Lei Li, PhD, Associate Professor
Email: lei.li@seu.edu.cn
Address: Room 202, Building B, Huichuan Building, School of Life Science and Technology, Jiangbei Campus, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210096, China
Biography：
· Dec 2025 – Present: Associate Researcher, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Southeast University
· Sep 2024 – Nov 2025: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong
· Jul 2015 – Jul 2024: Postdoctoral Fellow, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland
· Sep 2009 – Mar 2015: Ph.D. in Biophysics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
· Sep 2005 – Jun 2009: B.S. in Bioinformatics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Research Interests and Goals:
Our laboratory is dedicated to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission, aiming to reveal the underlying principles of efficient and precise neural signal transmission between neurons, as well as their pathogenic mechanisms in neurological disorders. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as the primary model organism, our group comprehensively employs molecular genetics, electrophysiological recordings, and high-resolution imaging techniques to systematically analyze presynaptic vesicle release, Ca²⁺ channel regulation, postsynaptic receptor localization, and membrane trafficking mechanisms.
Previously, our group has made a series of innovative discoveries centered on key molecules such as UNC-13, Synaptotagmin, and CASK/FARP, deepening the understanding of synaptic plasticity and membrane trafficking regulation. These research findings have been published as 13 first or co-first author papers in prestigious international journals, including eLife (2025, 2019), Structure (2023), PLOS Genetics (2022), Journal of Cell Biology (2021), Cell Reports (2021, 2019, 2018), The Journal of Neuroscience (2018), and PNAS (2014).
In the future, our laboratory will continue to delve into synaptic functions and the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, focusing on the following four research directions:
1. Presynaptic Vesicle Release and Kinetics Regulation: Elucidating the precise regulatory mechanisms of core synaptic proteins and calcium sensors on spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release.
2. Postsynaptic Receptor Localization and Membrane Trafficking: Revealing the core functions of scaffold proteins in regulating transmembrane receptor trafficking, dynamic distribution networks, and synaptic plasticity.
3. Excitation/Inhibition (E/I) Balance in the Nervous System: Investigating the differential regulatory mechanisms of synaptic proteins in excitatory and inhibitory synapses to clarify the molecular roots of E/I imbalance.
4. Disease Pathogenesis and Drug Screening: Utilizing animal models of autism and neurodegenerative diseases to analyze the synaptic impairment mechanisms of pathogenic genes; and conducting drug screening to discover potential clinical therapeutic compounds that can improve synaptic function and delay neuronal aging.
Publications：
1. H. Liu*, L. Li*, J. Wang, J. Hu, J. Xia, X. Yu, J. Tang, H. Liu, X. Yang, C. Ma, L. Kang, Z. Hu, Mechanisms that regulate the C1-C2B mutual inhibition control functional switch of UNC-13. eLife14, RP105199 (2025).
2. L. Zhang*, L. Li*, Z. Wei, H*. Zhou, H. Liu, S. Wang, Y. Ren, T. Dai, J. Wang, Z. Hu, C. Ma, The C2 and PH domains of CAPS constitute an effective PI(4,5)P2-binding unit essential for Ca2+-regulated exocytosis. Structure31, 424-434.e6 (2023).
3. W.-X. Zeng, H. Liu, Y. Hao, K.-Y. Qian, F.-M. Tian, L. Li, B. Yu, X.-T. Zeng, S. Gao, Z. Hu, X.-J. Tong, CaMKII mediates sexually dimorphic synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in C. elegans. J. Cell Biol.222, e202301117 (2023).
4. Y. Hao, H. Liu, X.-T. Zeng, Y. Wang, W.-X. Zeng, K.-Y. Qian, L. Li, M.-X. Chi, S. Gao, Z. Hu, X.-J. Tong, UNC-43/CaMKII-triggered anterograde signals recruit GABAARs to mediate inhibitory synaptic transmission and plasticity at C. elegans NMJs. Nat. Commun.14, 1436 (2023).
5. L. Li*, H. Liu*, K.-Y. Qian*, S. Nurrish*, X.-T. Zeng, W.-X. Zeng, J. Wang, J. M. Kaplan, X.-J. Tong, Z. Hu, CASK and FARP localize two classes of post-synaptic ACh receptors thereby promoting cholinergic transmission. PLoS Genet.18, e1010211 (2022).
