Biography

Dr. Youjun Li did his postdoc training and research assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh Medical school from 2002 to 2009. Since 2010, he has been a full Professor in college of Life sciences of Wuhan university. Since 2022, he has also been a principal investigator in TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences of Wuhan University.His research interests have been focused on the molecular mechanisms of the crosstalk between tumor metabolism reprogramming and microenvironment remodeling. He has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journal.

Research

Mutations in key oncogenes drive tumor initiation, and immunosuppressive microenvironment networks suppress tumor immunity. Changes in tumor cell signaling pathways lead to metabolic reprogramming, tumor growth and survival advantages. The interaction between tumor metabolism and microenvironment regulates the occurrence and development of tumors, their response to treatment, and enables tumors to evade immune surveillance. Targeting the metabolic pathways and immune interactions in tumors is a new generation of potentially effective tumor treatment strategies. Therefore, elucidating the specific regulatory mechanisms of tumor metabolism can help to identify its fatal weaknesses, in order to screen new biomarkers and intervention targets, and provide theoretical basis for tumor diagnosis, individualized treatment, and combination therapy. Dr. Youjun Li’ group mainly studies the molecular mechanisms of tumor metabolism and microenvironment reprogramming, such as the molecular mechanisms of tumor related metabolic enzyme activity regulation, the new functions of metabolic enzymes and metabolites, and tumor targeted intervention.

Representative  Publications

1. Zhu Y^#, Gu L^#, Lin X, Liu C, Lu B, Cui K, Zhou F, Zhao Q, Prochownik E, Fan C, Li Y^* (2020). Dynamic regulation of ME1 phosphorylation and acetylation affects lipid metabolism and colorectal tumorigenesis. Molecular Cell, 77:138-149.

2. Chen Z^#, Zhou X, Zhou X, Tang Y, Lu M, Zhao J, Tian C, Wu M, Liu Y, Prochownik E, Wang F^*, Li Y^* (2023). Phosphomevalonate Kinase Controls β-Catenin Signaling via the Metabolite 5-Diphosphomevalonate. Advanced Science, 10:e2204909.

3. Gu L^#, Zhu Y^#, Lin X, Lu B, Zhou X, Zhou F, Zhao Q, Prochownik E, Li Y^* (2021). The IKKβ-USP30-ACLY axis controls lipogenesis and tumorigenesis. Hepatology, 73:160-174.

4. Zhu Y#*, Gu L#, Lin X, Zhou X, Lu B, Li C, Li Y, Prochownik E, Karin M, Wang F*, Li Y*(2023). P53 deficiency affects cholesterol esterification to exacerbate hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology, 77:1499-1511.

5. Li Y#, Cui K, Zhang Q, Li X, Lin X, Tang Y, Li Y* (2021). FBXL6 degrades phosphorylated p53 to promote tumor growth. Cell Death & Differentiation, 28:2112-2125.

6. Cui K#, Liu C, Li X, Zhang Q, Li Y* (2020). Comprehensive characterization of the rRNA metabolism-related genes in human cancer. Oncogene, 39:786-800.

7. Gu L#, Zhu Y#, Lin X, Li Y, Cui K, Li Y* (2018). Amplification of glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase and recruitment of USP30 stabilize DRP1 to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. Cancer Research, 78:5808-5819.

8. Zhu Y#, Gu L#, Li Y, Lin X, Shen H, Cui K, Chen L, Zhou F, Zhao Q, Zhang J, Zhong B, Li Y*(2017). MiR-148a inhibits colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mice. Cell Death & Differentation, 24:2199-2209.

9. Shen H#, Xing C, Cui K, Li Y, Zhang J, Du R, Zhang X, Li Y* (2017). MicroRNA-30a attenuates mutant KRAS-driven colorectal tumorigenesis via direct suppression of ME1. Cell Death & Differentation, 24:1253-1262.

Han H#, Sun D, Li W, Shen H, Zhu Y, Li C, Chen Y, Lu L, Li W, Zhang J, Tian Y and Li Y* (2013). A c-Myc-MicroRNA functional feedback loop affects hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology, 6:2378–2389.