Ji-long Liu
Programme Leader, MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
EDUCATION
1997-2000 PhD, Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1992-1995 MSc, Animal Physiology & Biochemistry (neurophysiology), China Agricultural University
1988-1992 BSc, Forest Conservation, Beijing Forestry University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012-present Programme Leader (tenured), MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford
2007-2011 Programme Leader-track, MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford
2003-2007 Postdoctoral fellow, Carnegie Institution Department of Embryology, Advisor: Professor Joseph G. Gall
2000–2002 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Animal Science/Center for Regenerative Biology, University of Connecticut, Advisor: Professor Xiangzhong (Jerry) Yang
Title: Cytoophidia, CTP synthase and Cancer
Intracellular compartments such as organelles are essential for a cell’s function. RNA occurs in every compartment in a cell. Research in the Liu group focuses on three fundamental questions relating to RNA, for which we seek an in vivo understanding. We choose the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as our prime model system because of its genetic tractability and the depth of genomic data. Studies in Drosophila have provided a key to vertebrate development and human biology.
First, we will study the mechanisms by which the synthesis of CTP, one of the critical precursors of RNA and DNA, is compartmentalized within a cell. We have recently discovered that CTP synthase is compartmentalized in a novel evolutionarily conserved organelle, the cytoophidium. Compartmentation is essential for the localization of biological processes within a eukaryotic cell. CTP synthase has been an attractive target for developing agents against cancer, virus and parasites. We will investigate how CTP synthase is assembled into the cytoophidium and how the cytoophidium is linked to cancer biology.
Second, we are interested in the biological roles of long noncoding RNAs in Drosophila. While much knowledge has been gained on the functionality of protein-coding genes, we know very little about the mechanisms by which noncoding RNAs function in a fly. We will analyse the spatial and temporal expression of long noncoding RNAs during Drosophila development and will investigate the underlying mechanisms of how they function in vivo.
Finally, we will investigate how an RNP assembly and RNA splicing factor SMN and the abundance of U bodies are regulated during development. SMN, a major constituent of U bodies which contain snRNPs, is the determining factor for SMA. The study of SMN and the U body thus holds the key to identifying the cellular mechanism of SMA. We are particularly excited to investigate the role of SMN in the maintenance of stem cells and their pluripotency.
Venue: Room B323, Medical Science Building (医学科学楼), THU
Time: June 28 (Friday), 2013; 15:00-17:00
Host: Prof. Jianquan Ni