Speaker

AFFILIATION:

Department of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia

POSITION TITLE:

Associate Professor

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

University of California, Los Angeles  Postdoc 2011 Prostate cancer Biology

University of Tennessee, Knoxville  Ph.D. 2006 Microbiology

International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Delft, the Netherlands  Master 1998 Environmental Science and Technology

Nanjing University, P.R. China  Master 1992 Environmental Biology

Wenzhou Teachers’ College, P. R. China  B.A. 1987 Biology

HONORS:

2024 Meritorious service award (Outstanding and Dedicated Service, 2013-2023), College of Pharmacy, UGA

2019 – 2020 Seed grant funding from the Randy Ellison Cancer Research Endowment, the Wright Advanced Education Program for Cancer Endowment and the Dean’s Special Projects Fund.

2018 – 2019 Seed grant funding from the Randy Ellison Cancer Research Endowment

2017 – 2018 Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Travel Grants Program

2016 – 2017 UGA-AU Seed Grant Program, "Identification of myristoyl-CoA analogs for targeting myristoylation of Src kinase and its oncogenic potential&rdquo"

2008 – 2009 Department of Defense (DOD) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Prostate Cancer Training Award

2006 Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society

2006 Science Alliance Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement, UTK

1997 – 1999 National Natural Science Foundation Award (China)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

The goal of my lab is to interrogate the molecular mechanisms in facilitation of tumor progression and provide the scientific rationale for cancer treatment. Numerous oncogenic proteins require fatty acyl modifications to carry out their functions in cancer cells.  Protein acylation, including myristoylation and palmitoylation, is particularly essential for leading these proteins to the correct location at the cytoplasmic membrane, thereby facilitating molecular functions. We use state-of-the-art techniques to:

1. Manufacture extracellular vesicles encapsulating CRISPR machinery for treatment of prostate cancer. We have developed a novel strategy to encapsulate the CRISPR Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes into extracellular vesicles. This project is to silence oncogenic event as a single therapy for treatment of cancers including castration resistant prostate cancer.

2. Investigate how protein acylation regulates oncogenic signaling and tumor progression. High fat diets provide a tremendous source of fatty acids for the acceleration of oncogenic signaling. This project is to understand the molecular mechanisms behind if and how high fat diets are associated with cancer progression.

3. Investigate molecular mechanisms of how protein acylation facilitates tumorigenesis, and identify therapeutic approaches of targeting protein acylation for cancer treatment. The expression and activity of enzymes that facilitate protein acylation are usually elevated in cancers. We are working to identify lead compounds that exhibit biological efficacy in the inhibition of protein acylation and thereby cancer progression. This project will allow us to develop potential drugs for chemotherapy.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Joseph Andrew Whitley, Debashish Mondol, Jennifer Lathrop, and Houjian Cai (2024) VSVG differentiates spike protein as a moiety in delivery of Cas9 and single guide RNA (under Review).

2. Shuang Yang, Houjian Cai, Kaixiong Ye (2024) Phenome-wide association study of population-differentiating genetic variants around gene ACSL1. (under Review).

3. Zhengwei Cao, Xueyuan Yang, Wei Yang, Wen Jiang, Shuyue Zhan, Fangchao Jiang, Jianwen Li, Chenming Ye, Liwei Lang, Fanghui Chen, Sirui Zhang, Yang Liu, Leidong Mao, Houjian Cai, Yong Teng, and Jin Xie. (2024) Modulation of dendritic dell function via nanoparticle-induced cytosolic calcium changes. ACS Nano, 18(10):7618-7632.

4. Joshua A. Welsh, Deborah C.I. Goberdhan, Lorraine O'Driscoll, Edit I. Buzas, Cherie Blenkiron, Benedetta Bussolati, Houjian Cai, Dolores Di Vizio, Tom A.P. Driedonks, Juan M. Falcon-Perez, Qing-Ling Fu, Shang-Chun Guo, Andrew F. Hill, Metka Lenassi, Sai Kiang Lim, Mÿ Mahoney³, Sujata Mohanty, Andreas Möller, Rienk Nieuwland, Takahiro Ochiya, Susmita Sahoo, Uta Urdbruegger, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Lei Zheng, Andries Zijlstra, the MISEV Consortium, Clotilde Théry, Kenneth W. Witwer. (2024) Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): from basic to advanced approaches, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles,  Feb; 13(2):e12404.

5. Omar Awad Alsaidan, Emmanuel Onobun, Lei Lou, Zanna Beharry, Zhong-Ru Xie, Iryna Lebedyeva, David Crich, Houjian Cai. (2024) Inhibition of N-Myristoyltransferase activity promotes androgen receptor degradation in prostate cancer. The Prostate. 84(3):254-268.

