Publications


Epithelial sodium channels assemble in an orderly manner: Biology does not play dice.

Pellizzari S, Cao E.

Structure. 2025 Feb 6;33(2):215-217. PMID: 39919711


Structural basis for human NKCC1 inhibition by loop diuretic drugs

Zhao Y, Vidossich P, Forbush B, Ma J, Rinehart J, De Vivo M, Cao E.

EMBO J. 28 Jan 2025. PMID: 39875725


Structural bases for Na+-Cl- cotransporter inhibition by thiazide diuretic drugs and activation by kinases

Zhao Y, Schubert H, Blakely A, Forbush B, Smith MD, Rinehart J, Cao E.

Nat Commun. 2024 Aug 14;15(1):7006. PMID: 39143061


Cilia-enriched oxysterol 7β,27-DHC is required for polycystin ion channel activation

Ha K, Mundt-Machado N, Bisignano P, Pinedo A, Raleigh DR, Loeb G, Reiter JF, Cao E, Delling M.

Nat Commun. 2024 Jul 31;15(1):6468. PMID: 39085216


Cation Chloride Cotransporter NKCC1 Operates through a Rocking-Bundle Mechanism

Ruiz Munevar MJ, Rizzi V, Portioli C, Vidossich P, Cao E, Parrinello M, Cancedda L, De Vivo M.

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Jan 10;146(1):552-566. PMID: 38146212


Structural Pharmacology of Cation-Chloride Cotransporters

Zhao Y, Cao E.

Membranes (Basel). 2022 Nov 29;12(12):1206. PMID: 36557113


Structure of the human cation-chloride cotransport KCC1 in an outward-open state

Zhao Y, Shen J, Wang Q, Ruiz Munevar MJ, Vidossich P, De Vivo M, Zhou M, Cao E.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jul 5;119(27):e2109083119. PMID: 35759661


Structural basis for inhibition of the Cation-chloride cotransporter NKCC1 by the diuretic drug bumetanide

Zhao Y, Roy K, Vidossich P, Cancedda L, De Vivo M, Forbush B, Cao E.

Nat Commun. 2022 May 18;13(1):2747. PMID: 35585053


The heteromeric PC-1/PC-2 polycystin complex is activated by the PC-1 N-terminus

Ha K, Nobuhara M, Wang Q, Walker RV, Qian F, Schartner C, Cao E, Delling M.

eLife. 2020; 9: e60684. PMID: 33164752


Molecular dysregulation of ciliary polycystin-2 channels caused by variants in the TOP domain

Vien TN, Wang J, Ng LCT, Cao E, DeCaen P

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Apr 24. PMID: 32332171



Structure of the human cation–chloride cotransporter NKCC1 determined by single-particle electron cryo-microscopy

Xiaoyong Yang, Qinzhe Wang & Erhu Cao

Nature Communications volume 11, Article number: 1016 (2020). PMID: 32081947


Hydrophobic pore gates regulate ion permeation in polycystic kidney disease 2 and 2L1 channels

Zheng W, Yang X, Hu R, Cai R, Hofmann L, Wang Z, Hu Q, Liu X, Bulkley D, Yu Y, Tang J, Flockerzi V, Cao Y, Cao E, Chen XZ.

Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 13;9(1):2302. PMID: 29899465


The Structure of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Channel PKD2 in Lipid Nanodiscs

Shen PS, Yang X, DeCaen PG, Liu X, Bulkley D, Clapham DE, Cao E

Cell. 2016 Oct 20;167(3):763-773. PMID: 27768895

Earlier Research

TRPV1 structures in nanodiscs reveal mechanisms of ligand and lipid action

Gao Y, Cao E, Julius D, Cheng Y
Nature. 2016 Jun 16;534(7607):347-51.
PMID: 27281200

Single particle electron cryo-microscopy of a mammalian ion channel

Liao M, Cao E, Julius D, Cheng Y.
Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2014 Aug;27:1-7.
Epub 2014 Mar 25. Review.
PMID: 24681231

TRPV1 structures in distinct conformations reveal activation mechanisms

Cao E, Liao M, Cheng Y, Julius D.
Nature. 2013 Dec 5;504(7478):113-8.
PMID: 24305161

Structure of the TRPV1 ion channel determined by electron cryo-microscopy 

Liao M, Cao E, Julius D, Cheng Y.
Nature. 2013 Dec 5;504(7478):107-12.
PMID: 24305160

TRPV1 channels are intrinsically heat sensitive and negatively regulated by phosphoinositide lipids

Cao E, Cordero-Morales JF, Liu B, Qin F, Julius D.
Neuron. 2013 Feb 20;77(4):667-79.
PMID: 23439120

Crystal structure of the complex between programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L2

Lázár-Molnár E, Yan Q, Cao E, Ramagopal U, Nathenson SG, Almo SC.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jul 29;105(30):10483-8. Epub 2008 Jul 18.
PMID: 18641123

Structure of CD84 provides insight into SLAM family function

Yan Q, Malashkevich VN, Fedorov A, Fedorov E, Cao E, Lary JW, Cole JL, Nathenson SG, Almo SC.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 19;104(25):10583-8. Epub 2007 Jun 11.
PMID: 17563375

T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 crystal structure reveals a galectin-9-independent ligand-binding surface

Cao E, Zang X, Ramagopal UA, Mukhopadhaya A, Fedorov A, Fedorov E, Zencheck WD, Lary JW, Cole JL, Deng H, Xiao H, Dilorenzo TP, Allison JP, Nathenson SG, Almo SC.
Immunity. 2007 Mar;26(3):311-21.
PMID: 17363302.

NTB-A receptor crystal structure: insights into homophilic interactions in the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule receptor family

Cao E, Ramagopal UA, Fedorov A, Fedorov E, Yan Q, Lary JW, Cole JL, Nathenson SG, Almo SC.
Immunity. 2006 Oct;25(4):559-70.
PMID: 17045824

Gene cluster responsible for validamycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. jinggangensis 5008 

Yu Y, Bai L, Minagawa K, Jian X, Li L, Li J, Chen S, Cao E, Mahmud T, Floss HG, Zhou X, Deng Z.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 Sep;71(9):5066-76.
PMID: 16151088

Structural and functional analysis of the costimulatory receptor programmed death-1

Zhang X, Schwartz JC, Guo X, Bhatia S, Cao E, Lorenz M, Cammer M, Chen L, Zhang ZY, Edidin MA, Nathenson SG, Almo SC.
Immunity. 2004 Mar;20(3):337-47. Erratum in: Immunity. 2004 May;20(5):651.
PMID: 15030777