Graduate:

1996.9-1999.7  M.S.   Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2000.9-2003.7  Ph.D.  University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China Major: Neuroscience

Postgraduate:

2003-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Supervisor: Yasunori Hayashi Electrophysiological and molecular biological analyses of mammalian central synaptic transmission to elucidate the mechanism of learning and memory.

2004-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Supervisor: Yi Zhou Cellular and molecular mechanisms of interaction between N-type calcium channel and 14-3-3 proteins.

2007-2009 Research Associate, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Supervisor: Lucas Pozzo-Miller Investigating the “BDNF hypothesis” of Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autistic features and intellectual disabilities that is caused by mutations in MECP2, a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including BDNF.

Appointments:

1989.9-1992.7  Physician, the Siqian Hospital of Guangze County, Fujian, China.

1992.7-1996.7  Physician, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Guangze, Fujian, China.

1999.7-2000.7  Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

2007-2009    Research Associate, Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

2009-2011    Principal Investigator (PI), Chair & Professor Department of Neurobiology Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

2011-present  Principal Investigator (PI), Professor Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Scientific Research Projects:

2021ZD0203100 The National Key R&D program of China: “Neural circuit mechanism of the interaction between sensory perception and emotion”. Co-PI-Yong Li, 2021/12-2026/11, ¥2630,000

N/A Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project: “Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and its innovative drug discovery”. Co-PI-Yong Li, 2021/1-2025/12, ¥5000,000

2020YFA0803600 The National Key Research and Development Program of China: “Regulatory mechanisms of metabolic plasticity and memory in tissues and organs, and their physiological and pathological role”. Co-PI-Yong Li, 2020/12-2025/11, ¥1408400

82071510 General Program Grant, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC): “The mechanisms and consequences of cofilin SUMO/deSUMO modifications and its function in the regulation of anxiety”. PI-Yong Li, 2021/1-2024/12, ¥550,000

31830031 Major Research Program Grant, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC): “Function and Mechanism of SUMO/deSUMO Modifications in the Regulation of Pain and Itch”. PI-Yong Li, 2019/1-2023/12, ¥2840,000

Selected Publications:

Qi Deng*, Xiaokun Gu*, Jiaqian Feng*, Jinhua Xiang*, Xinyue Li, Weiji Weng, Gerald W Zamponi, OuHuang#, Si-jian Pan#, Yong Li#. Nature Communications, 2025 Nov 27;16(1):11687.

Yunhan Zou*, Jiaoxiang Wu*, Sheng Cheng*, Daqing Cheng*, Taoying Chen*, Xirong Guo, Li Tang, Xianbin Su, Man Zhang, Xin Zhang, Ying Liu, Jin Zhang, Qun Bao, Shangwei Hou#, Peng Sun#, Yong Li#, Bo Han#. Hepatic stellate cell-specific Kcnma1 deletion mitigates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression via upregulating Amphiregulin secretion. Molecular Metabolism. 2025 Jul;97:102164.

Yang Yang*, Xiaokun Gu*, Weiji Weng*, Jinke Cheng, OuHuang#, Si-jian Pan#, Yong Li#. SUMOylation-induced membrane localization of TRPV1 suppresses proliferation and migration in gastric cancer cells. Cell Communication and Signaling. 2024 Sep 30;22(1):465.

Qiao Zhang*, Weiji Weng*, Xiaokun Gu*, Jinhua Xiang, Yang Yang, Michael X Zhu, Weidong Gu#, Zhenzhou He#, Yong Li#. hnRNPA1 SUMOylation promotes cold hypersensitivity in chronic inflammatory pain by stabilizing TRPA1 mRNA. Cell Reports, 2023 Nov 28;42(11):113401.

Weiji Weng*, Xiaokun Gu*, Yang Yang*, Qiao Zhang, Qi Deng, Jie Zhou, Jinke Cheng, Michael X. Zhu, Junfeng Feng#, OuHuang#, Yong Li#. N-terminal α-amino SUMOylation of cofilin-1 is critical for its regulation of actin depolymerization. Nature Communications, 2023 Sep 14;14(1):5688.

