Prof. Dr. Huanhuan Cui
College of Animal Science and Technology
Northwest A&F University,
Email: cuihh@nwafu.edu.cn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The Cui Lab has long been committed to cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the intersection of gene transcription and epigenetic regulation. Using cellular, mouse, and large animal (bovine) models, and integrating molecular biology, multi-omics technologies, and artificial intelligence approaches, we have developed novel tools for gene regulation and functional genomic analysis. Our work systematically elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of key transcription factors and epigenetic regulators in development, disease, and trait formation. Our main research directions include: (1) regulatory mechanisms underlying embryonic development and muscle differentiation; (2) discovery of functional genes associated with important economic traits in cattle and their application in biological breeding; (3) development, optimization, and analytical application of novel gene regulatory tools.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Biology (September 2011 – April 2016), Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin) & Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Germany
M.S. in Animal Genetics (September 2008 – August 2010), College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, China
B.S. in Bioengineering (September 2004 – July 2008), College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, China
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professor (April 2026 – Present), College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, China
Visiting Scholar (April 2026 – Present), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Research Associate Professor (November 2018 – April 2026), School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Genetic Counselor & Senior Lecturer (June 2017 – November 2018), BGI Genomics (BGI), China
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (October 2015 – May 2017), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
Research Assistant (September 2010 – August 2011), Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
PUBLICATIONS (#Co-first author, *Corresponding Author)
1) Shen Y#, Liu Y#, Guo M#, Mao S, Chen R, Wang M, Li Z, Li Y, Chen W, Chen F, Wu B, Wang C, Chen W, Cui H*, Yuan K*, Huang H*. DEK–nucleosome structure shows DEK modulates H3K27me3 and stem cell fate. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2025
2) Cui H#,*, Liang W#, Shi Z#, Zhang L#, Li G, Chen R, Tian C, Gan D, Shi X, Sun Z, Zhu Q, Fang L, Huang H, Hu Y, Chen Y, Chen W*. CANTAC-seq analysis reveals E2f1 and Otx1 coordinate zygotic genome activation in Xenopus tropicalis. Nature Communications, 2025
3) Liang W#, Li G#, Wang Y#, Wei W, Chen R, Sun S, Gan D, Schaefke B, Hu Y, Zhou Q, Li W, Cui H*, Chen W*. Evolutionary analysis of transcriptional regulation mediated by Cdx2 in rodents. Cell Proliferation, 2025
4) Chen R, Shi X, Yao X, Gao T, Huang T, Ning D, Cao Z, Xu Y, Liang W, Tian SZ, Zhu Q, Fang L, Zheng M, Hu Y, Cui H*, Chen W*. Specific multivalent molecules boost CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation. Nature Communications, 2024
5) Cui H*, Yi H, Bao H, Tan Y, Tian C, Shi X, Gan D, Zhang B, Liang W, Chen R, Zhu Q, Fang L, Gao X, Huang H, Tian R, Sperling SR, Hu Y, Chen W*. The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling factor DPF3 regulates metastasis of ccRCC by modulating TGF-β signaling. Nature Communications, 2022
6) Cui H#, Bansal V#, Grunert M, Malecova B, Dall'Agnese A, Latella L, Gatto S, Ryan T, Schulz K, Chen W, Dorn C, Puri PL, Sperling SR. Muscle-relevant genes marked by stable H3K4me2/3 profiles and enriched MyoD binding during myogenic differentiation. PLoS One, 2017
7) Cui H, Schlesinger J, Schoenhals S, Tonjes M, Dunkel I, Meierhofer D, Cano E, Schulz K, Berger MF, Haack T, Abdelilah-Seyfried S, Bulyk ML, Sauer S, Sperling SR. Phosphorylation of the chromatin remodeling factor DPF3a induces cardiac hypertrophy through releasing HEY repressors from DNA. Nucleic Acids Research, 2016
Full Publication List: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6190-6135
