Modulating subcellular dynamics

1. K. Qiu, X. Xu, K. Zhang, J. Diao. Alternating cellular functions by optogenetic control of organelles. Methods Mol. Biol.  2840, 175 (2025).

2. K. Qiu, W. Zou, H. Fang, M. Hao, K. Mehta, Z. Tian, J.-L. Guan, K. Zhang, T. Huang, J. Diao. Light-activated mitochondrial fission through optogenetic control of mitochondria-lysosome contacts. Nat. Commun. 13, 4303 (2022).

3. J. Khamo, V. Krishnamurthy, Q. Chen, J. Diao, K. Zhang. Optogenetic delineation of receptor tyrosine kinase subcircuits during PC12 cell differentiation. Cell Chem. Biol. 26, 400 (2019).

Membrane fusion

1. O. Tyoe, K. Zhang, J. Diao. Molecular dynamics simulation for membrane fusion. Methods Mol. Biol. 2887, 53 (2025).

2. Z. Tian, J. Diao. A matter of timing. eLife 13, e99181 (2024).

3. J. Diao, C.K. Yip, Q. Zhong. Recent advances in the molecular structures and function of the autophagosome-lysosome fusion machinery. Autophagy Rep. 3, 2305594 (2024).

4. B. Bu, Z. Tian, D. Li, K. Zhang, W. Chen, B. Ji, J. Diao. Double-transmembrane domain of SNAREs decelerates the fusion by increasing the protein-lipid mismatch. J. Mol. Biol. 435, 168089 (2023).

5. D. Li, J. Diao. Protein-membrane interaction at the pre-synapse. J. Mol. Biol. 435, 167905 (2023).

6. D.G. Gamage, K. Melikov, P. Munoz-Tello, T. Wherley, L. Focke, E. Leikina, E. Huffman, J. Diao, D.J. Kojetin, V. Prasad, L.V. Chernomordik, D.P. Millay. Phosphatidylserine orchestrates Myomerger membrane insertions to drive myoblast fusion. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 119, e2202490119 (2022).

7. L. Wang, J. Diao. VAMP8 phosphorylation regulates lysosome dynamics in autophagy. Autophagy Rep. 1, 79 (2022).

8. Q. Chen, M. Hao, L. Wang, L. Li, Y. Chen, X. Shao, Z. Tian, R.A. Pfuetzner, Q. Zhong, A.T. Brunger, J.-L. Guan, J. Diao. Prefused lysosomes cluster on autophagosomes regulated by VAMP8. Cell Death Dis. 12, 939 (2021). 

9. M. Li, T.-J. Oh, H. Fan, J. Diao, K. Zhang. Syntaxin clustering and optogenetic control for synaptic membrane fusion. J. Mol. Biol. 432, 4773 (2020).

10. C. Wang, J. Tu, S. Zhang, B. Cai, Z. Liu, S. Hou, Q. Zhong, X. Hu, W. Liu, G. Li, Z. Liu, L. He, J. Diao, Z.-J. Zhu, D. Li, C. Liu. Different regions of synaptic vesicle membrane regulate VAMP2 conformation for the SNARE assembly. Nat. Commun. 11, 1531 (2020).

11. N. Brose, A. Brunger, D. Cafiso, E.R. Chapman, J. Diao, F.M. Hughson, M.B. Jackson, R. Jahn, M. Lindau, C. Ma, J. Rizo, Y.-K. Shin, T.H. Söllner, L. Tamm, T.-Y. Yoon, Y. Zhang. Synaptic vesicle fusion: today and beyond. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 26, 663 (2019).

12. Z. Tian, J. Gong, M. Crowe, M. Lei, D. Li, B. Ji, J. Diao. Biochemical studies of membrane fusion at the single-vesicle level. Prog. Lipid Res. 73, 92 (2019).

13. Y. Hu, Z. Tian, J. Diao. Single-molecule fluorescence measurement of SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion. Methods Mol. Biol. 1860,  335 (2019).

14. E. Leikina, D.G. Gamage, V. Prasad, J. Goikberg, M. Crowe, J. Diao, M.M. Kozlov, L.V. Chernomordik, D.P. Millay. Myomaker and Myomerger work independently to control distinct steps of membrane remodeling during myoblast fusion. Dev. Cell  46, 767 (2018).

15. B. Bu, M. Crowe, J. Diao, B. Ji, D. Li. Cholesterol suppresses membrane leakage by decreasing water penetrability. Soft Matter 14, 5277 (2018).

16. Y. Hu, Y. Lai, Y. Wang, M. Zhao, Y. Zhang, M. Crowe, Z. Tian, J. Long, J. Diao. SNARE-reconstituted liposomes as controllable zeptoliter nanoreactors for macromolecules. Adv. Biosyst. 1, 1600018 (2017).

17. B. Bu, D. Li, J. Diao, B. Ji. Mechanics of water pore formation in lipid membrane under electric field. Acta Mech. Sin. 33, 234 (2017). 

18. J. Diao, L. Li, Y. Lai, Q. Zhong. In vitro reconstitution of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Methods Enzymol. 587, 365 (2017).

