Wei Lab

Publications

(†co-first author/*co-corresponding author)

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Prior to NUS

Representative publications

  1. J. Wei†, X. Yu†, L. Yang†, X. Liu†, B. Gao, B. Huang, X. Dou, J. Liu, Z. Zou, X.-L. Cui, L.-S. Zhang, X. Zhao, Q. Liu, P. C. He, C. Sepich-Poore, N. Zhong, W. Liu, Y. Li, X. Kou, Y. Zhao, Y. Wu, X. Cheng, C. Chen, Y. An, X. Dong, H. Wang, Q. Shu, Z. Hao, T. Duan, Y.-Y. He, X. Li, S. Gao*, Y. Gao*, C. He*, “FTO mediates LINE1 m6A demethylation and chromatin regulation in mESCs and mouse development”, Science 2022, 376, 968-973. [ESI Highly Cited Paper] [Featured by UChicago News] [Highlighted by Nat. Genet., Nat. Chem. Biol., and Sig. Transduct. Target Ther.] [Recommended by Faculty Opinions]
  2. J. Wei†, F. Liu†, Z. Lu, Q. Fei, Y. Ai, P. Cody. He, H. Shi, X.-L. Cui, R. Su, A. Klungland, G. Jia, J. Chen, C. He*, “Differential m6A, m6Am, and m1A demethylation mediated by FTO in cell nucleus and cytoplasm”, Mol. Cell 2018, 71, 973-985. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  3. P. C. He†, J. Wei†, X. Dou†, B. T. Harada†, Z. Zhang, R. Ge, C. Liu, L.-S. Zhang, X. Yu, S. Wang, R. Lyu, Z. Zou, M. Chen, C. He*, “Exon architecture controls mRNA m6A suppression and gene expression”, Science 2023, 379, 677-682. [ESI Highly Cited Paper] [Featured by EurekAlert!, Phys.org, AZoLifeSciences, Labroots, News AZI, and UChicago News]
  4. J. Zhang†,*, J. Wei†, R. Sun†, H. Sheng, K. Yin, Y. Pan, R. Jimenez, S. Chen, X.-L. Cui, Z. Zou, Z. Yue, M. J. Emich, J. R. Hawse, L. Wang, H. H. He, S. Xia, B. Han, C. He*, H. Huang*, “A lncRNA from the FTO locus acts as an inhibitor of the m6A writer complex and p53 tumor suppression signaling”, Mol. Cell 2023, 83, 2692-2708.
  5. Z. Zou†, J. Wei†, Y. Chen†, Y. Kang†, H. Shi, F. Yang, S. Chen, Y. Zhou, C. Sepich-Poore, X. Zhuang, X. Zhou, H. Jiang, Z. Wen, P. Jin*, C. Luo*, C. He*, “FMRP phosphorylation modulates neuronal translation through YTHDF1”, Mol. Cell, 2023, 83, 4304-4317.

Full Publication List

  1. S. Kahraman†, D. F. De Jesus†, J. Wei†, N. K. Brown, Z. Zou, J. Hu, C. He, R. N. Kulkarni*, “m6A mRNA methylation regulates early pancreatic β-cell differentiation”, EMBO J 2024, Nov;43(22):5445-5468. 
  2. Z. Zou†, J. Wei†, Y. Chen†, Y. Kang†, H. Shi, F. Yang, S. Chen, Y. Zhou, C. Sepich-Poore, X. Zhuang, X. Zhou, H. Jiang, Z. Wen, P. Jin*, C. Luo*, C. He*, “FMRP phosphorylation modulates neuronal translation through YTHDF1”, Mol. Cell, 2023, 83, 4304-4317.
  3. J. Zhang†,*, J. Wei†, R. Sun†, H. Sheng, K. Yin, Y. Pan, R. Jimenez, S. Chen, X.-L. Cui, Z. Zou, Z. Yue, M. J. Emich, J. R. Hawse, L. Wang, H. H. He, S. Xia, B. Han, C. He*, H. Huang*, “A lncRNA from the FTO locus acts as an inhibitor of the m6A writer complex and p53 tumor suppression signaling”, Mol. Cell 2023, 83, 2692-2708.
