Xianyang Fang Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Main Research Fields

Our research focuses on RNA integrative structural biology. We are interested in the development of position-selective labeling strategies for large RNAs, both in vitro and in vivo, and integrative protocols for structure determination of large RNAs and RNA-protein complexes by combining techniques including small angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, single molecule FRET, single-molecule nanopore sensing as well as computational modeling. By using the labeling strategies and integrative protocols developed in the lab, we are interested in the study of structure, conformational dynamics, interactions and function of RNAs involved in important human diseases and key biological processes, such as functional RNA elements from flaviviruses, HIV-1 and coronaviruses, translational regulation by riboswitches from pathogenic bacterias and post-transcriptional regulation by messenger RNAs in neurodegenerative diseases.

Selected Publications

1. Burkhard Endeward^#, Yanping Hu^#, Guangcan Bai, Guoquan Liu, Thomas F. Prisner^*, Xianyang Fang^*. Long-range distance determination in fully deuterated RNA with pulsed EPR spectroscopy. Biophysical Journal 2022，121(1):37-43.

2. Xiaolin Niu^#, Ruirui Sun^#, Zhifeng Chen, Yirong Yao, Xiaobing Zuo, Chunlai Chen^*, Xianyang Fang^*. Pseudoknot length modulates the folding, conformational dynamics and robustness of Xrn1 resistance of flaviviral xrRNAs. Nature Communications 2021, 12(1): 6417.

3. Junfeng Ma, Xiang Cheng, Zhonghe Xu, Yikan Zhang, Jaione Valle, Shilong Fan, Xiaobing Zuo, Iñigo Lasa, Xianyang Fang^*. Structural mechanism for modulation of functional amyloid and biofilm formation by Staphylococcal Bap protein switch. The EMBO Journal 2021, 40(14): e107500. (Research Highlight on Nature Chemical Biology 2021, 17: 839)

4. Xiaolin Niu^#, Qiuhan Liu^#, Zhonghe Xu^#, Zhifeng Chen, Linghui Xu, Lilei Xu, Jinghong Li^*, Xianyang Fang^*. Molecular mechanisms underlying the mechanical anisotropy of flaviviral exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs (xrRNAs). Nature Communications 2020, 11(1): 5496 (News and Views on Nature Chemical Biology 2021, 17: 933-934)

5. Yan Wang, Venkatesan Kathiresan, Yaoyi Chen, Yanping Hu, Wei Jiang, Guangcan Bai, Guoquan Liu, Peter Z. Qin^*, Xianyang Fang.^* Posttranscriptional site-directed spin labeling of large RNAs with an unnatural base pair system under non-denaturing conditions. Chemcial Science 2020, 11: 9655-9664.

6. Yan Wang, Yaoyi Chen, Yanping Hu, Xianyang Fang. Site-specific covalent labeling of large RNAs with nanoparticles empowered by expanded genetic alphabet transcription. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2020, 117(37): 22823-22832.

7. Yupeng Zhang^#, Yikan Zhang^#, Zhong-Yu Liu^#，Meng-Li Cheng^#, Junfeng Ma, Yan Wang, Cheng-Feng Qin^*, Xianyang Fang^*. Long non-coding subgenomic flavivirus RNAs have extended 3D structures and are flexible in solution. EMBO Reports 2019, 20(11): e47016.

8. Xianyang Fang^*, Malgorzata Michnicka, Yikan Zhang, Yun-Xing Wang, Edward P. Nikonowicz^*. Capture and Release of tRNA by the T-Loop Receptor in the Function of the T-Box Riboswitch. Biochemistry 2017, 56(28): 3549-3558.

9. Xianyang Fang, Jason R. Stagno,Yuba Bh.andari,Xiaobing Zuo,Yun-Xing Wang. Small-angle X-ray scattering: a bridge between RNA secondary structures and three-dimensional topological structures. Current Opinion in Structural Biology 2015, 30: 147-160.

10. Xianyang Fang^# , Jinbu Wang^#, Ina P. O’Carroll^#, Michelle Mitchell, Xiaobing Zuo, Yi Wang, Ping Yu, Yu Liu, Jason W. Rausch, Marzena A. Dyba, Jørgen Kjems, Charles D. Schwieters, Soenke Seifert, Randall E. Winans, Norman R. Watts, Stephen J. Stahl, Paul T. Wingfield, R. Andrew Byrd, Stuart F. J. Le Grice, Alan Rein^*,Yun-Xing Wang^*. An unusual topological structure of the HIV-1 rev response element, Cell  2013, 155(3): 594-605.
( ^#co-first author，^*corresponding author)^#