19. Y. Wang, L. Li, C. Hou, Y. Lai, J. Long, J. Liu, Q. Zhong, J. Diao. SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in autophagy. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 60, 97 (2016).

20. J. Gong, Y. Lai, X. Li, M. Wang, J. Leitz, Y. Hu, Y. Zhang, U.B. Choi, D. Cipriano, R.A. Pfuetzner, T.C. Südhof, X. Yang, A.T. Brunger, J. Diao. C-terminal domain of mammalian complexin-1 localizes to highly curved membranes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, E7590 (2016). 

21. Z. Tian, Y. Hu, J. Long, J. Liu, J. Diao. Single-molecule biophysical studies of neurotransmitter release. Prog. Biochem. Biophys. 43, 946 (2016). [in Chinese]

22. Y. Lai, U.B. Choi, Y. Zhang, R.A. Pfuetzner, A.L. Wang, J. Diao, A.T. Brunger. N-terminal domain of complexin independently activates calcium-triggered fusion. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, E4698 (2016).

23. S. Malmersjö, S. Di Palma, J. Diao, Y. Lai, R.A. Pfuetzner, A.L. Wang, M.A. McMahon, A. Hayer, M. Porteus, B. Bodenmiller, A.T. Brunger, T. Meyer. Phosphorylation of residues inside the SNARE complex terminates secretory vesicle fusion. EMBO J. 35, 1810 (2016).

24. Q. Zhou, Y. Lai, T. Bacaj, M. Zhao, A.Y. Lyubimov, M. Uervirojnangkoorn, O.B. Zeldin, A.S. Brewster, N.K. Sauter, A.E. Cohen, S.M. Soltis, R. Alonso-Mori, M. Chollet, H.T. Lemke, R.A. Pfuetzner, U.B. Choi, W.I. Weis, J. Diao, T.C. Südhof, A.T. Brunger. Architecture of the synaptotagmin-SNARE machinery for neuronal exocytosis. Nature 525, 62 (2015).

25. J. Diao, R. Liu, Y. Rong, M. Zhao, J. Zhang, Y. Lai, Q. Zhou, L.M. Wilz, J. Li, S. Vivona, R.A. Pfuetzner, A.T. Brunger, Q. Zhong. ATG14 promotes membrane tethering and fusion of autophagosomes to endolysosomes. Nature 520, 563 (2015).

26. Y. Lai, L. Zhao, B. Bu, X. Lou, D. Li, B. Ji, J. Liu, J. Diao, Y.-K. Shin. Lipid molecules influence early stages of yeast SNARE mediated membrane fusion. Phys. Biol. 12, 025003 (2015).

27. Y. Zhang, J. Diao, K.N. Colbert, Y. Lai, R.A. Pfuetzner, M.S. Padolina, S. Vivona, S. Ressl, D.J. Cipriano, U.B. Choi, N. Shah, W.I. Weis, A.T. Brunger. Munc18a does not alter fusion rates mediated by neuronal SNAREs, synaptotagmin, and complexin. J. Biol. Chem. 290, 10518 (2015).

28. Y. Lai, X. Lou, J. Diao, Y.-K. Shin. Molecular origins of multiple synaptotagmin 1 functions in Ca2+-triggered neuroexocytosis. Sci. Rep. 5, 9267 (2015).

29. A.T. Brunger, D.J. Cipriano, J. Diao. Towards reconstitution of membrane fusion Mediated by synaptic proteins. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 50, 231 (2015). 

30. Y. Lai, J. Diao, D.J. Cipriano, Y. Zhang, R.A. Pfuetzner, M.S. Padolina, A.T. Brunger. Complexin inhibits spontaneous release and synchronizes Ca2+-triggered synaptic vesicle fusion by distinct mechanisms. Elife 3, e03756 (2014).

31. J. Diao, M. Zhao, Y. Zhang, M. Kyoung, A.T. Brunger. Studying protein-reconstituted proteoliposome fusion with content indicators in vitro. Bioessays 35, 658 (2013).

32. J. Diao, D.J. Cipriano, M. Zhao, Y. Zhang, S. Shah, M.S. Padolina, R.A. Pfuetzner, A.T. Brunger. Complexin-1 enhances the on-rate of vesicle docking via simultaneous SNARE and membrane interactions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, 15274 (2013).

33. Y. Lai, J. Diao, Y. Liu, Y. Ishitsuka, Z. Su, K. Schulten, T. Ha, Y.-K. Shin. Fusion pore formation and expansion induced by Ca2+ and synaptotagmin 1. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110, 1333 (2013).

34. M. Kyoung, Y. Zhang, J. Diao, S. Chu, A.T. Brunger. Studying calcium-triggered vesicle fusion in a single vesicle-vesicle content and lipid-mixing system. Nat. Protoc. 8, 1 (2013).

