Jing Fan
Principal Investigator
Email: fanjing2024@seu.edu.cn
Office address: Room B303, Hui-chuan Building, Jiangbei Campus, Southeast University
Academic Background:
2012.09–2018.01: Ph.D., Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2017.12–2020.05: Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2020.06–2024.05: Associate Research Fellow, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Science
2024.07–Present: Professor, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Southeast University
Research Interests: RNA Metabolism Regulation and Disease
The faithful transmission and expression of genetic information constitute a cornerstone of cellular function, initiating with transcription and nuclear pre-mRNA processing. Key steps in nuclear RNA processing include 5' capping, splicing, and 3' polyadenylation. Only properly processed mRNA can be exported to the cytoplasm for translation into proteins. Cellular RNA quality control mechanisms swiftly recognize and degrades RNA molecules that contain erroneous or incomplete genetic information. These critical steps in nuclear RNA metabolism are tightly regulated, collectively ensuring the accuracy and integrity of gene expression. Maintaining proper RNA metabolic processes is indispensable for growth and development, whereas their dysregulation is implicated in severe human diseases, such as neurological disorders, malignancies, and muscular dystrophies. Consequently, elucidating the regulatory mechanisms underlying RNA metabolism is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis and developing clinical therapies. Current projects in the lab include:
1. Investigate the molecular mechanisms of RNA metabolism regulation.
2. Screen and identify novel RNA metabolism regulators.
3. Explore the physiological and pathological roles of RNA regulatory factors.
Publication：(# equal contributor, * Co-corresponding author)
1. Fan J#*,Wang YM#, Wen MM#, Tong D#, Wu K, Yan KM, Jia PX, Zhu Y, Zou HC, Zhao P, Lu FL, Yun CH, Xue YC, Zhou Y*, Cheng H*. Dual modes of ZFC3H1 confers selectivity in nuclear sorting. Mol Cell (2024) Oct 22:S1097-2765(24)00823-2.
2. Chen SL, Jiang QY, Fan J*, Cheng H*. Nuclear mRNA export. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica (2024). https://doi.org/10.3724/abbs.2024145.
3. Wang CS#, Xu L#, Du C#, Yun H#, Wang KY, Liu H, Ye ML*, Fan J*, Zhou Y*, Cheng H*. CDK11 requires a critical activator SAP30BP to regulate pre-mRNA splicing. EMBO J (2023) 42(24):e114051.
4. Wang YM#, Fan J#*,Wang JS#, Zhu Y, Xu L, Tong D, Cheng H. ZFC3H1 prevents RNA trafficking into nuclear speckles through condensation. Nucleic Acids Research (2021) 49(18):10630-10643.
5. Fan J, Wang K, Du X, Wang JS, Chen SL, Wang YM, Shi M, Zhang L, Wu XD, Zheng DH, Wang CS, Wang LT, Tian B, Li GH, Zhou Y, Cheng H*. ALYREF links 3'-end processing to nuclear export of non-polyadenylated mRNAs. EMBO J(2019) 38(9):e99910.
6. Fan J#, Kuai B#, Wang K#, Wang LT, Wang YM, Wu XD, Chi BK, Li GH, Cheng H*. mRNAs are sorted for export or degradation before passing through nuclear speckles. Nucleic Acids Research(2018) 46(16):8404-8416.
7. Fan J#, Kuai B#, Wu GF, Wu XD, Chi BK, Wang LT, Wang K, Shi ZB, Zhang H, Chen S, He ZS, Wang SY, Zhou ZC, Li GH*, Cheng H*. Exosome cofactor hMTR4 competes with export adaptor ALYREF to ensure balanced nuclear RNA pools for degradation and export. EMBO J (2017) 36(19):2870-2886.
8. Wang LT#, Fan J#, Han LL#, Qi HN#, Wang YM, Wang HY, Chen SL, Du L, Li S, Zhang YB, Tang W, Ge GX, Pan WJ*, Hu P*, Cheng H*. The micropeptide LEMP plays an evolutionarily conserved role in myogenesis. Cell Death Dis (2020) 11(5):357.
9. Chen SL#, Wang RJ#, Zheng DH#, Zhang H#, Chang XY, Wang K, Li WC, Fan J, Tian B*, Cheng H*. The mRNA export receptor NXF1 coordinates transcriptional dynamics, alternative polyadenylation, and mRNA export. Mol Cell (2019) 74(1):118-131.
10. Wang JS#, Chen JY#, Wu GF#, Zhang HL#, Du X#, Chen SL, Zhang L, Wang K, Fan J, Gao SX, Wu XD, Zhang SX, Kuai B, Zhao P, Chi BK, Wang LT, Li GH, Wong CCL, Zhou Y*, Li JS*, Yun CH*, Cheng H*. NRDE2 negatively regulates exosome functions by inhibiting MTR4 recruitment and exosome interaction. Genes Dev (2019) 33(9-10):536-549.
11. Chi BK, Wang K, Du YH, Gui B, Chang XY, Wang LT, Fan J, Chen S, Wu XD, Li GH*, Cheng H*. A sub-element in PRE enhances nuclear export of intronless mRNAs by recruiting the TREX complex via ZC3H18. Nucleic Acids Research(2014) 42(11):7305-7318.
12. Chen GL, Fan J, Cheng H. RNA nuclear export and regulation. Chemistry of Life (2024) 44(9):1524-1541.
13. Chen GL#, Wang YM#, Fan J#, Chen SL#, Wang JS#, Wang CS#, Zhang L, Xu L, Zhu Y, Zhang Q, Tong D, Cheng H. Research techniques for RNA-binding proteins. Life Science(2021) 33(3):303-311.
14. Fan J, Wang K, Chen SL, Wang JS, Wang YM, Cheng H. The determination and regulation of nascent RNA fate. Chemistry of Life (2019) 3:417-423 (Cover Article).
15. Chi BK, Wang K, Fan J, Zhang H, Shi M, Kuai B, Cheng H. Nuclear export of mRNA. Chemistry of Life (2014) 34:442-448.