James M. Rini
Professor
BSc, University of Toronto, 1981
PhD, University of Toronto, 1986
Postdoc, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA, 1986-1991
| Address | MaRS Centre, West Tower, Rm 1614 661 University Ave Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 |
| Lab Phone | 416-978-0742 |
| Office Phone | 416-978-0557 |
| james.rini@utoronto.ca |
Dr. James Rini obtained his Ph.D. from the department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto where he determined one of the first x-ray crystal structures of a protein-carbohydrate complex. He then did postdoctoral research with Dr. Ian Wilson at the Research Institute of Scripps Clinic where his work on anti-viral antibodies led to the discovery of new principles of immune recognition. As an independent researcher Dr. Rini has established an international reputation for his contributions in the areas of protein-carbohydrate interactions, animal lectins and glycosyltransferase structure and mechanism. He has written a number of important reviews in these areas and he is a contributor to the popular textbook Essentials of Glycobiology.
Research Lab
In the Rini lab we take an interdisciplinary approach involving a wide range of techniques ranging from x-ray crystallography to cell-based assays. Our interest in membrane proteins (mammalian glycosyltransferases and cell surface receptors) and viral glycoproteins has also driven us to develop a novel mammalian cell expression system which has greatly facilitated the production of targets of this type. The use of a virus-like particle-based infectivity assay, in conjunction with site-directed mutagenesis, provides an example of how we extend and complement our structural work to establish structure-function relationships. Similarly, our chemoenzymatic approach to the generation of improved antibody therapeutics for clinical applications involves Fc-Receptor binding assays (surface plasmon resonance and biolayer interferometry) and through collaboration, cell uptake and cytotoxicity assays.
Research Description
Mammalian Cell Membrane and Secreted Proteins/Glycoproteins
The membrane and secreted proteins/glycoproteins of mammalian cells play critical roles in processes ranging from cell-cell communication and signalling to the recognition of foreign antigens.
Specifically, our research efforts are focused on the study of such proteins in three broad areas, described below.
1) Glycosyltransferases and ER Quality Control
UGGT recognizes misfolded glycoproteins and by specifically glucosylating their N-glycans enables repeated cycles of interaction with calnexin (CNX) and calreticulin (CRT), carbohydrate-binding proteins that recruit folding chaperones. GI and GII are glucosidases that remove glucose moieties.
The process by which N-glycans mediate protein folding and quality control in the ER is critically dependent on the ability of UGGT, an ER-resident glucosyltransferase, to recognize and glucosylate misfolded proteins.
In contrast, the ER-resident fucosyltransferases, POFUT1 and POFUT2, which are involved in the trafficking of glycoproteins such as the Notch receptor, recognize and fucosylate properly folded protein domains. Through a study of these fundamentally different systems we seek to determine not only the mechanism of action of these glycosyltransferases, but the roles that they play in mediating cellular proteostasis.
2) Human Coronavirus-Receptor Interactions
Ribbon diagram of the SARS receptor binding domain (magenta) in complex with the Fab of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (blue)
In addition to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, human coronaviruses are responsible for ~30% of the common cold. The coronavirus S-protein mediates host cell attachment and fusion of the viral and host cell membranes and among coronaviruses it recognizes a number of different protein and carbohydrate receptors. By studying the S-protein-receptor interaction from a number of different coronaviruses we aim to determine the basis for both host specificity and S-protein-mediated immune evasion and, as such, to shed light on the evolution of this large family of RNA viruses.
3) Carbohydrate Engineering and Improved Therapeutic Antibodies
The N-glycan at Asn-297 of the human IgG molecule plays an important role in modulating Fc-receptor interactions and as a result the clinical efficacy of therapeutic antibodies. Using a combination of approaches including mammalian cell line engineering and the chemoenzymatic modification of the N-glycan at Asn-297, we are developing novel methods for the generation of improved therapeutic antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer and arthritis.