35. J. Diao, P. Grob, D.J. Cipriano, M. Kyoung, Y. Zhang, S. Shah, A. Nguyen, M. Padolina, A. Srivastava, M. Vrljic, A. Shah, E. Nogales, S. Chu, A.T. Brunger. Synaptic proteins promote calcium-triggered fast transition from point contact to full fusion. Elife 1, e00109 (2012).

36. J. Diao, Y. Ishitsuka, H.-K. Lee, C. Joo, Z. Su, S. Syed, Y.-K. Shin, T.-Y. Yoon, T. Ha. A single vesicle-vesicle fusion assay for in vitro studies of SNAREs and accessory proteins. Nat. Protoc. 7, 921 (2012).

37. J. Diao, Y. Ishitsuka, W.-R. Bae. Single-molecule FRET study of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Biosci. Rep. 31, 457 (2011).

38. M. Kyoung, A. Srivastava, Y. Zhang, J. Diao, M. Vrljic, P. Grob, E. Nogales, S. Chu, A.T. Brunger. In vitro system capable of differentiating fast Ca2+-triggered content mixing from lipid exchange for mechanistic studies of neurotransmitter release. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108, E304 (2011).

39. J. Diao, Z. Su, Y. Ishitsuka, B. Lu, K.S. Lee, Y. Lai, Y.-K. Shin, T. Ha. A single vesicle content-mixing assay for SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Nat. Commun. 1, 54 (2010).

40. J. Diao, Z. Su, X. Lu, T.-Y. Yoon, Y.-K. Shin, T. Ha. Single vesicle fusion assay reveals Munc18-1 binding to the SNARE core is sufficient for stimulating membrane fusion. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 1, 168 (2010).

41. J. Diao, T.-Y. Yoon, Z. Su, Y.-K. Shin, T. Ha. C2AB: a molecular glue for lipid vesicles with negatively charged surface. Langmuir 25, 7177 (2009). 

42. T.-Y. Yoon, X. Lu, J. Diao, S.-M. Lee, T. Ha, Y.-K. Shin. Complexin and Ca2+ stimulate SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 15, 707 (2008). 

Alpha-synuclein

1. D. Li, K. Liu, D. Li, A.T. Brunger, C. Liu, J. Burré, J. Diao. The synaptic symphony: how α-synuclein orchestrates synaptic vesicle function and implications for disease. Trends Cell Biol. 35,  (2025).

2. O. Tyoe, C. Aryal, J. Diao. Cholesterol regulates vesicle clustering mediated by alpha-synuclein in a nonlinear fashion. Biophys. Rep. 11,  (2025).

3. Z. Tang, X. Wu, J. Liu, L. Tian, X. Li, J. Diao, B. Ji, D. Li. Folding of N-terminally acetylated α-synuclein upon interaction with lipid membranes. Biophys. J. 123, 3698 (2024).

4. C. Wang, K. Zhang, B. Cai, J.E. Haller, K.E. Carnazza, J. Hu, C. Zhao, Z. Tian, X. Hu, D. Hall, J. Qiang, S. Hou, Z. Liu, J. Gu, Y. Zhang, K.B. Seroogy, J. Burré, Y. Fang, C. Liu, A.T. Brunger, D. Li, J. Diao. VAMP2 chaperones α-synuclein in synaptic vesicle co-condensates. Nat. Cell Biol. 26, 1287 (2024).

5. C. Zhao, J. Tu, C. Wang, W. Liu, J. Gu, Y. Yin, Y. Zhang, D. Li, J. Diao, Z.-J. Zhu, C. Liu. Lysophosphatidylcholine binds α-synuclein and prevents its pathological aggregation. Natl. Sci. Rev. 11, nwae182 (2024).

6. C. Wang, C. Zhao, X. Hu, J. Qiang, Z. Liu, J. Gu, S. Zhang, D. Li, Y. Zhang, J. Burré, J. Diao, C. Liu. N-acetylation of α-synuclein enhances synaptic vesicle clustering mediated by α-synuclein and lysophosphatidylcholine. eLife 13, RP97228 (2024).

7. Y. Lai, C. Zhao, Z. Tian, C. Wang, J. Fan, X. Hu, J. Tu, T. Li, J. Leitz, R.A. Pfuetzner, Z. Liu, S. Zhang, Z. Su, J. Burré, D. Li, T.C. Südhof, Z.-J. Zhu, C. Liu, A.T. Brunger, J. Diao. Neutral lysophosphatidylcholine mediates α-synuclein-induced synaptic vesicle clustering. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120, e2310174120 (2023).

8. O. Tyoe, C. Aryal, J. Diao. Docosahexaenoic acid promotes vesicle clustering mediated by alpha-Synuclein via electrostatic interaction. Eur. Phys. J. E 46, 96 (2023).

9. K. Wu, W. Sun, D. Li, J. Diao, P. Xiu. Inhibition of amyloid nucleation by steric hindrance. J. Phys. Chem. B 126, 10045 (2022).

10. C.M. Aryal, O. Tyoe, J. Diao. Lipid species dependent vesicles clustering caused by alpha-synuclein as revealed by single-vesicle imaging with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Biophys. Rep. 7, 437 (2021). 

