Dr. Jing-Ke Weng titled “Decoding the Chemical Language of Plants” on October 21, 2024, from 12:45 PM to 2:15 PM at Collins Cinema. This talk will be held in conjunction with the Davis Museum’s current exhibition, “Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature.” Dr. Weng’s presentation offers a scientific complement to McEwen’s artistic exploration of plant life. While McEwen’s watercolors on vellum capture the visual essence of plants, Dr. Weng’s research delves into their chemical intricacies. The timing of this lecture provides a unique opportunity for attendees to experience the intersection […]
- [Elixirs of Nature: Exploring the Plant Kingdom for New Medicines](https://wenglab.net/elixirs-of-nature-exploring-the-plant-kingdom-for-new-medicines/): Jing-Ke Weng recently spoke with Dustin Grinnell on his podcast series ‘Curiously’ about using modern approaches to study plant natural products and plant-derived medicines. Take a listen.
- [Understanding Body Defenses Against the Chemical Environment](https://wenglab.net/understanding-body-defenses-against-the-chemical-environment/): Please register for the 2024 FASI Annual Symposium, focusing on ‘Understanding Body Defenses Against the Chemical Environment,’ scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024. Jing-Ke Weng has been invited to discuss our research on the parallel evolution of chemical defense system expansion in plants and the enhanced ability of vertebrates to detect harmful compounds. The FASI symposium unites hundreds of scientists and community members from various fields each year, all coming together to exchange information on their research. We believe food allergies are developed as a result of exaggerated defense responses to noxious substances that may have been inadvertently coupled with exposure […]
- [Live from Plant Biology 2023](https://wenglab.net/live-from-2023-aspb/): Jing-Ke Weng presented a talk on the Evolutionary Origin of Acutumine Biosynthesis in Menispermaceae Plants at Plant Biology 2023, and spoke with ASPB #PlantBio2023 conference correspondent Charlay Wood about the work after the talk. Here is the interview transcript.
- [Jing-Ke Weng named Inaugural Director of the new Institute for Plant-Human Interface at Northeastern](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-named-inaugural-director-of-the-new-institute-for-plant-human-interface-at-northeastern/): We are excited to announce that Jing-Ke Weng has been appointed as a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the College of Science, and of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering at Northeastern University, effective July 3, 2023. Our laboratory will complete its relocation to the new EXP building on Northeastern’s Boston campus later in 2023. Meanwhile, Jing-Ke Weng will assume the role as the Inaugural Director tasked with building the brand-new Institute for Plant-Human Interface (IPHI) from the ground up. The mission of IPHI is to deepen our understanding of plant biology and the plant-human interactions that significantly influence […]
- [Scientists untangling the chemical secrets of ancient recipes](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-research-featured-on-cen/): What’s in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and do its prescriptions work? Scientists are untangling the chemical secrets of ancient recipes. An article by Shi En Kim on C&EN featuring Weng Lab research.
- [Tracing a plant chemistry puzzle to its roots](https://wenglab.net/tracing-a-plant-chemistry-puzzle-to-its-roots/): Colin Kim et al. report the structural and mechanistic basis underlying how coumarin synthase (COSY), an enzyme that plants use to make agriculturally and medicinally important molecules called coumarins, does its job. See the press release here.
- [Exploring plant chemistry to hunt for food allergy cures](https://wenglab.net/exploring-plant-chemistry-to-hunt-for-food-allergy-cures/): In the hunt for a food allergy cure, Food Allergy Science Initiative (FASI) researcher works to unlock the mystery of traditional medicine using modern science. Jing-Ke discusses his recent work at FASI.
- [How the ‘Diamond of the Plant World’ Helped Land Plants Evolve](https://wenglab.net/how-the-diamond-of-the-plant-world-helped-land-plants-evolve/): Our work on sporopollenin structure, evolution, biosynthesis, and environmental degradation featured by Quanta Magazine. Read the full article here.  
- [Researchers biosynthesize anti-cancer compound found in venomous Australian tree.](https://wenglab.net/researchers-biosynthesize-anti-cancer-compound-found-in-venomous-australian-tree/): A pain-causing compound in the Australian stinging tree has applications for cancer treatment, but it’s difficult to harvest enough to study. Whitehead Institute scientists present a way to synthesize the compound in the leaves of harmless tobacco plants, and potentially in a culture dish. Read the news release here.
- [Using plant biology to address climate change](https://wenglab.net/using-plant-biology-to-address-climate-change/): A Climate Grand Challenges flagship project aims to reduce agriculture-driven emissions while making food crop plants heartier and more nutritious. Read MIT news here.
- [What can’t plant metabolism make?](https://wenglab.net/what-cant-plant-metabolism-make/): The Weng lab research on plant specialized metabolism is recently featured on the Whitehead Institute “Multimedia series: an energetic pursuit“. Click here to read the full article.
- [What Can Plants Teach Us About Treating Brain Disease?](https://wenglab.net/what-can-plants-teach-us-about-treating-brain-disease/): From Parkinson’s to Alzheimer’s, neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise — yet few therapies exist to combat them. That’s why the Collaborative Pairs program at CZI’s Neurodegeneration Challenge Network (NDCN) is bringing together scientists to explore new ideas and new approaches. Whitehead Institute members Jing-Ke Weng and Ankur Jain recently received support from the CZI Collaboratve Pairs program to find new ways to study and treat neurodegeneration by harnessing plant cells and the rich diversity of molecules those cells contain. Learn more here.
