2001 - 2005  B.S., Hunan Normal University

2005 - 2010  Ph.D., Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS

2010 - 2013  Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Biophysics, CAS

2013 - 2021  Associate Professor, Institute of Biophysics, CAS

2022 - 2023  Professor, Institute of Biophysics, CAS

2024 -           Professor, Principal Investigator, Institute of Biophysics, CAS

Our research group focuses on the structural biology of chromatin assembly and regulation, which encompasses two aspects:

1. Mechanisms of DNA replication-coupled chromatin assembly: This process is crucial for the inheritance and plasticity of eukaryotic cells. It involves a complex interplay between replication machinery and epigenetic factors, such as histone chaperones and modifying enzymes. By elucidating the structure and function of key protein complexes involved in replication, we aim to gain insights into the inheritance of epigenetic information during chromatin replication. Additionally, this research would provide a structural framework for exploring new anti-tumor strategies.

2. Structural basis of the synaptonemal complex in meiosis: the interplay among synaptonemal complex formation, and the initiation and repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), is essential for the accurate recognition, pairing, recombination, and separation of homologous chromosomes. This process ensures the stable transmission of genetic material between generations and contributes to the genetic diversity of organisms. Understanding the molecular basis of meiotic recombination will provide valuable structural references for the precise treatment of reproductive health.

1. Chao-Pei Liu^#*, Zhenyu Yu^#, Jun Xiong^#, Jie Hu^#, Aoqun Song^#, Dongbo Ding^#, Cong Yu, Na Yang, Mingzhu Wang, Juan Yu, Peini Hou, Kangning Zeng, Zhenyu Li, Zhuqiang Zhang, Xinzheng Zhang, Wei Li, Zhiguo Zhang, Bing Zhu*, Guohong Li*, and Rui-Ming Xu*. Structural insights into histone binding and nucleosome assembly by chromatin assembly factor-1. Science, 2023, 381(6660): eadd8673.

2. Weiran Ge^#, Cong Yu^#, Jingjing Li^#, Zhenyu Yu, Xiaorong Li, Yan Zhang, Chao-Pei Liu, Yingfeng Li, Changlin Tian, Xinzheng Zhang, Guohong Li, Bing Zhu*, and Rui-Ming Xu*. Basis of the H2AK119 specificity of the Polycomb repressive deubiquitinase. Nature, 2023, 616(7955):176-182.

3. Ye Yue^#, Wen-Si Yang^#, Lin Zhang, Chao-Pei Liu, and Rui-Ming Xu. Topography of histone H3-H4 interaction with the Hat1-Hat2 acetyltransferase complex. Genes & Development, 2022, 36(7-8):408-413.

4. Hui Wang^#, Boyuan Li^#, Linyu Zuo, Bo Wang, Yan Yan, Kai Tian, Rong Zhou, Chenlu Wang, Xizi Chen, Yongpeng Jiang, Haonan Zheng, Fangfei Qin, Bin Zhang, Yang Yu, Chao-Pei Liu, Yanhui Xu, Juntao Gao, Zhi Qi, Wulan Deng, and Xiong Ji. The transcriptional coactivator RUVBL2 regulates Pol II clustering with diverse transcription factors. Nature Communications, 2022, 13(1):5703.

5. Jing Zhang^#, Yan Zhang^#, Qinglong You^#, Chang Huang, Tiantian Zhang, Mingzhu Wang, Tianwei Zhang, Xiaocheng Yang, Jun Xiong, Yingfeng Li, Chao-Pei Liu, Zhuqiang Zhang, Rui-Ming Xu*, and Bing Zhu*. Highly enriched BEND3 prevents the premature activation of bivalent genes during differentiation. Science, 2022, 375(6584):1053-1058.

6. Chao-Pei Liu^#*, Wenxing Jin^#, Jie Hu, Mingzhu Wang, Jingjing Chen, Guohong Li, and Rui-Ming Xu*. Distinct histone H3-H4 binding modes of sNASP reveal the basis for cooperation and competition of histone chaperones. Genes & Development, 2021, 35(23-24):1610-1624.

7. Wenxing Jin^#, Jia Wang^#, Chao-Pei Liu, Hong-Wei Wang*, and Rui-Ming Xu*. Structural Basis for pri-miRNA Recognition by Drosha. Molecular Cell, 2020, 78(3):423-433.e5.

8. Peini Hou^#, Chang Huang^#, Chao-Pei Liu, Na Yang, Tianshu Yu, Yuxin Yin, Bing Zhu*, and Rui-Ming Xu*. Structural Insights into Stimulation of Ash1L's H3K36 Methyltransferase Activity through Mrg15 Binding. Structure, 2019, 27(5):837-845.e3.

9. Chaoyang Xiong^#, Zengqi Wen^#, Juan Yu, Jun Chen, Chao-Pei Liu, Xiaodong Zhang, Ping Chen, Rui-Ming Xu, and Guohong Li. UBN1/2 of HIRA complex is responsible for recognition and deposition of H3.3 at cis-regulatory elements of genes in mouse ES cells. BMC Biology, 2018, 16(1):110.

10. Wenxing Jin^#, Yi Wang^#, Chao-Pei Liu^#, Na Yang, Mingliang Jin, Yao Cong, Mingzhu Wang* and Rui-Ming Xu*. Structural basis for snRNA recognition by the double WD40-repeat domain of Gemin5. Genes & Development, 2016, 30(21): 2391-2403.

11. Chao-Pei Liu^#, Chaoyang Xiong^#, Mingzhu Wang, Zhouliang Yu, Na Yang,Ping Chen, Zhiguo Zhang, Guohong Li* and Rui-Ming Xu*. Structure of the variant histone H3.3-H4 heterodimer in complex with its chaperone DAXX. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2012, 19(12): 1287-1292.

(From Chao-Pei Liu, February 22, 2024)