Institute Affiliations

Professional Education

  • Master of Science, Peking University (2012)
  • Doctor of Science, Peking University (2019)
  • Bachelor of Science, Shandong University (2009)
  • Doctor of Science, Peking University, China, Integrated Life Sciences (Physics) (2019)
  • Master of Science, Peking University, China, Biomedical Engineering (2012)
  • Bachelor of Science, Shandong University, China, Biotechnology and Microbiology (2009)

Stanford Advisors

Contact

  • Academic
    yimiaoqu@stanford.edu
    University - Scholar Department: Stem Cell Operations Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5461

All Publications

  • Protocol for Titrating Gene Expression Levels in Budding Yeast STAR Protocols Qu, Y., Jiang, J., Yang, X., Tang, C. 2020; 1 (2): 100082

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100082

  • Cell Cycle Inhibitor Whi5 Records Environmental Information to Coordinate Growth and Division in Yeast CELL REPORTS Qu, Y., Jiang, J., Liu, X., Wei, P., Yang, X., Tang, C. 2019; 29 (4): 987-+

    Abstract

    Proliferating cells need to evaluate the environment to determine the optimal timing for cell cycle entry. However, how this is achieved is not well understood. Here, we show that, in budding yeast, the G1 inhibitor Whi5 is a key environmental indicator and plays a crucial role in coordinating cell growth and division. We found that, under a variety of nutrient and stress conditions, Whi5 amount in G1 is proportional to the cell's doubling time in the environment, which in turn influences the timing for the next cell cycle entry. In addition, the coordination between division and environment is further fine-tuned in G1 by environmentally dependent growth rate, G1 cyclin-Cdk1 contribution, and Whi5 threshold at the start. Our results show that the cell stores the past environmental information in Whi5, which works together with other mechanisms sensing the current environmental condition to achieve an adaptive cellular decision making process.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.030

    View details for Web of Science ID 000491881400016

    View details for PubMedID 31644918

  • Reliable cell cycle commitment in budding yeast is ensured by signal integration ELIFE Liu, X., Wang, X., Yang, X., Liu, S., Jiang, L., Qu, Y., Hu, L., Ouyang, Q., Tang, C. 2015; 4

    Abstract

    Cell fate decisions are critical for life, yet little is known about how their reliability is achieved when signals are noisy and fluctuating with time. In this study, we show that in budding yeast, the decision of cell cycle commitment (Start) is determined by the time integration of its triggering signal Cln3. We further identify the Start repressor, Whi5, as the integrator. The instantaneous kinase activity of Cln3-Cdk1 is recorded over time on the phosphorylated Whi5, and the decision is made only when phosphorylated Whi5 reaches a threshold. Cells adjust the threshold by modulating Whi5 concentration in different nutrient conditions to coordinate growth and division. Our work shows that the strategy of signal integration, which was previously found in decision-making behaviors of animals, is adopted at the cellular level to reduce noise and minimize uncertainty.

    View details for DOI 10.7554/eLife.03977

    View details for Web of Science ID 000347918100003

    View details for PubMedID 25590650

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4378612