Yong Liu Ph.D., Professor
	Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Metabolic Diseases E-mail: liuy@@sibs.ac.cn

Education Background & Academic Experience:
Dr. Yong Liu received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Biochemistry from Peking University in 1986 and 1989, respectively. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1995 in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey and UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School. After his post-doctoral training at University of California, Santa Barbara from 1995 to 2000, Dr. Liu worked as a Senior Scientist at the Immunology Section of AlleCure/Mankind Corp., a California-based biotechnology company. In 2003, Dr. Liu joined the Institute for Nutritional Sciences, SIBS, CAS as a Principal Investigator and Head of the Laboratory of Nutritional Regulation and Metabolic Diseases. His current research focuses on elucidating the molecular and physiological mechanisms that link overnutrition, cellular stress pathways and metabolic disorders.

Research Interests:
Our research is centered upon understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie metabolic homeostasis and dysfunction by taking biochemical, molecular, cellular and genetic approaches. Employing cell systems and animal models such as mice and the fruit fly Drosophila, we aim to decipher how imbalance in nutrition leads to metabolic disorders and provide insights into the molecular pathogenesis of and the genetic links between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Current research projects focus on studying the physiological roles of A to I RNA editing and ER stress pathways in the regulation of pancreatic islet β-cell function and insulin secretion, and on investigating the metabolic effects of disturbance of the signaling circuitry that controls glucose and lipid metabolism, such as lipogenic regulation and dysregulation. Our long-term goal is uncover potential novel targets and small molecule agents for development of effective therapeutic and nutritional intervention strategies to tackle the devastating metabolic diseases.

Research Team:
Wenjun Li, Co-Principal Investigator

Selected Publications:

1. Mao T, Shao M, Qiu Y, Huang J, Zhang Y, Song B, Wang Q, Jiang L, Liu Yi, Han JD, Cao P, Li J, Gao X, Rui L, Qi L, Li W and Liu Y. PKA Phosphorylation Couples Hepatic IRE1a to Glucagon Signaling in Glucose Metabolism. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. in press. (2011)

2. George CX, Gan Z, Liu Y, Samuel CE. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA, RNA editing, and interferon action. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 31:99-117. (2011) (Review)

3. Huang P, Li S, Shao M, Qi Q, Zhao F, You J, Mao T, Li W, Yan Z, Liu Y. Calorie restriction and endurance exercise share potent anti-inflammatory function in adipose tissues in ameliorating diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. Nutr Metab. (Lond) 7:59. (2010)

4. Yang L, Zhao L, Gan Z, He Z, Xu J, Gao X, Wang X, Han W, Chen L, Xu T, Li W, Liu Y. Deficiency in RNA editing enzyme ADAR2 impairs regulated exocytosis. FASEB J. 24:3720-32. (2010)

5. Wang Q, Li S, Jiang L, Zhou Y, Li Z, Shao M, Li W, Liu Y. Deficiency in hepatic ATP-citrate lyase affects VLDL-triglyceride mobilization and liver fatty acid compositions of mice. J. Lipid Res. 51:2516-26. (2010)

6. You J, Yu Y, Jiang L, Li W, Yu X, Gonzalez L, Yang G, Ke Z, Li W, Li C and Liu Y. Tyr985 signaling of leptin receptor as an age/diet-dependent switch in regulation of energy balance. Mol. Cell. Biol. 30:1650-9. (2010)

7. Song W, Ren D, Li W, Jiang L, Cho KW, Huang P, Fan C, Song Y, Liu Y and Rui L. SH2B Regulation of Growth, Metabolism, and Longevity in Both Insects and Mammals. Cell Metab. 11:427-37. (2010)

8. Qiu Y, Mao T, Zhang Y, Shao M, You J, Ding Q, Chen Y, Wu D, Xie D, Lin X, Gao X, Kaufman RJ, Li W, Liu Y. A crucial role for RACK1 in regulation of glucose-stimulated IRE1alpha activation in pancreatic β-cells. Sci. Signal. 3, ra7. (2010)

9. Wang Q, Jiang L, Wang J, Li S, Yu Y, You J, Zeng R, Gao X, Rui L, Li W and Liu Y. Abrogation of hepatic ATP-citrate lyase protects against fatty liver and ameliorates hyperglycemia in leptin receptor-deficient mice. Hepatology. 49:1166-75. (2009)

10. Jiang L, Wang Q, Yu Y, Zhao F, Huang P, Zeng R, Qi RZ, Li W and Liu Y. Leptin Contributes to the Adaptive Responses of Mice to High-fat Diet Intake through Suppressing the Lipogenic Pathway. PLoS ONE. 4:e6884. (2009)

11. Yu Z, Ye X, Wang J, Qi Q, Franco OH, Rennie KL, Pan A, Li H, Liu Y, Hu FB, Lin X. Associations of physical activity with inflammatory factors, adipocytokines, and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Chinese people. Circulation 119:2969-77. (2009)

12. Wu H, Wei L, Bao Y, Lu J, Huang P, Liu Y, Jia W, Xiang K. Fenofibrate reduces serum retinol-binding protein-4 by suppressing its expression in adipose tissue. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 296:E628-34. (2009)

13. Wu Y, Li H, Loos RJ, Qi Q, Hu FB, Liu Y, Lin X. Genetic variation in the RBP4 gene, plasma retinol binding protein-4 levels, and hypertriglyceridemia risk in a Chinese Han population. J. Lipid Res. 50: 1479-1486. (2009)

14. Jiang L, You J, Yu X, Gonzalez L, Yu Y, Wang Q, Yang G, Li W, Li C, Liu Y. Tyrosine-dependent and -independent actions of leptin receptor in control of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105:18619-24. (2008)

15. Wang J, Li H, Franco OH, Yu Z, Liu Y, Lin X. Association of plasma adiponectin levels with metabolic syndrome in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Obesity 16:172-8. (2008)

16. Sun L, Franco OH, Hu FB, Cai L, Yu Z, Li H, Ye X, Qi Q, Wang J, Pan A, Liu Y and Lin X. Ferritin concentrations, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 93:4690-6. (2008)

17. Qi Q, Yu Z, Ye X, Zhao F, Huang P, Hu F, Franco OH, Wang J, Li H, Liu Y, Lin X. Elevated retinol-binding protein 4 levels are associated with metabolic syndrome in Chinese people. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 92:4827-34. (2007)

18. Li H, Wu Y, Loos R, Frank H, Liu Y, Wang J, Yu Z, Lin X. Variants in FTO gene are not associated with obesity in a Chinese Han population. Diabetes 57:264-8. (2007)

19. Ye X, Yu Z, Li H, Franco OH, Liu Y, Lin X. Distributions of c-reactive protein and its association with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Chinese people. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 49:1798-805. (2007)

20. Gan Z, Zhao L, Yang L, Huang P, Zhao F, Li W, Liu Y. RNA editing by ADAR2 is metabolically regulated in pancreatic islets and beta-cells. J. Biol. Chem. 281:33386-94. (2006)