6. Joseph Andrew Whitley and Houjian Cai. (2023) Engineering Extracellular Vesicles to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein for gene editing, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 12(9):e12343 (Review article).

7. Joseph Andrew Whitley, Sungjin Kim, Lei Lou, Chenming Ye, Omar Awad Alsaidan, Essilvo Sulejmani, Jingwen Cai, Ellison Gerona Desrochers, Zanna Beharry, Catherine Bowes Rickman, Mikael Klingeborn, Yutao Liu, Zhong-Ru Xie, Houjian Cai (2022), Encapsulating Cas9 into extracellular vesicles by protein myristoylation, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 11(4), e12196.

8. Chenming Ye, Cade Gosser, Ethan Daniel Runyon, Junyi Zha, Jingwen Cai, Zanna Beharry, Catherine Bowes Rickman, Mikael Klingeborn, Yutao Liu, Jin Xie, Houjian Cai. (2023) Src family kinases engage differential pathways for encapsulation into extracellular vesicles, Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2(6):e96.

9. Yongjie Ma, Junyi Zha, XiangKun Yang, Qianjin Li, Qingfu Zhang, Amelia Yin, Zanna Beharry, Hanwen Huang, Jiaoti Huang, Michael Bartlett, Kaixiong Ye, Hang Yin, Houjian Cai (2021). Long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase 1 promotes prostate cancer progression by elevation of lipogenesis and fatty acid beta-oxidation, Oncogene, 40:1806-1820.

10. Yongjie Ma, Xiaohan Zhang, Essilvo Sulejmani, Junyi Zha, Zanna Beharry, Hanwen Huang, Michael Bartlett, Zachary Lewis,Houjian Cai. (2020) Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4-mediated fatty acid metabolism sustains androgen receptor pathway-independent prostate cancer. Molecular Cancer Research. DOI:10.1158/1541-7786

11. Rai S, Alsaidan OA, Yang H, Cai H*, Wang L*. (2019) Heparan sulfate inhibits transforming growth factor β signaling and functions in cis and in trans to regulate prostate stem/progenitor cell activities. Glycobiology. 2019, Dec 12; PMID: 31829419 (*co-corresponding author)

12. Sungjin Kim, Xiangkun Yang, Amelia Yin, Junyi Zha, Zanna Beharry, Aiping Bai, Alicja Bielawska, Michael G. Bartlett, Hang Yin, Houjian Cai. (2019) Dietary palmitate cooperates with Src kinase to promote prostate tumor progression. The Prostate, Jun;79(8):896-908.

13. Weizhong Zhang, Mengzhe Wang, Wei Tang, Ru Wen, Shiyi Zhou, Chaebin Lee, Hui Wang, Wen Jiang, Ian Michael Delahunty,  Zipeng Zhen, Hongmin Chen, Matthew Chapman, Zhanhong Wu, Elizabeth W Howerth, Houjian Cai, Zibo Li, Jin Xie. (2018) Nanoparticle-Laden Macrophages for Tumor-Tropic Drug Delivery. Advanced Materials. Dec:30(50):e1805557. PMID: 30368972

14. Qianjin Li, Omar A Alsaidan, Sumit Rai, Meng Wu, Huifeng Shen, Zanna Beharry, Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico, Lianchun Wang, Houjian Cai. (2018) Stromal Gli signaling regulates the activity and differentiation of prostate stem and progenitor cells, JBC, 293(27):10547-10560. PMID: 29773652

15. Qianjin Li, Omar Awad Alsaidn, Yongjie Ma Sungjin Kim, Junchen Liu, Thomas Albers, Kebin Liu, Zanna Beharry, Shaying Zhao, Fen Wang, Iryna Lebedyeva, Houjian Cai (2018) Pharmacologically targeting the myristoylation of the scaffold protein FRS2α inhibits FGF/FGFR-mediated oncogenic signaling and tumor progression, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 293(17):6434-6448.

16. Essilvo Sulejmani and Houjian Cai (2018) Targeting protein myristoylation for the treatment of prostate cancer, Oncoscience, 5(1-2):3-5 (mini-review).

17. Qianjin Li, Lishann Ingram, Zanna Beharry, Jonathan. A Cooper, Houjian Cai. (2018) Paracrine Fibroblast Growth Factor Initiates Oncogenic Synergy with Epithelial FGFR/Src Transformation in Prostate Tumor Progression, Neoplasia, 20(3):233-243.

