EDUCATION

• 1986.9-1990.7 B.S. South China Agricultural University·Guangzhou, China Major: Plant Biochemistry & Physiology

• 1993.9-1996.7 M.S. Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University·Guangzhou, China Major: Molecular Biology & Microbiogy

• 1997.9-2000.7 Ph.D. Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University·Guangzhou, China Major: Molecular Microbiology& Zoology Research on cloning insecticidal crystal genes (ICPs) from Bacillus thuringiensis and ICP action mechanisms

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING

• 2002.2-2005.6  Postdoctoral associate /Advisor Prof. Eileen Adamson. Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute· San Diego, CA, USA

• 2005.5-2007.7  Postdoctoral associate /Advisor Prof. Tomas Mustelin. Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute· San Diego, CA, USA

APPOINTMENTS

• 1996.7-1998.6  Research Assistant Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University ·Guangzhou, China

• 1998.7-2000.5  Lecturer Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University·Guangzhou, China

• 2000.6-2002.01  Associate Professor Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University·Guangzhou, China

• 2007.7-2008.10  Staff scientist Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute·San Diego, CA, USA

• 2008.10-2009.09  Research Assistant Professor New York University (NYU) Cancer Institute, NYU School of Medicine·NY USA

• 2009.9-present  Principal Investigator (PI)/Professor Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

• 2016 Distinguished  Professorship of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

• 2018 Deputy  Director of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Research interest

• Protein modifications regulate tumorigenesis and development

• Protein modifications regulate the biosynthesis and efficiency of miRNAs/siRNAs

• RNA degradation mechanism

• RNA modification and its function

Publications

1. Cao Y, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Tan X, Li L, Chen R, Lu R, Xie R*, Yu J*, Zhao X*. SUMOylation of SND1 drives mature miRNA degradation and tumor progression. Cancer Lett. 2026 Mar 1;640:218253.

2. Huang C, Huang J, Lu R, Yu AJ, Yu AS, Cao Y, Li L, Li J, Li H, Zhou Z, Zhang Y, Xu A, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X, Huang J, Fu Y*, Xu M*, Zhang H*, Yu J*. PABPC1 SUMOylation enhances cell survival by promoting mitophagy through stabilizing U-rich mRNAs within stress granules. Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 7;16(1):7308.

3. Li L, Li J, Chen R, Huang C, Zuo Y, Lu R, Liu X, Huang J, Wang Y, Zhao X, Cheng J, Zhao X*, Du C*, Yu J*. Loss of Fbxo45 in AT2 cells leads to insufficient histone supply and initiates lung adenocarcinoma. Cell Death Differ. 2025 Jul;32(7):1273-1293.

4. Zhang L, Zhao X, Hu J, Li T, Chen HZ, Zhang A, Wang H*, Yu J*, Zhang L* PRPS2 enhances RNA m6A methylation by stimulating SAM synthesis through enzyme-dependent and independent mechanisms. Nat Commun. 2025 Apr 28;16(1):3966.

5. Yang Q, Zhou Z, Li L, Lu R, Hou G, Huang C, Huang J, Li H, Zhang Y, Li J, Zhang Y, Xu A, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X, Huang J, Wang Y*, Zhao X*, Yu J*.The NEXT complex regulates H3K27me3 levels to affect cancer progression by degrading G4/U-rich lncRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res. 2025 Feb 20; 53(4):gkaf107.

6. Lu R, Zhang Y, Chen R, Li L, Huang C, Zhou Z, Cao Y, Li H, Li J, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Huang J, Zhao X, Feng J*, Yu J*, Du C*. A novel regulatory axis of MSI2-AGO2/miR-30a-3p-CGRRF1 drives cancer chemoresistance by upregulating the KRAS/ERK pathway. Neoplasia. 2025 Jan;59:101082.

