He Tian

Presented by Thomas P. Sakmar

B.S., Peking University

Development of Novel Chemical Biology Tools for Probing  Structure-Function Relationships in G Protein Coupled Receptors

It is a challenge to describe chemistry in narrative form. Chemistry is a way of thinking. Chemistry is intellectually challenging—it has a practice and formality that dates back hundreds of years. Physiological chemistry and chemical biology are more recent formulations of the field—perhaps only about 60 years old. Chemical biology really began when it became possible to synthesize in the laboratory molecules that have activity in living systems. And now chemical biology has paved the way for synthetic biology; not just making molecules that function in living systems, but building up the molecules that define living systems.

For the past five years, He Tian has been at the forefront of a revolution of protein engineering. Her thesis work involved expanding the genetic code to produce complex signaling proteins in cells with unique and useful chemical properties. She advanced a methodology to introduce fluorescent tags at defined sites in specific protein receptors on cells. When the receptors are lit up, it’s possible to see where they are, what drugs they bind to, and for how long. Working with my faculty colleague, Thomas Huber, Tian dramatically advanced a field called site-specific bioorthogonal labeling, and their approach is already being used by perhaps 50 labs and pharmaceutical companies around the world to discover new therapeutic drugs. Last week she had a cover article in a leading chemical biology journal, just in time for Convocation, and in time to be able to celebrate here today with her parents from China.

Tian worked hard to make it to Beijing University on a scholarship, and then to compete in an MIT-sponsored international biotechnology competition, and then during her time here at Rockefeller to make so many brilliant experimental advances and innovations.  In her spare time she is an avid photographer, and her online photo album has received nearly half a million views. As she decides between Boston and San Francisco for the next phase in her career, I can say that as much as I respect the chemistry, I also respect the chemist, the thoughtful innovator, the student apprentice turned master chemical biologist.