Zhihua Liu, PhD

Professor and Doctoral Supervisor

Contact Information:

· Email: Zhihua_Liu(AT)hubu.edu.cn

Research Interests:

Our research group is driving discoveries in brain science, specifically in the fundamental areas of sleep, circadian rhythms, and nervous system development. Our key research priorities are:

1. Deciphering Sleep Mechanisms: We are dedicated to identifying the genes and molecular pathways that govern sleep duration and the onset of sleep. This essential knowledge is crucial for effectively tackling sleep disorders and enhancing overall health.

2. Understanding Circadian Adaptation: We're working to find how circadian rhythms, the body's internal timekeepers, adapt to environmental shifts like light and temperature. This vital work is essential for understanding and mitigating the impact of circadian disruptions from jet lag to shift work.

To explore these interesting questions, we are developing and deploying cutting-edge genetic tools and behavioral analysis methods, complemented by a powerful suite of techniques including Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Neural Circuit Tracing, Optogenetics, and Multi-omics approaches.

Education

· PhD in Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (2004-2011)

· Bachelor of Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou (2000-2004)

Work Experience

· Professor, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan (2021-Present)

· Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, USA (2013-2021)

· Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (2011-2013)

Publications(#Co-first author, *Co-corresponding author)

1. Zhou, B., Feng C., Sun S., Chen X., Zhuansun D., Wang D., Yu X., Meng X., Xiao J., Wu L., Wang J., Wang J., Chen K., Li Z., You J., Mao H., Yang S., Zhang J., Jiao C., Li Z., Yu D., Wu X., Zhu T., Yang J., Xiang L., Liu J., Chai T., Shen J., Mao C., Hu J., Hao X., Xiong B., Zheng S.,Liu Z.,*, Feng J.* (2024) Identification of signaling pathways that specify a subset of migrating enteric neural crest cells at the wavefront in mouse embryos.Developmental Cell. 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.034.

2. Mao, C.#, Hu, J.#, Bi, R, Luo, Y., Wu, K., Jin, S.,Liu, Z., Jia, Y. (2024) The gut microbiome promotes locomotion of Drosophila larvae via octopamine signaling.Insect Science. DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13370

3. Niu, X.#, Mao, C.-X.#, Wang, S., Wang, X., Zhang, Y., Hu, J., Bi, R.,Liu, Z*. and Shan, J. (2023). α-Tubulin acetylation at lysine 40 regulates dendritic arborization and larval locomotion by promoting microtubule stability in Drosophila.PLoS ONE 18, e0280573.

4. Gu L, Wang L, Chen H, Hong J, Shen Z, Dhall A, Lao T, Liu C, Wang Z, Xu Y, Tang HW, Chakraborty D, Chen J,Liu Z, Rogulja D, Perrimon N, Wu H, Shi Y. (2020) CG14906 (mettl4) mediates m(6)A methylation of U2 snRNA in Drosophila.Cell Discovery 6, 44.

5. Huang Y, Huang S, Lam SM,Liu Z, Shui G, Zhang YQ. (2016). Acsl, the Drosophila ortholog of intellectual disability-related ACSL4, inhibits synaptic growth by altered lipids.Journal of Cell Science 129, 4034–4045.

6.Liu Z#, Huang Y#, Hu W, Huang S, Wang Q, Han J, Zhang YQ. (2014). dAcsl, the Drosophila ortholog of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 and 4, inhibits synapse growth by attenuating bone morphogenetic protein signalling via endocytic recycling.Journal of Neuroscience 34, 2785–2796.

7. Graf ER, Valakh V, Wright CM, Wu CL,Liu Z, Zhang YQ, DiAntonio A. (2012) RIM promotes calcium channel accumulation at active zones of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.Journal of Neuroscience 32, 16586–16596.

8.Liu Z, Huang Y, Zhang Y, Chen D, Zhang YQ. (2011) Drosophila acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 regulates axonal transport of synaptic vesicles and is required for synaptic development and transmission.Journal of Neuroscience 31, 2052–2063.

9. Yao A, Jin S, Li X,Liu Z, Ma X, Tang J, Zhang YQ. (2011) Drosophila FMRP regulates microtubule network formation and axonal transport of mitochondria.Human Molecular Genetics 20, 51–63.

10. Jin S, Pan L,Liu Z, Wang Q, Xu Z, Zhang YQ. (2009) Drosophila tubulin-specific chaperone E functions at neuromuscular synapses and is required for microtubule network formation.Development 136, 1571–1581.

11. Reeve SP, Lin X, Sahin BH, Jiang F, Yao A,Liu Z, Zhi H, Broadie K, Li W, Giangrande A, Hassan BA, Zhang YQ. (2008) Mutational analysis establishes a critical role for the N terminus of fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP.Journal of Neuroscience 28, 3221–3226.

View all publications on Semantic Scholar

Open Positions

We are always looking for enthusiastic and motivated postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students who are passionate about understanding the brain. If you are curious, eager to learn, and enjoy critical thinking, we invite you to apply!