6. K.-Y. Qian, W.-X. Zeng, Y. Hao, X.-T. Zeng, H. Liu, L. Li, L. Chen, F.-M. Tian, C. Chang, Q. Hall, C.-X. Song, S. Gao, Z. Hu, J. M. Kaplan, Q. Li, X.-J. Tong, Male pheromones modulate synaptic transmission at the C. elegans neuromuscular junction in a sexually dimorphic manner. eLife10, e67170 (2021).
7. M. Padmanarayana, H. Liu, F. Michelassi, L. Li, D. Betensky, M. J. Dominguez, R. B. Sutton, Z. Hu, J. S. Dittman, A unique C2 domain at the C terminus of Munc13 promotes synaptic vesicle priming. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.118, e2016276118 (2021).
8. H. Liu*, L. Li*, S. Sheoran, Y. Yu, J. E. Richmond, J. Xia, J. Tang, J. Liu, Z. Hu, The M domain in UNC-13 regulates the probability of neurotransmitter release. Cell Rep.34, 108828 (2021).
9. H. Liu*, L. Li*, M. Krout*, S. Sheoran, Q. Zhao, J. Chen, H. Liu, J. E. Richmond, Z. Hu, Protocols for electrophysiological recordings and electron microscopy at C. elegans neuromuscular junction. STAR Protoc.2, 100749 (2021).
10. L. Li*, H. Liu*, M. Krout, J. E. Richmond, Y. Wang, J. Bai, S. Weeratunga, B. M. Collins, D. Ventimiglia, Y. Yu, J. Xia, J. Tang, J. Liu, Z. Hu, A novel dual Ca2+ sensor system regulates Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. J. Cell Biol.220, e202008121 (2021).
11. G. Snieckute, O. Baltaci, H. Liu, L. Li, Z. Hu, R. Pocock, mir-234 controls neuropeptide release at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction. Mol. Cell. Neurosci.98, 70–81 (2019).
12. H. Liu*, L. Li*, D. Nedelcu, Q. Hall, L. Zhou, W. Wang, Y. Yu, J. M. Kaplan, Z. Hu, Heterodimerization of UNC-13/RIM regulates synaptic vesicle release probability but not priming in C. elegans. eLife8, e40585 (2019).
13. L. Li*, H. Liu*, Q. Hall, W. Wang, Y. Yu, J. M. Kaplan, Z. Hu, A Hyperactive Form of unc-13 Enhances Ca2+ Sensitivity and Synaptic Vesicle Release Probability in C. elegans. Cell Rep.28, 2979-2995.e4 (2019).
14. V. Tikiyani, L. Li, P. Sharma, H. Liu, Z. Hu, K. Babu, Wnt Secretion Is Regulated by the Tetraspan Protein HIC-1 through Its Interaction with Neurabin/NAB-1. Cell Rep.25, 1856-1871.e6 (2018).
15. P. Sharma*, L. Li*, H. Liu, V. Tikiyani, Z. Hu, K. Babu, The Claudin-like Protein HPO-30 Is Required to Maintain LAChRs at the C. elegans Neuromuscular Junction. J. Neurosci. Off. J. Soc. Neurosci.38, 7072–7087 (2018).
16. H. Liu*, L. Li*, W. Wang, J. Gong, X. Yang, Z. Hu, Spontaneous Vesicle Fusion Is Differentially Regulated at Cholinergic and GABAergic Synapses. Cell Rep.22, 2334–2345 (2018).
17. L. Li*, H. Liu*, W. Wang, M. Chandra, B. M. Collins, Z. Hu, SNT-1 Functions as the Ca2+ Sensor for Tonic and Evoked Neurotransmitter Release in Caenorhabditis Elegans. J. Neurosci. Off. J. Soc. Neurosci.38, 5313–5324 (2018).
18. X.-J. Tong, E. J. López-Soto, L. Li, H. Liu, D. Nedelcu, D. Lipscombe, Z. Hu, J. M. Kaplan, Retrograde Synaptic Inhibition Is Mediated by α-Neurexin Binding to the α2δ Subunits of N-Type Calcium Channels. Neuron95, 326-340.e5 (2017).
19. L. Li, T. Wan, M. Wan, B. Liu, R. Cheng, R. Zhang, The effect of the size of fluorescent dextran on its endocytic pathway. Cell Biol. Int.39, 531–539 (2015).
20. S. Chen*, L. Li*, J. Li*, B. Liu, X. Zhu, L. Zheng, R. Zhang, T. Xu, SEC-10 and RAB-10 coordinate basolateral recycling of clathrin-independent cargo through endosomal tubules in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.111, 15432–15437 (2014).
* Contributed equally.