个人简历

自1998至2002年间在德国埃森大学（现杜伊斯堡－埃森大学）攻读博士学位。其间从事非洲爪蛙的发育生物学研究。于2002年获得博士学位，并以优异成绩毕业（Graduated summa cum laude）。在2002至2008年间，在德国乌尔姆大学继续从事非洲爪蛙早期胚胎细胞分化的机理研究工作。自2008年起，加入南京大学模式动物研究所，从事早期胚胎细胞的分化机理研究。同时，依据发育生物学原理，研究肿瘤发生／发展和所遵循的普遍规律，提出了“肿瘤的发生／发展是一个细胞逐渐失去其原有特性并获得神经干/祖细胞特性的过程”这一全新概念，从前所未有的视角阐释肿瘤发生／发展的本质。
基金种类\t基金项目名称
国家自然科学基金　31271544　组蛋白去甲基化酶在非洲爪蛙胚层分化形成中的功能研究
国家自然科学基金　31261160492　XBP1调节脊索形成的分子机制研究

研究领域

以非洲爪蛙（Xenopus laevis）为模式动物研究早期胚胎细胞向不同胚层分化的分子调控机理；肿瘤细胞的分化和调控。""

近期论文

1. Xu L, Zhang M, Shi L, Yang X, Chen L, Cao N, Lei A, Cao Y. Neural stemness contributes to cell tumorigenicity. Cell Biosci. 2021 Jan 19;11(1):21.
2. Lei A, Chen L, Zhang M, Yang X, Xu L, Cao N, Zhang Z and Cao Y (2019). EZH2 Regulates Protein Stability via Recruiting USP7 to Mediate Neuronal Gene Expression in Cancer Cells. Front. Genet. 10:422.
3. Cao Y. (2017) Tumorigenesis as a process of gradual loss of original cell identity and gain of properties of neural precursor/progenitor cells. Cell Biosci (2017) 7:61.
4. Zhang Z, Lei AH, Xu LY, Chen L, Chen YL, Zhang XN, Gao Y, Yang XL, Zhang M, Cao Y (2017) Similarity in gene-regulatory networks suggests that cancer cells share characteristics of embryonic neural cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 292: 12842-12859
5. Gao Y, Cao Q, Lu L, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Dong X, Jia W, Cao Y*. Kruppel-like factor family genes are expressed during Xenopus embryogenesis and involved in germ layer formation and body axis patterning. Dev Dyn. 2015 Oct;244(10):1328-46. (*Correspondence).
6. Wang C, Kam RK, Shi W, Xia Y, Chen X, Cao Y, Sun J, Du Y, Lu G, Chen Z, Chan WY, Chan SO, Deng Y, Zhao H. The Proto-oncogene Transcription Factor Ets1 Regulates Neural Crest Development through Histone Deacetylase 1 to Mediate Output of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling. J Biol Chem. 2015 Sep 4;290(36):21925-38.
7. Zhang X, Gao Y, Lu L, Zhang Z, Gan S, Xu L, Lei A, Cao Y*. JmjC Domain-containing Protein 6 (Jmjd6) Derepresses the Transcriptional Repressor Transcription Factor 7-like 1 (Tcf7l1) and Is Required for Body Axis Patterning during Xenopus Embryogenesis. J Biol Chem. 2015 Aug 14;290(33):20273-83. (*Correspondence).
8. Lu L, Gao Y, Zhang Z, Cao Q, Zhang X, Zou J, Cao Y*. Kdm2a/b Lysine Demethylases Regulate Canonical Wnt Signaling by Modulating the Stability of Nuclear β-Catenin. Dev Cell. 2015 Jun 22;33(6):660-74. (*Correspondence).
9. Cao Y*. Germ layer formation during Xenopus embryogenesis: the balance between pluripotency and differentiation (Review). Sci China Life Sci. 2015 Apr;58(4):336-42. (*Correspondence).
10. Cao Y*. Regulation of germ layer formation by pluripotency factors during embryogenesis (Review). Cell Biosci. 2013 Mar 11;3(1):15. (*Correspondence).
11. Cao Q, Zhang X, Lu L, Yang L, Gao J, Gao Y, Ma H, Cao Y*. Klf4 is required for germ-layer differentiation and body axis patterning during Xenopus embryogenesis. Development. 2012 Nov; 139(21):3950-61. (*Correspondence).
