Su, Xiong

1998  B.S., Peking University

2004 Ph.D., Washington University in St Louis 

2004-2007Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University 

2007-2010Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, Washington University

2010-2012Assistant Professor of Medicine & of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University

2012-Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Soochow University

2013-Head of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Soochow University Medical College

2017-Vice Dean, Director of Graduate Education, Soochow University Medical College

The research in my lab aims to understand molecular mechanisms mediating the regulation of insulin signaling and lipid metabolism and then to translate this work to in vivo settings, including translational studies in human subjects. They use mass spectrometry in combination with chromatography techniques to identify and quantify molecular species of different lipid classes in a variety of biological systems. Our current research activities are focused on the understanding of fatty acid metabolism in particular  oxidation in metabolic diseases using molecular and mass spectrometry techniques and cellular as well as animal models. Based on my recent findings,  oxidation in adipocytes plays an important role in regulating fat accumulation and adiposity.

Major role of adipocyte prostaglandin E2 in lipolysis-induced macrophage recruitment.

Hu X, Cifarelli V, Sun S, Kuda O, Abumrad NA, Su X.

Journal of lipid research. 2016; 57(4):663-73.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 26912395 PMCID: PMC4808775

The cytochrome b5 reductase HPO-19 is required for biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Zhang Y, Wang H, Zhang J, Hu Y, Zhang L, Wu X, Su X, Li T, Zou X, Liang B.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. 2016; 1861(4):310-9.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 26806391

Regulation of AMPK activation by CD36 links fatty acid uptake to β-oxidation.

Samovski D, Sun J, Pietka T, Gross RW, Eckel RH, Su X, Stahl PD, Abumrad NA.

Diabetes. 2015; 64(2):353-9.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 25157091 PMCID: PMC4303974

Adipose tissue monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids and insulin sensitivity: Effects of obesity and weight loss.

Su X, Magkos F, Zhou D, Eagon JC, Fabbrini E, Okunade AL, Klein S.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2015; 23(2):329-34. NIHMSID: NIHMS629758

PubMed [journal]PMID: 25328153 PMCID: PMC4310778

The brown fat-enriched secreted factor Nrg4 preserves metabolic homeostasis through attenuation of hepatic lipogenesis.

Wang GX, Zhao XY, Meng ZX, Kern M, Dietrich A, Chen Z, Cozacov Z, Zhou D, Okunade AL, Su X, Li S, Blüher M, Lin JD.

Nature medicine. 2014; 20(12):1436-1443. NIHMSID: NIHMS627795

PubMed [journal]PMID: 25401691 PMCID: PMC4257907

Abrogating monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activity in liver improves glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin signaling in obese mice.

Hall AM, Soufi N, Chambers KT, Chen Z, Schweitzer GG, McCommis KS, Erion DM, Graham MJ, Su X, Finck BN.

Diabetes. 2014; 63(7):2284-96.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 24595352 PMCID: PMC4066334

Phase-controlled synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals: the role of reactivity between Zn and S.

Zou Y, Su X, Jiang J.

Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2013; 135(49):18377-84.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 24283701

Deficiency of liver Comparative Gene Identification-58 causes steatohepatitis and fibrosis in mice.

Guo F, Ma Y, Kadegowda AK, Betters JL, Xie P, Liu G, Liu X, Miao H, Ou J, Su X, Zheng Z, Xue B, Shi H, Yu L.

Journal of lipid research. 2013; 54(8):2109-20.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 23733885 PMCID: PMC3708361

Ubiquitination and degradation of the hominoid-specific oncoprotein TBC1D3 is regulated by protein palmitoylation.

Kong C, Lange JJ, Samovski D, Su X, Liu J, Sundaresan S, Stahl PD.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2013; 434(2):388-93. NIHMSID: NIHMS465751

PubMed [journal]PMID: 23578663 PMCID: PMC3646999

Mice with an adipocyte-specific lipin 1 separation-of-function allele reveal unexpected roles for phosphatidic acid in metabolic regulation.

Mitra MS, Chen Z, Ren H, Harris TE, Chambers KT, Hall AM, Nadra K, Klein S, Chrast R, Su X, Morris AJ, Finck BN.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2013; 110(2):642-7.

PubMed [journal]PMID: 23267081 PMCID: PMC3545773

Get morel at :

31570806, Su (PI)01/01/2016-12/31/2019

Natural Science Foundation of China

“Biosynthesis and metabolic functions of adipocyte monomethyl branched chain fatty acids (mmBCFAs)”

The goal of this grant is to examine metabolic regulation of mmBCFA synthesis in adipocytes and its contribution to obesity-associated insulin resistance.

BK20150006, Su (PI)07/01/2015-06/30/2018 

Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China

Outstanding Young Scientist Program 

“Chemical modification of fatty acids in adipocytes and its influence on lipid metabolism” 

This study is to explore the chemical modification of fatty acids in adipocytes and its roles in regulation adipogenesis and cellular lipid metabolism.

31371437, Su (PI)01/01/2014-12/31/2017 

Natural Science Foundation of China 

“Metabolic functions of adipocyte-derived exosomes” 

The overall goal of the proposed study is to explore the regulation of exosome secretion from adipocytes and its impact on adipose tissue inflamation and whole body insulin sensitivity.

US-China collaborative grant:

31620103906, Su (PI), Klein (US investigator)01/01/2017-12/31/2021 

Natural Science Foundation of China 

“Regulation of inflammatory response and endocrine functions of adipose tissues by peroxisomal fatty acid processing” 

The overall goal of the proposed study is to explore the regulation of adipose tissue inflammation and endocrine functions as related to metabloic diseases and dysfunctional peroxisomal pathways of fatty acid metabolism.