- [Engineering resilient food crops](https://wenglab.net/engineering-resilient-food-crops/): The Whitehead Institute announced today that it has received an anonymous $3 million grant supporting the Dr. Vincent J. Ryan Orphan Plant Project — research intended to bioengineer a series of under-studied food crops that will be both more nutritious and more resilient to climate change than many current crops. Ultimately, the Project aims to enhance global food security and help protect millions of people from hunger and malnutrition. The Project is jointly led by Institute Members Mary Gehring, Jonathan Weissman, and Jing-Ke Weng; and it combines their expertise in plant metabolism, genetics, and genome-editing technologies to establish a new integrated […]
- [New ways to work in the lab](https://wenglab.net/new-ways-to-work-in-the-lab/): Our productive collaboration with Makoto Fujita’s lab using the crystalline sponge method to solve unknown questions in specialized metabolism is highlighted by the WI’s Tool and Method Development Series.
- [Grantham Foundation underwrites ambitious project on carbon sequestration.](https://wenglab.net/grantham-foundation-underwrites-ambitious-project-on-carbon-sequestration/): We are grateful to the generous gift from the Grantham Foundation to support our work to engineer plants to be more decay-resistant so that they can sequester more carbon from the atmosphere. Read the news release here.
- [Meet a Whitehead Postdoc: Jason Matos](https://wenglab.net/meet-a-whitehead-postdoc-jason-matos/): “Almost every project I’ve been involved in has not turned out how we first envisioned it, and things that were problems have actually been signs of something interesting,” says Jason Matos, a postdoc in Jing-Ke Weng’s lab. Read an interview with Jason here.
- [Using Fundamental Biology to Counter Climate Change](https://wenglab.net/using-fundamental-biology-to-counter-climate-change/): The challenges presented by climate change are wide-ranging — and so must be science’s response. In this Director’s Dialogue, which took place on May 4, 2021, three Whitehead Institute scientists, Jing-Ke Weng, Mary Gehring and Jonathan Weissman, speak with Institute Director Ruth Lehmann about exciting opportunities for leveraging fundamental biological research to create biotechnologies that address some of climate change’s vexing effects. They discuss plant biology research aiming to combat food insecurity by creating heartier and more diverse feed crops, new research approaches that enable scientists to sustainably synthesize therapeutic compounds from plants, and to pinpoint (and replicate) the genetic drivers […]
- [MAKING GREEN DRUGS: tapping into nature without tapping it out](https://wenglab.net/making-green-drugs-tapping-into-nature-without-tapping-it-out/): A news piece introducing Weng lab research on medicinal plants of the world by Greta Friar. Rainforest by Ben Britten is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- [AUDIOHELICASE: How to build a sustainable future?](https://wenglab.net/audiohelicase-how-to-build-a-sustainable-future/): Making our world more sustainable to preserve it for future generations will take not just one but many solutions. Researchers at Whitehead Institute are exploring how the natural world could teach us how to improve the sustainability of how we produce food, how we make medicines, how we make products more durable, and potentially how we remove carbon from the atmosphere.  In this special episode of AudioHelicase, we’ll hear from researchers at the Institute that are pursuing creative solutions to sustainability that combine a passion for making a difference with boundless curiosity for the living world. Whitehead Institute · AudioHelicase Special: […]
- [A Plant Small-Molecule Discovery Platform to Study Neurodegeneration](https://wenglab.net/a-plant-small-molecule-discovery-platform-to-study-neurodegeneration/): Whitehead Institute Members Ankur Jain and Jing-Ke Weng have received a @cziscience grant for a collaborative project using plant cells to screen for small molecules that affect RNA & protein aggregates seen in neurodegeneration: http://ow.ly/bRY550B3KsY
- [Congrats to the newly defended Dr. Jacobowitz!](https://wenglab.net/congrats-to-the-newly-defended-dr-jacobowitz/): Joe Jacobowitz successfully defended his PhD thesis today through Zoom (the first time ever in the Weng lab history). Many congrats to achieving this remarkable milestone in your career at this challenging time! We will make up for the in-person celebrations at an appropriate time, hopefully in the near future. Celebration poster by Sophia Xu
- [Treatments for COVID-19 taking root in plant science](https://wenglab.net/treatments-for-covid-19-taking-root-in-plant-science/): Plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years; could they contribute to a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic? This is what Whitehead Institute Member Jing-Ke-Weng set out to address in a new paper, published May 20 in the journal Molecular Plant. In the recent episode of AudioHelicase, he spoke about an herbal treatment being used to treat COVID-19 in China derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine, the work necessary for such a treatment to be translated to an FDA-approved drug, and why the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for basic, fundamental research in plant science and beyond. Whitehead Institute · […]
- [Pollen research inspires art.](https://wenglab.net/pollen-research-inspires-art/): Fu-shuang Li is collecting plant specimens for his research on pollen, and using the extra specimens to create pollen and flower art. Click here to learn more and see some of his creations.
- [Making medicine runs in the family.](https://wenglab.net/making-medicine-runs-in-the-family/): Mike’s paper on the structures and evolution of the plant AAAD protein family is out today. Congrats!. Please check out the Whitehead news release here.
- [Precision micro-injection system for plants](https://wenglab.net/precision-micro-injection-system-for-plants/): Our collaborative paper with Marelli lab on using silk‐based microinjector for site-specific target delivery in plants is out today. Congrats to all! See news release from Phys.Org here.
- [Harnessing the moonseed plant’s chemical know-how](https://wenglab.net/harnessing-the-moonseed-plants-chemical-know-how/): Colin’s paper on discovering the first plant halogenase from moonseed plant is out today. Congrats! See news release from Phys.Org here.