  4. P. C. He†, J. Wei†, X. Dou†, B. T. Harada†, Z. Zhang, R. Ge, C. Liu, L.-S. Zhang, X. Yu, S. Wang, R. Lyu, Z. Zou, M. Chen, C. He*, “Exon architecture controls mRNA m6A suppression and gene expression”, Science 2023, 379, 677-682. [ESI Highly Cited Paper] [Featured by EurekAlert!, Phys.org, AZoLifeSciences, Labroots, News AZI, and UChicago News]
  5. J. Wei†, X. Yu†, L. Yang†, X. Liu†, B. Gao, B. Huang, X. Dou, J. Liu, Z. Zou, X.-L. Cui, L.-S. Zhang, X. Zhao, Q. Liu, P. C. He, C. Sepich-Poore, N. Zhong, W. Liu, Y. Li, X. Kou, Y. Zhao, Y. Wu, X. Cheng, C. Chen, Y. An, X. Dong, H. Wang, Q. Shu, Z. Hao, T. Duan, Y.-Y. He, X. Li, S. Gao*, Y. Gao*, C. He*, “FTO mediates LINE1 m6A demethylation and chromatin regulation in mESCs and mouse development”, Science 2022, 376, 968-973. [ESI Highly Cited Paper] [Featured by UChicago News] [Highlighted by Nat. Genet., Nat. Chem. Biol., and Sig. Transduct. Target Ther.][Recommended by Faculty Opinions]
  6. Y. Sheng†, J. Wei†, F. Yu, H. Xu, C. Yu, Q. Wu, Y. Liu, L. Li, X.-L. Cui, X. Gu, B. Shen, W. Li, Y. Huang, S. Bhaduri-Mcintosh, C. He*, and Z. Qian*, “A critical role of nuclear m6A reader YTHDC1 in leukemogenesis by regulating MCM complex-mediated DNA replication”, Blood 2021, 138, 2838-2852.
  7. Z. Yang†, S. Yang†, Y.-H. Cui†, J. Wei†, P. Shah, G. Park, X.-L. Cui, C. He, Y.-Y. He*, “METTL14 facilitates global genome repair and suppresses skin tumorigenesis”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2021, 118, e2025948118.
  8. J. Wei, C. He*, “Chromatin and transcriptional regulation by reversible RNA methylation”, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 2021, 70, 109-115. [Invited Review]
  9. F. Yu†, J. Wei†, X.-L. Cui†, C. Yu, W. Ni, J. Bungert, L. Wu, C. He*, Z. Qian*, “Post-translational modification of RNA m6A demethylase ALKBH5 regulates ROS-induced DNA damage response”, Nucleic Acids Res. 2021, 49, 5779-5797.
  10. Y.-H. Cui†, S. Yang†, J. Wei†, C. R. Shea, W. Zhong, F. Wang, P. Shah, M. G. Kibriya, X.-L. Cui, H. Ahsan, C. He, Y.-Y. He*, “Autophagy of the m6A mRNA demethylase FTO is impaired by low arsenic exposure to promote tumorigenesis”, Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 2183-2202.
  11. S. A. Hinger†, J. Wei†, L. E. Dorn, B. A. Whiston, P. M. L. Jassen, C. He, F. Accornero*, “Remodeling of the m6A landscape in the heart reveals few conserved post-transcriptional events underlying cardio-myocyte hypertrophy”, J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 2021, 151, 46-55.
