Yan Xiong

Program: Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Current advisor: Marco Sardiello, PhD

Undergraduate university: Fudan University, 2017

Enrollment year: 2020

Research summary
the post-translational regulation of Transcription factor EB (TFEB) and its applications in lysosomal storage disorders

Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Active TFEB promotes the transcription of autophagic and lysosomal genes, enhances autophagic flux, and facilitates cellular clearance, whereas cytosolic TFEB remains inactive. Studies show that TFEB overexpression or endogenous TFEB activation ameliorates the pathology of lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative diseases by enhancing cellular clearance. TFEB nuclear translocation mostly depends on its post-translational modification (PTM) status. High-throughput proteomics data show that TFEB is phosphorylated at around 40 amino acids. I aim to discover unreported kinases and post-translational modifications contributing to the regulation of TFEB activity.

Graduate publications