Melanie D Ohi PhD
Rowena G Matthews Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences
Research Professor
Life Sciences Institute
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
[email protected]

Available to mentor
Melanie D Ohi PhD
Research Professor
  • About
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
    • About

    The Ohi lab is interested in understanding how dynamic protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes organize and function in cells. We use a combination of single particle cryo-electron microscopy, biochemistry, and molecular biology approaches to determine 3D structures of biologically important complexes. We work on pore-forming complexes, bacterial secretion systems, membrane sculpting proteins, and protein-nucleic acid complexes.

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center
    Research Overview

    -structural biology
    -cryo-electron microscopy
    -host-pathogen interactions
    -membrane proteins
    -protein-nucleic acid complexes

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Structural basis for catalysis and selectivity of phospholipid synthesis by eukaryotic choline-phosphotransferase.
      Roberts JR, Horibata Y, Kwarcinski FE, Lam V, Raczkowski AM, Hubbard A, White B, Sugimoto H, Tall GG, Ohi MD, Maeda S. Nat Commun, 2025 Jan 2; 16 (1): 111 DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-55673-1
      PMID: 39747155
    • Journal Article
      A minimal complex of KHNYN and zinc-finger antiviral protein binds and degrades single-stranded RNA.
      Yeoh ZC, Meagher JL, Kang C-Y, Bieniasz PD, Smith JL, Ohi MD. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2024 Dec 24; 121 (52): e2415048121 DOI:10.1073/pnas.2415048121
      PMID: 39693345
    • Journal Article
      Functional anatomy of zinc finger antiviral protein complexes.
      Bohn JA, Meagher JL, Takata MA, Gonçalves-Carneiro D, Yeoh ZC, Ohi MD, Smith JL, Bieniasz PD. Nat Commun, 2024 Dec 30; 15 (1): 10834 DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-55192-z
      PMID: 39738020
    • Journal Article
      Correction: Subdomains of the Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SS outer membrane core complex exhibit structural independence.
      Roberts JR, Tran SC, Frick-Cheng AE, Bryant KN, Okoye CD, McDonald WH, Cover TL, Ohi MD. Life Sci Alliance, 2024 Aug; 7 (8): DOI:10.26508/lsa.202402801
      PMID: 38740433
    • Journal Article
      Structural Studies of Helicobacter pylori’s Cag Type IV Secretion System
      Salmen W, Frick-Cheng A, Roberts J, Cover T, Ohi M. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2024 Jul 24; 30 (Supplement_1): ozae044.375 DOI:10.1093/mam/ozae044.375
    • Journal Article
      Iron limitation induces motility in uropathogenic E. coli CFT073 partially through action of LpdA.
      Frick-Cheng AE, Shea AE, Roberts JR, Smith SN, Ohi MD, Mobley HLT. mBio, 2024 Jul 17; 15 (7): e0104824 DOI:10.1128/mbio.01048-24
      PMID: 38874412
    • Journal Article
      Subdomains of the Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SS outer membrane core complex exhibit structural independence.
      Roberts JR, Tran SC, Frick-Cheng AE, Bryant KN, Okoye CD, McDonald WH, Cover TL, Ohi MD. Life Sci Alliance, 2024 Jun; 7 (6): DOI:10.26508/lsa.202302560
      PMID: 38631913
    • Preprint
      Structural basis for catalysis and selectivity of phospholipid synthesis by eukaryotic choline-phosphotransferase
      Roberts J, Horibata Y, Kwarcinski F, Lam V, Raczkowski A, Hubbard A, White B, Sugimoto H, Tall G, Ohi M, Maeda S. 2024 bioRxiv, DOI:10.1101/2024.05.09.593427
    Featured News & Stories A minimal complex of KHNYN and zinc-finger antiviral protein binds and degrades single-stranded RNA bioart
    Department News
    New Publication from a collaborative effort between the Janet Smith and Melanie Ohi labs
    The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) published a research article entitled "A minimal complex of KHNYN and zinc-finger antiviral protein binds and degrades single-stranded RNA" with collaborative authorship by the Janet Smith and Melanie Ohi labs.
         model for proteins binding viral RNA
    Department News
    PhD student Zoe Yeoh publishes a research article in PNAS
    U-M Biological Chemistry PhD student Zoe Yeoh is the first author of a research article in PNAS.
    Department News
    New Publication from the Melanie Ohi Lab!
    "Subdomains of the Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SS outer membrane core complex exhibit structural independence," has been published in Life Science Alliance.
    Department News
    New Publication from the Melanie Ohi Lab in collaboration with the Mosalaganti Lab
    "Structural Analysis of Membrane-associated Forms of Helicobacter pylori VacA Toxin," has been published in the Journal of Molecular Biology