1999             Nankai University, Bachelor of Science

2000 - 2006  Germany, Max-Plank-Institute of Molecular Genetics, Berlin , PhD and post-doc

The translation/ protein biosynthesis is the second step in the central dogma which is describing the process of the conversion of the genetic information from mRNA to protein. My research is focusing on this step, including the comprehensive influences of DNA, RNA and protein factors on the protein translation process, and also the folding of newly synthesized peptides, the antibiotics etc.

Current work

Ribosome is the protein biosynthesis factory. It moves along the mRNA in the direction 5’to 3’, translating the genetic information into polypeptide/protein. LepA protein is a highly universally conserved protein existing in almost all known genomes. All its homologues have very similar amino acid sequence and in silico structures but its function remains elusive. Recently, the first paper of LepA function uncovered the mystery: it is a ribosomal factor working on the elongation step and triggers the back-translocation of the post-translational ribosomal complex to the pre-translational state[1]. Now, we are focusing on the biochemical and physiological characterization of this protein in the prokaryotic system (E. coli ). Meantime, we are setting up the eukaryotic LepA homologue research system in the model organisms: Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus and Homo sapiens.

Since I joined the institute, my efforts have been mainly contributed to set up the RNA platform with the large-scale zonal gradient ultracentrifuge isolation system and reverse-phase HPLC system. At the meantime, I set up the in vitro translation system as the working method to study the ribosome and the translational factor LepA(EF4) functionally and structurally.

1. Na Zhang, Zunling Zhao, Yin Zhao, Lei Yang, Yanhong Xue, Yun Feng, Jianjun Luo, Runsheng Chen, Wei Wei & Yan Qin*(2023). TGF-Beta changes cyto/mito-ribosome balance to target respiratory chain complex V biogenesis in pulmonary fibrosis therapy. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01370-2 (IF 38.12)

2. Li H, Huo Y, He X, Yao L, Zhang H, Cui Y, Xiao H, Xie W, Zhang D, Wang Y, Zhang S, Tu H, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Cao X, Zhu Y, Jiang T, Guo X*, Qin Y* & Sha J*(2022). A male germ-cell-specific ribosome controls male fertility. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05508-0（IF 69.504）

3. Yang B, Zhang Y, Sun L, Wang J, Zhao Z, Huang Z, Mao W, Xue R, Chen R, Luo J*, Wang T*, Jiang J*, Qin Y* (2022) (*corresponding author) Modulated Ultrasmall γ-Fe₂O₃ Nanocrystal Assemblies for Switchable Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photothermal-Ferroptotic-Chemical Synergistic Cancer Therapy. Advanced Functional Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202211251（IF 19.924）

4. Wang J, Yang B, Lv C, Chen T, Sun L, Sun L, Hao J, Ding F*, Wang T*, Jiang J* and Qin Y* (2022) (*corresponding author). Amino porphyrin-peptide assemblies induce ribosome damage and cancer stem cell inhibition for an enhanced photodynamic therapy. Biomaterials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121812（IF 15.304）

5. Wang Q, Wang Y, Li S, Zhou A and Qin Y* (2022) (*corresponding author). Organelle biogenesis: Ribosomes as organizer and performer. Science Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2022.07.023 (IF 20.577)

6. Zhang K, Jiao X, Zhou L, Wang C*, Qin Y*, Wen Y* (2021) (*corresponding author). Nanofibrous composite aerogel with multi-bioactive and fluid gating characteristics for promoting diabetic wound healing. Biomaterials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121040（IF 15.304）

7. Wu H*, Wei H, Zhang D, Sehgal SA, Zhang D, Wang X, Qin Y, Liu L*, and Chen Q* (2020) (*corresponding author). Defective mitochondrial ISCs biogenesis switches on IRP1 to fine tune selective mitophagy. Redox Biol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2020.101661（IF 10.787）

8. Zhang M, et al., Qin Y, …Chen L*, Hanna JH* and Esteban MA* (2020) (*corresponding author). β-catenin safeguards the ground state of pluripotency by strengthening the robustness of the transcriptional apparatus. Sci. Adv. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aba1593（IF 14.98）

9. Song G, Xu B, Shi H, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Cao X, Liu Z, Guo R, Guan Y, Chu Y, Zhang X*, Lou J*, and Qin Y*. (2020) (*corresponding author). Conformational activation of ribosome recycling by intra- and inter-molecular dynamics of RRF. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.05.254（IF 8.025）

10. Zhang K, Bai X, Yuan Z, Cao Xintao, Jiao X, Qin Y*, Wen Y* and Zhang X. (2020) (*corresponding author). Cellular Nanofiber Structure with Secretory Activity-Promoting Characteristics for Multicellular Spheroid Formation and Hair Follicle Regeneration. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b21125 (IF 8.456)

