College of Medicine
Wu Lab
Led by Lizi Wu · Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
What we study
The Wu Lab studies cancer cell signaling, focusing on MAML and CRTC proteins in Notch and LKB1 pathways. They explore how these pathways contribute to cancer and develop new treatments.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Cells in a dish
- No coding
- Projects
- 4
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Identification and functional characterization of MAML co-activators
Studies MAML co-activator proteins to learn how they control cell signaling pathways such as Notch in cancer cells, with the goal of understanding what drives tumor growth.
Functional characterization and targeting of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion oncogene
Investigating a fusion protein linked to salivary gland tumors.
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Investigations into deregulated LKB1-CRTC signaling in human cancers
Exploring how LKB1 and CRTC proteins contribute to cancer progression.
Roles of CRTC1-MAML2 Nuclear Condensates in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC)
The lab studies how a fusion protein called CRTC1-MAML2 forms liquid‑like droplets in the nucleus of salivary‑gland cancer cells and how that may drive tumor growth. The student used fluorescence imaging, FRAP, 1,6‑hexanediol treatment, created two mutant versions lacking disorder regions, and measured transcription and colony formation to see how the droplets affect cancer behavior.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 212
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Alcohol reshapes liver zonal plasticity and immune-metabolic reprogramming in metabolic-syndrome associated hepatocellular carcinoma
2026 · Nature Communications
Shows how alcohol changes liver structure and immune responses in liver cancer.
- Targeting LKB1-inactivated lung cancers with a stapled peptide inhibitor of the CRTC-CREB pathway
2026 · Molecular Therapy Oncology
Tests a peptide to stop cancer growth in LKB1-null lung cells without harming normal cells.
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- High‐Throughput Generation of Collagen Microbeads for Extracellular Vesicle Production and Therapeutic Delivery (Adv. Mater. Technol. 9/2026)
2026 · Advanced Materials Technologies
Builds tiny collagen beads to make cells release healing vesicles for medical use.
- Trimerization domain-interfering peptide inhibits EML4–ALK condensate formation, fusion-dependent signaling, and cell growth
2025 · Molecular Biology of the Cell
Designs a peptide to block cancer-causing protein clumps and stop cell growth.
- High‐Throughput Generation of Collagen Microbeads for Extracellular Vesicle Production and Therapeutic Delivery
2025 · Advanced Materials Technologies
Makes uniform collagen beads quickly for cell studies and 3D printing.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Lizi Wu hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.