Yanjiao Li's project group: RNA modifications in development and disease
Over the past decade, RNA modifications—collectively referred to as epitranscriptomics—have emerged as a major frontier in RNA biology. This rapidly growing field was highlighted by the 2023 Nobel Prize awarded for the development of RNA modification–based vaccines. RNA modifications add a dynamic regulatory layer to gene expression and play essential roles in development and disease.
Both early embryonic development and cancer are characterized by rapid cell division, stem cell–like properties, immune evasion, and profound metabolic reprogramming to support rapid proliferation. These shared biological features motivate our interest in understanding how RNA modifications coordinate cell fate decisions during early embryo development and tumorigenesis. Accordingly, our research focuses on two main areas. The first area investigates RNA modifications in early mammalian embryos, aiming to elucidate their roles in embryo development and to explore strategies for improving assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. The second area focuses on RNA modifications in cancer, examining how they regulate oncogene expression, drive tumorigenesis, and contribute to therapy response and resistance, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Across both areas, we place particular emphasis on the interplay between the epitranscriptome and cellular metabolism in disease development, progression, and drug response.
To address these questions, we develop and apply innovative tools to profile RNA modifications in diverse in vivo and in vitro model systems. Our research integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, epitranscriptomic profiling, and bioinformatic analysis to dissect the RNA modifications. These approaches provide new insights into RNA function in physiology and disease. In parallel, we are interested in spatial omics technologies and their application to human disease, enabling the study of RNA modifications within their native tissue context. In addition, we explore the use of large-scale AI models for drug prediction and screening to identify novel modulators of RNA modification pathways.
Students at all stages and postdoctoral researchers who are interested in our research are welcome to join us.
Main Research Themes
- RNA modifications in early mammalian embryonic development
- RNA modifications in cancer and other human diseases
- Crosstalk between the epitranscriptome and metabolism
- Method development for RNA modification detection and spatial omics
- Application of AI models in drug prediction and screening