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Research Focus

Membrane proteins account for about one third of human genes and comprise more than 50% of human drug targets. Our laboratory is currently focusing on the development of innovative methodologies and chemical tools enabling the structural and functional characterization of membrane proteins. We engage in a number of collaborative projects with experts in membrane protein structural biology to solve biologically significant structures. A second major interest of our laboratory is to study the interactions between membrane proteins and lipids that govern the protein stability and function. We are also interested in the development and discovery of small molecule therapeutics targeting a class of transporters to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer and infectious disease. Developing synthetic methodologies to make biologically relevant molecules is another component of our laboratory.

Education

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2001

Selected References

Tao H, Weng Y, Zhuo R, Chang, G, Urbatsch IL, Zhang, Q. Design and Synthesis of Selenazole-Containing Peptides for Cocrystallization with P-Glycoprotein. ChemBioChem 2011, 12:868-73.

Hong W-X, Kent BA, Ma X, Stevens RC, Yeager M, Zhang Q. Design, Synthesis, and Properties of Branch-chained Maltoside Detergents for Stabilization and Crystallization of Integral Membrane Proteins: Human Connexin 26. Langmuir 2010, 26(11):8690-6. PMC2877156

Annalora A, Goodin DB, Hong W-X, Zhang Q, Johnson EF, Stout CD. The Crystal Structure of CYP24A1, a Mitochondrial Cytochrome P450 Involved in Vitamine D Metabolism. J. Mol. Biol. 2010, 396:441-451. PMC2830900

Aller SG., Yu J, Ward A, Weng Y, Chittaboina S, Zhuo R, Harrell PM, Trinh YT, Zhang Q, Urbatsch IL, Chang G. Structure of P-Glycoprotein Reveals a Molecular Basis for Poly-Specific Drug Binding. Science 2009, 323:1718-1722. PMC2720052

Zhang Q, Horst R, Geralt M, Ma X, Finn MG, Stevens RC, Wuthrich K. Microscale NMR Screening of New Detergents for Membrane Protein Structural Biology. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130:7357-7363. PMC2586950.

Zhang Q, Ma X, Ward A, Hong W-X, Jaakola V-P, Stevens RC, Finn MG, Chang G. Designing Facial Amphiphiles for the Stabilization of Integral Membrane Proteins. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46:7023-7025.