Research

Novel Cas13 detection and gene edting tool development.

Cas13 is a Class II CRISPR effector which targeting RNA. Multiple groups had found and developed the Cas13 protein for gene therapy and also RNA nucleic acid detection.

Evolution and function of m6A modification of RNA in insects

m6A is the most abundant modificaiton of RNA that regulates RNA fate in eukaryotic organisms. In this research we aim to reveal the evolution history of m6A related genes in insect, and also the function of m6A in the biological process of silkworm. By transcriptome and m6A sequencing data conjointly, we discovered that JH (Juvenile hormone), which is an indispensable insect hormone, significantly regulated the m6A modification in the posterior silk gland of silkworm and many m6A-containing genes are related to nucleic acid binding, nucleus, and nucleobase-containing compound metabolism. We further detected that m6A modification regulated the expression of silk production genes through biochemical assays. You can read the news about the reseach here. ZJU scientists illustrated the regulatory mechanism of silk gene expression.

Evolution of insect P450 genes

P450 is super gene family which are critical for detoxification of human, fish, and insect. The birth and death of P450 genes in insects are still largely unknown. I performed large scale detection analysis of P450 genes in 206 insects genome data, and anlized the function of P450 genes in Chilo suppressalis to find the drug target for pest management. Here is the wonderful phylogenetic tree of insect and number P450 genes here!!