Education

2003-2008, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, China 
1999-2003, BSc in Physics, Department of Physics, Shandong Normal University, China

Career History

Since 2021, Principal investigator, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, China Regional Research Centre, China
Since 2018, Principal investigator, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, China
Since 2018, Professor, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, China
2015-2018, Senior research associate, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, UK
2011-2015, Research associate, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, UK
2008-2011, Research fellow, Cancer Research UK, UK

Scientific Activity

Dr. Yijin Liu’s research experience focused on DNA damage repair enzymes and RNA catalytic ribozymes. He studied the structure and characterized its Holliday junction resolution properties of ctGEN1 DNA nuclease (Cell Reports, 2015; Nucleic Acid Research, 2018). Ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as chemical catalysts. It is commonly agreed RNA catalysis is one of the principal reactions during the initiation of life. Dr. Liu also focused on studying recently discovered small nucleolytic ribozymes such as twister, twister sister, pistol ribozymes, etc. He characterized the structure and catalytic mechanism of these new RNA catalysts using single molecule, structural biology, and biochemistry assays (Nature Chemical Biology, 2014,2017; Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2016, 2019). These studies indicated that these new classes of self-cleaving ribozymes are of compact global folding with efficient and precise cleavage to their sequence-specific targeting RNA molecules. This property makes these small ribozymes good candidates for RNA-targeting drugs and RNA regulation tools. 
Currently, Dr. Liu’s research interests are designing RNA-based therapeutic candidates of mRNA、siRNA、antisense oligo, and ribozymes and also developing novel RNA regulating tools. 

Teaching activity

Master students’ course: Structure-based drug design, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University
Ph.D. students’ course: Structural Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Nankai University

Selected Publications

Wilson, T. J., Y. Liu, N. S. Li, Q. Dai, J. A. Piccirilli and D. M. J. Lilley (2019). “Comparison of the Structures and Mechanisms of the Pistol and Hammerhead Ribozymes.” J Am Chem Soc 141(19): 7865-7875.:
Liu, Y., A. D. Freeman, A. C. Declais and D. M. J. Lilley (2018). “A monovalent ion in the DNA binding interface of the eukaryotic junction-resolving enzyme GEN1.” Nucleic Acids Res 46(20): 11089-11098.
Liu, Y., A. Freeman, A. C. Declais, A. Gartner and D. M. J. Lilley (2018). “Biochemical and Structural Properties of Fungal Holliday Junction-Resolving Enzymes.” Methods Enzymol 600: 543-568.
Liu, Y., T. J. Wilson and D. M. J. Lilley (2017). “The structure of a nucleolytic ribozyme that employs a catalytic metal ion.” Nat Chem Biol 13(5): 508-513.
Liu, Y. and D. M. J. Lilley (2017). “Crystal Structures of Cyanine Fluorophores Stacked onto the End of Double-Stranded RNA.” Biophys J 113(11): 2336-2343.
Wilson, T. J., Y. Liu, C. Domnick, S. Kath-Schorr and D. M. Lilley (2016). “The Novel Chemical Mechanism of the Twister Ribozyme.” J Am Chem Soc 138(19): 6151-6162.
Liu, Y., A. D. Freeman, A. C. Declais, T. J. Wilson, A. Gartner and D. M. Lilley (2015). “Crystal Structure of a Eukaryotic GEN1 Resolving Enzyme Bound to DNA.” Cell Rep 13(11): 2565-2575.
Liu, Y., T. J. Wilson, S. A. McPhee and D. M. Lilley (2014). “Crystal structure and mechanistic investigation of the twister ribozyme.” Nat Chem Biol 10(9): 739-744.