- [Sophia Xu talks about “converging paths”.](https://wenglab.net/sophia-xu-talks-about-converging-paths/): The second season of BioGenesis centers on the theme of “converging paths.” This episode features graduate student Sophia Xu, who’s bringing together modern scientific methods and ancient Eastern herbal remedies. She studies molecules in plants to investigate how molecules in natural products interact with proteins in the human body — and she may even find a cure for hangovers along the way.
- [Probing the Health Molecules of Plants: The Weng Lab at Whitehead Institute](https://wenglab.net/probing-the-health-molecules-of-plants-the-weng-lab-at-whitehead-institute/): The Weng Lab members discuss with Science for the Public about research to investigate plant molecules for their medical potential.
- [Building a roadmap for salicylic acid](https://wenglab.net/building-a-roadmap-for-salicylic-acid/): Mike’s paper on elucidating the long-sought-after enzymatic steps that converts isochorismate to the plant defense hormone salicylic acid is out today. Congrats! See news release from WI here.
- [Herbal Medicines Decoded: How Medicinal Plants Soothe and Cure](https://wenglab.net/herbal-medicines-decoded-how-medicinal-plants-soothe-and-cure/): Jing-Ke Weng discusses with Science for the Public about the process, the discoveries, and the challenge of simulating plant chemistry for large-scale medical purposes.
- [The chemist and the poet](https://wenglab.net/the-chemist-and-the-poet/): Jeandele Elliot spent the summer studying a durable compound in pollen and developing equally durable friendships, an article by Saima Sidik.
- [Mentorship goes a long way.](https://wenglab.net/mentorship-goes-a-long-way/): A big shout-out for the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP), which has had a longstanding impact on many students who came through the program over the years (see MIT News). We are honored to have participated in the program as a host lab in the past years. Great to have hosted Jeandele Elliot this summer, who is a chemical engineering student from Howard University. We look forward to seeing her doing fantastic things in the years to come!
- [Farewell to Roland, who will soon launch his own lab at University of Michigan.](https://wenglab.net/farewell-to-roland-who-is-launching-his-own-lab-at-university-of-michigan/): The Weng lab says farewell to Roland, who is moving to University of Michigan to start his own lab. Roland is the first faculty hire through the University of Michigan’s Inaugural Biosciences Initiative, and will join faculty of the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Medicinal Chemistry. Congrats!!
- [Weng Lab receives a grant from the Keck Foundation for enzyme evolution research.](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-receives-a-grant-from-the-keck-foundation-for-enzyme-evolution-research/): Associate Professor Jing-Ke Weng of the Whitehead Institute and MIT is the recipient of a $1 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation to develop new biotechnologies that enable directed evolution of metabolic enzymes at will. If successful, this project will have a transformative impact upon multiple fields by enabling the unprecedented capability to create new designer medicines and commodity chemicals.
- [Uncovering the riches of traditional global medicine](https://wenglab.net/uncovering-the-riches-of-traditional-global-medicine/): Tomas’ paper on elucidation of kavalactone biosynthesis in Polynesian medicinal plant kava kava is published at Nature Plants. See the news release from MIT News here and NPR here.
- [Unusual labmates: Lighting up the lab](https://wenglab.net/unusual-labmates-lighting-up-the-lab/): Unusual Labmates is a multimedia series exploring some of the uncommon species used for research at Whitehead Institute. The recent entry features fireflies, including the American species Photinus pyralis and the Japanese species Aquatica lateralis, which the Weng lab is using to better understand the ability to emit light. Click here to experience a multimedia story about fireflies, including how we rear them in the lab and what we hope to learn from investigating their biology.
- [Weng Lab welcomes three summer undergraduate researchers.](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-welcomes-three-summer-undergraduate-researchers/): We warmly welcome Jeandele Elliot from Howard University, Uriel Garcia and George Yacoub from Williams College to carry out summer research in the lab!
- [Two new graduate students join the Weng lab.](https://wenglab.net/two-new-graduate-students-join-the-weng-lab/): We warmly welcome Colin Kim, our very first Biological Engineering student, and Wentao Huang of Biology to join the lab!
- [Congrats to three newly minted PhDs from the Weng lab.](https://wenglab.net/congrats-to-three-newly-minted-phds-from-the-weng-lab/): Yasmin Chau, Tim Fallon and Geoff Liou successfully defended their PhD thesis in May. Congratulations to all three for this monumental career achievement!
- [Matthew Hill receives the 2019 NSF graduate research fellowship.](https://wenglab.net/matthew-hill-receives-the-2019-nsf-graduate-research-fellowship/): Matthew Hill receives the 2019 NSF graduate research fellowship! Big congrats! The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
- [Scaffolding the nursery of pollen development.](https://wenglab.net/scaffolding-the-nursery-of-pollen-development/): Joe Jacobowitz’s paper on the function of two genetically redundant peroxidases in Arabidopsis pollen development is published this week in the journal Plant Cell. Congrats! Check out the Whitehead Institute news release here. Electromicroscopy image of an Arabidopsis anther (yellow) filled with pollen grains (purple). Credit: Joseph Jacobowitz and Nicki Watson/Whitehead Institute
- [A fruitful pursuit.](https://wenglab.net/a-fruitful-pursuit/): A fruitful pursuit: plant biology at whitehead institute Decades of pioneering plant research at Whitehead Institute have led to biological insights and useful discoveries in the labs of Founding Member Gerald Fink, Member Mary Gehring, and Member Jing-Ke Weng.
- [Puzzling over Pollen.](https://wenglab.net/puzzling-over-pollen/): Graduate student Joe Jacobowitz featured by MIT Biology on his thesis work analyzing new enzymes that could reveal key insights into pollen development and plant reproduction. Congrats!
