A research team led by Professor Guo Ruiting from the School of Basic Medicine, in collaboration with Researcher Gao Shushan’s team from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made a significant breakthrough in studying the key enzyme EasC in ergoline alkaloid biosynthesis. Using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, they discovered a novel NADPH-independent superoxide mechanism in chanoclavine synthase. Their findings were published in Nature on March 6, titled “Chanoclavine synthase operates by an NADPH-independent superoxide mechanism.”

This marks the first HZNU publication in Nature as the leading institution, co-authored with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei University, Delft University of Technology, and others. This achievement enhances the university’s academic influence and underscores its growing strength in cutting-edge research and international collaboration.