CIMR-Pengfei Guo

Research Group

Pengfei Guo

guopengfei(at)cimrbj.ac.cn

Assistant Investigator

guopengfei(at)cimrbj.ac.cn

B.S. in Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, China

Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Peking University & National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

Work Experience

2025

Assistant Investigator, Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing, China

2024-2025

Associate Research Professor, Westlake University School of Life Sciences, China

2016-2023

Senior Research Scientist, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA

2012-2016

Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

2011-2012

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

Research Direction

The Pengfei Guo laboratory at CIMR works on uncovering the molecular and genetic mechanisms that regulate tissue growth and organ size control, as well as understanding how dysregulation of these processes contributes to human diseases. By utilizing various model systems and integrating cutting-edge techniques in genetics, cell biology, and bioinformatic, we aim to elucidate fundamental biological principles and identify novel pathways involved in disease pathogenesis. Ultimately, our goal is to leverage these discoveries to develop innovative diagnostic tools and effective treatment strategies for diseases, including cancer and developmental disorders.

Major Research Projects

1. Conducting genome-wide screening in Drosophila and mouse models to identify key genes that regulate tissue growth and organ size. These studies aim to uncover the genetic networks and pathways underlying organ development and regeneration.

2. Investigating the role of tissue mechanics in regulating tissue growth and how physical forces and mechanical properties influence cellular behavior. Additionally, we explore how the tumor microenvironment’s physical properties affect tumor growth and immune response.

3. Investigating the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in normal developmental processes and how its disruption contributes to congenital developmental diseases, with a particular focus on neurodevelopmental disorders.

Major Contributions

1. Discovered the biomolecular condensation of major Hippo pathway regulators. Revealed their physiological functions in tissue growth and regulatory mechanisms (Science, 2024; Cell, 2022).

2. Identified novel transcriptional regulators of the Yorkie-Sd complex in the Hippo pathway. Advanced the understanding of transcriptional regulation within the Hippo signaling pathway and its role in cell competition (eLife, 2019; eLife, 2014).

3. Elucidated molecular pathways involved in phagocytic degradation of cell corpses in C. elegans. (J Cell Biol, 2017; Nat Cell Biol, 2010; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2010; Development, 2008).

Representative Publications *：Co-first author; #：Co-corresponding author

Guo P, Li B, Dong W, Zhou H, Wang L, Su T, Carl C, Zheng Y, Hong Y, Deng H^# and Pan D^#. PI4P-mediated solid-like Merlin condensates orchestrate Hippo pathway regulation. Science, 2024, 385: eadf4478. DOI: 10.1126/science.adf4478

Wang L, Choi K, Su T, Li B, Wu X, Zhang R, Driskill JH, Li H, Lei H, Guo P, Chen EH, Zheng Y^# and Pan D^#. Multiphase coalescence mediates Hippo pathway activation. Cell, 2022, 185: 4376-4393.e18. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.036

Guo P, Lee CH, Lei H, Zheng Y, Pulgar Prieto KD and Pan D. Nerfin-1 represses transcriptional output of Hippo signaling in cell competition. Elife, 2019, 8: e38843. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.38843

Yin J^*, Huang Y^*, Guo P, Hu S, Yoshina S, Xuan N, Gan Q, Mitani S, Yang C and Wang X. GOP-1 promotes apoptotic cell degradation by activating the small GTPase Rab2 in C. elegans. Journal of Cell Biology, 2017, 216: 1775-1794. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201610001

Qing Y, Yin F, Wang W, Zheng Y, Guo P, Schozer F, Deng H and Pan D. The Hippo effector Yorkie activates transcription by interacting with a histone methyltransferase complex through Ncoa6. Elife, 2014, 3: e02564. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.02564

Wang X, Li W, Zhao D, Liu B, Shi Y, Chen B, Yang H, Guo P, Geng X, Shang Z, Peden E, Kage-Nakadai E, Mitani S and Xue D. Caenorhabditis elegans transthyretin-like protein TTR-52 mediates recognition of apoptotic cells by the CED-1 phagocyte receptor. Nature Cell Biology, 2010, 12: 655-664. DOI: 10.1038/ncb2068

Guo P and Wang X. Rab GTPases act in sequential steps to regulate phagolysosome formation. Small GTPases, 2010, 1: 170-173. DOI: 10.4161/sgtp.1.3.14511

Guo P^*, Hu T^*, Zhang J, Jiang S and Wang X. Sequential action of Caenorhabditis elegans Rab GTPases regulates phagolysosome formation during apoptotic cell degradation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010, 107: 18016-18021. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1008946107

Lu Q, Zhang Y, Hu T, Guo P, Li W and Wang X. C. elegans Rab GTPase 2 is required for the degradation of apoptotic cells. Development, 2008, 135: 1069-1080. DOI: 10.1242/dev.016063