- [Sporopollenin structure unraveled!](https://wenglab.net/sporopollenin-structure-unraveled/): The Weng lab resolved the molecular structure of pine sporopollenin. A paper describing this work is published today at Nature Plants. The news release from the Whitehead institute can be accessed here. Special thanks to the Hong lab of MIT Chemistry, our fantastic collaborator on this project!                 Electron micrograph of mixed plant pollen grains. Credit: Louisa Howard.
- [Congratulations to the newly minted Dr. Levsh!](https://wenglab.net/congratulations-dr-levsh/): Many congrats to Olesya for successfully defending her PhD thesis! The first PhD out of the Weng Lab.
- [Heart-healthy plant chemistry.](https://wenglab.net/heart-healthy-plant-chemistry/): Roland Kersten’s paper on discovery and engineering of plant lyciumin-type branched cyclic peptides is out today. Check out the paper here, and the news release from Whitehead Institute.  
- [Better biomedical tools come from the oddest places, even fireflies - STAT news.](https://wenglab.net/better-biomedical-tools-come-from-the-oddest-places-even-fireflies-stat-news/): “To make better biomedical research tools, a grad student picks apart fireflies’ glow“—STAT news of The Boston Globe covers our latest paper on sequencing and analyzing the firefly genomes.
- [Jing-Ke Weng receives the inaugural Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-receives-the-inaugural-smith-family-foundation-odyssey-award/): Jing-Ke Weng is one of the five recipients of the Inaugural Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award. Building on the successful 25-year history of the Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research, the Foundation created the Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award in 2017 to fuel creativity and innovation in junior investigators in the basic sciences. The Odyssey Awards support the pursuit of high-impact ideas to generate breakthroughs and drive new directions in biomedical research. The awards fund high-risk, high-reward pilot projects solicited from the brightest junior faculty in the region.
- [Jing-Ke Weng selected as a 2018  Scialig Fellow.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-selected-as-a-2018-scialig-fellow/): Jing-Ke Weng was selected by the Research Corporation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation as a 2018 Scialog Fellow on Chemical Machinery of the Cell.
- [Matthew Hill joins the lab. Welcome!](https://wenglab.net/matthew-hill-joins-the-lab-welcome/): First-year graduate student Matthew Hill joins the Weng lab. Welcome! Matthew is a native of Massachusetts, and did summer research in our lab back in 2016, when he was still an undergraduate student at Purdue University. We are glad to recruit him back!
- [Jack Liu wins the Merck Prize. Congrats!](https://wenglab.net/jack-liu-wins-the-merck-prize-congrats/): Our awesome UROP Chun-Ting (Jack) Liu wins the 2018 Merck Prize of the MIT Biology Department, which is given annually to one biology undergraduate student for outstanding research and academic performance in biophysical or bioinfomatics sciences. Big congrats!
- [Jing-Ke Weng presents at the Carnegie Origin forum](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-presents-at-the-carnegie-origin-forum/): Jing-Ke Weng was a featured speaker and panelist in the forum of Origins: Earth’s Journey Toward Life held at Carnegie Institution for Science on April 9th, 2018.
- [Sophia Xu receives the 2018 NSF graduate research fellowship](https://wenglab.net/sophia-receives-the-2018-nsf-graduate-research-fellowship/): Sophia Xu receives the 2018 NSF graduate research fellowship! Big congrats! The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. For the 2018 competition, NSF received over 12,000 applications, and made 2,000 award offers.
- [Cover story on natural product modulators of human sensations and mood](https://wenglab.net/cover-story-on-natural-product-modulators-of-human-sensations-and-mood/): Tomas’s review article on natural product modulators of human sensations and mood is the featured cover article in the upcoming issue of Chemical Society Reviews. Please check out this very cool and comprehensive paper!
- [A new method for structural analysis of crude natural product extracts developed](https://wenglab.net/new-method-for-structural-analysis-of-crude-natural-product-extracts-developed/): The Weng lab and the Fujita lab report using a ‘crystalline sponge’ to streamline the structural analysis of complex natural products from milligram quantities in crude mixtures. Please check out the paper here.
- [Harnessing nature's riches](https://wenglab.net/1908-2/): Mike’s new paper on decoding medicinal natural product salidroside biosynthesis in golden root is out. Congratulations! Here is the news release.
- [Large-scale approach reveals imperfect actor in plant biotechnology](https://wenglab.net/large-scale-approach-reveals-imperfect-actor-in-plant-biotechnology/): Bastien’s paper on engineering the imperfect herbicide-resistance BAR protein is out. Please see the news release on this study here.
- [Natural product characterization comes ashore with red algae](https://wenglab.net/natural-product-characterization-comes-ashore-with-red-algae/): Roland’s paper on new terpene biochemistry from red algae is out. Congrats! Click the news release here.
- [Food Evolution showing and panel discussion at the Coolidge](https://wenglab.net/food-evolution-showing-and-panel-discussion-at-the-coolidge/): Food Evolution screening at the Coolidge Corner Theater + panel discussion moderated by Christopher Lydon of WBUR’s Open Source, and featuring Jing-Ke Weng of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Timothy A. Wise of Small Planet Institute and Tufts University’s Global Development and Environment Institute, 9/24 @ 2pm.
- [Rediscovering and demystifying herbal medicine](https://wenglab.net/rediscovering-and-demystifying-herbal-medicine/): Fu-Shuang’s perspective paper on traditional herbal medicine is out. Congrats!
