Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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CUHK > Department of Biology > People: Teaching Staffs |

Prof Sai Ming NGAI

Address:	Room EG05, Science Centre, CUHK (Off)
	Room EG08, Science Centre, CUHK (Lab)
Phone:	(852) 2609-6025 (Off)
	(852) 3163-4086 (Lab)
Fax:	(852) 2603-5745
E-mail:	smngai@cuhk.edu.hk

Education
1988-1994	PhD (University of Alberta), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1984-1986	BSc (Biochemistry), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Position
2009-present	Associate Professor (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
2002-2009	Assistant Professor (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
2001	Senior Vice President (GreaterChina Technology Group Ltd)
1997-2001	Bioinformatics Specialist (Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
1996-1997	Postdoctoral Fellow (Dept of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
1994-1996	Research Associate (Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Concurrent Position
2004-present	Part-time Professor (Peking University, China)
2003-present	Director, Chinese Medicinal Fungal Proteomics Laboratory

Research Interest
1. Bioinformatics and Proteomics
2. Protein/peptide structural and functional studies
3. Research and development on Modern Chinese Medicine

Representative Publications
1.	Seto, S.W., Lam, T.Y., Or, P.M., Lee, W.Y., Au, A.L., Poon, C.C., Li, R.W., Chan, S.W., Yeung, J.H., Leung, G.P., Lee, S.M., Ngai, S.M. and Kwan, Y.W. (2009) Folic acid consumption reduces resistin level and restores blunted acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation in obese/diabetic mice. J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Oct 30. [Epub ahead of print]
2.	Cui, S., Hu, J., Yang, B., Shi, L., Huang, F., Tsai, S.N., Ngai, S.M., He, Y. and Zhang, J. (2009) Proteomic characterization of Phragmites communis in ecotypes of swamp and desert dune. Proteomics. 2009 Aug 21; 9(16):3950-3967. [Epub ahead of print]
3.	Ma, Y., Yu, J., Chan, H.L., Chen, Y.C., Wang, H., Chen, Y., Chan, C.Y., Go, M.Y., Tsai, S.N., Ngai, S.M., To, K.F., Tong, J.H., He, Q.Y., Sung, J.J., Kung, H.F., Cheng, C.H. and He, M.L. (2009) Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 Is an Intracellular Antiviral Factor against Hepatitis B Virus. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2009 Aug 11. [Epub ahead of print].
4.	Wu, T., Yuan, T., Tsai, S.N., Wang, C., Sun, S.M., Lam, H.M. and Ngai, S.M. (2009) Mass spectrometry analysis of the variants of histone H3 and H4 of soybean and their post-translational modifications. BMC Plant Biol. 2009 Jul 31; 9(1):98. [Epub ahead of print].
5.	Lam, T.Y., Seto, S.W., Au, A.L., Poon, C.C., Lam, A.H., Lau, M.W., Chan, S.W., Ngai, S.M., Leung, G.P., Lee, S.M., Tsui, S.K. and Kwan, Y.W. (2009) Folic Acid Supplementation Modifies {beta}-Adrenoceptor-Mediated in vitro Lipolysis of the Obese/Diabetic (+db/+db) Mice. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2009 Jul 13. [Epub ahead of print].
6.	Wang, C.M., Tsai, S.N., Yew, T.W., Kwan, Y.W. and Ngai, S.M. (2009) Identification of histone methylation multiplicities patterns in the brain of senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8. Biogerontology. 2009 May 12. [Epub ahead of print].
7.	Shao, J., Xu, D., Tsai, S.N., Wang, Y. and Ngai, S.M. (2009) Computational identification of protein methylation sites through bi-profile Bayes feature extraction. PLoS ONE. 2009; 4(3):e4920. Epub 2009 Mar 17.
8.	Seto, S.W., Lam, H.Y., Lau, W.S., Au, A.L., Lam, T.Y., Chim, S.S., Ngai, S.M., Chan, S.W., Leung, T.Y., Yeung, J.H., Kong, S.K., Leung, G.P., Lee, S.M. and Kwan, Y.W. (2009) Role of monoamine oxidases in the exaggerated 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced tension development of human isolated preeclamptic umbilical artery. Eur J Pharmacol. 605: 129-137.
9.	Li, G., Zhang, X.A., Wang, H., Wang, X., Meng, C.L., Chan, C.Y., Yew, D.T., Tsang, K.S., Li, K., Tsai, S.N., Ngai, S.M., Han, Z.C., Lin, M.C., He, M.L. and Kung, H.F. (2009) Comparative proteomic analysis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow, umbilical cord, and placenta: implication in the migration. Proteomics 9: 20-30.
10.	Seto, S.W., Lam, T.Y., Tam, H.L., Au, A.L., Chan, S.W., Wu, J.H., Yu, P.H., Leung, G.P., Ngai, S.M., Yeung, J.H., Leung, P.S., Lee, S.M. and Kwan, Y.W. (2008) Novel hypoglycemic effects of Ganoderma lucidum water-extract in obese/diabetic (+db/+db) mice. Phytomedicine. 2008 Dec 22. [Epub ahead of print].
