The research of Dr. Nan Liu focuses on understanding the intrinsic mechanisms underlying age and age-associated events that impact adult life cycle and disease situations.
Dr. Liu’s research has made significant contribution to our understanding of epigenetic modification, gene expression, protein post-translational modification, metabolites, and metabolic pathways in aging. He attempts to integrate these parts, with the goal to understand how their collective dynamics may contribute to age-related processes. His recent study reveals that epigenetic drift of H3K27me3 is one of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to aging and that stimulation of glycolysis promotes metabolic health and longevity.
His research is currently focusing on two areas. One is the method development, profiling, and functional study of epi-transcriptomic modifications. The hub metabolite, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), can be used as an initiating nucleotide in RNA synthesis by forming NAD-capped RNAs (NAD-RNA). Dr. Liu develops a simple, specific, and versatile method for the investigation of NAD-capped RNAs in a wide-spectrum of biological contexts. NAD-functionized RNAs, poised to integrate metabolome and transcriptome, prompt further investigation into how this epi-transcriptomic mechanism may impact the physiological and perhaps pathological processes. In addition, Dr. Liu aims to develop NAD-RNA as new, non-invasive physiological biomarkers for aging and physiological fitness.
Another area of study is on the development of RNA interference (RNAi) to “silence” or turn off the production of specific genes that promote aging or that contribute to the decline of physiological fitness. RNAi is a natural biological process that regulates gene expression by “interfering” with messenger RNA (mRNA). Dr. Liu applies RNAi therapeutics mimic by delivering specially designed small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to bind age-causing mRNAs and guide their destruction like a pair of molecular scissors. By targeting genetically validated targets, Dr. Liu hopes to find a way to significantly promote adult healthspan and longevity.