7. Zhao X*, Cao Y, Lu R, Zhou Z, Huang C, Li L, Huang J, Chen R, Wang Y, Huang J, Cheng J, Zheng J, Fu Y*, Yu J*. Phosphorylation of AGO2 by TBK1 Promotes the Formation of Oncogenic miRISC in NSCLC. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2024 Apr;11(15):e2305541.

8. Zhang H#, Lu R#, Huang J#, Li L, Cao Y, Huang C, Chen R, Wang Y, Huang J, Zhao X*, Yu J*. N4-acetylcytidine modifies primary microRNAs for processing in cancer cells. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024 Feb 3;81(1):73.

9. He J, Huang C, Guo Y, Deng R, Li L, Chen R, Wang Y, Huang J, Zheng J, Zhao X, Yu J*. PTEN-mediated dephosphorylation of 53BP1 confers cellular resistance to DNA damage in cancer cells. Mol Oncol. 2024 Mar;18(3):580-605.

10. Liu X, Lu R, Yang Q, He J, Huang C, Cao Y, Zhou Z, Huang J, Li L, Chen R, Wang Y, Huang J, Xie R*, Zhao X*, Yu J*. USP7 reduces the level of nuclear DICER, impairing DNA damage response and promoting cancer progression. Mol Oncol. 2024 Jan;18(1):170-189.

11. Cao Y, Huang C, Zhao X, Yu J*. Regulation of SUMOylation on RNA metabolism in cancers. Front Mol Biosci. 2023 Feb 24;10:1137215.

12. Fang J, Zhang Y, Huang C, Lu R, Yu J, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X, Yu J*, Huang J*. Glucose-mediated N-glycosylation of RPTPα affects its subcellular localization and Src activation. Oncogene. 2023 Mar;42(14):1058-1071.

13. Guo Y, He J, Zhang H, Chen R, Li L, Liu X, Huang C, Qiang Z, Zhou Z, Wang Y, Huang J, Zhao X, Zheng J, Chen GQ, Yu J*. Linear ubiquitination of PTEN impairs its function to promote prostate cancer progression. Oncogene. 2022 Oct;41(44):4877-4892.

14. Zhang H, Zhao X, Guo Y, Chen R, He J, Li L, Qiang Z, Yang Q, Liu X, Huang C, Lu R, Fang J, Cao Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Huang J, Chen GQ*, Cheng J*, Yu J*. Hypoxia regulates overall mRNA homeostasis by inducing Met1-linked linear ubiquitination of AGO2 in cancer cells. Nature Communications. 2021, 12(1): 5416.

15. Wang Y, Yu J*. Dissecting multiple roles of SUMOylation in prostate cancer. Cancer Lett. 2021, 521:88-97.

16. Wang Y, Yu Y, Pang Y, Yu H, Zhang W, Zhao X, Yu J*. The distinct roles of zinc finger CCHC-type (ZCCHC) superfamily proteins in the regulation of RNA metabolism. RNA Biol. 2021, 18(12):2107-2126.

17. Hou G, Zhao X, Li L, Yang Q, Liu X, Huang C, Lu R, Chen R, Wang Y, Jiang B*, Yu J*. SUMOylation of YTHDF2 promotes mRNA degradation and cancer progression by increasing its binding affinity with m6A-modified mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res. 2021, 49(5):2859-2877.

18. Deng R, Guo Y, Li L, He J, Qiang Z, Zhang H, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X*, Yu J*. BAP1 suppresses prostate cancer progression by deubiquitinating and stabilizing PTEN. Mol Oncol. 2021, 15(1):279-298.

19. Zhao X, Wang Y, He J, Deng R, Huang X, Guo Y, Li L, Xie R*, Yu J*. LncRNA UCA1 maintains the low-tumorigenic and nonmetastatic status by stabilizing E-cadherin in primary prostate cancer cells. Mol Carcinog. 2020 Oct;59(10):1174-1187.

20. Dou J, Zhang H, Chen R, Shu Z, Yuan H, Zhao X, Wang Y, Huang J, Zhou A*, Yu J*. SUMOylation modulates the LIN28A-let-7 signaling pathway in response to cellular stresses in cancer cells. Mol Oncol. 2020 Sep;14(9):2288-2312.