12. Cao Y, Oswald F, Wacker SA, Bundschu K, Knöchel W. Reversal of Xenopus Oct25 function by disruption of the POU domain structure. J Biol Chem. 2010 Mar 12;285(11):8408-21.
13. Siegel D, Schuff M, Oswald F, Cao Y, Knöchel W. Functional dissection of XDppa2/4 structural domains in Xenopus development. Mech Dev. 2009 Dec;126(11-12):974-89.
14. Cao Y, Siegel D, Oswald F, Knöchel W. Oct25 represses transcription of nodal/activin target genes by interaction with signal transducers during Xenopus gastrulation. J Biol Chem. 2008 Dec 5;283(49):34168-77.
15. Yuan L, Cao Y, Oswald F, Knöchel W. IRE1beta is required for mesoderm formation in Xenopus embryos. Mech Dev. 2008 Mar-Apr;125(3-4):207-22.
16. Yuan L, Cao Y, Knöchel W. Endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by tunicamycin disables germ layer formation in Xenopus laevis embryos. Dev Dyn. 2007 Oct;236(10):2844-51.
17. Cao Y, Siegel D, Donow C, Knöchel S, Yuan L, Knöchel W. POU-V factors antagonize maternal VegT activity and beta-Catenin signaling in Xenopus embryos. EMBO J. 2007 Jun 20;26(12):2942-54.
18. Cao Y, Siegel D, Knöchel W. Xenopus POU factors of subclass V inhibit activin/nodal signaling during gastrulation. Mech Dev. 2006 Aug;123(8):614-25.
19. Oswald F, Winkler M, Cao Y, Astrahantseff K, Bourteele S, Knöchel W, Borggrefe T. RBP-Jkappa/SHARP recruits CtIP/CtBP corepressors to silence Notch target genes. Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Dec;25(23):10379-90.
20. Cao Y, Knöchel S, Oswald F, Donow C, Zhao H, Knöchel W. XBP1 forms a regulatory loop with BMP-4 and suppresses mesodermal and neural differentiation in Xenopus embryos. Mech Dev. 2006 Jan;123(1):84-96.
21. Cao Y, Knöchel S, Donow C, Miethe J, Kaufmann E, Knöchel W. The POU factor Oct-25 regulates the Xvent-2B gene and counteracts terminal differentiation in Xenopus embryos. J Biol Chem. 2004 Oct 15;279(42):43735-43.
22. Zhao H, Cao Y, Grunz H. Xenopus X-box binding protein 1, a leucine zipper transcription factor, is involved in the BMP signaling pathway. Dev Biol. 2003 May 15;257(2):278-91.
23. Cao Y, Zhao H, Grunz H. XETOR regulates the size of the proneural domain during primary neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Mech Dev. 2002 Nov;119(1):35-44.
24. Zhao H, Cao Y, Grunz H. Isolation and characterization of a Xenopus gene (XMLP) encoding a MARCKS-like protein. Int J Dev Biol. 2001 Oct;45(7):817-26.
25. Cao Y, Zhao H, Grunz H. XCL-2 is a novel m-type calpain and disrupts morphogenetic movements during embryogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Dev Growth Differ. 2001 Oct;43(5):563-71.
26. Zhao H, Cao Y, Grunz H. Expression of Xenopus L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (XAT) during early embryonic development. Dev Genes Evol. 2001 Jul;211(7):358-60.
27. Cao Y, Zhao H, Hollemann T, Chen Y, Grunz H. Tissue-specific expression of an Ornithine decarboxylase paralogue, XODC2, in Xenopus laevis. Mech Dev. 2001 Apr;102(1-2):243-