11.	Chu, L.H.M., Chan, S.H., Tsai, S.N., Wang, Y., Cheng, C.H.K., Wong, K.B., Waye, M.M.Y. and Ngai, S.M. (2008) Fusion core structure of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV): In Search of potent SARS-CoV entry inhibitors. J. Cell Biochem. 104: 2335-2347.
12.	Qi, Y.J., He, Q.Y., Ma, Y.F., Du, Y.W., Liu, G.C., Li, Y.J., Tsao, G.S., Ngai, S.M. and Chiu, J.F. (2008) Proteomic identification of malignant transformation-related proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Cell Biochem 104: 1625-1635.
13.	Fu, L., Qin, Y.R., Xie, D., Chow, H.Y., Ngai, S.M., Kwong, D.L., Li, Y. and Guan, X.Y. (2007) Identification of alpha-actinin 4 and 67 kDa laminin receptor as stage-specific markers in esophageal cancer via proteomic approaches. Cancer 110: 2672-2681.
14.	Chen, Y., Lin, M.C., Wang, H., Chan, C.Y., Jiang, L., Ngai, S.M., Yu, J., He, M.L., Shaw, P.C., Yew, D.T., Sung, J.J. and Kung, H.F. (2007) Proteomic analysis of EZH2 downstream target proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma. Proteomics 7(17): 3097-3104.
15.	Seto, S.W., Lam, T.Y., Leung, G.P., Au, A.L., Ngai, S.M., Chan, S.W. and Kwan, Y.W. (2007) Comparison of vascular relaxation, lipolysis and glucose uptake by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activation in +db/+m and +db/+db mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2007 Jun 14; [Epub ahead of print]
16.	Kwok, C.S.Y., Siu, A.F. Ngai, S.M., Che, C.M. and Tsang J.S.H. (2007) Proteomic analysis of Burkholderia cepacia MBA4 in the degradation of monochloroacetate. Proteomics. 2007 Mar 13; [Epub ahead of print].
17.	Mak, A.N.S., Fung, W.T., Kong, K.P.S., Poon, A.W.S., Ngai, S.M. and Shaw, P.C. (2007) Characterization of the large subunit of EcoHK31I methyltransferase by structural modeling and mutagenesis. Biological Chemistry 388(3): 265-271.
18.	Ang, I.L., Poon, T.C.W., Lai, P.B.S., Chan, A.T.C., Ngai, S.M., Hui, A.Y., Johnson, P.J. and Sung, J.J.Y. (2006) Study of Serum Haptoglobin and its Glycoforms in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma – A Glycoproteomic Approach. Journal of Proteome Research 5: 2691-2700.
19.	Lam, T.Y., Seto, S.W., Lau, Y.M., Au, L.S., Kwan, Y.W., Ngai, S.M. and Tsui, K.W. (2006) Impairment of the vascular relaxation and differential expression of caveolin-1 of the aorta of diabetic +db/+db mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2006 Jul 13; [Epub ahead of print].
20.	Chu, L.H.M., Choy, W.Y., Tsai, S.N., Rao, Z. and Ngai, S.M. (2006) Rapid peptide-based screening on the substrate specificity of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 3C-like protease by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Protein Science 15: 699-709.
21.	Ha, W.Y., Wu, P.K., Kok, T.W., Leung, K.W., Mak, N.K., Yue, P.Y., Ngai, S.M., Tsai, S.N. and Wong, R.N. (2006) Involvement of protein kinase C and E2F-5 in euxanthone-induced neurite differentiation of neuroblastoma. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 38:1393-401. [Epub 2006 Mar 2.]
22.	Seto, S.W., Kwan, Y.W. and Ngai, S.M. (2006) Modulatory effect by interleukin-1 beta of rat isolated basilar artery contraction. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 531: 238-45.
23.	Bikkavilli, R.K., Tsang, S.Y., Tang, W.M., Sun, J.X., Ngai, S.M., Lee, S.S.T., Ko, W.H., Wise, H. and Cheung, W.T. (2006) Identification and characterization of surrogate peptide ligand for orphan G protein-coupled receptor Mas using phage-displayed peptide library. Biochemical Pharmacology 71: 319-37.
24.	Pang, R.T., Poon, T.C., Chan, K.C., Lee, N.L., Chiu, R.W., Tong, Y.K., Wong, R.M., Chim, S.S., Ngai, S.M., Sung, J.J., Lo, Y.M. (2006) Serum proteomic fingerprints of adult patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Clinical Chemistry 52: 421-9.
25.	Yin, Y., Liu, C., Tsai, S.N., Zhou, B., Ngai, S.M., and Zhu, G. (2005) SET8 recognizes the sequence RHRK20VLRDN within the n-terminus of histone H4 and mono-methylates Lysine 20. J Biol. Chem. 280: 30025-30031.
26.	Lo, A.S.Y., Liew, C.T., Ngai, S.M., Tsui, S.K.W., Fung, K.P., Lee, C.Y. and Waye, M.M.Y. (2004) Developmental regulation and cellular distribution of human cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1). J. Cell Biochem. 94: 763-773.