  12. J. Wei, C. He*,“Site-specific m6A editing”, Nat. Chem. Biol. 2019, 15, 848–849. [Invited News & views]
  13. S. Yang†, J. Wei†, Y.-H. Cui†, G. Park, P. Shah, Y. Deng, A. E. Aplin, Z. Lu, S. Hwang, C. He*, Y.-Y. He*, “m6A mRNA demethylase FTO regulates melanoma tumorigenicity and response to anti-PD-1 blockade”, Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 2782-2796. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  14. H. Shi†, J. Wei†, C. He*, “Where, when, and how: context-dependent functions of RNA methylation writers, readers, and erasers”, Mol. Cell 2019, 74, 640-650. [Invited Review] [ESI Highly Cited Paper] [ESI Hot Paper]
  15. J. Wei†, F. Liu†, Z. Lu, Q. Fei, Y. Ai, P. Cody. He, H. Shi, X.-L. Cui, R. Su, A. Klungland, G. Jia, J. Chen, C. He*, “Differential m6A, m6Am, and m1A demethylation mediated by FTO in cell nucleus and cytoplasm”, Mol. Cell 2018, 71, 973-985. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  16. L. Zhang, J. Wei, Z. Zou, C. He, “RNA modification systems as therapeutic targets”, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2025, Sep 17. DOI: 10.1038/s41573-025-01280-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40962853.
  17. C. W. Ju, R. Lyu, H. Li, J. Wei, A. J. Parra Vitela, U. Dougherty, A. Kwesi, A. Luna, X. Zhu, S. Shen, Y. Liu, L. Wang, X. Cui, Y. Xu, B. Jiang, Y. Ji, P. Xia, D. C. West-Szymanski, C. Sun, Y. Zhong, C. Ye, A. Moran, C. Lehmann, E. Pamer, W. Zhang, M. Bissonnette, L. S. Zhang, C. He, “Modifications of microbiome-derived cell-free RNA in plasma discriminates colorectal cancer samples”, Nat. Biotechnol. 2025, Jul 8. DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02731-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40629040.
  18. Y. Xu, Y. Luo, B. Li, W. Jiang, J. Zhang, J. Wei, H. Bai, Z. Wang, J. Ge, R. Lin, Z. Mi, H. Zhang, Y. Tang, M. S. Jones, X. Li, J. Z. H. Zhang, C. W. Ju, “Exploring Optimized Organic Fluorophore Search through Experimental Data-Driven Adaptive β-VAE”, JACS Au 2025, 5(7), 3082–3091. DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.5c00052. PMID: 40747032; PMCID: PMC12308382.
  19. Y. Liang, W. Yu, H. Sun, D. Wang, Z. Wang, H. Shi, Y. Cao, Z. Zhang, J. Liu, Z. Zou, J. Wei, T. Wu, D. Yu, J. Qi, J. Wu, B. C. Dickinson, P. Zhu, B. Shen, B. Sun, C. He, X. Zhong, “N6-methyladenosine reader YTHDF3-mediated CEBPA translation maintains genomic stability and stem cell function to prevent liver injury”, Sci. China Life Sci. 2025, 68(8), 2456–2471. DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2793-x. PMID: 40488955.
  20. L. Xiao†, D. F. De Jesus†, C.-W. Ju†, J. Wei, J. Hu, A. DiStefano-Forti, T. Tsuji, C. Cero, V. Männistö, S. M. Manninen, S. Wei, O. Ijaduola, M. Blüher, A. M. Cypess, J. Pihlajamäki, Y.-H. Tseng, C. He, R. N. Kulkarni*, “m6A mRNA methylation in brown fat regulates systemic insulin sensitivity via an inter-organ prostaglandin signaling axis independent of UCP1”, Cell Metab. 2024, 36(10), 2207–2227.e9. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.08.006.
  21. Ling Xiao†, D. F. De Jesus†, C.-W. Ju†, J Wei, J. Hu, A. DiStefano-Forti, T. Tsuji, C. Cero, V. Männistö, S. M. Manninen, S.-Y. Wei, O. Ijaduola, M. Blüher, A. M. Cypess, J. Pihlajamäki, Y.-H. Tseng, C. He*, R. N. Kulkarni*, “Divergent roles of m6A in orchestrating brown and white adipocyte transcriptomes and systemic metabolism”, Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 533.
