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D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Molecular Biology 96 608 544 333 295 285 35261

Xiaodong Cheng publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Xiaodong Cheng between 1988 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Xiaodong Cheng published across 38 years, from 1988 to 2025, averaging 12.1 papers a year. Output peaked at 33 publications in 2024. 65 of the 461 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1988 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 33. Peak 33 publications in 2024. 1988: 1 publication 1989: 0 publications 1990: 2 publications 1991: 1 publication 1992: 1 publication 1993: 3 publications 1994: 5 publications 1995: 7 publications 1996: 6 publications 1997: 7 publications 1998: 5 publications 1999: 10 publications 2000: 4 publications 2001: 7 publications 2002: 16 publications 2003: 10 publications 2004: 15 publications 2005: 17 publications 2006: 12 publications 2007: 17 publications 2008: 15 publications 2009: 19 publications 2010: 8 publications 2011: 19 publications 2012: 14 publications 2013: 10 publications 2014: 20 publications 2015: 13 publications 2016: 12 publications 2017: 9 publications 2018: 8 publications 2019: 17 publications 2020: 12 publications 2021: 13 publications 2022: 32 publications 2023: 29 publications 2024: 33 publications 2025: 32 publications
1988 2025

461 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Xiaodong Cheng: publications per year, 1988 to 2025
Year Publications
1988 1
1989 0
1990 2
1991 1
1992 1
1993 3
1994 5
1995 7
1996 6
1997 7
1998 5
1999 10
2000 4
2001 7
2002 16
2003 10
2004 15
2005 17
2006 12
2007 17
2008 15
2009 19
2010 8
2011 19
2012 14
2013 10
2014 20
2015 13
2016 12
2017 9
2018 8
2019 17
2020 12
2021 13
2022 32
2023 29
2024 33
2025 32
Total 461
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Xiaodong Cheng publication distribution in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Molecular Biology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Xiaodong Cheng sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
50 100 150
Bar chart with 53 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 47–56 to 564+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 177. Most scientists, 177, have 117–126 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 564 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 277–286 publications, is where this scientist sits. 47–56 publications: 7 scientists 57–66 publications: 17 scientists 67–76 publications: 65 scientists 77–86 publications: 90 scientists 87–96 publications: 125 scientists 97–106 publications: 131 scientists 107–116 publications: 162 scientists 117–126 publications: 177 scientists 127–136 publications: 158 scientists 137–146 publications: 158 scientists 147–156 publications: 146 scientists 157–166 publications: 159 scientists 167–176 publications: 131 scientists 177–186 publications: 110 scientists 187–196 publications: 112 scientists 197–206 publications: 100 scientists 207–216 publications: 89 scientists 217–226 publications: 98 scientists 227–236 publications: 74 scientists 237–246 publications: 72 scientists 247–256 publications: 63 scientists 257–266 publications: 53 scientists 267–276 publications: 54 scientists 277–286 publications: 49 scientists 287–296 publications: 52 scientists 297–306 publications: 43 scientists 307–316 publications: 46 scientists 317–326 publications: 41 scientists 327–336 publications: 42 scientists 337–346 publications: 31 scientists 347–356 publications: 28 scientists 357–366 publications: 29 scientists 367–376 publications: 26 scientists 377–386 publications: 24 scientists 387–396 publications: 24 scientists 397–406 publications: 14 scientists 407–416 publications: 13 scientists 417–426 publications: 20 scientists 427–436 publications: 12 scientists 437–446 publications: 20 scientists 447–456 publications: 11 scientists 457–466 publications: 10 scientists 467–476 publications: 14 scientists 477–486 publications: 14 scientists 487–496 publications: 10 scientists 497–506 publications: 13 scientists 507–516 publications: 13 scientists 517–526 publications: 2 scientists 527–536 publications: 4 scientists 537–546 publications: 6 scientists 547–556 publications: 8 scientists 557–563 publications: 6 scientists 564+ publications: 100 scientists
47–56 publications 564+