27.	Au, A.L., Kwok, C.C., Lee, A.T., Kwan, Y.W., Lee, M.M., Zhang, R.Z., Ngai, S.M., Lee, S.M., He, G.W., and Fung, K.P. (2004) Activation of iberiotoxin-sensitive, Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels of porcine isolated left anterior descending coronary artery by diosgenin. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 502: 123-133.
28.	Choy, W.Y., Lin, S.G., Chan, P.K.S., Tam, J.S.L., Lo, D.Y.M., Chu, I.M.T., Tsai, S.N., Zhong, M.Q., Fung, K.P., Waye, M.M.Y., Tsui, S.K.W., Ng, K.O., Shan, Z.X., Yang, M., Wu, Y.L., Lin, Z.Y. and Ngai, S.M. (2004) Synthetic peptide studies on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus spike glycoprotein: perspective for SARS vaccine development. Clinical Chemistry 50: 1036-1042.
29.	Ng, E.K.O., Lee, S.M.Y., Wong, C.H., Ngai, S.M., Tsui, S.K.W., Waye, M.M.Y, Lee, C.Y. and Fung, K.P. (2002) Interaction of FHL1B, a LIM domain protein with a LIM-only domain protein, FHL3 J. Cell Biochem. ;84: 556-566.
30.	Ng, E.K.O., Lee, S.M.Y., Li, H.Y., Ngai, S.M., Tsui, S.K.W., Waye, M.M.Y., Lee, C.Y., and Fung, K.P. (2001) Characterization of tissue-specific LIM domain protein (FHL1C) which is an alternatively spliced isoform of a human LIM-only protein (FHL1). J. Cell Biochem.82: 1-10.
31.	Ngai, S.M., Pearlstone J.R., Farah C.S., Reinach F.C., Smillie L.B. and Hodges, R.S. (2001) Studies on interactions between troponin I and troponin C. J. Cell Biochem. 83: 33-46.
32.	Ngai, S.M., Pearlstone J.R., Smillie L.B. and Hodges, R.S. (2001) Characterization of the Interaction between troponin C and the troponin I n-terminal regulatory peptides. J. Cell Biochem. 83: 99-110.
33.	Ngai, S.M., Waye, M.M.Y., Chan, H., Tsui, S.K.W., Lee, C.Y., and Fung, K.P. (2000) In silico studies of energy metabolism of normal and diseased heart. Molecular Biology Reports 27: 123-128.
34.	Kotaka, M., Ngai, S.M., Kostin, S., Chan, K.K., Lau, Y.M., Lee, S.M., Li, H.Y., Ng, E.K., Schaper, J., Tsui, S.K., Fung, K.P., Lee, C.Y., and Waye, M.M. (2000) Interaction of hCLIM1, an enigma family protein, with alpha-actinin 2. J. Cell Biochem. 78: 558-565.
35.	Chan, K.K., Tsui, S.K., Ngai, S.M., Lee, S.M., Kotaka, M., Waye, M.M., Lee, C.Y., and Fung, K.P. (2000) Protein-protein interaction of FHL2, a LIM domain protein preferentially expressed in human heart, with hCDC47. J. Cell Biochem. 76: 499-508.
36.	Luk, S.C., Ngai, S.M., Tsui, S.K., Fung, K.P., Lee, C.Y., and Waye, M.M. (1999) In vivo and in vitro association of 14-3-3 epsilon isoform with calmodulin: implication for signal transduction and cell proliferation. J. Cell Biochem. 73: 31-35.
37.	Kotaka, M., Ngai, S.M., Garcia-Barcelo, M., Tsui, S.K., Fung, K.P., Lee, C.Y., and Waye, M.M. (1999) Characterization of the human 36-kDa carboxyl terminal LIM domain protein (hCLIM1). J. Cell Biochem. 72: 279-285.
38.	Luk, S.C., Ngai, S.M., Tsui, S.K., Chan, K.K., Fung, K.P., Lee, C.Y., and Waye, M.M.Y. (1998) Developmental regulation of 14-3-3 epsilon isoform in rat heart. J. Cell Biochem. 68: 195-199.
39.	Ngai, S.M., Shen, J.H. and Tsong, T.Y. (1996) Comparative study of helix stability in synthetic peptides and in staphylococcal nuclease (SNase). Abstract for the Asian Pacific Society of Bioscientists, Second International Symposium and Workshop, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong. 8-11 July. (pp. 140).
40.	Ngai, S.M., Sonnichsen, F.D. and Hodges, R.S. (1994) Photochemical cross-linking between native rabbit skeletal troponin C and benzoylbenzoyl-troponin I inhibitory peptide, residues 104-115. In "Peptide: Chemistry, Structure and Biology: Proceeding of the Thirteenth American Peptide Symposium" (Eds. Robert S. Hodges and John A. Smith) ESCOM Science Publishers B. V. pp. 951-953.
41.	Ngai, S.M., Sonnichsen, F.D. and Hodges, R.S. (1993) Photochemical cross-linking between native rabbit skeletal troponin C and benzoylbenzoyl-troponin I inhibitory peptide, residues 104-115. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 2165-2172.
42.	Ngai, S.M. and Hodges, R.S. (1992) Biologically important interactions between synthetic peptides of the n-terminal region of TnI and TnC. J. Biol. Chem. 267: 15715-15720.
43.	Hodges, R.S., Burke, T.W.L., Mant C.T., and Ngai, S.M. (1991) Preparative reversed-phase gradient elution chromatography on an analytical column. In "High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Peptides and Proteins: Separation, Analysis and Conformation" (Eds. C.T. Mant and R.S. Hodges) CRC Press, Inc. pp. 773-782.