Yingwei Gao*, Ruining Ma*, Weiji Weng*, Heng Zhang, Yingping Wang, Rongjun Guo, Xiaokun Gu, Yang Yang, Fan Yang, Aiwu Zhou, Jinke Cheng, Zhe-Yu Chen#, Michael X Zhu#, Yong Li#. TRPV1 SUMOylation suppresses itch by inhibiting TRPV1 interaction with H1 receptors. Cell Reports, 2022 Jun 14;39(11):110972.

Siman Gao, Xiangteng Zhao, Lin Hou, Ruining Ma, Jie Zhou, Michael X Zhu, Si-jian Pan#, Yong Li#. The interplay between SUMOylation and phosphorylation of PKCδ facilitates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. FEBS Journal. 2021 Nov;288(22):6447-6464.

Xiangteng Zhao, Bianbian Xia, Jinke Cheng, Michael X Zhu, Yong Li. PKC epsilon SUMOylation Is Required for Mediating the Nociceptive Signaling of Inflammatory Pain. Cell Reports, 2020, 33(1):108191.

Huiqing Liu*, Weiji Weng*, Rongjun Guo*, Jie Zhou, Jun Xue , Shan Zhong , Jinke Cheng, Michael X Zhu, Si-Jian Pan#, Yong Li #. Olig2 SUMOylation protects against genotoxic damage response by antagonizing p53 gene targeting. Cell Death and Differentiation, 2020, 27(11):3146-3161.

Ruining Ma*, Lina Ma*, Weiji Weng*, Yingping Wang, Huiqing Liu, Rongjun Guo, Yingwei Gao, Jun Tu, Tian-Le Xu, Jinke Cheng, Michael X Zhu, Aiwu Zhou#, Yong Li#. DUSP6 SUMOylation protects cells from oxidative damage via direct regulation of Drp1 dephosphorylation. Science Advances, 2020, 6(13):eaaz0361.

Yang Yang*, Xiaokun Gu*, Weiji Weng*, Jinke Cheng, Ou Huang#, Si-Jian Pan#, Yong Li#. SUMOylation-induced membrane localization of TRPV1 suppresses proliferation and migration in gastric cancer cells. Cell Communication and Signaling, 2024 Sep 30;22(1):465.

Siman Gao, Xiangteng Zhao, Lin Hou, Ruining Ma, Jie Zhou, Michael X. Zhu, Si-Jian Pan, Yong Li. The interplay between SUMOylation and phosphorylation of PKCd facilitates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. The FEBS Journal, 2021, 288(22):6447-6464.

Dehua Huang, Huiqing Liu, Aoxue Zhu, Yi Zhou, Yong Li. Forebrain excitatory neuron-specific SENP2 knockout mouse displays hyperactivity, impaired learning and memory, and anxiolytic-like behavior. Molecular Brain, 2020, 13(1):59.

Yan Wang*, Yingwei Gao*, Quan Tian*, Qi Deng, Yangbo Wang, Tian Zhou, Qiang Liu, Kaidi Mei, Yingping Wang, Huiqing Liu, Ruining Ma, Yuqiang Ding, Weifang Rong, Jinke Cheng, Jing Yao, Tian-Le Xu, Michael X Zhu, Yong Li. TRPV1 SUMOylation regulates nociceptive signaling in models of inflammatory pain. Nature Communications, 2018, 9(1):1529. (highlighted in “Faculty of 1000”, 2018).

Xiaoling Li*, Yan Wang, Aoxue Zhu, Jie Zhou, Yong Li. PKC SUMOylation inhibits the binding of 14-3-3τ to GluK2. Channels (Austin), 2017, 11(6):616-623.

Huijun Zhang*, Yan Wang*, Aoxue Zhu*, Dehua Huang*, Shining Deng, Jinke Cheng, Michael X Zhu, Yong Li. SUMO-specific protease 1 protects neurons from apoptotic death during transient brain ischemia/reperfusion. Cell Death and Disease, 2016, 7, e2484.

Yan Wang*, Yangbo Wang*, Huijun Zhang*, Yingwei Gao, Chao Huang, Aiwu Zhou, Yi Zhou, Yong Li. Sequential posttranslational modifications regulate PKC degradation. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2016, 27:410-420.