11. Zhang K, Bai X, Yuan Z, Cao Xintao, Jiao X, Qin Y*, Wen Y* and Zhang X (2019) (*corresponding author). Layered nanofiber sponge with an improved capacity for promoting blood coagulation and wound healing. Biomateirals. (204 (2019) 70-79). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.03.008 (IF 10.273)

12. Zhou Z, Hu Y, Li A, Li Y, Zhao H, Wang S, Otecko NO, Zhang D, Wang J, Liu Y, Irwin DM, Qin Y & Ya-Ping Zhang* (2018). Genome wide analyses uncover allele-specific RNA editing in human and mouse. Nucleic Acids Res. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gky613 （IF 19.16）

13. Wang F, Zhang L, Bai X, Cao X, Jiao X, Huang Y, Li Y, Qin Y* and Wen Y* (2018) (*corresponding author). Stimuli-Responsive Nanocarrier for Co-delivery of MiR-31 and Doxorubicin To Suppress High MtEF4 Cancer. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b07698（IF 10.383）

14. Zhu P, Liu Y, Zhang F, Bai X, Chen Z, Shangguan F, Zhang B, Zhang L, Chen Q, Xie D, Lan L, Xue X, Liang X, LU B, Wei T, Qin Y* (2018) (*corresponding author). Human Elongation Factor 4 Regulates Cancer Bioenergetics by Acting as a Mitochondrial Translation Switch. Cancer Research. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-2059 （IF 9.122）

15. Gao Y, Bai X, Zhang D, Han C,Yuan J, Liu W, Cao X, Chen Z, Shangguan F, Zhu Z, Gao F and Qin Y* (2016) (*corresponding author). Mammalian elongation factor 4 regulates mitochondrial translation essential for spermatogenesis. Nat Struct Mol Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/nsmb.3206（IF 18.361）

16. Zhang D, Kaige Y, Liu G, Song G, Luo J, Shi Y, Cheng E, Wu S, Jiang T, Lou Z, Gao N* and Qin Y* (2016) (*corresponding author). EF4 disengages the peptidyl-tRNA CCA end and facilitates back-translocation on the 70S ribosome. Nat Struct Mol Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/nsmb（IF 13.309）

17. Zhang D, Kaige Y, Zhang Y, Liu G, Cao X, Song G, Xie Q*, Gao N*, Qin Y* (2015) (*corresponding author). New insights into the enzymatic role of EF-G in ribosome recycling. Nucleic Acids Res. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkv995（IF 19.16）

18. Liu G, Zhang D, Song G, Li Z, Zhang D, Lyv Z, Aachenbach J, Dong J, Gong W, Zhao X, Nierhaus K H and Qin Y* (2014) (*corresponding author). EF-G catalyzes tRNA translocation by disrupting interactions between decoding center and codon-anticodon duplex. Nat Struct Mol Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/nsmb.2869（IF 13.309）

19. Yamamoto H*, Qin Y*, Achenhach J*, Li X, Kijek J, Kijek J, Sphan CMT and Nierhaus HK (2014) (*co-first author). EF-G and EF4: Translocation and back-translocation on the bacterial ribosome. Nature Reviews Microbiology. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro3176（IF 22.49）

20. Zhang D, Liu G, Xue J, Lou J, Nierhaus K H, Gong W* and Qin Y* (2012) (*corresponding author). Common chaperone activity in the G-domain of trGTPase protects L11-L12 interaction on the ribosome. Nucleic Acids Res. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks833（IF 8.02）

21. Wang L, Yang F, Zhang D, Chen Z, Xu R, Nierhaus K H, Gong W and Qin Y* (2012) (*corresponding author). A conserved proline switch on the ribosome facilitates the recruitment and binding of trGTPases. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/nsmb（IF 12.712）

22. Di Giacco V*, Marquez V*, Qin Y*, Pech M, Triana-Alonso FJ, Wilson DN, Nierhaus KH (2008) (*co-first author). Shine-dalgarno interaction prevents incorporation of noncognate amino acids at the codon following the AUG. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0801974105 （IF 9.681）

23. Connell SR*, Topf M*, Qin Y*, Wilson DN, Mielke T, Fucini P, Nierhaus KH, Spahn CM (2008) (*co-first author). A new trna intermediate revealed on the ribosome during ef4-mediated back-translocation. Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. https://www.nature.com/articles/nsmb （IF 12.712）

24. Qin Y, Polacek N, Vesper O, Staub E, Einfeldt E, Wilson DN, Nierhaus KH (2006). The highly conserved lepa is a ribosomal elongation factor that back-translocates the ribosome. Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.09.037 （IF 32.403）