This scientist: 285 publications — 78th percentile

78% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 564 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Molecular Biology scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 3,076 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
47–56 7
57–66 17
67–76 65
77–86 90
87–96 125
97–106 131
107–116 162
117–126 177
127–136 158
137–146 158
147–156 146
157–166 159
167–176 131
177–186 110
187–196 112
197–206 100
207–216 89
217–226 98
227–236 74
237–246 72
247–256 63
257–266 53
267–276 54
277–286 49 285
287–296 52
297–306 43
307–316 46
317–326 41
327–336 42
337–346 31
347–356 28
357–366 29
367–376 26
377–386 24
387–396 24
397–406 14
407–416 13
417–426 20
427–436 12
437–446 20
447–456 11
457–466 10
467–476 14
477–486 14
487–496 10
497–506 13
507–516 13
517–526 2
527–536 4
537–546 6
547–556 8
557–563 6
564+ 100
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Xiaodong Cheng D-index placement in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Molecular Biology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Xiaodong Cheng sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
25 50 75 100 125
Bar chart with 54 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 40–41 to 145+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 131. Most scientists, 131, have 64–65 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 145 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 96–97 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 40–41 D-Index: 36 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 101 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 115 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 121 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 118 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 130 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 106 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 116 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 113 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 129 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 120 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 105 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 131 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 95 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 97 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 106 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 83 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 89 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 77 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 70 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 73 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 60 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 48 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 45 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 50 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 31 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 51 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 43 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 38 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 39 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 41 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 29 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 33 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 35 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 20 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 38 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 19 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 28 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 13 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 23 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 16 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 15 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 11 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 21 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 7 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 14 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 9 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 8 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 16 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 7 scientists 144 D-Index: 7 scientists 145+ D-Index: 100 scientists
40–41 D-Index 145+

This scientist: 96 D-Index — 80th percentile

80% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 145 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Molecular Biology scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 3,076 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
40–41 36
42–43 101
44–45 115
46–47 121
48–49 118
50–51 130
52–53 106
54–55 116
56–57 113
58–59 129
60–61 120
62–63 105
64–65 131
66–67 95
68–69 97
70–71 106
72–73 83
74–75 89
76–77 77
78–79 70
80–81 73
82–83 60
84–85 48
86–87 45
88–89 50
90–91 31
92–93 51
94–95 43
96–97 38 96
98–99 39
100–101 41
102–103 29
104–105 33
106–107 35
108–109 20
110–111 38
112–113 19
114–115 28
116–117 13
118–119 23
120–121 16
122–123 15
124–125 11
126–127 21
128–129 7
130–131 13
132–133 14
134–135 17
136–137 9
138–139 8
140–141 16
142–143 7
144 7
145+ 100
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2016 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2012 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Overview

Xiaodong Cheng is affiliated with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Medicine. Within these, key subfields include Molecular Biology, Genetics, Mechanics of Materials, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, and Ocean Engineering.

The scientist's research addresses topics such as Epigenetics and DNA Methylation, RNA modifications and cancer, Cancer-related gene regulation, Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics, Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis, Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis, and Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders.

Frequent publication venues for their work include:

  • arXiv (Cornell University)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Nucleic Acids Research
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Cell Reports

They have collaborated extensively with several co-authors, notably:

  • J.R. Horton (38 publications)
  • Robert Blumenthal (27 publications)
  • Jujun Zhou (22 publications)
  • Ren Ren (21 publications)
  • Xing Zhang (15 publications)

Recent papers by Xiaodong Cheng exemplify their research focus:

  • Discovery of a first-in-class reversible DNMT1-selective inhibitor with improved tolerability and efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia, 2021, Nature Cancer
  • The inactive Dnmt3b3 isoform preferentially enhances Dnmt3b-mediated DNA methylation, 2020, Genes & Development
  • MBD5 and MBD6 couple DNA methylation to gene silencing through the J-domain protein SILENZIO, 2021, Science
  • ZNF410 Uniquely Activates the NuRD Component CHD4 to Silence Fetal Hemoglobin Expression, 2020, Molecular Cell
  • Human MettL3-MettL14 RNA adenine methyltransferase complex is active on double-stranded DNA containing lesions, 2021, Nucleic Acids Research

Xiaodong Cheng has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) twice, in 2012 and 2016.

