Education
2000 - 2005, Postdoctoral training, Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
1994 - 1999, Ph.D, Molecular Cell Biology, Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories / Imperial College London, UK
1990 - 1994, BSc. (Honours), Biochemistry, University of Aberdeen, UK
Professional Experience
2021 - present, Associate Dean, School of Life Sciences, Peking University
2020 - 2022, Associate Director, Office of Scientific Research, Peking University
2018 - present, Peking University Boya Distinguished Professor
2017 - present, Associate Director, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
2013 - present, Principal Investigator, Peking University - Tsinghua University Center for Life Sciences
2013 - present, Principal Investigator, Professor, School of Life Sciences, Peking University
2006 - 2014, Assistant Professor and Associate professor (2012 - 2014), Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Honors and Awards
2025 Peking University Teaching Achievement Award
2025 Peking University Outstanding Graduate Student Supervisory Team Award
2022 Peking University Outstanding PhD Dissertation Supervisor Award
2021 Peking University Teaching Achievement Award
2021 Peking University Education Excellence Award
2019 Peking University School of Life Sciences Dongbao Service Award
2019 Peking University Teaching Excellence Award
2018 Peking University Excellent Class Advisor Award
2018 Peking University Tang Lixin Education Foundation Teaching Excellence Award
2017 The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
2017 Peking University Teaching Excellence Award
2009 Research Grant Award, National Institutes of Health
2007 Research Scholar Award, American Cancer Society
2007 Basil O`Connor Starter Scholar Award, March of Dimes Foundation
2006 Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative Award for Cancer Research
2001 Walter & Idun Berry Foundation for Children`s Health Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
1999 Human Frontier Science Program Long-term Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
1994 Imperial Cancer Research Fund Postgraduate Studentship Award
Editorial Activities
Journal of Genetics and Genomics, Editorial Board
National Science Review, Editorial Group
Editorial Activities
Journal of Genetics and Genomics;
National Science Review
Teaching
Developmental Biology (SLS Undergraduate Course), Organizer, Spring semester
Integrative Science Laboratory IV (Yuanpei College Undergraduate Course), Organizer, Spring semesters
Basic Theory of Modern Biology (SLS Graduate Program), Organizer, Spring semester
Biological Literature Comprehension and Discussion (SLS Graduate Program), Organizer, Spring semester
Biological Principles and Experimental Design (SLS Graduate Program), Participant, Fall Semester
Graduate Research Training (SLS Graduate Program), Participant, Fall Semester
Basic Developmental Biology (CLS Graduate Program), Organizer, Fall semester
Regulatory mechanisms of development, aging and metabolic diseases
We use mice and Drosophila as model systems to study molecular mechanisms underlying development, aging, and metabolism, and their key roles in stem cell fate determination, morphogenesis, adult homeostasis, and metabolism. Our ultimate goal is to develop early diagnostic strategies and corresponding drug targets for aging, tumors, metabolic abnormalities and other related diseases.
Keywords: developmental regulation, aging, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, protein modification, epigenetics, nutrient sensing, vesicle trafficking, mouse， Drosophila,
1. Li, J.*, Zhang, Y.*, Peng, J.*, Yang, W.*, Pan, Y., Xu, Y., Yao, J., Lin, S., Li, Y., Gu, X., Dong, W., Yu, X., Ge, M.#, Liu, M.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2025) A regulator of amino acid sensing links lipid peroxidation and lipid droplet-dependent antioxidant response. Molecular Cell, 85: 3225-3240. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.08.009
2. Gao, Y.*, Feng, J.*, Zhang, Y, Yi, M., Zhang, L., Yan, Y., Zhu, A. J..# and Liu, M.# (2024) Ehbp1 orchestrates orderly sorting of Wnt/Wingless to the basolateral and apical cell membranes. EMBO Reports, 25: 5053-5079. doi: 10.1038/s44319-024-00289-1.
3. Wang, Y., Zhou, J., Yang, Q., Li, X., Oiu, Y., Zhang, Y.#, Liu, M.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2024) Therapeutic siRNA targeting PLIN2 ameliorates steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in steatotic liver disease models. Journal of Lipid Research, 65: 100635. doi: 10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100635 (Cover featured article)
4. He, T.*, Fan, Y.*, Du, J., Yi, M., Li, Y., Liu, M.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2023) Stuxnet fine-tunes Notch dose during development using a functional Polycomb response element. Development, 150: dev201297. doi: 10.1242/dev.201297
5. Zhao, W.*, Zhang, Y.*#, Lin, S., Li., Y., Zhu, A. J., Shi, H.# and Liu, M.# (2023) Identification of Ubr1 as an amino acid sensor of steatosis in liver and muscle. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 14: 1454–1467. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13233
6. Zhang, Y.*, Lin, S.*, Peng, J.*, Liang, X., Yang, Q., Bai, X., Li, Y., Li, J., Dong, W., Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Pei, Y., Guo, J., Zhao, W., Zhang, Z., Liu, M.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2022) Amelioration of hepatic steatosis by dietary essential amino acid-induced ubiquitination. Molecular Cell, 82: 1528-1542. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.01.021
7. He, T.*, Fan, Y.*, Wang Y., Liu, M.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2022) Dissection of the microRNA network regulating Hedgehog signaling in Drosophila. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10: 866491. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.866491
8. Liu, M.*, Su, Y.*, Peng. J. and Zhu, A. J.# (2021) Protein modifications in Hedgehog signaling. BioEssays, 43: 2100153. doi: 10.1002/bies.202100153. (Cover featured article).