11. J. Liu, B. Bu, M. Crowe, D. Li, J. Diao, B. Ji. Membrane packing defects in synaptic vesicles recruit complexin and synuclein. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 2117 (2021). 

12. K. Wu, D. Li, P. Xiu, B. Ji, J. Diao. O-GlcNAcylation inhibits the oligomerization of alpha-synuclein by declining intermolecular hydrogen bonds through a steric effect. Phys. Biol. 18, 016002 (2020). 

13. B. Cai, J. Liu, Y. Zhao, X. Xu, B. Bu, D. Li, L. Zhang, W. Dong, B. Ji, J. Diao. Single-vesicle imaging quantifies calcium’s regulation of nanoscale vesicle clustering mediated by α-synuclein. Microsyst. Nanoeng. 6, 38 (2020). 

14. D.-F. Ma, C.-H. Xu, W.-Q. Hou, C.-Y. Zhao, J.-B. Ma, X.-Y. Huang, Q. Jia, L. Ma, J. Diao, C. Liu, M. Li, Y. Lu. Detecting single molecule dynamics on lipid membranes with quenchers-in-a-liposome FRET. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58, 5577 (2019). 

15. X. Li, X. Tong, W. Lu, D. Yu, J. Diao, Q. Zhao. Label-free detection of early oligomerization of α-synuclein and its mutants A30P/E46K through solid-state nanopores. Nanoscale 11, 6480 (2019). 

16. B. Cai, L. Yu, S.R. Sharum, K. Zhang, J. Diao. Single-vesicle measurement of protein-induced membrane tethering. Colloids Surf. B-Biointerfaces 177, 267 (2019). 

17. B. Bu, X. Tong, D. Li, Y. Hu, W. He, C. Zhao, R. Hu, X. Li, Y. Shao, C. Liu, Q. Zhao, B. Ji, J. Diao. N-terminal acetylation preserves α-synuclein from oligomerization by blocking intermolecular hydrogen bonds. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 8, 2145 (2017). 

18. C. Wang, C. Zhao, D. Li, Z. Tian, Y. Lai, J. Diao, C. Liu. Versatile structures of α-synuclein. Front. Mol. Neurosci. 9, 48 (2016). 

19. R. Hu, J. Diao, J. Li, Z. Tang, X. Li, J. Leitz, J. Long, J. Liu, D. Yu, Q. Zhao. Intrinsic and membrane-facilitated oligomerization of α-synuclein revealed by a label-free detection through solid-state nanopores. Sci. Rep. 6, 20776 (2016). 

20. Y. Lai, S. Kim, J. Varkey, X. Lou, J.-K. Song, J. Diao, R. Langen, Y.-K. Shin. Non-aggregated α-synuclein influences SNARE-dependent vesicle docking via membrane binding. Biochemistry 53, 3889 (2014). 

21. J. Burré, S. Vivona, J. Diao, M. Sharma, A.T. Brunger, T.C. Südhof. Properties of native brain α-synuclein. Nature 498, E4 (2013). 

22. J. Diao, J. Burré, S. Vivona, D.J. Cipriano, M. Sharma, M. Kyoung, T.C. Südhof, A.T. Brunger. Native α-synuclein induces clustering of synaptic vesicle mimics via binding to phospholipids and synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2. Elife 2, e00592 (2013). 

Super-resolution imaging 

1. Prati, B.K. Kundu, R. Chen, J. Diao, Y. Sun. Near-infrared bioimaging using two-photon fluorescent probes. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 14, 2403272 (2025).

2. Q. Chen, J. Diao. Super-resolution imaging of sub-cellular dynamics of drug molecules. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 216, 115455 (2025).

3. X.-Z. Yang, S. Yao, J. Wu, J. Diao, J.S. Kim, W. He, Z. Guo, Y. Chen. Recent advances in single fluorescent probes for monitoring dual organelles in two channels. Smart Mol. 2, e20240040 (2024). 

4. J. Guo, A. Zia, Q. Qiu, M. Norton, K. Qiu, J. Usuba, Z. Liu, M. Yi, S.T. Rich-New, M. Hagan, S. Fraden, G.D. Han, J. Diao, F. Wang, B. Xu. Cell-free non-equilibrium assembly for hierarchical protein/peptide nanopillars. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 26102 (2024).

5. M. Xue, L. Dong, H. Zhang, Y. Li, K. Qiu, Z. Zhao, M. Gao, L. Han, A.K.N. Chan, W. Li, K. Leung, K. Wang, S.P. Pokharel, Y. Qing, W. Liu, X. Wang, L. Ren, H. Bi, L. Yang, C. Shen, Z. Chen, L. Melstrom, H. Li, N. Timchenko, X. Deng, W. Huang, S.T. Rosen, J. Tian, Lin Xu, J Diao, C.-W. Chen, J. Chen, B. Shen, H. Chen, R. Su. METTL16 promotes liver cancer stem cell self-renewal via controlling ribosome biogenesis and mRNA translation. J. Hematol. Oncol. 17, 7 (2024).

