Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica

Research

Shang-Te Danny Hsu is a structural biologist whose research elucidates how post-translational modifications (PTMs) control protein structure, dynamics, and function. By integrating high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry with AI-assisted modeling, his laboratory dissects the molecular logic by which modifications such as glycosylation and ubiquitination regulate protein behavior. His team emphasizes the functional annotation of structure–activity relationships, developing innovative analytical and computational workflows to quantify conformational and compositional heterogeneity in complex protein systems. Their multidisciplinary approach bridges chemistry, structural biology, and data science, establishing new frameworks for understanding how PTMs orchestrate cellular communication and proteostasis. Through this work, Dr. Hsu aims to uncover fundamental principles of molecular regulation that inform the design of next-generation therapeutic strategies.

Degrees and Positions Held

• 2000 – 2004   Ph.D., cum laude (with honour), Chemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
• 1998 – 2000   M.Sc., Life Sciences (first place), National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
• 1994 – 1998   B.Sc., Physics and Life Sciences (Double Major), National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

• 2022 – present   Deputy Director, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2022 – present   Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2017 – 2022   Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2011 – 2017   Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
• 2010 – 2011   Assistant Professor, Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
• 2009 – 2010   Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2007 – 2010   Research Fellow, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2006 – 2008   Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Long-term Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2005 – 2006   Netherlands Ramsay Fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 2004 – 2005   Junior Researcher, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Selected Publications

Structural basis of K11/K48-branched ubiquitin chain recognition by the human 26S proteasome.  
Draczkowski P, Chen SN, Chen T, Wang YS, Shih HA, Huang JYC, Tsai MC, Lin SY, Lin S, Viner R, Chang YC, Wu KP, Hsu STD*  
Nature Communications (2025)

Structural basis of enhanced stalling efficiency of an engineered ribosome arrest peptide.  
Sriramoju MK, Ko TP, Draczkowski P, Hsu STD*  
Nucleic Acids Research (2025)

Molecular basis of host recognition of human coronavirus 229E.  
Tsai YX, Chien YC, Hsu MF, Khoo KH, Hsu STD*  
Nature Communications (2025)

Rapid simulation of glycoprotein structures by grafting and steric exclusion of glycan conformer libraries.  
Tsai YX, Chang NE, Reuter K, Chang HT, Yang TJ, von Bülow S, Sehrawat V, Zerrouki M, Tuffery M, Gecht M, Grothaus IL, Ciacchi LC, Wang YS, Hsu MF, Khoo KH, Hummer G, Hsu STD*, Hanus C*, Sikora M*  
Cell (2024)

Structure, dynamics and stability of the smallest and most complex 7₁ protein knot. Highlighted by Google AlphaFold Impact Story  EN ver  中文版本 
Hsu MF, Sriramoju MK, Lai CH, Chen YR, Huang JS, Ko TP, Huang KF, Hsu STD*  
Journal of Biological Chemistry (2024)

In situ structure and dynamics of an alphacoronavirus spike protein by cryo-ET and cryo-EM.  
Huang CY, Draczkowski P, Wang YS, Chang CY, Chien YC, Cheng YH, Wu YM, Wang CH, Chang YC, Chang YC, Yang TJ, Tsai YX, Khoo KH, Chang HW, Hsu STD*  
Nature Communications (2022)

Tumor suppressor BAP1 nuclear import is governed by transportin-1.  
Yang TJ, Li TN, Huang RS, Pan MY, Lin SY, Lin S, Wu KP, Wang LH, Hsu STD*  
Journal of Cell Biology (2022)

D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein enhances viral fitness by desensitizing it to temperature-dependent denaturation.  
Yang TJ, Yu PY, Chang YC, Hsu STD*  
Journal of Biological Chemistry (2021)

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 mutations on spike protein structure and function.  
Yang TJ, Yu PY, Chang YC, Liang KH, Tso HC, Ho MR, Chen WY, Lin HT, Wu HC, Hsu STD*  
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2021)

Cryo-EM analysis of a feline coronavirus spike protein reveals a unique structure and camouflaging glycans.  
Yang TJ, Chang YC, Ko TP, Draczkowski P, Chien YC, Chang YC, Wu KP, Khoo KH, Chang HW*, Hsu STD*  
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2020)

Publication List