  22. X.-L. Cui†, J. Nie†, H. Zhu†, K. Kowitwanich, A. Beadell, D. West-Szymanski, Z. Zhang, U. Dougherty, A. Kwesi, Z. Deng, Y. Li, D. Meng, K. Roggin, T. Barry, R. Owyang, B. Fefferman, C. Zeng, L. Gao, C. W. T. Zhao, Y. Malina, J. Wei, M. Weigert, W. Kang, A. Goel, B. C. H. Chiu, M. Bissonnette, W. Zhang*, M. Chen*, C. He*, “LABS: Linear amplification-based bisulfite sequencing for ultrasensitive cancer detection from cell-free DNA”, Genome Biol. 2024, 25, DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03262-2.
  23. G. Wang†, H. Li†, C. Ye†, K. He, S. Liu, B. Jiang, R. Ge, B. Gao, J. Wei, Y. Zhao, A. Li, D. Zhang, J. Zhang, C. He*, “Quantitative profiling of m6A at single base resolution across the life cycle of rice and Arabidopsis” Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48941-7
  24. D. F. De Jesus, Z. Zhang, N. K. Brown, X. Li, M. J. Gaffrey, S. Kahraman, J. Wei, J. Hu, G. Basile, L. Xiao, T. M. Rana, C. E. Mathews, A. C. Powers, M. A. Atkinson, D. L. Eizirik, S. Dhe-Paganon, A. V. Parent, W.-J. Qian, C. He*; R. N. Kulkarni*, “Redox Regulation of m6A Methyltransferase METTL3 in Human β-cells Controls the Innate Immune Response in Type 1 Diabetes”, Nat. Cell Biol. 2024, 26, 421-437.
  25. B. Jiang†,*, Z. Zhong†, L. Gu†, X. Zhang, J Wei, C. Ye, G. Lin, G. Qu, X. Xiang, C. Wen, M. Gateas, J. Bailey-Serres, Q. Wang, C. He, X. Wang*, C. Lin*, “Photo-condensation of the CRY2/SPA1/FIO1 complex regulating mRNA methylation and chlorophyll homeostasis in Arabidopsis”, Nat. Plants 2023, 9, 2042-2058.
  26. L-.S. Zhang†,*, C. Ye†, C.-W. Ju†, B. Gao, X. Feng, H.-L. Sun, J. Wei, F. Yang, Q. Dai*, C. He*, “BID-seq: transcriptome-wide quantitative sequencing of pseudouridine at single-base resolution”, Nat. Protoc. 2023, 19, 517-538.
  27. N. Mayman, J. Wei, S. Cai, R. Soman, H. Raynes, M. La Vega-Talbott, C. He, T. Naidich, G. P. Raju*, S. K. Nageshwaran*, “Case report: a novel biallelic FTO variant causing multisystem anomalies with severe epilepsy, widening the spectrum of FTO syndrome”, SAGE Open Med. Case Rep. 2023, DOI: 10.1177/2050313X231188883.
  28. Z. Zou, C. Sepich-Poore, X. Zhou, J. Wei, C. He*, “The mechanism underlying redundant functions of the YTHDF proteins”, Genome Biol. 2023, 24, 17-29.
  29. Z. Zou, J. Wei, C. He*, “New horizons of regulatory RNA”, Fundam. Res. 2023, 3, 760-762. [Invited Perspective]
  30. L-.S. Zhang†,*, C.-W. Ju†, C. Liu†, J. Wei, Q. Dai, L. Chen, C. Ye, C. He*, “m7G-quant-seq: quantitative detection of RNA internal N7-Methylguanosine”, ACS Chem. Biol. 2022, 17, 3306-3312.