6. Q. Chen, L.-Y. Liu, Z. Tian, Z. Fang, K.-N. Wang, H. Chen, X. Shao, C. Zhang, W. Zou, F. Rowan, K. Qiu, B. Ji, J.-L. Guan, D. Li, Z.-W. Mao, J. Diao. Mitochondrial nucleoid condensates induce peripheral fission through high membrane curvature. Cell Rep. 42, 113472 (2023).

7. X. Xu, K. Qiu, Z. Tian, C. Aryal, F. Rowan, R. Chen, Y. Sun, J. Diao. Probing the dynamic crosstalk of lysosomes and mitochondria with structured illumination microscopy. TrAC Trends Anal. Chem. 169, 117370 (2023).

8. R. Chen, K. Qiu, B.K. Kundu, G. Ding, G. Han, Y. Sun, J. Diao. Quantifying cell viability through organelle ratiometric probing. Chem. Sci. 14, 10236 (2023).

9. R. Chen, K. Qiu, D.C.Y. Leong, B.K. Kundu, C. Zhang, P. Srivastava, K.E. White, G. Han, Z. Guo, C.G. Elles, J. Diao, Y. Sun. A general design of pyridinium-based fluorescent probes for enhancing two-photon microscopy. Biosens. Bioelectron. 239, 115604 (2023).

10. C. Zhang, Z. Tian, R. Chen, F. Rowan, K. Qiu, Y. Sun, J.-L. Guan, J. Diao. Advanced imaging techniques for tracking drug dynamics at the subcellular level. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 199, 114987 (2023).

11. R. Chen, L. Wang, G. Ding, G. Han, K. Qiu, Y. Sun, J. Diao. A constant conversion rate of endolysosomes revealed by a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe. ACS Sensors 8, 2068 (2023).

12. K. Qiu, Z. Tian, J. Diao. Monitoring lysosomal acidity. Nat. Chem. Biol. 19, 1434 (2023).

13. H. Fang, L. Hu, Q. Chen, S. Geng, C. Wang, M. Hao, Z. Tian, H. Chen, L. Liu, J.-L. Guan, Y. Chen, L. Dong, Z. Guo, W. He, J. Diao. An ER-targeted “reserve-release” fluorogen for topological quantification of reticulophagy. Biomaterials 292, 121929 (2023).

14. K. Qiu, A. Yadav, Z. Tian, Z. Guo, D. Shi, C.K. Nandi, J. Diao. Ultra-long-term super-resolution tracking of lysosomes in brain organoids by near-infrared noble metal nanoclusters. ACS Mater. Lett. 4, 1565 (2022).

15. G. Fang, H. Chen, X. Shao, H. Wang, D. Zhan, R. Wang, P. Meng, H. Fang, F. Liu, P. Ling, Z. Wu, J. Diao, Q. Yao, Q. Chen. Single image capture of bioactive ion crosstalk within inter-organelle membrane contacts at nanometer resolution. Small Methods 6, 2200321 (2022).

16. L. Wang, R. Chen, G. Han, X. Liu, T. Huang, J. Diao, Y. Sun. Super-resolution analyzing spatial organization of lysosomes with an organic fluorescent probe. Exploration 2, 0210215 (2022).

17. K. Qiu, R. Seino, G. Han, M. Ishiyama, Y. Ueno, Z. Tian, Y. Sun, J. Diao. De novo design of a membrane-anchored probe for multi-dimensional quantification of endocytic dynamics. Adv. Healthc. Mater. 11, 2102185 (2022).

18. K.-N. Wang, X. Shao, Z. Tian, L.-Y. Liu, C. Zhang, C.-P. Tan, J. Zhang, P. Ling, F. Liu, Q. Chen, J. Diao, Z.-W. Mao. A continuously add-on probe reveals a nonlinear enlargement of mitochondria in light-activated oncosis. Adv. Sci. 8, 2004566 (2021). 

19. W. Zou, Q. Chen, J. Slone, L. Yang, X. Lou, J. Diao, T. Huang. Nanoscopic quantification of sub-mitochondrial morphology, mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics in living cells derived from patients with mitochondrial diseases. J. Nanobiotechnol. 19, 136 (2021). 

20. H. Fang, S. Geng, M. Hao, Q. Chen, M. Liu, C. Liu, Z. Tian, C. Wang, T. Takebe, J.-L. Guan, Y. Chen, Z. Guo, W. He, J. Diao. Simultaneous Zn2+ tracking in multiple organelles using super-resolution morphology-correlated organelle identification in living cells. Nat. Commun. 12, 109 (2021). 

21. Q. Chen, H. Fang, X. Shao, Z. Tian, S. Geng, Y. Zhang, H. Fan, P. Xiang, J. Zhang, X. Tian, K. Zhang, W. He, Z. Guo, J. Diao. A dual-labeling molecular probe to track functional mitochondria-lysosome interactions in live cells. Nat. Commun. 11, 6290 (2020). 

