Education

BSc, Biological Sciences, Xiamen University (2004)

MSc, Cell Biology, Xiamen University (2008)

Ph. D., Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, USA. (2012)

Professional Experience

Postdoc Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, HHMI, 2013-2016;
Postdoc Fellow, UT Southwestern Medical Center, HHMI, 2016-2018;
Professor, Xiamen University, 2018 to Present.

Research Area

The highly conserved Hippo signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in organ size control, tumorigenesis, stem cell differentiation, tissue regeneration and innate immunity. Using the genetically tractable Drosophila (fruit fly) as a model organism, our research will focus on how Hippo signaling pathway is involved in animal development and innate immunity. Meanwhile, by coupling Drosophila genetic screens with cell biology and comparative genomics, we will identify conserved factors that engage in organ size control and innate immunity.

Selected Publications

1. Heming Cao#, Xiawei Huang#, Xiaobing Jiang#, Jingrong Deng, Jiahui Wang, Chengfang Wu, Minhuang Hu, Bei Zeng, Zhihao Hu, Huimin Pan, Yuxia Yang, Kewei Zheng, Rui Shen, Mingqing Zhang, Bo Liu*. The WNK-OXSR1 osmosensing pathway mediates intestinal regeneration via Hippo-YAP signaling. The EMBO Journal. 45 (2026).

2. Kewei Zheng#, Xiawei Huang#, Xiaojiang Yang, Jiahui Wang, Minhuang Hu, Chengfang Wu, Bo Liu*. Mask protein keeps NF-κB precursor inactive by inducing a closed conformation and isolating it in biomolecular condensates. Cell Reports. 44, 9 (2025).
3. Huang X#*, Wang J#, Liu Y, Pan H, Zheng K, Liu B*. The Hippo pathway kinase MST1 mediates a feedback loop to maintain NLRP3 inflammasome homeostasis. Cell Reports. 44, 8 (2025).
4. Yang Y#, Zhou H#, Huang X#, Wu C, Zheng K, Deng J, Zheng Y, Wang J, Chi X, Ma X, Pan H, Shen, R, Pan D, Liu B*. Innate immune and proinflammatory signals activate the Hippo pathway via a Tak1-STRIPAK-Tao axis. Nature Communications. 15, 145 (2024).
5. Shen R#, Zheng K#, Zhou Y, Chi X, Pan H, Wu C, Yang Y, Zheng Y, Pan D*, Liu B*. A dRASSF-STRIPAK-Imd-JAK/STAT axis controls antiviral immune response in Drosophila. Cell Reports. 40, 111143, 2022.
6. Zheng Y#, Liu B#, Wang L, Lei H, Pulgar Prieto KD, Pan D*. Homeostatic control of Hpo/MST kinase activity through autophosphorylation-dependent recruitment of the STRIPAK PP2A phosphatase complex. .Cell Reports. 2017, 21(12):3612-3623. (# co-first author)
7. Liu B, Zheng Y, Yin F, Yu J, Silverman N, Pan D*. Toll receptor-mediated Hippo signaling controls innate immunity in Drosophila. .Cell. 2016, 164(3): 406-419.
8. Zheng Y#*, Wang W#, Liu B, Deng H, Uster E, Pan D*. Identification of Happyhour/MAP4K as alternative Hpo/Mst-like kinases in the Hippo kinase cascade. .Developmental Cell. 2015, 34(6):642-55.
9. Liu B, Behura SK, Clem RJ, Schneemann A, Becnel J, Severson DW, Zhou L*. P53-mediated rapid induction of apoptosis conveys resistance to viral infection in Drosophila melanogaster. .Plos Pathogens. 2013, 9(2):e1003137.
10. Bo Liu, James Becnel, Yanping Zhang, Lei Zhou*. Induction of reaper Ortholog mx in Mosquito midgut cells following baculovirus infection. .Cell Death Differentiation. 2011, 18(8):1337-45.
11. Lin N, Li X, Cui K, Chepelev I, Tie F, Liu B, Li G, Harte P, Zhao K, Huang S, Zhou L*. A barrier-only boundary element delimits the formation of facultative heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster and vertebrates. .Mol Cell Biol. 2011, 31(13):2729-41.
12. Bo Liu, Jia-fa Wu, Yan-yan Zhan, Hang-zi Chen, Xiao-yan Zhang and Qiao Wu*. Regulation of the orphan receptor TR3 nuclear functions by c-Jun N terminal kinase phosphorylation. .Endocrinology. 2007, 148(1): 34-44.
13. Zhao BX, Chen HZ, Lei NZ, Li GD, Zhao WX, Zhan YY, Liu B, Lin SC, Wu Q. p53 mediates the negative regulation of MDM2 by orphan receptor TR3. .EMBO J. 2006, 25(24):5703-15.