18. Zhen Han, Hong Wu, Sunjoo Kim, Xiangkun Yang, Qianjin Li, He Huang, Houjian Cai, Michael G. Bartlett, Aiping Dong, Hong Zeng, Peter J. Brown, Xiangjiao Yang, Cheryl H. Arrowsmith, Yingming Zhao, Y. George Zheng, 2018, Revealing the protein propionylation activity of the histone acetyltransferase males absent on the first (MOF), JBC, January 10, 2018. PMID: 29321206

19. Sungjin Kim, Omar Awad Alsaidan, Octavia Goodwin, Qianjin Li, Zhen Han, Aiping Bai, Thomas Albers, Zanna Beharry, Y. George Zheng, James S. Norris, Zdzislaw M. Szulc, Alicja Bielawska, Iryna Lebedyeva, Scott D. Pegan, Houjian Cai. (2017) Blocking Myristoylation of Src Inhibits Its Kinase Activity and Suppresses Prostate Cancer Progression. Cancer Research, 77(24):6950-62.

20. Sungjin Kim, Xiangkun Yang, Qianjin Li, Meng Wu, Leah Costyn, Zanna Beharry, Alicja Bielawska, Michael G. Bartlett, Houjian Cai (2017). Myristoylation of Src kinase mediates Src-induced and high-fat diet-accelerated prostate tumor progression in mice, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292(45):18422-18433.

21. Yahya Alhamhoom, Guisheng Zhang, Mingming Gao, Houjian Cai, Dexi Liu  (2017). In vivo growth and responses to treatment of renal cell carcinoma in different environments, Am J Cancer Res. 2017 Feb 1;7(2):301-311. PMC5336503

22. Xiangkun Yang, Yongjie Ma, Ning Li, Houjian Cai, and Michael G. Bartlett (2017). Development of a Method for the Determination of Acyl-CoA Compounds by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry to Probe the Metabolism of Fatty Acids. Analytical Chemistry, 89 (1):813–821.

23. Ningfei An, Bo Cen, Houjian Cai, Jin H. Song, Andrew Kraft, Yubin Kang (2016). Pim1 kinase regulates c-Kit gene translation. Experimental Hematology & Oncology, 5:31.

24. Houjian Cai, Melinda Hauser, Fred Naider, and Jeffrey M. Becker (2016). Halo Assay for Toxic Peptides and Other Compounds in Microorganisms. Bio-protocol, 6(22).

25. Meng Wu, Qianjin Li, Ezequiel J. Tolosa, Lishann Ingram, Sungjin Kim, Demetri D. Spyropoulos, Zanna Beharry, Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico, Houjian Cai (2016). Gli Transcription Factors Mediate the Oncogenic Transformation of Prostate Basal Cells Induced by a Kras-Androgen Receptor Axis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291(49): 25749-25760. PMC5207270

26. Melinda Hauser, Houjian Cai Fred Naider, and Jeffrey M. Becker (2016). Uptake Assay for Radiolabeled Peptides in Yeast. Bio-protocol, 6(22).

27. Genevieve L. Coe, Priscilla S. Redd, Amy V. Paschall, Chunwan Lu, Lilly Gu, Houjian Cai, Thomas Albers, Iryna O. Lebedyeva, Kebin Liu (2016). Ceramide mediates FasL-induced caspase 8 activation in colon carcinoma cells to enhance FasL-induced cytotoxicity by tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Sci Rep., 6:30816.

28. Mohammad Alsaggar, Qian , Yao, Houjian Cai, Dexi Liu (2015). Differential growth and responsiveness to cancer therapy of tumor cells in different environments. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis.

29. Verweij FJ, de Heus C, Kroeze S, Cai H, Kieff E, Piersma SR, Jimenez CR, Middeldorp JM, Pegtel DM. (2015). Exosomal sorting of the viral oncoprotein LMP1 is restrained by TRAF2 association at signalling endosomes. J Extracell Vesicles, 4:26334.PMC4394166

30. Kummetha Venkata J, An N, Stuart R, Costa LJ, Cai H, Coker W, Song JH, Gibbs K, Matson T, Garrett-Mayer E, Wan Z, Ogretmen B, Smith C, Kang Y. (2014). Inhibition of sphingosine kinase 2 down-regulates the expression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma. Blood. 124(12):1915-25.

31. Houjian Cai Sanaz Memarzadeh, Tanya Stoyanova, Andrew S Kraft, Owen Witte 2012 Collaboration of Kras and AR signaling promotes EZH2 expression and proliferation of tumor propagating cells in prostate cancer. Cancer Research, 72(18):4672-4681 (Corresponding author).

32. Houjian Cai Daniel A. Smith, Sanaz Memarzadeh, Clifford A. Lowell, Jonathan  A. Cooper, and Owen N. Witte, Differential transformation capacity of Src Family Kinases during the initiation of prostate cancer, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. Apr 19; 108(16):6579-84.

33. Houjian Cai Ivan Babic, Xiao Wei, Jiaoti Huang, Owen N. Witte 2011 Invasive prostate carcinoma driven by c-Src and androgen receptor synergy, Cancer research, 71(3): 862-872.