22. L.-Y. Liu, H. Fang, Q. Chen, M. H.-Y. Chan, M. Ng, K.-N. Wang, W. Liu, Z. Tian, J. Diao, Z.-W. Mao, V. W.-W. Yam. Multiple-color platinum complex with super-large Stokes shift for super-resolution imaging of autolysosome escape. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59, 19229 (2020). 

23. K. Qiu, Y. Du, J. Liu, J.-L. Guan, H. Chao, J. Diao. Super-resolution observation of lysosomal dynamics with fluorescent gold nanoparticles. Theranostics 10, 6072 (2020). 

24. X. Shao, Q. Chen, L. Hu, Z. Tian, L. Liu, F. Liu, F. Wang, P. Ling, Z.-W. Mao, J. Diao. Super-resolution quantification of nanoscale damage to mitochondria in live cells. Nano Res. 13, 2149 (2020). 

25. Q. Chen, X. Shao, M. Hao, R. Guan, Z. Tian, M. Li, C. Wang, L. Ji, H. Chao, J.-L. Guan, J. Diao. Quantitative analysis of interactive behavior of mitochondria and lysosomes using structured illumination microscopy. Biomaterials 250, 120059 (2020). 

26. H. Fang, S. Yao, Q. Chen, C. Liu, Y. Cai, S. Geng, Y. Bai, Z. Tian, A.L. Zacharias, T. Takebe, Y. Chen, Z. Guo, W. He, J. Diao. De novo-designed near-infrared nanoaggregates for super-resolution monitoring of lysosomes in cells, in whole organoids, and in vivo. ACS Nano 13, 14426 (2019). 

27. Q. Chen, X. Shao, Z. Tian, Y. Chen, P. Mondal, F. Liu, F. Wang, P. Ling, W. He, K. Zhang, Z. Guo, J. Diao. Nanoscale monitoring of mitochondria and lysosome interactions for drug screening and discovery. Nano Res. 12, 1009 (2019). 

28. Q. Chen, C. Jin, X. Shao, R. Guan, Z. Tian, C. Wang, F. Liu, P. Ling, J. Guan, L. Ji, F. Wang, H. Chao, J. Diao. Super-resolution tracking of mitochondrial dynamics with an Iridium(III) luminophore. Small 14, 1802166 (2018). 

29. K. Qiu, L. Ke, X. Zhang, Y. Liu, T.W. Rees, L. Ji, J. Diao, H. Chao. Tracking mitochondrial pH fluctuation during cell apoptosis with two-photon phosphorescent Iridium(III) complexes. Chem. Commun. 54, 2421 (2018). 

30. H. Huang, L. Yang, P. Zhang, K. Qiu, J. Huang, Y. Chen, J. Diao, J. Liu, L. Ji, J. Long, H. Chao. Real-time tracking mitochondrial dynamic remodeling with two-photon phosphorescent Iridium (III) complexes. Biomaterials 83, 321 (2016). 

Nanobiotechnology

1. C.-H. Hsieh, E. Lee, P. H. Chi, J. Diao, C.-Y. Lee. M*: On-chip microfluidic operations with A-star for portable diagnostics. IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP), Hyderabad, India, 2025, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ICASSP49660.2025.10890729.

2. Y. Wang, Y.-S. Chan, E. Lee, D. Shi, C.-Y. Lee, J. Diao. Monitoring Escherichia coli in water through real-time LAMP on biochips. Micromachines 15, 1112 (2024).

3. Y. Wang, M. Chae, T.-J. Oh, K. Qiu, K. Mehta, A. Tan, N.-P. Tsai, D. Shi, K. Zhang, J. Diao. Sustainable synthesis of carbon dots via bio-waste recycling for biomedical imaging. Smart Med. 3, e20240012 (2024).

4. X. Shao, Z. Fang, M. Li, W. Zou, Q. Wang, C. Zhang, Y. Wei, Z. Tian, Y. Lai, Y. Cao, B. Ji, D. Li, Q. Chen, J. Diao. Graphene oxide nanosheets induce mitochondrial fragmentation by cutting through membrane. ACS Mater. Lett. 5, 2308 (2023).

5. Y. Wang, Y.-S. Chan, M. Chae, D. Shi, C.-Y. Lee, J. Diao. Programmable digital-microfluidic biochips for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Bioengineering 10, 923 (2023).

6. K. Qiu, W. Zou, Z. Fang, Y. Wang, S. Bell, X. Zhang, Z. Tian, X. Xu, B. Ji, D. Li, T. Huang, J. Diao. 2D MoS2 and BN nanosheets damage mitochondria through membrane penetration. ACS Nano 17, 4716 (2023).

7. Y.-S. Chan, J. Diao, C.-Y. Lee. A pattern-control digital microfluidic bio-chip for fast thermal cycle in medical tests. 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), Monterey, CA, USA, 2023, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/ISCAS46773.2023.10181466.

8. J. Yan, Y. Wang, X. Li, D. Guo, Z. Zhao, G. Bai, J. Li, N. Huang, J. Diao, Y. Li, W. He, W. Liu, K. Tao. A bionic nano band-aid constructed by a three-stage self-assembly of peptides for rapid liver hemostasis. Nano Lett. 21, 7166 (2021).