9. Zhang, Y.*, Teng, D.*, Lu, W.*, Liu, M.*, Zeng, H., Cao, L., Southcott, L., Potdar, S., Westerman, E. L., Zhu, A. J.# and Zhang, W.# (2021) A widely diverged locus involved in locomotor adaptation in Heliconius butterflies. Science Advances, 7: eabh2340. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abh2340. (Cover featured article).
10. Zhao Z.*, Zhao, X.*, He, T., Wu X., Lv P., Zhu A. J. and Du, J.# (2021) Epigenetic regulator Stuxnet modulates octopamine effect on sleep through a Stuxnet-Polycomb-Octb2R cascade. EMBO Reports, 22: e47910. doi: 10.15252/embr.201947910
11. Liu, M.*, Liu, A.*, Wang, J.*, Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Su, Y.# and Zhu, A. J.# (2020) Competition between two phosphatases fine-tunes Hedgehog signaling. Journal of Cell Biology, 220: e202010078. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202010078
12. Wang, L. C., Liao, L. X.,, Lv, H.N., Liu, D., Dong, W., Zhu, A. J., Chen, J. F., Shi, M. L., Fu, G., Song, X. M., Jiang, Y., Zeng, K. W.# and Tu, P. F.# (2017) Highly selective activation of heat shock protein 70 by allosteric regulation provides an insight into efficient neuroinflammation inhibition. EBioMedicine, 23: 160-172.
13. Du, J.*, Zhang, J.*, He, T., Li, Y., Su, Y., Tie, F., Liu, M., Harte, P. J. and Zhu. A. J.# (2016) Stuxnet facilitates the degradation of Polycomb protein during development. Developmental Cell, 37: 507-519 (Cover featured article).
Commented in Developmental Cell, Science China Life Sciences, and F1000Prime.
Karch, F. (2016) Stuxnet recruits the proteasome to take down Polycomb. Developmental Cell, 37: 485-486.
Wu, X. (2016) Stuxnet detected, Pc breaks down. Science China Life Sciences, 59:1202-1203.
14. Liu, M.*, Li, Y.*, Liu, A., Li, R., Su, Y., Du, J., Li, C. and Zhu, A. J.# (2016) The exon junction complex regulates the splicing of cell polarity gene dlg1 to control Wingless signaling in development. eLife, 5: e17200.
15. Zhang, J., Du, J., Lei, C., Liu, M. and Zhu, A. J.# (2014) UBPY controls the stability of the ESCRT-0 subunit Hrs in development. Development, 141: 1473-1479.
16. Geisbrecht, E. R., Sawant, K., Su, Y., Liu, Z., Silver, D. L., Burtscher, A., Wang, X., Zhu, A. J. and McDonald J. A.# (2013) Genetic interaction screens identify a role for Hedgehog signaling in Drosophila border cell migration. Developmental Dynamics, 242: 414-431.
17. Zhang, J.*, Liu, M.*, Su, Y., Du, J. and Zhu, A. J.# (2012) A targeted in vivo RNAi screen reveals deubiquitinases as new regulators of Notch signaling. G3 Genes Genomes Genetics, 2: 1563-1575 (Cover featured article).
18. Su, Y.*, Ospina, J. K.*, Zhang, J.*, Michelson, A., Schoen, A. M. and Zhu, A. J.# (2011) Sequential phosphorylation of Smoothened transduces graded Hedgehog signaling. Science Signaling, 4: ra43.
Commented in Science Signaling.
VanHook, A. M. (2011) Fine-tuning Hedgehog signaling in development and disease. Science Signaling, 4: eg10.
19. Du, J.*, Zhang, J.*, Su, Y., Liu, M., Ospina, .J. K., Yang, S. and Zhu, A. J.# (2011) In vivo RNAi screen reveals neddylation genes as novel regulators of Hedgehog signaling. PLoS ONE, 6: e2416.
20. Huang X., Suyama, K., Buchanan, J., Zhu, A. J. and Scott, M. P.# (2005) A Drosophila Model of the Niemann-Pick type C lysosome storage disease: dnpc1a is required for molting and sterol homeostasis. Development, 132: 5115-5124.
21. Zhu, A. J. and Scott, M. P.# (2004) Incredible journey: How do developmental signals travel through tissue? Genes & Development, 18: 2985-2997 (Cover featured article).
22. Hwa, J. J.,* Zhu, A. J.,* Hiller, M. A., Kon, C. Y., Fuller, M. T., Santel, A.# (2004) Germ-line specific variants of components of the mitochondrial outer membrane import machinery in Drosophila. FEBS Letter, 572: 141-146 (* Co-first author).
23. Zhu, A. J., Zheng, L., Suyama, K. and Scott, M. P.# (2003) Altered localization of Drosophila Smoothened protein activates Hedgehog signal transduction. Genes & Development, 17: 1240-1252 (Cover featured article).
Commented in Current Biology, and F1000Prime.
van den Heuvel, M. (2003) Hedgehog signaling: off the shelf modulation. Current Biology, 13: R686-R688.
24. Zhu, A. J. and Watt, F. M.# (1999) β-Catenin signalling modulates proliferative potential of human epidermal keratinocytes independently of intercellular adhesion. Development, 126: 2285-2298.
25. Zhu, A. J.*, Haase, I.* and Watt, F. M.# (1999) Signaling via β1 integrins and mitogen-activated kinase determines human epidermal stem cell fate in vitro. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96: 6728-6733.
26. Zhu, A. J. and Watt, F. M.# (1996) Expression of a dominant negative cadherin mutant inhibits proliferation and stimulates terminal differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes, Journal of Cell Science, 109: 3013-3023.