- [Jing-Ke Weng will present at the 2017 Whitehead Symposium in NYC on May 6th](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-will-present-at-the-2017-whitehead-symposium-in-nyc-on-may-6th/): Join us on May 6 for the Whitehead Symposium, Whitehead Institute’s signature event in New York City. This annual breakfast event is an opportunity to hear a comprehensive review of the latest research being conducted at Whitehead. This year’s program features keynote presentations by Founding Member Harvey Lodish and Faculty Mary Gehring and Jing-Ke Weng. Additional information and registration details are now available.
- [New research sheds light on postmating sexual selection.](https://wenglab.net/new-research-sheds-light-on-postmating-sexual-selection/): Our collaborative paper with Sara Lewis Lab on firefly nuptial gift is out. Here is the news coverage (with a very nice video).
- [Sequencing the Firefly Genome — How Did the Firefly Get Its Glow?](https://wenglab.net/sequencing-the-firefly-genome%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8ahow-did-the-firefly-get-its-glow/): An interview on our crowd-funded firefly genome project. Check out here.
- [Jing-Ke Weng presents a 造就 TALK at the China National Gene Bank.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-presents-a-%e9%80%a0%e5%b0%b1talk-at-the-china-national-genebank/): Jing-Ke Weng presents a 造就TALK (TED-style talk channel in China) at the newly built China National Gene Bank (CNGB) in Shenzhen. The talk discusses Weng lab’s recent effort in applying systems and synthetic biology tools to demystify and reinvent traditional herbal medicine.
- [Olesya's paper on acyltransferase structural dynamics is out.](https://wenglab.net/olesyas-paper-on-acyltransferase-structural-dynamics-is-out/): Olesya’s paper on acyltransferase structural dynamics is out. Congrats!
- [Weng lab discusses GMO with the general public at Science by the Pint.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-discusses-gmo-with-the-general-public-at-science-by-the-pint/): Jing-Ke Weng & Chip Celenza (BU) will serve as the guest scientists for the September Science by the Pint event. They will discuss with the general public on the topic of “Genetically Modified Organisms: A Plant’s Perspective”. The event will be on September 15th, 6:30-8:30pm at Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville (direction). Please join!
- [Jing-Ke Weng presents the 2016 Buchanan Endowed Lecture at UC Berkeley.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-presents-the-2016-buchanan-endowed-lecture-at-uc-berkeley/): Jing-Ke Weng presented the 2016 Buchanan Endowed Lecture at UC Berkeley on Sept 7th. The Bob. B. Buchanan Lecture honors Professor Bob B. Buchanan, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biologyat at UC Berkeley . Professor Buchanan did undergraduate work at Emory and Henry College and obtained a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Duke University. After completing postdoctoral research with the late Professor Jesse C. Rabinowitz in the Department of Biochemistry, Buchanan joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1963. He is known for his contributions to microbiology, photosynthesis and plant biochemistry. Speakers are typically young investigators on […]
- [Jing-Ke Weng named a 2016 Beckman Young Investigator.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-is-named-a-2016-beckman-young-investigator/): Jing-Ke Weng is selected as one of the eight recipients of the 2016 Beckman Young Investigator Award. The Beckman Young Investigator Program provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in the chemical and life sciences, particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science.
- [UROP researcher Andrea De Abreu joins the lab.](https://wenglab.net/urop-researcher-andrea-de-abreu-joins-the-lab/): UROP researcher Andrea De Abreu joins the lab. Welcome! Andrea wants to become an astronaut one day. She will be working on a project that integrates metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, which are two essential technologies for future long-term space travel or colonization of another planet.
- [Firefly genome project funded through crowdfunding!](https://wenglab.net/firefly-genome-project-funded-through-crowdfunding/): The team firefly is trilled to see that our firefly genome project is fully funded today! Many thanks to all 90 backers who have given your generous support to our project. This crowdfunding campaign has been an amazing experience for us not only to be able to raise the fund necessary for carrying the research forward but also to reach out to the general public about this exciting scientific adventure. It is so reassuring for every one of us to get connected to people from all over the world who share the same curiosity and passion about fireflies and are willing […]
- [Tim's paper on firefly luciferin sulfotransferase is out.](https://wenglab.net/tims-paper-on-firefly-luciferin-sulfotransferase-is-out/): Tim’s paper on firefly luciferin sulfotransferase is out. Congrats!
- [Paul Schwein is off to graduate school at Harvard.](https://wenglab.net/paul-schwein-is-off-to-graduate-school-at-harvard/): We are saying goodbye to UROP student Paul Schwein, who will start graduate school at Harvard University this fall! Congratulations and Best wishes!
- [Jing-Ke Weng visited Birches School.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-visits-birches-school/): Jing-Ke Weng visited Birches School at Lincoln, MA to speak with 2nd – 5th grade students.
- [Weng lab research featured on Boston Globe.](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-research-covered-on-boston-globe/)
- [Joe Jacobowitz receives the 2016 NSF Graduate Fellowship.](https://wenglab.net/joe-jacobowitz-receives-the-2016-nsf-graduate-fellowship/): Joe Jacobowitz has been selected to receive the prestigious 2016 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. Congratulations!
- [Tomas Pluskal named a 2016 Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow.](https://wenglab.net/tomas-pluskal-named-a-2016-helen-hay-whitney-foundation-postdoctoral-fellow/): Tomas Pluskal is one of the 23 recipients of the 2016 Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. Congratulations!
- [Jing-Ke Weng named a 2016 Sloan Research Fellow.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-named-a-2016/): Jing-Ke Weng is named a 2016 Sloan Research Fellow in Computational & Evolutionary Molecular Biology.
- [Jing-Ke Weng presents to local high school students.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-presented-a-talk-to-local-high-school-students/): Jing-Ke Weng presented a talk titled “A personal approach towards natural sciences” to local high school students today at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, and shared his experience with the students about a career as a scientist.