9. X. Zheng, J. Yan, W. You, F. Li, J. Diao, W. He, Y. Yao. De novo nano-erythrocyte structurally braced by biomimetic Au(I)-peptide skeleton for MDM2/MDMX predation towards augmented pulmonary adenocarcinoma immunotherapy. Small 17, 2100394 (2021).

10. Q. Wang, X. Zhai, M. Crowe, L. Guo, Y. Li, D. Li, L. Zhang, J. Diao, B. Ji. Heterogeneous oxidization of graphene nanosheets damages membrane. Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 62, 064611 (2019).

11. Z. Tian, M. Crowe, L. Shao, P. Zhang, L. Zhang, Q. Zhao, J. Diao. Interface colloidal deposition of nanoparticle wire structures. Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 35, 1800098 (2018). 

12. M. Crowe, Z. Tian, P. Zhang, J.J. Diao. Pristine graphene modulation of vertical colloidal deposition for gold nanoparticle wires. Colloids Surf. A-Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 544, 159 (2018). 

13. M. Crowe, Y. Lai, Y. Wang, J. Lu, M. Zhao, Z. Tian, J. Long, P. Zhang, J. Diao. A proteoliposome method for assessing nanotoxicity on synaptic fusion and membrane integrity. Small Methods 1, 1700207, (2017).

14. X. Li, R. Hu, J. Li, X. Tong, J.J. Diao, D. Yu, Q. Zhao. Non-sticky translocation of bio-molecules through Tween 20-coated solid-state nanopores in a wide pH range. Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 143105 (2016). 

15. S.C. Shen, W. Liu, J.J. Diao. Nanoparticle wire structures for biophysical detections. Chin. Phys. B 24, 127308 (2015). 

16. L. Shao, J.J. Diao, Z. Tang, S. Liu, S.C. Shen, X. Rui, J. Liu, D. Yu, Q. Zhao. Gold nanoparticle wires for sensing DNA and DNA/protein interactions. Nanoscale 6, 4089 (2014). 

17. M. Xia, X. Rui, J.J. Diao. Heat and electronic coupling transport in strained graphene nanoribbons. Adv. Sci. Lett. 4, 3658 (2011).

18. J.J. Diao, S.C. Shen. Charge transfer directed growth and morphology regulation of silver nanoparticles. J. Nanosci. Nanotech. 11, 4158 (2011).

19. J.J. Diao, Q. Cao. Gold nanoparticle wire and integrated wire array for electronic detection of chemical and biological molecules. AIP Adv. 1, 012115 (2011).

20. J.J. Diao, M. Xia. A particle transport study of vertical evaporation-driven colloidal deposition by the coffee-ring theory. Colloids Surf. A-Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 338, 167 (2009). 

21. Y. Chen, G. Luo, J.J. Diao, O. Chornoguz, M. Reeves, A. Vertes. Laser desorption/ionization from nanostructured surfaces: nanowires, nanoparticle films and silicon microcolumn arrays. Eighth International Conference on Laser Ablation (COLA'05), Banff, Canada, 2005, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 59, 548 (2007). 

22. J.J. Diao, H. Chen. Near infrared surface plasmon resonance of gold tabular nanostructures in the HAuCl4-Na2S reaction. J. Chem. Phys. 124, 116103 (2006).

23. J.J. Diao, J. Sun, J.B. Hutchison, M.E. Reeves. Self assembled nanoparticle wires by discontinuous vertical colloidal deposition.  Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 103113 (2005).

24. J.J. Diao, J.B. Hutchison, G. Luo, M.E. Reeves. Theoretical analysis of vertical colloidal deposition. J. Chem. Phys. 122, 184710 (2005).

25. J.J. Diao, S. Huang, M.E. Reeves. Cavity resonators of metal-coated dielectric nanorods. J. Chem. Phys. 122, 146101 (2005).

26. J.J. Diao, D. Hua, J.Q. Lin, H.H. Teng, D.C. Chen. Nanoparticle delivery by controlled bacteria. J. Nanosci. Nanotech. 5, 1749 (2005).

27. J.J. Diao, G.D. Chen, F.S. Qiu, G.J. Yan. Improved liquid-solid-gas interface deposition for nanoparticle thin film. Chin. Phys. 13, 1927 (2004).

28. J.J. Diao, F.S. Qiu, G.D. Chen, M.E. Reeves. Surface vertical deposition for gold nanoparticle film. J. Phys. D-Appl. Phys. 36, L25 (2003).

29. J.J. Diao, G.D. Chen, C. Xi, Z.Y. Fan, J.S. Yuan. Optical resonance of metal-coated nanoshell. Chin. Phys. 12, 100 (2003).

30. J.J. Diao, F.S. Qiu, G.D. Chen, C. Xi, Y. Song. Photoluminescence properties study of the Au/Au2S nanoshell. Can. J. Phys. 80, 707 (2002).

31. J.J. Diao, G.D. Chen. Electromagnetic cavity resonant absorption of the gold nanoshell. J. Phys. D-Appl. Phys. 34, L79 (2001).

