Education & Training：
Ph.D., University of Cambridge, -1997
Postdoctoral Associate, Washington University in St.Louis, -2001
Group Leader, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel,Swizterland, -2006
Professor, School of Medicine,& School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, -2011
Research Interests：
Our major research focus are:
1) To understand the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that govern cell fate decisions in both stem cell differentiation and reprogramming;
2) To identify new epigenetic modifying factors involved in liver cancer, prostate cancer by using the combination of conventional methods and high-throughput technologies.
Research Description：
Epigenetic regulation is mediated by various mechanisms mainly including histone modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs. Stable epigenetic states are essential for the maintenance of tissue and cell type specific functions. Disruption of epigenetic balance often leads to cancer or other diseases, and also perturbs the states of stem cells. How these epigenetic signals play their fate-directing roles in carcinogenesis and in stem cell differentiation remain to be understood.
Our ultimate goal is to understand the dynamic regulation of chromatin in stem cell and cancer biology, which would provide basic theories and further benefit stem cell and cancer therapeutic applications by identifying novel prognostic markers and epigenetic targets.
Key Word:
Epigenetics, chromatin, transcription, stem cell, differentiation, reprogramming, cancers
Representative Publication (less than 20 papers):
1. Zhao L, Wang DL, pu Y, Chen S, Sun FL. **（2013）. Histone acetyltransferase hMOF promotes S phase entry and tumorigenesis in lung cancer. Cell Signal. 2013 Aug; 25(8):1689-98
2. Lv W, Wei HM, Wang DL Ni JQ and Sun FL**（2012）Depletion of histone deacetylase 3 antagonizes PI3K-mediated tissue overgrowth through the acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16, J Cell Sci. 2012 Nov 15; 125(Pt 22):5369-78
3. Chen S, p J, Wang DL, Sun FL** (2012) Histone H2B lysine 120 monoubiquitination is required for embryonic stem cell differentiation. Cell Res. 2012 Sep; 22(9):1402-5
4. Chen S, Wang DL, pu Y, Zhao L, Sun FL** (2012) RAD6 regulates the dosage of p53 by a combination of transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol. 32(2):576-87.
5. Chen S, Wei HM, Lv WW, Wang DL, Sun FL**（2011） E2 pgase dRad6 regulates DMP53 turnover in Drosophila. J Biol Chem. 286(11):9020-30
6. Zhang D, Wang D, Sun FL**（2011） Drosophila melanogaster heterochromatin protein HP1b plays important roles in transcriptional activation and development. Chromosoma. 120(1):97-108
7. Ni, J-Q, pu L-P, Hess D., Rietdorf J.,1 and Sun F-L**(2006). Drosophila ribosomal proteins are associated with pnker histone H1 and suppress gene transcription. Genes & Development 20: 1959-73
8. pu L.-P., Ni J.-Q., Shi Y-D, Oakeley, E. and Sun F-L** (2005). Sex-specific role of Drosophila HP1 in chromatin and transcription. Nature Genetics 37: 1361-66
9. De Lucia F, Ni JQ, Vaillant C, Sun FL.** (2005). HP1 modulates the transcription of cell-cycle regulators in Drosophila melanogaster. Nucleic Acids Res. 33: 2852-58.
10. Sun F.L., Hayes K., Simpson C.L., Lee S., Colpn L., Wuller J., Eissenberg J., Elgin S.C.R. (2004). Cis-Acting determinants of heterochromatin formation on Drosophila melanogaster chromosome four. Mol.Cell. Biol, 24: 8210-20.
11. Sun F-L. Cuaycong M.H. and Elgin S.C.R. (2001). Long-range nucleosome ordering is associated with gene silencing in Drosophila melanogaster pericentric heterochromatin. Mol. Cell. Biol. 21: 2867-79.
(** corresponding author)
Honors & Recognition：
2011- Member, Chinese National Committee of Stem Cell Research
2011- Member, Scientific Committee of Stem Cell Research, Ministry of Science and Technology
2008- Associate Director of the “Epigenetics Program”, Chinese National Science Foundation
2008- Associate Director, Division of Epigenetics, Chinese Society of Genetics
2008-2011 Chairman, Academic Committee, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
2008-2011 Member, University Academic Committee, Tsinghua University
2007- 2011 Director, Institute of Epigenetics and Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
2007- 2011 Vice Director, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Proteomic, Tsinghua University
2006- Prizeman of National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars
2007- “Changjiang Scholars Program” Distinguished Professor
2009- “New Century Million Talent Program”, National Candidate
2010- Specialist who enjoys the State Council Special Allowance
2011- Major Project of Chinese National Program s for Fundamental Research and Development (973 Program) “Stem Cell Project”, Leading Scientist
