T cells play essential roles in immune response. We are studying T cells with two directions:

1. Functional genomics in primary T cells

We are applying genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen in primary T cell in vivo to answer fundamental questions in T cell biology, including development, activation, proliferation and differentiation, as well as T cell fitness (e.g. exhaustion) in tumor microenvironment. Identified novel genes and regulatory circuits have been used to design novel therapies for diseases.

2. Mechanisms of metabolic regulation of T cells

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of T cell activation, but how metabolic pathways regulate T cell function remains poorly understood. We are using mouse models with gain- and loss-of-function of key metabolic enzymes to decipher metabolic regulation T cell, and try to target metabolism to treat immune-related diseases.

2019 Outstanding Young Scholar Award, Qiu-Shi Science & Technologies Foundation

2018 Bayer Scholar

2015 Postdoctoral Researcher Award, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Selected Publications

1. Gang Jin*, Yanyan Liu*, Lixia Wang, Zihao He, Xiaocui Zhao, Yuying Ma, Yuting Jia, Zhuoyang Li, Na Yin, Min Peng. A single infusion of engineered long-lived and multifunctional T cells confers durable remission of asthma in mice. Nat Immunol. 2024. Accepted.

2. Lixia Wang*, Gang Jin*,Qiuping Zhou*, Yanyan Liu, Xiaocui Zhao, Zhuoyang Li, Na Yin, Min Peng. Induction of immortal-like and functional CAR T cells by defined factors. J Exp Med. 2024. In press

3. Ying Liu*, Yuying Ma*, Jing Xu*, Guangyue Zhang*, Xiaocui Zhao*, Zihao He, Lixia Wang, Na Yin, Min Peng. VMP1 prevents Ca²⁺ overload in endoplasmic reticulum and maintains naive T cell survival. J Exp Med. 2023 Jun 5;220(6):e20221068.

4. Min Peng, Ming O. Li. Metabolism along the life journey of T cells. Life Metabolism. 2023, 002(001)

5. Na Yin*, Gang Jin*, Yuying Ma, Hanfei Zhao, Guangyue Zhang, Ming O. Li, Min Peng. SZT2 maintains hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis via nutrient-mediated mTORC1 regulation. J Clin Invest., 2022 Oct 17, 130(20):e146272.

6. Hanfei Zhao, Ying Liu, Lixia Wang, Gang Jin, Xiaocui Zhao, Jing Xu, Guangyue Zhang, Yuying Ma, Na Yin, Min Peng. Genome-wide fitness gene identification reveals Roquin as a potent suppressor of CD8 T cell expansion and anti-tumor immunity. Cell Reports. 2021 Dec 7;37(10):110083.

7. Ke Xu*, Na Yin*, Min Peng, Efstathios G Stamatiades, Sagar Chhangawala, Amy Shyu, Peng Li, Xian Zhang, Mytrang H Do, Kristelle J Capistrano, Chun Chou, Christina S Leslie, Ming O Li. Glycolytic ATP fuels phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling to support effector T helper 17 cell responses. Immunity. 2021. 54(5):976-87.

8. Ke Xu, Na Yin, Min Peng, Efstathios G Stamatiades, Amy Shyu, Peng Li, Xian Zhang, Mytrang H Do, Zhaoquan Wang, Kristelle J Capistrano, Chun Chou, Andrew G Levine, Alexander Y Rudensky, Ming O Li. Glycolysis fuels phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling to bolster T cell immunity. Science. 2021. Jan 22;371(6527):405-10.

9. Mytrang H. Do, Xinxin Wang, Xian Zhang, Chun Chou, Briana G. Nixon, Kristelle J. Capistrano, Min Peng, Alejo Efeyan, David M. Sabatini, Ming O. Li. Nutrient mTORC1 signaling underpins regulatory T cell control of immune tolerance. J Exp Med. 2020 Jan 6;217(1):e20190848.

10. Min Peng, Na Yin, Ming O. Li. SZT2 dictates GATOR control of mTORC1 signaling. Nature. 2017 Mar 16;543(7645):433-437.

11. Min Peng*, Na Yin*, Sagar Chhangawala, Ke Xu, Christina S. Leslie, Ming O. Li. Aerobic glycolysis promotes T helper 1 cell differentiation through an epigenetic mechanism. Science, 2016 Oct 28; 354(6311): 481-484.

12. Jiangbin Ye, Wilhelm Palm, Min Peng, Bryan King, Tullia Lindsten, Ming O. Li, Constantinos Koumenis, Craig B. Thompson. GCN2 sustains mTORC1 suppression upon amino acid deprivation by inducing Sestrin2. Genes Dev. 2015 Nov 15; 29 (22): 2331-6.

13. Min Peng, Na Yin, Ming O. Li. Sestrins Function as Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors for Rag GTPases to Control mTORC1 Signaling. Cell. 2014 Sep 25; 159(1): 122-33.

14. Weiming Ouyang, Will Liao, Chong T. Luo, Na Yin, Morgan Huse, Myoungjoo V. Kim, Min Peng, Pamela Chan, Qian Ma, Yifan Mo, Dies Meijer, Keji Zhao, Alexander Y. Rudensky, Gurinder Atwal, Michael Q. Zhang, Ming O. Li. Novel Foxo1-dependent transcriptional programs control Treg cell function. Nature. 2012 Nov 22; 491(7425): 554-9

15. Min Peng,Sha Guo,Na Yin, Jing Xue, Lian Shen, Qing Zhao, Wei Zhang. Ectodomain shedding of Fcalpha receptor is mediated by ADAM10 and ADAM17. Immunology, 2010, 130(1): 83-91

16. Min Peng; Na Yin; Wei Zhang. Endocytosis of FcaR is clathrin and dynamin dependent but its cytoplasmic domain is not required. Cell Res, 2009, 20(2): 223-237