32. J.J. Diao, G.D. Chen. Optical properties of metal-coated nanoparticles. Acta Photon. Sin. 30, 550 (2001).

Single-molecule biophysics

1. W. Hao, X. Hu, Q. Chen, B. Qin, Z. Tian, Z. Li, P. Hou, R. Zhao, H. Balci, S. Cui, J. Diao. Duplex unwinding mechanism of coronavirus MERS-CoV nsp13 helicases. Chem. Biomed. Imaging 3, 111 (2025).

2. M. Wu, Y. Xiang, L. Tang, W. Li, X. Wang, Y. Du, W. Zuo, S. Zhang, Q. Hu, M. Wang, J. Diao, J. Wu, Y. Lai. Molecular imaging of aging-related 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cell-free DNA at the single-copy level. Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 402, 135098 (2024).

3. Y. Wang, X. Hu, J. Long, J. Diao. Epigenetic optical sensing of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at the single-molecule level. Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 358, 131500 (2022).

4. Y. Tao, J. Xie, Q. Zhong, Y. Wang, S. Zhang, F. Luo, F. Wen, J. Xie, J. Zhao, X. Sun, H. Long, J. Ma, Q. Zhang, J. Long, X. Fang, Y. Lu, D. Li, M. Li, J. Zhu, B. Sun, G. Li, J. Diao, C. Liu. A novel partially-open state of SHP2 points to a “multiple gear” regulation mechanism. J. Biol. Chem. 296, 100538 (2021). 

5. Y. Du, Y. Lai, J. Liu, J. Diao. Epigenetic quantification of DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine using DNA hybridization-based single-molecule immunofluorescent imaging. Small Methods 5, 2100061 (2021). 

6. E. Lerner et al. FRET-Based dynamic structural biology: Challenges, perspectives and an appeal for open-science practices. Elife 10, e60416 (2021). 

7. Y. Du, Y. Wang, X. Hu, J. Liu, J. Diao. Single-molecule quantification of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethyicytosine in cancer genome. View 1, e9 (2020). 

8. Z. Wang, H. Fan, X. Hu, J. Khamo, J. Diao, K. Zhang, T.V. Pogorelov. Coaction of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions: dynamic structural constraints on disordered TrkA juxtamembrane domain. J. Phys. Chem. B 123, 10709 (2019). 

9. X. Feng, S.-J. Hsu, A. Bhattacharjee, Y. Wang, J. Diao, C.M. Price. CTC1-STN1 terminates telomerase while STN1-TEN1 enables C-strand synthesis during telomere replication in colon cancer cells. Nat. Commun. 9, 2827 (2018).

10. A. Bhattacharjee, Y. Wang, J. Diao, C.M. Price. Dynamic DNA binding, junction recognition and G4 melting activity underlie the telomeric and genome-wide roles of human CST. Nucleic Acids Res. 45, 12311 (2017). 

11. Y. Qing, Z. Tian, Y. Bi, Y. Wang, J. Long, C.-X. Song, J. Diao. Quantitation and mapping of the epigenetic marker 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Bioessays 39, 1700010 (2017). 

12. C.-X. Song, J. Diao, A.T. Brunger, S.R. Quake. Simultaneous single-molecule epigenetic imaging of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 4338 (2016). 

Biomedicine

1. J. Sun, K. Du, J. Diao, X. Cai, F. Feng, S. Wang. GSH and H2O2 co-activatable mitochondria-targeted photodynamic therapy under normoxia and hypoxia. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59, 12122 (2020).

2. X. Jiang, C. Hu, K. Ferchen, J. Nie, X. Cui, C.-H. Chen, L. Cheng, Z. Zuo, W. Seibel, C. He, Y. Tang, J.R. Skibbe, M. Wunderlich, W.C. Reinhold, L. Dong, C. Shen, S. Arnovitz, B. Ulrich, J. Lu, H. Weng, R. Su, H. Huang, Y. Wang, C. Li, X. Qin, J. Mulloy, Y. Zheng, J. Diao, J. Jin, C. Li, P.P. Liu, C. He, Y. Chen, J. Chen. Targeted inhibition of STAT/TET1 axis as a potent therapeutic strategy for acute myeloid leukemia. Nat. Commun. 8, 2099 (2017). 

3. C.-X. Song, S. Yin, L. Ma, A. Wheeler, Y. Chen, Y. Zhang, B. Liu, J. Xiong, W. Zhang, J. Hu, Z. Zhou, B. Dong, Z. Tian, S.S. Jeffrey, M.-S. Chua, S. So, W. Li, Y. Wei, J. Diao, D. Xie, S.R. Quake. 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine signatures in cell-free DNA provide information about tumor types and stages. Cell Res. 27, 1231 (2017).

Miscellaneous

1. J. Diao. Q&A with Jiajie Diao. Cell Rep. 43, 113741 (2024).

2. D.J. Klionsky et al. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition). Autophagy 17, 1  (2021). 

3. P. Brown, RELISH Consortium, Y. Zhou. Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search. Database baz085 (2019).