21. Lin R, Zhan M, Yang L, Wang H, Shen H, Huang S, Huang X, Xu S, Zhang Z, Li W, Liu Q, Shi Y, Chen W, Yu J*, Wang J*. Deoxycholic acid modulates the progression of gallbladder cancer through N6-methyladenosine-dependent microRNA maturation. Oncogene. 2020 Jun; 39(26):4983-5000.

22. Liu T, Zhang H, Fang J, Yang Z, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X, Ge S, Yu J*, Huang J*. AGO2 phosphorylation by c-Src kinase promotes tumorigenesis. Neoplasia. 2020 Mar; 22(3):129-141.

23. Cui N, Liu T, Guo Y, Dou J, Yang Q, Zhang H, Chen R, Wang Y, Zhao X, Yu J*, Huang J*. SUMOylation of Csk Negatively Modulates its Tumor Suppressor Function. Neoplasia. 2019 May 21; 21(7):676-688.

24. Zhang H, Wang Y, Dou J, Guo Y, He J, Li L, Liu X, Chen R, Deng R, Huang J, Xie R, Zhao X*, Yu J*. Acetylation of AGO2 promotes cancer progression by increasing oncogenic miR-19b biogenesis. Oncogene. 2019 Feb; 38(9):1410-1431.

25. Du Y, Hou G, Zhang H, Dou J, He J, Guo Y, Li L, Chen R, Wang Y, Deng R, Huang J, Jiang B, Xu M, Cheng J, Chen GQ, Zhao X*, Yu J*. SUMOylation of the m6A-RNA methyltransferase METTL3 modulates its function. Nucleic Acids Res. 2018, 46(10) 5195-5208.

26. Yuan H, Deng R, Zhao X, Chen R, Hou G, Zhang H, Wang Y, Xu M, Jiang B*, Yu J*. SUMO1 modification of KHSRP regulates tumorigenesis by preventing the TL-G-Rich miRNA biogenesis. Mol Cancer. 2017 Oct 11; 16(1):157.

27. Wang J, Deng R, Cui N, Zhang H, Liu T, Dou J, Zhao X, Chen R, Wang Y, Yu J*, Huang J*. Src SUMOylation Inhibits Tumor Growth Via Decreasing FAK Y925 Phosphorylation. Neoplasia. 2017 Oct 22; 19(12):961-971.

28. Jiang H, Deng R, Yang X, Shang J, Lu S, Zhao Y, Song K, Liu X, Zhang Q, Chen Y, Chinn YE, Wu G, Li J, Chen G, Yu J*, Zhang J*. Peptidomimetic inhibitors of APC-Asef interaction block colorectal cancer migration. Nature Chem Biol. 2017, 13(9):994-1001.

29. Zhao X, Deng R, Wang Y, Zhang H, Dou J, Li L, Du Y, Chen R, Cheng J, Yu J*. Twist1/Dnmt3a and miR186 establish a regulatory circuit that controls inflammation-associated prostate cancer progression. Oncogenesis. 2017, 6(4): e315.

30. Zhu C, Chen C, Chen R, Deng R, Zhao X, Zhang H, Duo J, Chen Q, Jin H, Wang Y, Huang J, Xu M*, Yu J*. K259-SUMOylation of DGCR8 promoted by p14ARF exerts a tumor-suppressive function. J Mol Cell Biol. 2016 Oct 07, 8(5):456-458.

31. Chen C, Zhu C, Huang J, Zhao X, Deng R, Zhang H, Dou J, Chen Q, Xu M, Yuan H, Wang Y, Yu J*. SUMOylation of TARBP2 regulates miRNA/siRNA efficiency. Nature Communications. 2015, 6:8899.