  31. L. Hu†, *, S. Liu†, Y. Peng†, R. Ge†, R. Su†, C. Senevirathne, B. T. Harada, Q. Dai, J. Wei, L.-S. Zhang, Z. Hao, L. Luo, H. Wang, Y. Wang, M. Luo, M. Chen*, J. Chen*, C. He*, “m6A RNA modifications are measured at single-base resolution across the mammalian transcriptome”, Nat. Biotechnol. 2022, 40, 1210-1219. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  32. R. Su†,*, L. Dong†, Y. Li†, M. Gao†, P. C. He†, W. Liu†, J. Wei, Z. Zhao, L. Gao, L. Han, X. Deng, C. Li, E. Prince, B. Tan, Y. Qing, X. Qin, C. Shen, M. Xue, K. Zhou, Z. Chen, J. Xue, W. Li, H. Qin, X. Wu, M. Sun, Y. Nam, C.-W. Chen, W. Huang, D. Horne, S. T. Rosen, C. He*, J. Chen*, “METTL16 exerts an m6A-independent function to facilitate translation and tumorigenesis”, Nat. Cell. Biol. 2022, 24, 205-216. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  33. M. Xue, Y. Zhang, H. Wang, E. L. Kairis, M. Lu, S. Ahmad, Z. Attia, O. Harder, Z. Zhang, J. Wei, P. Chen, Y. Gao, A. Sharma, P. Boyaka, C. He, S. Hur, S. Niewiesk, M. E. Peeples, J. Li*, “Viral RNA N6-methyladenosine modification modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses of human respiratory syncytial virus”, PLoS Pathog. 2021, 17, e1010142.
  34. Q. Cui†, K. Yin†, X. Zhang†, P. Ye, X Chen, J Chao, H. Meng, J. Wei, D. Roeth, L. Li, Y. Qin, G. Sun, M. Zhang, J. Klein, M. Huynhle, C. Wang, L. Zhang, B. Badie, M. Kalkum, C. He, C. Yi*, Y. Shi*, “PUS7 regulates glioblastoma tumorigenesis through tRNA pseudouridylation”, Nat. Cancer 2021, 2, 932-949.
  35. Q. Yu†, S. Liu†, L. Yu, Y. Xiao, S. Zhang, X. Wang, Y. Xu, H. Yu, Y. Li, J. Yang, J. Tang, H.-C. Duan, L.- H. Wei, H. Zhang, J. Wei, Q. Tang, C. Wang, W. Zhang, Y. Wang, P. Song, Q. Lu, W. Zhang, S. Dong, B. Song*, C. He*, G. Jia*, “RNA demethylation increased crop yield and biomass in the field”, Nat. Biotechnol. 2021, 39, 1581-1588. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  36. L.-S. Zhang, Q.-P. Xiong, S. P. Perez, C. Liu, J. Wei, C. Le, L. Zhang, B. T. Harada, Q. Dai, X. Feng, Z. Hao, Y. Wang, X. Dong, L. Hu, E.-D. Wang, T. Pan, A. Klungland, R.-J. Liu*, C. He*, “ALKBH7-mediated demethylation regulates mitochondrial polycistronic RNA processing”, Nat. Cell. Biol. 2021, 23, 684-691.
  37. M. Lu†, M. Xue†, H.-T. Wang, E. L. Kairis, S. Ahmad, J. Wei, Z. Zhang, Q. Liu, Y. Zhang, Y. Gao, D. Garcin, M. E. Peeples, A. Sharma, S. Hur, C. He, J. Li*, “Non-segmented negative-sense RNA viruses utilize N6-methyladenosine (m6A) as a common strategy to evade host innate immunity”, J. Virol. 2021, 95, e01939-20.
  38. X.-L. Cui†, J. Nie†, J. Ku†, U. Dougherty, D. C. West-Szymanski, F. Collin, C. K. Ellison, L. Sieh, Y. Ning, Z. Deng, C. W. T. Zhao, A. Bergamaschi, J. Pekow, J. Wei, A. V. Beadell, Z. Zhang, G. Sharma, R. Talwar, P. Arensdorf, J. Karpus, A. Goel, M. Bissonnette, W. Zhang, S. Levy, C. He*, “A human tissue map of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine exhibits tissue specificity through gene and enhancer modulation”, Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 6161-6171.