Best Publications

  • DNMT3L connects unmethylated lysine 4 of histone H3 to de novo methylation of DNA.

    Steen K.T. Ooi;Chen Qiu;Emily Bernstein;Keqin Li

  • Hhal methyltransferase flips its target base out of the DNA helix

    Saulius Klimasauskas;Sanjay Kumar;Richard J. Roberts;Xiaodong Cheng

  • Many paths to methyltransfer: a chronicle of convergence

    Heidi L. Schubert;Robert M. Blumenthal;Xiaodong Cheng

  • The SET-domain protein superfamily: Protein lysine methyltransferases

    Shane C Dillon;Xing Zhang;Raymond C Trievel;Xiaodong Cheng

  • Structure of Dnmt3a bound to Dnmt3L suggests a model for de novo DNA methylation

    Da Jia;Renata Z. Jurkowska;Xing Zhang;Albert Jeltsch

  • 5-hmC–mediated epigenetic dynamics during postnatal neurodevelopment and aging

    Keith E. Szulwach;Xuekun Li;Yujing Li;Chun Xiao Song

  • Structure-guided analysis reveals nine sequence motifs conserved among DNA amino-methyltransferases, and suggests a catalytic mechanism for these enzymes

    Thomas Malone;Robert M. Blumenthal;Robert M. Blumenthal;Xiaodong Cheng;Xiaodong Cheng

  • AdoMet-dependent methylation, DNA methyltransferases and base flipping

    Xiaodong Cheng;Richard J. Roberts

  • The DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferases

    Sanjay Kumar;Xiaodong Cheng;Saulius Klimasauskas;Sha Mi

  • Recognition and potential mechanisms for replication and erasure of cytosine hydroxymethylation.

    Hideharu Hashimoto;Yiwei Liu;Anup K. Upadhyay;Yanqi Chang

  • Mammalian DNA Methyltransferases: A Structural Perspective

    Xiaodong Cheng;Robert M. Blumenthal

  • Crystal-Structure of the Hhal DNA Methyltransferase Complexed with S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine

    Xiaodong Cheng;Sanjay Kumar;Janos Posfai;James W. Pflugrath

  • Recognition of unmethylated histone H3 lysine 4 links BHC80 to LSD1-mediated gene repression

    Fei Lan;Robert E. Collins;Rossella De Cegli;Rossella De Cegli;Roman Alpatov

  • Effector CD8 T cells dedifferentiate into long-lived memory cells

    Ben Youngblood;Ben Youngblood;J. Scott Hale;Haydn Thomas Kissick;Eunseon Ahn

  • Structure of the Predominant Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT1 and Analysis of Its Binding to Substrate Peptides

    Xing Zhang;Xiaodong Cheng

  • The SRA domain of UHRF1 flips 5-methylcytosine out of the DNA helix

    Hideharu Hashimoto;John R. Horton;Xing Zhang;Magnolia Bostick

  • Structural and Sequence Motifs of Protein (Histone) Methylation Enzymes

    Xiaodong Cheng;Robert E. Collins;Xing Zhang

  • Trimethylated lysine 9 of histone H3 is a mark for DNA methylation in Neurospora crassa.

    Hisashi Tamaru;Xing Zhang;Debra McMillen;Prim B. Singh

  • Structure and function of DNA methyltransferases.

    Xiaodong Cheng

  • Zebularine: A Novel DNA Methylation Inhibitor that Forms a Covalent Complex with DNA Methyltransferases

    Lei Zhou;Xiaodong Cheng;B.A. Connolly;M.J. Dickman

Frequent Co-Authors

Xing Zhang
Xing Zhang The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
John R. Horton
John R. Horton The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Robert Blumenthal
Robert Blumenthal University of Toledo
Richard J. Roberts
Richard J. Roberts New England Biolabs
Albert Jeltsch
Albert Jeltsch University of Stuttgart
Paula M. Vertino
Paula M. Vertino Emory University
Mark T. Bedford
Mark T. Bedford The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Geoffrey G. Wilson
Geoffrey G. Wilson New England Biolabs
Haian Fu
Haian Fu Emory University
Rui-Ming Xu
Rui-Ming Xu Chinese Academy of Sciences

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