Dr. Yifan Liu, from University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Pathology, paid a visit to Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB) for scientific communication and international cooperation on Tetrahymena Thermophila epigenomics research in July. 

On July 22^th, Dr. Liu gave an oral presentation to the researchers and students at the institute with the title of "Epigenetics Research of a Model Ciliate". In his presentation, Dr. Liu started with a general introduction of the model ciliate, T. thermophila, and its advantages in epigenetics research. Then he focused on the presentation of some important findings achieved by his own lab or his collaborators concerning the epigenetic regulations mediated by histone H3 lysine methylation. Firstly, he elucidated that the conjugation (sexual reproduction progress of T. thermophila) specific small RNA could recruit histone methyltransferase EZL1 (Enhancer of Zeste-Like 1) indirectly, and lead to heterochromatin formation and further deletion of certain DNA fragments in chromosome. Secondly, he showed the audience the indispensable role of histone H3K27 mono-methylation in DNA replication fork progression, and speculated that the methyltransferase of H3K2T mono-methylation may recruited into the replication fork region by PCNA. In a word, Dr. Liu gave us a systematic view of epigenetic regulation mediated by small RNA and histone post-translational modification in this informative presentation. After the presentation, he had extensive discussions with the attendees.  

During his stay at IHB, Dr. Liu visited the Research Group of Protozoa Functional Genomics. Together with the researchers and students in this research group, he reviewed the important scientific findings achieved through the intensive cooperation over the past years, and discussed the future cooperation research plan with the principle investigator and researchers in this group.