Melanie D Ohi PhD

 Melanie Ohi
Rowena G Matthews Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Medical School and Research Professor
Life Sciences Institute
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Melanie D Ohi PhD
Melanie Ohi
Research Professor
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  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications

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    • 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
      The molecular mechanism of fluoride export by the eukaryotic fluoride channel FEX
      Kang CY, An M, Heidari S, Torabifard H, Ohi MD, Stockbridge RB. Nature Communications, 2026 Dec 1; 17 (1): DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-67289-0
      PMID: 41381451
    • Journal Article
      Contributions of conserved and species-specific CagX (VirB9) domains to the assembly and function of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion system.
      Okoye CD, Frick-Cheng AE, Salmen W, Tran SC, McDonald WH, Loh JT, McClain MS, Lacy DB, Ohi MD, Cover TL. Infect Immun, 2026 Jun 10; e0069925 DOI:10.1128/iai.00699-25
      PMID: 42267923
    • Journal Article
      Secretin-interacting plug proteins prevent antibiotic influx during type IV pilus assembly in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
      Kwon OH, Lee Y, Ryu B, Sher JW, Park S, Lauber F, Kim B-O, Yoo Y, Cho S-H, Choe D, Cho Y-H, Collet J-F, Ohi MD, Bernhardt TG, Chung JM, Cho H. Nat Commun, 2026 May 29; DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-73864-w
      PMID: 42215499
    • Preprint
      The structural mechanism of eukaryotic fluoride channel activation and inhibition by monovalent cations
      Kang C-Y, Heidari S, Kolb S, An M, Ohi MD, Torabifard H, Stockbridge RB. 2026 Apr 26; bioRxiv, DOI:10.64898/2026.04.21.719972
    • Preprint
      Structural basis of caveolin-driven membrane bending.
      Connelly SM, Bergner L, Tiwari A, Brant TS, Medford S, Ramesh S, Tidwell ED, Yoo Y, Xiao K, Gentry J, Chang L, Han B, Rangamani P, Doktorova M, Kenworthy AK, Mosalaganti S, Ohi MD. 2026 Feb 17; DOI:10.64898/2026.02.05.703862
      PMID: 41717096
    • Journal Article
      Cryo-EM structure of the tissue factor/factor VIIa complex with a factor X mimetic reveals a novel allosteric mechanism
      Sedzro JC, Photenhauer AL, Birkle F, Meze K, Mortenson A, Duckworth C, Wen PC, Kearns S, Cianfrocco MA, Tajkhorshid E, Ohi MD, Morrissey JH. Blood, 2025 Dec 4; 146 (23): 2833 - 2842. DOI:10.1182/blood.2025029430
      PMID: 40811856
    • Preprint
      Secretin-interacting plug proteins prevent antibiotic influx during type IV pilus assembly in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
      Cho H, Chung JM, Kwon OH, Lee Y, Ryu B, Sher J, Lauber F, Kim B-O, Yoo Y, Cho S-H, Park S, Choe D, Cho Y-H, Collet J-F, Ohi M, Bernhardt T. 2025 Dec 3; Research Square, DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8003949/v1
    • Journal Article
      The Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm Type IV Secretion System is Structurally and Functionally Resilient in Absence of Species-specific Proteins Dis2 and Dis3
      Roberts JR, Frick-Cheng AE, Styron HJ, Durie CL, Chang L, Ohi MD. Journal of Molecular Biology, 2025 Oct 1; 437 (19): DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2025.169310
      PMID: 40581092

    Featured News & Stories

         Photo of Melanie Ohi
    Department News

    Melanie Ohi will receive the June Almeida Award from the Biophysical Society. Congratulations, Melanie!

    Melanie Ohi will receive the June Almeida Award from the Biophysical Society. Congratulations, Melanie!
         3TH2 crystal structure. TF GLA domain moving gif yellow purple blue ribbons
    Health Lab

    Nanoscale images of a blood clotting protein complex reveal a secret to the clotting chain reaction

    New detailed 3D structures of blood clotting proteins, made possible by using cryogenic-electron microscopy, have solved a mystery vexing biological chemists for more than 30 years.
         headshot of Zoe Yeoh
    Department News

    Congratulations to Zoe Yeoh, PhD

    Biological Chemistry PhD student Zoe Yeoh of the Janet Smith and Melanie Ohi labs defends her doctoral dissertation.
         headshot of Jacquelyn Roberts
    Department News

    Congratulations to Jacquelyn Roberts, PhD

    Biological Chemistry PhD student Jacquelyn Roberts of the Melanie Ohi lab defends her doctoral dissertation.
         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.