Ang Guo

Assistant Professor

Faculty

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Credentials

PhD

Areas of Study & Research

My long-term interest is to bridge deep mechanistic insight with practical bioengineering, advancing both our understanding of cardiac pathophysiology and our capacity to design novel biological systems. My current research focuses on understanding the cardiac innate immune system, with a broader interest in protein multifunctionality, synthetic biology, protein design, and the application of deep learning and AI approaches. My lab employs a multidisciplinary approach that includes molecular biology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, animal models, and computational methods to address scientific questions.

Opportunities are available for motivated postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and part-time technicians. Applicants for PhD students must hold a Master’s degree in a biological, bioengineering, or biomedical science discipline (excluding pharmacy or pharmaceutics), and must have a completed research thesis and clear evidence of strong research experience. Applicants without hands-on research experience are advised not to apply, as their lack of experience becomes apparent within a few questions. Exceptional undergraduate applicants with extensive research experience may be considered for the PhD candidates. Postdoc and PhD candidate applicants should have demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas: (1) biochemistry and molecular cloning or synthetic biology; (2) cardiac or neurophysiology with rodent surgery experience; (3) patch clamp, Ca2+ signaling and cell culture; (4) bioinformatics and deep-learning.

Grants Awarded

  • American Heart Association Innovative Award (PI), 2025–2027
  • NIH R03 1R03AG077141-01A1 (PI), 2022-2024
  • NIH 1R15CA195499-01A1 revised (PI), 2019-2020
  • NDSU EPSCoR Funding FAR0032269 (PI), 2019-2020
  • NDSU EPSCoR Funding FAR0033282 (PI), 2020-2021
  • ND EPSCoR Funding FAR0031578 (PI), 2020-2021
  • American Heart Association (AHA) scientist development grant 16SDG30820003 (PI), 2016-2019
  • American Heart Association Postdoctoral Award Fellowship 13POST14630077 (PI), 2013-2015

Patent

WO/2017/214296

Software development

Independently developed AutoTT, which is an image analysis software used for processing and analyzing structure of sarcomere and T-tubules in myocytes. More than 30 labs all over the world requested and used this software.

Independently developed CaTeasy, which is a software used for analyzing Ca2+ signals imaged by confocal microscopy. This software is used routinely in my lab.

Education

  • 09/2003-03/2010, PhD: Physiology and Molecular Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
  • 09/1999-06/2003, BS: Biochemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, China

Publications

Corresponding author publication

  1. Shi Y, Mirabdali S, Vetter SW, Guo A. Junctophilin-2 is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein that regulates cardiomyocyte-autonomous innate immune response. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Sep 20:733:150725.
  2. Guo A*, Fang W, Gibson S. Sequence determinants of human junctophilin-2 protein nuclear localization and phase separation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021 Jul 23;563:79-84. (* sole corresponding author)

First or equal contribution author publications

  1. Guo A, Wang Y, Chen B, Wang Y, Yuan J, Zhang L, Hall D, Wu J, Shi Y, Zhu Q, Chen C, Thiel WH, Zhan X, Weiss RM, Zhan F, Musselman CA, Pufall M, Zhu W, Au KF, Hong J, Anderson ME, Grueter CE, Song LS. E-C coupling structural protein junctophilin-2 encodes a stress-adaptive transcription regulator. Science. 2018 Dec 21;362(6421):eaan 3303.
  2. Guo A, Chen R, Wang Y, Huang CK, Chen B, Kutschke W, Hong J, Song LS. Transient activation of PKC results in long-lasting detrimental effects on systolic [Ca2+]i in cardiomyocytes by altering actin cytoskeletal dynamics and T-tubule integrity.J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2018 Jan 4. pii: S0022-2828(18)30012-9. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.01.003. [Epub ahead of print]
  3. Guo A, Hall D, Zhang C, Peng T, Miller JD, Kutschke W, Grueter CE, Johnson FL, Lin RZ, Song LS. Molecular determinants of calpain-dependent cleavage of junctophilin-2 protein in cardiomyocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2015 July 17. ;290(29):17946-55.
  4. Guo A, Zhang XY, Iyer V.R, Chen B, Zhang C, Kutschke W, Weiss RM, Franzini-Armstrong C & Song LS. Overexpression of junctophilin-2 does not enhance baseline cardiac function but attenuates the development of heart failure following cardiac stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Aug 19;111(33):12240-5.
  5. Guo A and Song LS, AutoTT: Automated Detection and Analysis of T-Tubule Architecture in Cardiomyocytes, Biophysical Journal. 2014 Jun 17;106(12):2729-36.
  6. Chen B,Guo A*, Zhang C, Chen R, Zhu Y, Hong J, Kutschke W, Zimmerman K, Weiss RM, Zingman L, Anderson ME, Wehrens XH, Song LS. Critical roles of Junctophilin-2 in T-tubule and excitation-contraction coupling maturation during postnatal development. Cardiovascular Research. 2013 Oct 1;100(1):54-62 (* co-first author)
  7. Guo A, Zhang C, Wei S, Chen B, Song LS. Emerging mechanisms of T-tubule remodeling in heart failure.Cardiovascular Research. 2013 May 1;98(2):204-15.
  8. Guo A, Cala SE and Song LS. Calsequestrin Accumulation in Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Promotes Perinuclear Ca2+ Release and Myocyte Hypertrophy. Journal of Biological Chemistry.2012 May 11;287(20):16670-80.
  9. Wei S, Guo A*, Chen B, Kutschke W, Xie YP, Zimmerman K, Weiss RM, Anderson ME, Cheng H, and Song LS. T-tubule remodeling during transition from hypertrophy to heart failure..Circulation Research. 2010 Aug 20; 107(4):520-31. (* co-first author; cover story)
  10. Guo A, Yang HT. Ca2+ removal mechanisms in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiol. 2009 Sep; 297(3):C732-41.