32. Lu S, Deng R, Jiang H, Song H, Li S, Shen Q, Huang W, Nussinov R, Yu J*, Zhang J*.The Mechanism of ATP-Dependent Allosteric Protection of Akt Kinase Phosphorylation. Structure. 2015, 23(9):1725-34.

33. Zhu C, Chen C, Huang J, Zhang H, Zhao X, Deng R, Dou J, Jin H, Chen R, Xu M, Chen Q, Wang Y, Yu J*. SUMOylation at K707 of DGCR8 controls direct function of primary microRNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 2015, 43(16):7945-60.

34. Chen Q, Zhao X, Zhang H, Yuan H, Zhu M, Sun Q, Lai X, Wang Y, Huang J, Yan J, Yu J*. MiR-130b suppresses prostate cancer metastasis through down-regulation of MMP2. Mol Carcinogen. 2015, 54(11):1292-300.

35. Lai  X, Chen Q, Zhu C, Deng R, Zhao X, Chen C, Wang Y, Yu J*, Huang J*. Regulation of RPTPα-c-Src signalling pathway by miR-218. FEBS J. 2015, 282(14):2722-34.

36. Sun Q, Zhao X, Liu X, Wang Y, Huang J, Jiang B, Chen Q*, Yu J*. miR-146a functions as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer by targeting Rac1. Prostate. 2014, 74(16):1613-21.

37. Zhu M, Chen Q, Liu X, Sun Q, Zhao X, Deng R, Wang Y, Huang J, Xu M, Yan J, Yu J*. lncRNA H19/miR-675 axis represses prostate cancer metastasis by targeting TGFBI. FEBS J. 2014, 281:3766-3775.

38. Qu Y, Chen Q, Lai X, Zhu C, Chen C, Zhao X, Deng R, Xu M, Yuan H, Wang Y, Yu J*, Huang J*. SUMOylation of Grb2 enhances the ERK activity by increasing its binding with Sos1. Mol Cancer. 2014, 13(1):95.

39. Liu X, Chen Q, Yan J, Wang Y, Zhu C, Chen C, Zhao X, Xu M, Sun Q, Deng R, Zhang H, Qu Y, Huang J, Jiang B, Yu J*. MiRNA-296-3p-ICAM-1 axis promotes metastasis of prostate cancer by possible enhancing survival of natural killer cell-resistant circulating tumour cells. Cell Death Dis. 2013, 4: e928.

40. Yu J*, Deng R, Zhu HH, Zhang SS, Zhu C, Montminy M, Davis R, Feng GS*. Modulation of fatty acid synthase degradation by concerted action of p38 MAP kinase, E3 ligase COP1 and SH2-tyrosine phosphatase Shp2. J Biol Chem. 2013, 288(6):3823-30.

41. Huang J, Yan J, Zhang J, Zhu S, Wang Y, Shi T, Zhu C, Chen C, Liu X, Cheng J, Mustelin T, Feng GS, Chen G, Yu J*. SUMO1 modification of PTEN regulates tumorigenesis by controlling its association with the plasma membrane. Nature Communications. 2012, 3:911.

42. Liu X, Wang Y, Sun Q, Yan J, Huang J, Zhu S, Yu J*. Identification of microRNA transcriptome involved in human natural killer cell activation. Immunol Lett. 2012, 143(2):208-17.

43. Yu J*, Zhang SS, Saito K, Williams S, Arimura Y, Ma Y, Ke Y, Baron V, Mercola D, Feng GS, Adamson E*, Mustelin T. PTEN regulation by Akt-EGR1-ARF-PTEN axis. EMBO J. 2009, 28(1):21-33.

44. Yu J, Baron V, Mercola D, Mustelin T, Adamson ED*. A network of p73, p53 and Egr1 is required for efficient apoptosis in tumor cells. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2007, 14(3):436-46.

45. Yu J, de Belle I, Liang H, Adamson ED*. Coactivating factors p300 and CBP are transcriptionally crossregulated by Egr1 in prostate cells, leading to divergent responses. Molecular Cell, 2004, 15(1): 83-94.