1. 自噬溶酶体调控机理以及其在蛋白质构象病中的应用。
研究胞内自噬溶酶体降解信号通路的调节机理，探索其在细胞抗逆，代谢和凋亡中的生理学功能。开发选择性自噬在蛋白质构象疾病治疗中的应用方法。
2. 表观遗传学编辑技术的开发与细胞改造。
开发基于DNA甲基化，组蛋白修饰的表观遗传编辑技术，实现目的基因功能和表达水平调控，用于底盘细胞开发与改造。
代表论著：
论文
1. Shin JN, Rao L*, Sha Y, Abdel Fattah E, Hyser J, Eissa NT. p38 MAPK Activity Is Required to Prevent Hyperactivation of NLRP3 Inflammasome. J Immunol July 15, 2021, 207 (2) 661-670.
2. Klionsky, D. J., ..Rao L…. et al. "Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)." Autophagy, 2021, 1-382.
3. Rao L*, De La Rosa I, Xu Y, Sha Y, Bhattacharya A, Holtzman MJ, Gilbert BE, Eissa NT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa survives in epithelia by ExoS-mediated inhibition of autophagy and mTOR. EMBO Rep (2021)22: e50613.
4. Rao L*, Eissa NT. A New Role of the Proteasome in Alpha One Antitrypsin Regulation. J Stem Cell Res Dev Ther 2020 6: 048.
5. Rao L*, Xu Y, Reineke LC, Bhattacharya A, Tyryshkin A, Shin, JN, Eissa NT. Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Alpha One Antitrypsin by a Proteasome Inhibitor. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jun 17;21(12):4318.
6. Rao L* and Eissa NT. Autophagy in pulmonary Innate Immunity. J Innate Immun 2020; 12:21–30.
7. Sha Y, Rao L, Settembre C, Ballabio A, Eissa NT. STUB1 regulates TFEB‐induced autophagy–lysosome pathway. EMBO J. 2017 Sep 1;36(17):2544-2552
8. Rao L*, Sha Y, Eissa NT. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase STUB1 Regulates Autophagy and Mitochondrial Biogenesis by Modulating TFEB Activity. Mol Cell Oncol. 2017 Sep 28;4(6):e1372867
9. Rao L, Xue Y, Zheng Y, Lu JR, Ma Y. A novel alkaliphilic bacillus esterase belongs to the 13(th) bacterial lipolytic enzyme family. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60645.
10. Rao L, Xue Y, Zhou C, Tao J, Li G, Lu JR, Ma Y. A thermostable esterase from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis opening up a new family of bacterial lipolytic enzymes Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 Dec; 1814(12):1695-702.
11. Li G, Rao L, Xue Y, Zhou C, Zhang Y, Ma Y. Cloning, expression, and characterization of a highly active alkaline pectate lyase from alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. N16-5 J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010 Apr;20(4):670-7.
12. Li G, Song Y, Xue Y, Rao L, Zhou C, Wang Q, Ma Y. Comparative proteome analysis of alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. N16-5 grown on different carbon sources. Sci China Life Sci. 2011 Jan;54(1):90-100
13. Rao L, Zhao X, Pan F, Li Y, Xue Y, Ma Y, Lu JR. Solution behavior and activity of a halophilic esterase under high salt concentration. PLoS One. 2009 Sep 14;4(9): e6980.
14. Rao L, Bi Y, Xie G, Zhang F, Wang Y, Cao S, Gao R. Study on a Specific Site Tyr444 on a Hyperthermophilic Enzyme APE1547. CHEM RES CHINESE U, 2009, 25(3), 353-356.
15. Zhang GR, Gao RJ, Zhang AJ, Rao L, Cao SG. High-throughput Screening of the Enantioselectivity of Hyperthermophilic Mutant Esterases from Archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 for Resolution of (R,S) -2-Octanol Acetate. CHEM RES CHINESE U,2007, 23, (3), 319-324.
专利
1.马延和，饶朗，薛燕芬：一种酯酶及其编码基因。CN102127526B
2.马延和，饶朗，薛燕芬：嗜热酯水解酶TCLipA3及其编码基因和应用。CN102399761B