Co-authored publications

  1. Akinlalu A, Flaten Z, Rasuleva K, Mia MS, Bauer A, Elamurugan S, Ejjigu N, Maity S, Arshad A, Wu M, Xia W, Fan J, Guo A, Mathew S, Sun D. Integrated proteomic profiling identifies amino acids selectively cytotoxic to pancreatic cancer cells. Innovation (Camb). 2024 Apr 9;5(3):100626.
  2. Komila Rasuleva, Keerthi Priya Jangili, Alfred Akinlalu, Ang Guo, Pawel Borowicz, Chen-Zhong Li, Dali Sun. EvIPqPCR, Target Circulating Tumorous Extracellular Vesicles for Detection of Pancreatic Cancer. Anal Chem 2023 Jul 11;95(27):10353-10361.
  3. Hiroyuki Kawagishi, Tsutomu Nakada, Takuro Numaga-Tomita, Maite Larrañaga, Ang Guo, Long-Sheng Song, Mitsuhiko Yamada. Cytokine receptor gp130 promotes postnatal proliferation of cardiomyocytes required for the normal functional development of the heart. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2022 Jul 1;323(1):H103-H120.
  4. Rasuleva K, Elamurugan S, Bauer A, Khan M, Wen Q, Li Z, Steen P, Guo A, Xia W, Mathew S, Jansen R, Sun D. β-Sheet Richness of the Circulating Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Noninvasive Pancreatic Cancer Screening. ACS Sens. 2021 Dec 24;6(12):4489-4498.
  5. Zhang C, Chen B, Wang Y, Guo A, Tang Y, Khataei T, Shi Y, Kutschke WJ, Zimmerman K, Weiss RM, Liu J, Benson CJ, Hong J, Ma J, Song LS. MG53 is dispensable for T-tubule maturation but critical for maintaining T-tubule integrity following cardiac stress.J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2017 Aug 16.
  6. Guo Y, VanDusen NJ, Zhang L, Gu W, Sethi I, Guatimosim S, Ma Q, Jardin BD, Ai Y, Zhang D, Chen B, Guo A, Yuan GC, Song LS, Pu WT. Analysis of Cardiac Myocyte Maturation Using CASAAV, A Platform for Rapid Dissection of Cardiac Myocyte Gene Function In Vivo.Circ Res. 2017 Jun 9;120(12):1874-1888.
  7. Zhong X, Sun B, Vallmitjana A, Mi T, Guo W, Ni M, Wang R, Guo A, Duff HJ, Gillis AM, Song LS, Hove-Madsen L, Benitez R, Chen SR. Suppression of ryanodine receptor function prolongs Ca2+ release refractoriness and promotes cardiac alternans in intact hearts.Biochem J. 2016 Nov 1;473(21):3951-3964.
  8. Arora R, Aistrup GL, Supple S, Frank C, Singh J, Tai S, Zhao A, Chicos L, Marszalec W, Guo A, Song LS, Wasserstrom JA. Regional distribution of T-tubule density in left and right atria in dogs.Heart Rhythm. 2017 Feb;14(2):273-281.
  9. Zhu Y, Zhang C, Chen B, Chen R, Guo A, Hong J, Song LS. Cholesterol is required for maintaining T-tubule integrity and intercellular connections at intercalated discs in cardiomyocytes.J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2016 Aug;97:204-12.
  10. C Crocini, C Ferrantini, M Scardigli, R Coppini, L Mazzoni, E Lazzeri, JM Pioner, B Scellini, A Guo, LS Song, P Yan, LM Loew, J Tardiff, C Tesi, F Vanzi, E Cerbai, FS Pavone, L Sacconi, C Poggesi. Novel insights on the relationship between T-tubular defects and contractile dysfunction in a mouse model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2016 Feb;91:42-51.
  11. Chen B, Zhang C, Guo A, Song LS. In situ single photon confocal imaging of cardiomyocyte T-tubule system from Langendorff-perfused hearts.Front Physiol. 2015 May 6;6:134.
