Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica

Research

We are interested in bacterial cell growth and division that are the core processes to sustain bacterial life. By integrating cellular-scale observation with molecular-level mechanism, we aim to uncover the principles governing bacterial life. Current research topics are highlighted below.

(1) How metabolism regulates bacterial growth and division    
       Cell morphology, which is determined through the processes of growth and division, is regulated by the metabolic state of a cell. We investigate functional coupling between metabolism and cell growth and division. This intrinsic coupling is hypothesized to enhance fitness in fluctuating environments, especially under under nutritional constraints.

(2) Build a platform to quantify and predict cell-wall growth under stress    
       Bacterial survival under stresses like antibiotics depends on a tight interplay between peptidoglycan metabolism, cell-wall integrity, and morphology. We aim to uncover how cell morphology serves as a readout of PG remodeling during stress adaptation, that could enable shape-informed antibiotic strategies to help limit the rise of resistance.

Degrees and Positions Held

• 1996 – 1999   Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 1992 – 1994   M.Sc., Department of Plant Pathology and Entomology, National Taiwan University
• 1988 – 1992   B.Sc., Department of Plant Pathology and Entomology, National Taiwan University

• 2014 – present   Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 2006 – 2014   Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 2004 – 2006   Instructor, Department of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, USA
• 1999 – 2003   Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, USA

Selected Publications

Growth-dependent concentration gradient of the oscillating Min system in Escherichia coli.  
Parada CM, Yan CC, Hung CY, Tu IP, Hsu CP, Shih YL  
Journal of Cell Biology (2025)

Structure of the heterotrimeric membrane protein complex FtsB-FtsL-FtsQ of the bacterial divisome.     
Nguyen HTV, Chen X, Parada C, Luo AC, Shih O, Jeng US, Huang CY, Shih YL, Ma C     
Nature Communications (2023)

Harnessing Fluorescent Moenomycin A Antibiotics for Bacterial Cell Wall Imaging Studies.     
Hsieh PY, Meng FC, Guo CW, Hu KH, Shih YL, Cheng WC     
ChemBioChem (2021)

Active Transport of Membrane Components by Self-Organization of the Min Proteins.     
Shih YL, Huang LT, Tu YM, Lee BF, Bau YC, Hong CY, Lee HL, Shih YP, Hsu MF, Lu ZX, Chen JS, Chao L     
Biophysical Journal (2019)

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Min System of Escherichia coli Modulates Reversible Protein Association with the Inner Membrane.     
Lee HL, Chiang IC, Liang SY, Lee DY, Chang GD, Wang KY, Lin SY, Shih YL     
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics (2016)

Self-Assembly of MinE on the Membrane Underlies Formation of the MinE Ring to Sustain Function of the Escherichia coli Min System.     
Zheng M, Chiang YL, Lee HL, Kong LR, Hsu ST, Hwang IS, Rothfield LI and Shih YL     
J Biol Chem (2014)

Direct MinE-membrane interaction contributes to the proper localization of MinDE in E. coli.     
Hsieh CW, Lai HM, Lin CC, Lin TY, Hsieh TS, Shih YL     
Molecular Microbiology (2010)

Publication List