Feng Liu*, Qin Zhou*, Jie Zhou*, Hao Sun, Yan Wang, Xiuqun Zou, Lingling Feng, Zhaoyuan Hou, Aiwu Zhou, Yi Zhou, Yong Li. 14-3-3τ promotes surface expression of Cav2.2 (α1B) Ca2+ channels. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2015, 290(5):2689-2698.

Hao Sun*, Li Lu*, Yong Zuo*, Yan Wang, Yingfu Jiao, Wei-Zheng Zeng, Chao Huang, Michael X Zhu, Gerald W Zamponi, Tong Zhou, Tian-Le Xu, Jinke Cheng, Yong Li. Kainate receptor activation induces glycine receptor endocytosis through PKC deSUMOylation. Nature Communications, 2014, 5:4980.

Changcheng Sun*, Haifa Qiao*, Qin Zhou, Yan Wang, Yuying Wu, Yi Zhou, Yong Li. Modulation of GluK2a Subunit-containing kainate receptors by 14-3-3 Proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2013, 288:24676-24690.

Chen Huang*, Wei-Guang Li*, Xiao-Bing Zhang, Li Wang, Tian-Le Xu, Dazheng Wu#, Yong Li. Alpha-asarone from Acorus gramineusalleviates epilepsy by modulating A-Type GABA receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2013, 65:1-11.

Li Wang, Wei-Guang Li, Chen Huang, Michael X Zhu, Tian-Le Xu, Da-Zheng Wu#, Yong Li#. Subunit-specific inhibition of glycinereceptors by curcumol. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 2012, 343(2):371-9.

Yong Li*, Xinqiu Liu*, Yuying Wu*, Zhe Xu, Hongqin Li, Leslie C Griffith, Yi Zhou. Intracellular regions of the Eag potassiumchannel play a critical role in generation of voltage-dependent currents. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011,286(2):1389-99.

Yong Li, Gaston Calfa, Takafumi Inoue, Michelle D Amaral, Lucas Pozzo-Miller. Activity-dependent release of endogenous BDNF from mossy fibers evokes a TRPC3 current and Ca2+ elevations in CA3 pyramidal neurons, Journal of Neurophysiology. 2010, 103(5):2846-56.

Roujian Lu*, Yong Li*, Youwen Zhang*, Yunjia Chen, Angela D Shields, Danny G Winder, Timothy Angelotti, Kai Jiao, Lee E Limbird, Yi Zhou, Qin Wang. Epitope-tagged receptor knock-in mice reveal that differential desensitization of alpha2-adrenergic responses is because of ligand-selective internalization. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2009, 284(19):13233-43. identifies PCMT1 as a critical driver of ovarian cancer metastasis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022; 41: 24. doi: 10.1186/s13046-022-02242-3

Yong Li, Yuying Wu, Rui Li, Yi Zhou. The role of 14-3-3 dimerization in its modulation of the CaV2.2 Channel. Channels (Austin). Jan-Feb 2007;1(1):1-2.

Yong Li, Yuying Wu, Yi Zhou. Modulation of inactivation properties of CaV2.2 channels by 14-3-3 proteins. Neuron. 2006 Sep 21;51(6):755-71.

Yong Li, Long-Jun Wu, Pascal Legendre, Tian-Le Xu. Asymmetric cross-inhibition between GABAA and glycine receptors in rat spinal dorsal horn neurons. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2003 Oct 3;278(40):38637-45.

Yong Li, Yan-Fang Li, Tian-Le Xu. Amiloride inhibition of glycinergic mIPSCs in mechanically dissociated rat spinal neurons. Neuroscience Letters. 2003 Sep 25;349(1):17-20.

Yong Li, Tian-Le Xu. State-dependent cross-inhibition between anionic GABA(A) and glycine ionotropic receptors in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. Neuroreport. 2002 Feb 11;13(2):223-6.

Lin Pei, Yong Li, Guangyi Zhang, Zhaochun Cui, Zhengmei Zhu. Mechanisms of regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunit 2B after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2000 Aug;21(8):695-700.

Lin Pei, Yong Li, Jingzhi Yan, Guangyi Zhang, Zhaochun Cui, Zhengmei Zhu. Changes and mechanisms of protein-tyrosine kinase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase activities after brain ischemia/reperfusionsubunit 2B after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2000 Aug;21(8):715-20.