Courses Taught
BCH374Y1 Research Project in Biochemistry
JBB2025H Protein Crystallography
BCH473Y Advanced Research Project in Biochemistry
BCH440H (BCH1440H) Protein Homeostasis
BCH444H Protein Trafficking in the Secretory and Endocytic Pathways
Publications
View all publications on PubMed
Tetravalent SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies Show Enhanced Potency and Resistance to Escape Mutations
Shane Miersch, Zhijie Li, Reza Saberianfar, Mart Ustav, James Brett Case, Levi Blazer, Chao Chen, Wei Ye, Alevtina Pavlenco, Maryna Gorelik, Julia Garcia Perez, Suryasree Subramania, Serena Singh, Lynda Ploder, Safder Ganaie, Rita E Chen, Daisy W Leung, Pier Paolo Pandolfi, Giuseppe Novelli, Giulia Matusali, Francesca Colavita, Maria R Capobianchi, Suresh Jain, J B Gupta, Gaya K Amarasinghe, Michael S Diamond, James Rini, Sachdev S Sidhu
J Mol Biol (2021), 433(19):167177 Read
A simple protein-based surrogate neutralization assay for SARS-CoV-2
Kento T Abe, Zhijie Li, Reuben Samson, Payman Samavarchi-Tehrani, Emelissa J Valcourt, Heidi Wood, Patrick Budylowski, Alan P Dupuis 2nd, Roxie C Girardin , Bhavisha Rathod, Jenny H Wang, Miriam Barrios-Rodiles, Karen Colwill, Allison J McGeer, Samira Mubareka, Jennifer L Gommerman, Yves Durocher, Mario Ostrowski, Kathleen A McDonough, Michael A Drebot, Steven J Drews, James M Rini, Anne-Claude Gingras
JCI Insight (2020) 5(19) e142362 Read
The human coronavirus HCoV-229E S-protein structure and receptor binding.
Li, Z., Wong, A.H.M., Zhou, D., Desforges, M., Talbot, P.J., Benlikbir, S., Rubinstein, J.L. and Rini, J.M.
eLife, 8:e51230 Read
Receptor-binding loops in alphacoronavirus adaptation and evolution.
Wong A.H.M., Tomlinson, A.C.A., Zhou D., Satkunarajah M., Chen K., Sharon C., Desforges M., Talbot P.J. and Rini, J.M.
Nat Commun. (2017), 8(1):1735 Read
Structural basis of Notch O-glucosylation and O-xylosylation by mammalian protein-O-glucosyltransferase 1 (POGLUT1).
Li, Z., Fisher, M., Satkunarajah, M., Zhou D., Withers S.G. and Rini, J.M.
Nat Commun. (2017), 8(1):185. Read
Recognition of EGF-like domains by the Notch-modifying O-fucosyltransferase POFUT1.
Li, Z., Han, K., Pak, J.E., Satkunarajah, M., Zhou, D. and Rini, J.M.
Nat Chem Biol. (2017), 13(7):757-763 Read
Simple piggyBac transposon-based mammalian cell expression system for inducible protein production.
Li, Z., Michael, I.P., Zhou, D., Nagy, A. and Rini, J.M.
PNAS (2013), 110, 5004-5009 Read
The x-ray crystal structure of human aminopeptidase N reveals a novel dimer and the basis for peptide processing.
Wong, A.H., Zhou, D., and Rini, J.M.
J Biol Chem (2012), 287, 36804-36814 Read
Structural and mechanistic characterization of Core 2 β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase: a metal ion independent GT-A glycosyltransferase.
Pak, J.E., Satkunarajah, M., Seetharaman, J. and Rini, J.M.
J Mol Biol (2011), 414, 798-811 Read
X-ray Crystal Structure of Rabbit N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase I: Enzyme Mechanism and a New Protein Superfamily.
Ünligil, U.M., Zhou, S., Yuwaraj, S., Sarkar, M., Schachter, S. and Rini, J.M.
EMBO J (2000), 19, 5269-5280 Read