- [Jing-Ke Weng's TEDx talk is available online.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-wengs-tedx-talk-is-available-online/): Jing-Ke Weng’s TEDx talk is available on Youtube now. Click here to view.
- [Dr. Roland Kersten joins the lab. Welcome!](https://wenglab.net/dr-roland-kersten-joins-the-lab-welcome/): Dr. Roland Kersten is a Life Sciences Research Foundation fellow, who joins us from San Diego after obtaining his PhD at UCSD working with Dr. Bradley Moore and Dr. Pieter Dorrestein and a short post doc at Salk Institute with Dr. Joseph Noel. Roland is an expert in marine natural products and metabolomics, and an advanced surfer. He has brought his surfboard with him all the way from California! He’ll explore new places to surf at the Atlantic coast. Welcome!
- [Dr. Tomas Pluskal joins the lab. Welcome!](https://wenglab.net/dr-tomas-pluskal-joins-the-lab-welcome/): Dr. Tomas Pluskal joins the lab as a postdoc associate. Tomas is a metabolomics guru, well known as the developer for MZmine 2, a very popular open-source software for mass-spectrometry data processing. Tomas came to us from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, where he did his PhD. Tomas is also a world-renowned martial artist in Karate trained with master Kiyohide Shinjo!
- [Jing-Ke Weng is scheduled to give a TEDx talk in November.](https://wenglab.net/jing-ke-weng-is-scheduled-to-give-a-tedx-talk-in-november/): Jing-Ke Weng is among the speakers for the 2015 TEDx Beacon Street conference, which is scheduled in November. Stay tuned.
- [Weng lab hosts Whitehead CampBio 2015 for middle school students.](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-hosts-whitehead-campbio-2015-for-middle-school-students/): Weng lab hosts three repeated science outreach sessions this summer as part of the Whitehead CampBio Program geared towards middle school students. The theme of this year’s activities is “Biology in Ecology”. The students will collect plants, insects, soil and water samples from Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, and analyze these samples in the lab. See photos of these fun activities here.
- [Weng lab welcomes summer intern student Maria Vicent Allende!](https://wenglab.net/weng-lab-welcomes-summer-intern-student-maria-vicent-allende/): Maria Vicent Allende, a sophomore from Williams College, joined the Weng lab as a summer intern through the Williams-Whitehead Summer Program to carry out research related to bioluminescence. Welcome!

## Pages

- [Lab Photos 2026](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2026/): 2026-08-07 2026 Zoe and Julianne’s farewell 2026-07-16 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Lonesome Lake 2026-06-26 2026 Lauren’s farewell 2026-06-23 2026 Weng Lab annual photo shoot 2026-05-27 2026 MIT Commencement 2026-05-22 The 3rd Symposium on Plant Biochemistry in Greater Boston
- [Lab Photos 2025](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2025/): 2025-12-07 Weng Lab end-of-year holiday party 2025-11-13 Weng Lab apple tasting party 2025-09-29 Erin’s farewell lunch 2025-09-27 Weng Lab end-of-summer party 2025-08-28 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Mount Cardigan 2025-07-25 Matthew’s PhD defense 2025-07-22 Weng Lab annual photo shoot and Elliot’s farewell 2025-06-20 GRC on Plant Metabolic Engineering, Barcelona, Spain 2025-06-08 Field trip to Alpaca farm at Belchertown, MA 2025-05-30 The 2nd Symposium on Plant Biochemistry in Greater Boston at Arnold Arboretum 2025-05-28 2025 MIT Commencement 2025-04-28 Erin’s PhD defense 2025-03-03 David’s secretive plant-tea tasting 2025-03-03 Wentao’s PhD defense 2025-02-13 Jenn’s farewell party
- [Lab Photos 2024](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2024/): 2024-12-15 Weng Lab end-of-year holiday party 2024-12-11 Trevor’s farewell lunch 2024-10-25 Weng lab field work trip 2024-10-22 Weng Lab annual photo shoot 2024-10-01 Weng Lab apple tasting party 2024-09-01 Weng Lab end-of-summer party 2024-08-05 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Lonesome Lake 2024-06-24 Weng Lab attending the 2024 ASPB meeting in Honolulu, HI 2024-05-29 2024 MIT Commencement 2024-03-08 Kate’s PhD defense 2024-02-11 Chinese New Year celebration 2024-02-06 Ilias farewell dinner
- [Lab Photos 2023](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2023/): 2023-12-11 Weng Lab end-of-the-year holiday party 2023-12-06 Weng Lab 2023 annual photo shoot 2023-12-05 Alumni Jack Liu and Mike Torrens-Spence’s lab visit 2023-09-28 Weng Lab annual retreat to Mount Willard and Moore Reservoir, NH 2023-09-16 Weng Lab summer party 2023-08-16 Weng Lab hosts 2023 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 2 2023-07-12 Weng Lab hosts 2023 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 1 2023-06-15 Fu-Shuang and Jenn won Spirit Award at the WI summer BBQ 2023-06-14 Weng Lab at the 2023 GRC on Plant Metabolic engineering in Barcelona, Spain 2023-05-31 2023 MIT Commencement 2023-04-24 Colin’s PhD thesis defense and celebration 2023-03-28 Lab celebration 2023-02-12 Weng […]
- [Lab Photos 2022](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2022/): 2022-12-17 Weng Lab end-of-the-year holiday party 2022-09-26 Sophia’s PhD thesis defense celebration 2022-09-16 Whitehead Institute annual retreat 2022-09-11 Weng Lab end-of-summer party and baby shower for Menglong 2022-05-03 Post-prelim celebration for Julie 2022-04-12 Weng Lab annual retreat to Windham, VT