  12. Ye Y, Sun Z, Guo A, Song LS, Grobe JL, Chen S. Ablation of the GNB3 gene in mice does not affect body weight, metabolism or blood pressure, but causes bradycardia. Cell Signal. 2014 Nov;26(11):2514-20.
  13. Zhang J, Chen B, Zhong X, Mi T, Guo A, Zhou Q, Tan Z, Wu G, Chen AW, Fill M, Song LS, Chen SR. The Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor Luminal Ca2+ Sensor Governs Ca2+ Waves, Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias, and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Calsequestrin Null Mice. Biochem J. 2014 Jul 1;461(1):99-106.
  14. Chen W, Wang R, Chen B, Kong H, Zhou Q, Xie C, Tian X, Guo A, Bai Y, Jones PP, O’Mara M, Zhang L, Bolstad J, Semeniuk L, Cheng H, Chen J, Tieleman DP, Gillis AM, Duff HJ, Fill M, Song LS and Chen SRW. A store Ca2+ sensing gate controls Ca2+ waves and Ca2+ triggered arrhythmias. Nature Medicine. 2014 Feb; 20(2):184-92.
  15. Zhang C, Chen B, Guo A, Zhu Y, Miller J, Kutschke W, Zimmerman K, Weiss RM, Wehrens XHT, Hong J, Johnson FL, Santana LF, Anderson ME, Song LS. Microtubule-mediated defects in junctophilin-2 trafficking contribute to myocyte T-tubule remodeling and Ca2+ handling dysfunction in heart failure. Circulation. 2014, 129(17):1742-50
  16. Bai Y, Jones PP, Guo J, Zhong X, Clark RB, Zhou Q, Wang R, Vallmitjana A, Benitez R, Hove-Madsen L, Semeniuk L, Guo A, Song LS, Duff HJ, Chen SR. Phospholamban knockout breaks arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves and suppresses catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in mice.Circulation Research. 2013 Aug 16;113(5):517-26.
  17. Chen B, Li Y, Jiang S, Xie YP, Guo A, Kutschke J, Zimmerman K, Weiss RM, Miller F, Anderson ME, Song LS. b-adrenergic receptor blockers ameliorate myocyte T-tubule remodeling following myocardial infarction. FASEB J. 2012 Jun;26(6):2531-7.
  18. Xie YP, Chen B, Sanders P, Guo A, Li Y, Zimmerman K, Wang LC, Weiss RM, Grumbach IM, Anderson ME, Song LS. Sildenafil Prevents and Reverses Transverse-Tubule Remodeling and Ca2+ Handling Dysfunction in Right Ventricle Failure Induced by Pulmonary Artery Hypertension. Hypertension. 2012, 59: 355-362
  19. Chen B, Guo A, Wei S, Xie YP, Chen SRW, Anderson ME, Song LS. In Situ Confocal Imaging of Ca2+ handling and Ex Vivo ECG in a Mouse Model of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Mutated ryanodine receptors are not leaky at rest, but exhibit high Ca2+ release variability under stress. Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 2012 Jun 21.
  20. Song LS, Guo A, Lin RZ. MicroRNA: a toolkit fine-tuning the dyadic "fuzzy space"?Circulation Research. 2012 Sep 14;111(7):816-8.
  21. Zhou Q, Xiao J, Jiang D, Wang R, Vembaiyan K, Wang A, Smith CD, Xie C, Chen W, Zhang J, Tian X, Jones PP, Zhong X, Guo A, Chen H, Zhang L, Zhu W, Yang D, Li X, Chen J, Gillis AM, Duff HJ, Cheng H, Feldman AM, Song LS, Fill M, Back TG, Chen SR. Carvedilol and its new analogs suppress arrhythmogenic store overload-induced Ca2+ release. Nature Medicine. 2011 Jul 10;17(8):1003-9.
  22. Li J, Zhang H, Zhu WZ, Yu Z, Guo A, Yang HT, Zhou ZN. Preservation of the pHi during ischemia via PKC by intermittent hypoxia.Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Aug 3; 359(3):841.