Haitong Fang
Ph.D., Associate Professor (PI)
School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210096, China
Tel/Fax: 86-25-83790980
Email: 101012396@seu.edu.cn
Education Background & Academic Experience
1998 - 2002, Bachelor, Biochemistry, Anhui University
2005 - 2008, Master, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Science and Technology of China
2008 - 2012, Doctor, Cell Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2012 - 2018, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore
2018 - present, Associate Professor, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University
Research Interests
Unraveling the Epigenetic and Retrotransposon Mechanisms in Cell Fate Determination. Cell fate determination is a complex and highly regulated process through which cells acquire their distinct identities and functions. This occurs not only during embryonic development but also in the maintenance and adaptation of adult tissues. Epigenetic regulation serves as a crucial regulatory layer that operates above the genetic code, dictating how the genetic information is read and translated into specific cellular phenotypes.
Our research is centered around two key aspects within this broad field. Firstly, we are deeply interested in understanding the epigenetic regulation mechanisms that underlie cell fate determination. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA-mediated regulation, act in concert to shape the chromatin landscape and control gene expression patterns. By deciphering these epigenetic codes, we aim to elucidate how cells make the decisions to differentiate into specific lineages and maintain their functional states. Secondly, we focus on the role of retrotransposons in early embryonic development and disease. Retrotransposons, which are mobile genetic elements, have the potential to insert themselves into different genomic locations and influence gene expression. In early embryonic development, retrotransposons may play a role in regulating gene networks that are essential for cell pluripotency and differentiation. In diseases, their dysregulation could contribute to genomic instability and abnormal cellular behaviors. Through a combination of molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics approaches, we strive to uncover the mechanisms by which retrotransposons interact with the epigenetic machinery and impact cell fate, with the ultimate goal of providing novel insights into developmental biology and potential therapeutic targets for diseases.
Selected Publications
1. Meng S*, Liu X*, Zhu S*, Xie P*, Fang H, Pan Q, Fang K, Li F, Zhang J, Che Z, Zhang Q, Mao G, Wang Y, Hu P, Chen K, Sun F, Xie W, Luo Z†, Lin C†. Young LINE-1 transposon 5’UTRs marked by elongation factor ELL3 function as enhancers to regulate naïve pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. Nat Cell Biol. 2023 Sep;25(9):1319-1331.
2. Che Z*, Liu X*, Dai Q*, Fang K, Guo C, Yue J, Fang H, Xie P, Luo Z†, Lin C†. Distinct roles of the two SEC scaffold proteins, AFF1 and AFF4, in regulating RNA Pol II transcription elongation. J Mol Cell Biol. 2023 Aug 1:mjad049.
3. Fang H, Luo Z, Lin C. Epigenetic reorganization during early embryonic lineage specification. Genes Genomics. 2022 Mar;44(3):379-387.
4. Yue J, Dai Q, Hao S, Zhu S, Liu X, Tang Z, Li M, Fang H, Lin C†, Luo Z†. Suppression of the NTS-CPS1 regulatory axis by AFF1 in lung adenocarcinoma cells. J Biol Chem. 2021 Jan-Jun;296:100319.
5. Du H*, Chen C*, Wang Y, Yang Y, Che Z, Liu X, Meng S, Guo C, Xu M, Fang H, Wang F, Lin C†, Luo Z†. RNF219 interacts with CCR4-NOT in regulating stem cell differentiation. J Mol Cell Biol. 2020 Oct 26;12(11):894-905.
6. Fang H*, El Farran C*, Xing Q, Li P, Cheng H, Tushar W, Xu J, Zhang F, Li H, Lim B, Loh Y. Global H3.3 dynamics defines its bimodal role in cell fate transition. Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 18;9:1537
7. Mzoughi S, Zhang J, Hequet D, Teo S, FangH, Xing Q, Bezzi M, Ong S, Shin M, Wollmann H, Wong E, Al-Haddawi M, Stewart C, Tergaonkar V, Dunn NR, Loh Y, Messerschmidt D and Guccione E. PRDM15 safeguards naïve pluripotency by transcriptionally regulating WNT and MAPK/ERK signaling. Nat Genet. 2017 Sep;49(9):1354-1363.
8. Cheng H*, Ang Y*, El Farran C*, Li P*, Fang H, Liu T, Kong S, Chin L, Ling W, Lim K, Li H, Huber T , Loh M, Loh Y, Lim B. Reprogramming Mouse Fibroblasts into EngraftableMyeloerythroid and Lymphoid Progenitors: Induction and Underlying Mechanisms. Nat Commun. 2016 Nov 21;7:13396.
9. Yang B*, El Farran C*, Guo H*, Yu T*, Fang H, Wang H, Schlesinger S, Seah Y, Goh G, Neo S, Li Y, Lorincz M, Tergaonkar V, Lim T, Chen L, Gunaratne J, Collins J, Goff S, Daley G, Li H, Bard FA, Loh Y. Systematic identification of factors for provirus silencing in embryonic stem cells. Cell. 2015 Sep; 163(1): 230-245.
10. Fang H*, Zhang B*, Pan X, Gao L, Zhen T, Zhao H, Ma L, Xie J, Liu Z, Yu X, Cheng X, Feng T, Zhang F, Yang Y, Hu Z, Sheng G, Chen Y, Chen S, Chen Z, Zhou G. Bortezomib interferes with C-KIT processing and transforms the t(8;21)-generated fusion proteins into tumor- suppressing fragments in leukemia cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb; 109(7): 2521-2526.
11. Zhou G, Hu Z, Fang H, Zhang F, Pan X, Chen X, Hu A, Xu L, Zhou G. Biologic activity of triptolide in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia cells. Leuk Res. 2011 Feb; 35(2): 214-218.