- [Lab Photos 2021](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2021/): 2021-12-11 Weng Lab 2021 holiday party   2021-10-08 Post-prelim celebration for Carly 2021-09-24 Annual Whitehead Retreat 2021-09-02 Weng Lab 2021 annual photo shoot 2021-08-11 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Mount Pierce 2021-06-11 First in-person lab meeting this year 2021-06-11 Weng Lab first post-COVID Friday happy hour
- [Lab Photos](https://wenglab.net/lab-photos/)
- [Lab Photos 2020](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2020/): 2020-10-09 Outdoor celebration for Mike and Joe 2020-02-21 Weng Lab reunion in Japan 2020-01-12 Weng Lab ski trip to Okemo, VT
- [Lab Photos 2019](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2019/): 2019-12-07 Weng Lab 2019 holiday party 2019-08-07 Weng Lab hosts 2019 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 2 2019-07-26 Weng Lab 2019 annual photo shoot 2019-07-23 Weng Lab summer retreat to the White Mountains – Mount Lafayette 2019-07-10 Weng Lab hosts 2019 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 1 2019-06-15 Gordon Conference in Lucca, Italy 2019-06-06 MIT Investiture of Doctoral Hoods and Degree Conferral 2019-05 Weng Lab celebrates for the graduation season of the year 2019-03-13 Weng Lab hosting Acton-Boxborough RHS students 2019-01-28 Weng Lab ski trip to Killington, VT
- [Lab Photos 2018](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2018/): 2018-12-02 Weng Lab 2018 holiday party 2018-11-30 Post-defense celebration for the newly minted Dr. Levsh 2018-08-29 Farewell to Bastien and August birthday celebration 2018-08-14 Gordon Conference on Molecular Structure Elucidation, Newry, ME 2018-08-06 Weng lab 2018 annual photo shoot 2018-07-29 Farewell party for Bastien 2018-07-23 Weng Lab annual summer retreat to Charlemont, MA 2018-07-17 Weng Lab hosts 2018 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 1 2018-06-27 Bastien winning the Spirit Award at the Whitehead annual BBQ 2018-05-28 The 20th International Symposium on Bioluminescence at Nantes, France 2018-05-17 Jack Liu wins the 2018 MIT Biology Merck Prize 2018-03-16 March birthday celebration 2018-01-08 Weng Lab […]
- [Lab Photos 2017](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2017/): 2017-12-17 Weng Lab 2017 holiday party 2017-11-08 Oyster party 2017-09-24 Jing-Ke Weng participates in a panel discussion after “Food Evolution” screening at the Coolidge Corner Theater 2017-09-04 End-of-summer BBQ party at Jing-Ke’s house 2017-08-17 Weng Lab annual summer retreat to the Saco River 2017-08-16 Weng Lab hosts 2017 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 3 2017-08-09 Weng Lab hosts 2017 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 2 2017-07-13 Visit to Flume Gorge during Gordon Conference in New Hampshire 2017-07-12 Weng Lab hosts 2017 Whitehead Expedition: Bio Session 1 2017-07-07 Weng lab 2017 annual photo shoot and birthday celebration for Bena and Cindy 2017-04-25 Gehring and […]
- [Weng Lab over the years](https://wenglab.net/people/weng-lab-over-the-years/): 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
- [Lab Photos 2016](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2016/): 2016-11-30 Weng Lab Thanksgiving potluck dinner party 2016-11-09 Celebration for Olesya’s HCT dynamics paper 2016-11-04 Jing-Ke presents 造就TALK at the China National Gene Bank 2016-09-15 Weng Lab discusses GMO with the general public at Science by the Pint 2016-08-24 Anastassia’s farewell dinner 2016-08-22 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Lonesome Lake 2016-08-16 Gordon Conference at Mount Snow 2016-08-10 Weng Lab hosts 2016 Whitehead CampBio 2016-08-07 Glowing firefly eggs 2016-07-26 Weng lab 2016 annual photo shoot 2016-06-15 Celebration for Tim’s first firefly paper 2016-06-03 Live from the 2016 MIT commencement 2016-05-31 American glowworm collection trip to the Wharton Conservation […]
- [Lab Photos 2015](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2015/): 2015-12-10 Weng lab 2015 annual photo shoot 2015-11-21 Thanksgiving dinner at Jing-Ke’s house 2015-11-15 Jing-Ke Weng delivers a TED talk during the 2015 TEDx Beacon Street Annual Conference 2015-11-04 Jing-Ke Weng shares his experiences with Everett High School students at MassBioEd Career Exploration Day 2015-08-26 Weng Lab hosts 2015 Whitehead CampBio Session 3 2015-08-12 Weng Lab hosts 2015 Whitehead CampBio Session 2 2015-07-22 Weng Lab hosts 2015 Whitehead CampBio Session 1 2015-06-09 Weng Lab annual retreat to the White Mountains – Zealand Falls 2015-05-04 Anastassia won the 2015 Merck Prize from the MIT Department of Biology 2015-04-15 Ellychnia hunting at Belmont […]
- [Discovery and engineering of plant natural product biosynthesis](https://wenglab.net/research/discovery-and-engineering-of-plant-natural-product-biosynthesis/): Investigating unknown medicinal plant natural product biosynthetic mechanisms has long been an interest of our lab. Unlike natural product biosynthetic genes in microbes, which often form biosynthetic gene clusters, genes in plant specialized metabolic pathways are, more often than not, scatter across the genome. This makes gene discovery for plant natural product biosynthetic pathways particularly challenging. To overcome this difficulty, we leverage state-of-the-art metabolomics and genomics technologies, along with comprehensive computational approaches, to identify candidate genes involved in a metabolic trait of interest. These candidate genes are then functionally examined both in vitro and in vivo. This line of work not […]
- [Lab Photos 2013](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2013/): The awesome aquarium on the 3rd floor Whitehead greenhouse on the 7th floor: the secret roof garden Weng Lab: from design to completion