34. Stoyanova T, Goldstein AS, Cai H,  Drake JM, Huang J, Witte ON, Regulated Proteolysis of Trop2 Drives Epithelial Hyperplasia and Stem Cell Self-Renewal via β-catenin Signaling. Genes and Development, 2012, 15;26(20):2271-85.

35. Mulholland DJ, Tran LM, Li Y, Cai H, Morim A, Wang S, Plaisier S, Garraway IP, Huang J, Graeber TG, Wu H, Cell Autonomous Role of PTEN in Regulating Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Growth, Cancer cell, 2011 Jun 14; 19(6):792-804.

36. Justin M. Drake, Nicholas A. Graham, Tanya Stoyanova, Amir Sedghi, Andrew S. Goldstein,Houjian Cai, Daniel A. Smith, Hong Zhang, Evangelia Komisopoulou, Jiaoti Huang, Thomas G. Graeber, and Owen N. Witte, Oncogene-specific activation of tyrosine kinase networks during prostate cancer progression, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2012). Jan 31;109(5):1643-1648.

37. Sanaz Memarzadeh, Houjian Cai, Deanna Janzen, Li Xin, Rita Lukacs, Mireille Riedinger, Yang Zong, Karel De Gendt, Guido Verhoeven, Jiaoti Huang, Owen N. Witte, Role of autonomous androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer initiation is dichotomous and dependent on the oncogenic signal, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011 May 10;108(19):7962-7.

38. Houjian Cai Melinda Hauser, Fred Naider , and Jeffrey M. Becker 2007 Differential regulation and substrate preferences in two peptide transporters of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Eukaryotic cell, 6(10), 1805-1813.

39. Amy M. Wiles, Houjian Cai, Fred Naider, and Jeffrey M. Becker 2006 Nutrient regulation of oligopeptide transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Microbiology,152(10), 3133-3145.

40. Houjian Cai Sarah Kauffman, Fred Naider, and Jeffrey M. Becker 2006 Genome-wide screen reveals a wide regulatory network for di/tri-peptide utilization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Genetics, Mar.;172(3):1459-76.

41. Oliver R. Homann, Houjian Cai, Jeffrey M. Becker, and Susan L. Lindquist 2005 Harnessing Natural Diversity to Probe Metabolic Pathways. PLoS Genetics Dec.; 1(6):715-729.

42. Houjian Cai Boris Zarda, Geoffrey Mattison, Frank Schonholzer, Dittmar Hahn 2002. Fate of protozoa transiting the digestive tract of the earthwarm lumbricus terrestris L. Pedobiologia 46, 161-175.

43. Liu L., Gu Y., Luo Y., Ma W., Zhou Z., Cai H., 2000. On the Growth and Phosphorous Metabolism of Bacterium Isolated from Microcystis aeruginosu in Taihu Lake. J. Lake Sci. 12(4): 373-378.

44. Gu Y.，Luo Y.，Ma W.，Zhou Z.，Cai H., 2000. Effects of Temperature, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphate on the Growth of Bacillus sp. Isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa. Chinese Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology 6(1):86-89.

45. Zhou Z., Luo Y., Ma W., Cai H. 1998. Identification and determination of growth curve of four bacterium isolated from Taihu Lake. J Lake Sci.10(4):60-62.

46. Cai H. 1998. The response of ciliated protozoans to eutrophication in Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake. J Lake Sci.10(3):43-48.

47. McNaught, D.C., W.Chen, Cai H. J. 1997. Grazing on a Microcystis bloom by cladocerans and copepods in Tai Lake. Verhal. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 26: 550-552.

48. Gao, X, Chen Y., Cai H. 1997. Analyses of aquatic environment characteristics and tendency of eutrophication in Meiliang Bay and the main waterbody in Taihu Lake, pp 19-29. In Cai Qiming (eds) The Ecological Research on Taihu Lake. Meteorologic Press (Beijing)

49. Chen, W., Cai H. 1996. Study on the aerobic decomposition of Microcystis in Taihu Lake. J. Lake Sci. 8: 248-252.

50. Cai H., Zhou, F., Jin, Q., Chen, Z., Yu, A., Jin H., Huang, H. 1994. Study of PP333 Toxicity to several aquatic organisms and effects on plant ultramicrostructure. J. Nanjing Univ. 30: 274-280.

51. Cai H., Zhou, F. 1994. Bioconcentration and elimination of PP333 in Daphnia magna. Rural Ecoenviron. 10: 33-35.

52. Cai H., Chen Y., Cai Q., Gao X. 1994. Relation between primary production of phytoplankton and relative factors at the mouth of Meiliang Bay in Lake Taihu. J. Lake Sci. 6: 340-3477.

53. Zhou, F., Cai H., Jin, Q., Cai, Q., and Wang X. 1994. Study on absorption of PP333 in soil and distribution dynamics in model ecosystems. J. Nanjing Univ. 30: 455-462