  39. Y. Huang†, R. Su†, Y. Sheng†, L. Dong†, Z. Dong†, H. Xu, T. Ni, Z. S. Zhang, T. Zhang, C. Li, L. Han, Z. Zhu, F. Lian, J. Wei, Q. Deng, Y. Wang, M. Wunderlich, Z. Gao, G. Pan, D. Zhong, H. Zhou, N. Zhang, J. Gan, H. Jiang, J. C Mulloy, Z. Qian*, J. Chen*, C.-G. Yang*, “Small-molecule targeting of oncogenic FTO demethylase in acute myeloid leukemia”, Cancer Cell 2019, 35, 677-691. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  40. J. X. Cheng*, L. Chen, Y. Li, A. Cloe, M. Yue, J. Wei, K. A. Watanabe, J. M. Shammo, J. Anastasi, Q. J. Shen, R. A. Larson, C. He, M. M. Le Beau, J. W. Vardiman, “RNA cytosine methylation and methyltransferases mediate chromatin organization and 5-azacytidine response and resistance in leukaemia”, Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 1163-1178.
  41. F. Liu, W. Clark, G. Luo, X. Wang, Y. Fu, J. Wei, X. Wang, Z. Hao, Q. Dai, G. Zheng, H. Ma, D. Han, M. Evans, A. Klungland, T. Pan*, C. He*, “ALKBH1-mediated tRNA demethylation regulates translation”, Cell 2016, 167, 816-828. [ESI Highly Cited Paper]
  42. Y.-F. Zhang, H.-W. Zhao, H. Wang, J. Wei, Z.-J. Shi*, “Readily removable directing group assisted chemo- and regioselective C(sp3)–H activation by palladium catalysis”, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 2015, 54, 13686-13690.
  43. B. Su, J. Wei, W.-L. Wu, Z.-J. Shi*, “Diversity-oriented synthesis through Rh-catalyzed selective transformations of a novel multirole directing group”, ChemCatChem 2015, 7, 2986-2990.
  44. Z.-C. Cao, D.-G. Yu, R. Zhu, J. Wei, Z.-J. Shi*, “Direct cross-coupling of benzyl alcohols to construct diarylmethanes via palladium catalysis”, Chem. Comm.2015, 51, 2683-2686.
  45. X.-W. Liu, J.-L. Shi, J. Wei, C. Yang, J.-X. Yan, K. Peng, L. Dai, C.-G. Li, B.-Q. Wang*, Z.-J. Shi*, “Diversified syntheses of multifunctionalized thiazole derivatives via regioselective and programmed C–H activation”, Chem. Comm.2015, 51, 4599-4602.
  46. X.-W. Liu, J.-L. Shi, J.-X. Yan, J. Wei, K. Peng, L. Dai, C.-G. Li, B.-Q. Wang, Z.-J. Shi*, “Regioselective arylation of thiazole derivatives at 5-Position via Pd catalysis under ligand-free conditions”, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 5774-5777.
  47. F. Zhao, Y.-F. Zhang, J. Wen, D.-G. Yu, J. Wei, Z. Xi*, Z.-J. Shi*, “Programmed selective sp2 C–O bond activation toward multiarylated benzenes”, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 3230-3233.
  48. R. Zhu, J. Wei, Z.-J. Shi*, “Benzofuran synthesis via copper-mediated oxidative annulation of phenols and unactivated internal alkynes”, Chem. Sci. 2013, 4, 3706-3711.
  49. L.-S. Zhang, K. Chen, G. Chen, B.-J. Li, S. Luo, Q.-Y. Guo, J. Wei, Z.-J. Shi*, “Palladium-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of aromatic C–H bond directed by an acetamino group”, Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 10-13.