- [Lab Photos 2014](https://wenglab.net/people/lab-photos-2014/): 2014-11-22 Thanksgiving dinner at Jing-Ke’s house 2014-11-05 Weng lab’s first beam line trip to the Argonne National Laboratory 2014-10-15 Firefly larvae hunting in Concord, MA 2014-09-14 Lobster feast at the 2014 annual Whitehead Retreat in Waterville Valley, NH 2014-09-04 Natural product extraction from French lilac—a plant that was used to treat diabetes in Medieval times 2014-09-01 Crystallization trials yield protein precipitation into the shape of a brain 2014-08-22 Weng lab hosting Science Outreach for local middle school students 2014-07-21 Lab retreat to Blue Hills Reservations 2014-07-17 Weng lab annual photo shoot 2014-07-16 Weng lab and Gehring lab hosting the Plant Biology […]
- [Alumni](https://wenglab.net/people/alumni/): Name Tenure in the lab Last known Julianne Chang July, 2026 – Aug, 2026 Summer research intern High school student, IMSA Zoe Paley Jun, 2026 – Aug, 2026 Summer research intern Undergraduate student, Colby College Lauren Piasecki Jan, 2025 – Jun, 2026 UROP + Technician PhD student, University of Michigan Jade Dai May, 2025 – Apr, 2026 UROP Undergraduate student, Northeastern Sophia Kolodney May, 2025 – Apr, 2026 UROP Undergraduate student, Northeastern Azam Noori July – Dec, 2026 Visiting faculty Associate Professor, Merrimack College Erin Reynolds Oct, 2019 – Oct, 2025 PhD student Postdoc, University of Pittsburgh Jason Matos Nov, 2019 […]
- [Biased hormones and complex signaling](https://wenglab.net/research/biased-hormones-and-complex-signaling/): Traditional views of cell signaling often depict hormone perception mechanisms as simple on-off switches in a one-ligand-one-receptor model, wherein a particular receptor protein is activated solely by its pairing hormone with perfected binding kinetics. However, an increasing body of evidences suggests that hormone-receptor interactions in vivo are more sophisticated than previously thought, which may involve dynamic interactions between a series of structurally related hormone molecules and a family of divergent receptor proteins subject to spatial and temporal regulation. Hormone metabolism not only gives rise to the biosynthesis of one active hormone form, but also yield a series of related metabolites, including […]
- [Enzyme evolvability and design](https://wenglab.net/research/enzyme-evolvability-and-design/): Specialized metabolic enzymes originated from primary metabolism, yet their catalytic properties differ significantly from their counterparts in primary metabolism. Whereas primary metabolic enzymes are highly specific and exhibit low levels of mechanistic elasticity, specialized metabolic enzymes, on average, display greater catalytic promiscuity and evolvability. Comparative study of structurally related primary and specialized metabolic enzyme families offers unique opportunities to unveil determining factors of enzyme evolvability. Combining structural biology, biochemistry, computational chemistry, and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches, we aim to decipher design principles that govern important parameters regarding enzyme evolution, such as protein folding stability and catalytic properties. We aim to leverage […]
- [Protein and RNA aggregation in plants](https://wenglab.net/research/protein-and-rna-aggregation-in-plants/): Random mutations are generally thought to have deleterious effects on protein folding and function. Although proteins are marginally stable and exhibit a level of mutational robustness, they do misfold under excessive environmental stresses or mutations. In human, continual aggregation of certain misfolded proteins could lead to pathology, including many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington (HD), Parkinson’s, and the prion maladies. In addition to proteins, it was recently discovered that RNA in a cell is also susceptible to aggregation. Base-pairing mediated clustering of RNA contributes to the pathology of nucleotide repeat expansion diseases such as HD, myotonic dystrophy, and certain forms […]
- [Deciphering herbal medicines and food chemistry](https://wenglab.net/research/deciphering-herbal-medicines-and-food-chemistry/): Plants have long been recognized for their pharmacological properties as evidenced by the extensive use of herbal medicines and tonics by many indigenous cultures. The earliest documentation of herb-based treatments appeared in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica) in 2737 BC. Despite a long history of herbal remedies, the scientific basis underpinning their efficacy in treating various maladies is lacking. Except for a limited number of successful cases, individual compounds isolated from their host species often lack expected therapeutic activities, a phenomenon previously attributed to matrix effect. In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, a prescription typically consists of […]
- [Contact](https://wenglab.net/contact/)
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- [Publications](https://wenglab.net/publications/): †Co-first authors; *Co-corresponding authors; Weng Lab member names are bolded. 2026 107.   Cheng X, Seo S, Huh C, Chen J, Jiang S, Guo P, Weng JK, Kim WY, Jin W. (2026) Elucidating enzyme–substrate specificity through co-folding foundation model. (Submitted) Preprint at bioRxiv: 2026.07.30.741672. 106.   Chen Y, Withers J, Sun Y, Chen T, Karapetyan S, Draken J, Xiang Y, Yuan Y, He Y, Dröge-Laser W, Weng JK, Dong X. (2026) Salicylic acid engages central metabolic regulators SnRK1 and TOR to govern immunity by differential phosphorylation of NPR1. Cell. (In press) 105.   Wang R, Manjrekar M, Mahjour B, Avila-Pacheco J, […]
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