Transcriptomics: Open Access
Open Access

Zhou, Z

Biography

"I graduated from Qingdao University in 1999, majoring in Chemistry, and received Ph.D. degree from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2004, with a major of biochemistry and molecular biology. Later on, I had my postdoctoral training from Brandeis University and University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). These professional experiences helped me to build a broad background in biochemistry and molecular biology, with specific training and expertise in structural analysis of macromolecular complexes. Ever since my postdoctoral training at UPenn, I have been intending to deepen my insights into the regulatory nature of immune signaling from the point of view of structure, biochemistry and cell biology. In 2009, I joined Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (SIBCB) and started running my own lab. As a principal investigator in SIBCB, I continue to dissect the mechanisms of immune regulations. "

Research Interest

"The immune system is essential for mammals to maintain normal activities of life. Regulation of immune responses is a fundamental aspect of the immune system, because the immune machinery not only undertake the mission of clearing up pathogens from “self (such as cancer cell)” or “non-self (such as virus)”, but also is required to “stay safe”, i.e. to avoid autoimmunity (such as type I diabetes, arthritis). Thus properly regulated signaling is pivotal to the initiation and control of immune responses. Rational design of therapeutic strategies against human diseases related to immune system remains a challenge to date, due to unresolved puzzles of complicated immune regulation. The primary research interest of my group is to establish the structural mechanisms of immune regulations by targeting a variety of important protein/DNA complexes found in relevant transcriptional machinery or signaling pathways. Our major tool is X-ray crystallography combined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electromicroscopy (EM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The derived structural information will be interpreted by using the techniques and assays of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology to develop a basis for immune therapy against malicious disease conditions. On top of our goal to understand the fundamental aspects of immune system, we also aim to discover novel target for structure-guided drug design and development. "