GRANT RECORD
Details of on-going and completed research projects funded from all (RGC and non-RGC) sources:

	Project Title	PI/Co-I	Funding Source(s) and Amount (HK$)	Start Date	(Expected) Completion Date
1.	Establishment of a Chinese Medicinal Fungal Proteomic Laboratory	PI	Industry/HK$2500,000	01/09/02	On-going
2.	Protein Characterization Studies in Cordyceps	PI	Direct grant/ HK$100,000	31/12/02	03/12/03
3.	Biochemical analysis of Dribble, a single KH domain-containing protein	Co-I	Direct grant/ HK$150,000	01/01/03	31/12/04
4.	Emergency SARS Research Fund (Peptide synthesis)	PI	RGC/HK$100,000	01/07/03	31/08/03
5.	Establishment of a SARS protein/peptide library and an antibody phage display library as common platforms for biological and medical applications	Co-I	RGC, Special Grant for SARS research/ HK$800,000	01/10/03	30/09/03
6.	Chinese medicinal fungal genomics/proteomics databases compilation and Modernization of Chinese medicine	PI	Industry/HK$150,000	01/07/03	30/06/04
7.	Proteomic Approach for Specific Identification of SUMO Proteases Substrates	Co-I	RGC/HK$718,957	01/07/05	30/06/07
8.	Identification of T-cell Epitopes in Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus to Provide a Foundation for Developing Peptide-based Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccines against Cervical Cancer	Co-I	RGC/HK$706,957	01/07/05	30/06/07

PATENT

Synthetic peptide based vaccine development on Coronaviral proteome: Viral protein/peptide structural and function studies (US provisional patent# 60/487,396; filing date is 14th July, 2003)

Last updated:November 13, 2009