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Li Zhang (biologist)

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Li Zhang is a biologist currently working at University of Texas at Dallas. She is a professor of Biological Sciences and the Cecil H. and Ida Green Distinguished Chair in Systems Biology Science at the University of Texas at Dallas. During her 20+ years of independent research, Li Zhang has made major contributions to the understanding of Heme signaling and function in gene regulation,[1][2][3] neuronal differentiation and survival,[4] and lung cancer bioenergetics.[5]

Professional Preparation

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Zhang completed her B.S. in Chemistry at Zhongshan University in China. She then completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and did her postdoctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Biology. She has served as a faculty member at NYU School of Medicine and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. In 2007, Zhang joined the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), as a professor of biological sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Research Areas

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Zhang's lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Heme function and signaling in eukaryotic cells.[6] Heme is central to oxygen sensing and utilization in virtually all living organisms. Professor Li Zhang's studies on the Hap1-heme system are a classical example of how heme acts to mediate cellular signaling and gene regulation.[1][3] Recent work in her lab has demonstrated that elevated heme synthesis and uptake underpin intensified oxidative metabolism and tumorigenic functions in non-small-cell lung cancer cells.[5] Furthermore, Zhang's lab is interested in investigating the role of heme in Alzheimer's Disease.[4] Her lab combines approaches of molecular and cellular biology with genomics and computational approaches to elucidate the global molecular mechanisms underlying cellular responses to environmental stressors, including hypoxia and environmental toxicants.

Zhang has published a series of noted articles in the field of heme biology. Those include the following: Heme binds to a short sequence that serves as a regulatory function in diverse proteins;[1] Heme promotes transcriptional and demethylase activities of Gis1, a member of the histone demethylase JMJD2/KDM4 family;[2] Heme: A versatile signaling molecule controlling the activities of diverse regulators ranging from transcription factors to MAP kinases;[7] Heme, an essential nutrient from dietary proteins, critically impacts diverse physiological and pathological processes;[8] A holistic view of cancer bioenergetics: Mitochondrial function and respiration play fundamental roles in the development and progression of diverse tumors;[9] Elevated heme synthesis and uptake underpin intensified oxidative metabolism and tumorigenic functions in non-small cell lung cancer cells.[5]

Zhang edited and contributed to a book titled Heme Biology – the Secret Life of Heme in Regulating Diverse Biological Processes[10] in 2011. The Second edition titled Heme biology: heme acts as a versatile signaling molecule regulating diverse biological processes[11] released in 2020, details the myriad functions of heme and outlines the latest research about the molecule.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Zhang, L.; Hach, A.; Wang, C. (July 1998). "Molecular mechanism governing heme signaling in yeast: a higher-order complex mediates heme regulation of the transcriptional activator HAP1". Molecular and Cellular Biology. 18 (7): 3819–3828. doi:10.1128/mcb.18.7.3819. ISSN 0270-7306. PMC 108966. PMID 9632766.
  2. ^ a b Lal, Sneha; Comer, Jonathan M; Konduri, Purna C; Shah, Ajit; Wang, Tianyuan; Lewis, Anthony; Shoffner, Grant; Guo, Feng; Zhang, Li (2017-11-06). "Heme promotes transcriptional and demethylase activities of Gis1, a member of the histone demethylase JMJD2/KDM4 family". Nucleic Acids Research. 46 (1): 215–228. doi:10.1093/nar/gkx1051. ISSN 0305-1048. PMC 5758875. PMID 29126261.
  3. ^ a b Zhang, L.; Guarente, L. (1995-01-16). "Heme binds to a short sequence that serves a regulatory function in diverse proteins". The EMBO Journal. 14 (2): 313–320. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1995.tb07005.x. ISSN 0261-4189. PMC 398085. PMID 7835342.
  4. ^ a b Vidal, Chantal; Daescu, Kelly; Fitzgerald, Keely; Zhang, Li; Starokadomska, Anna; Bezprozvanny, Ilya (July 2019). "P1-193: AMYLOID β PERTURBS ELEVATED HEME FLUX INDUCED WITH NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT". Alzheimer's & Dementia. 15 (7S_Part_6): P311. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.748. ISSN 1552-5260.
  5. ^ a b c Sohoni, Sagar; Ghosh, Poorva; Wang, Tianyuan; Kalainayakan, Sarada Preeta; Vidal, Chantal; Dey, Sanchareeka; Konduri, Purna Chaitanya; Zhang, Li (2019-05-15). "Elevated Heme Synthesis and Uptake Underpin Intensified Oxidative Metabolism and Tumorigenic Functions in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells". Cancer Research. 79 (10): 2511–2525. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2156. ISSN 0008-5472. PMID 30902795.
  6. ^ "Li Zhang". profiles.utdallas.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  7. ^ Mense, Sarah M.; Zhang, Li (August 2006). "Heme: a versatile signaling molecule controlling the activities of diverse regulators ranging from transcription factors to MAP kinases". Cell Research. 16 (8): 681–692. doi:10.1038/sj.cr.7310086. ISSN 1748-7838. PMID 16894358.
  8. ^ Hooda, Jagmohan; Shah, Ajit; Zhang, Li (2014-03-13). "Heme, an essential nutrient from dietary proteins, critically impacts diverse physiological and pathological processes". Nutrients. 6 (3): 1080–1102. doi:10.3390/nu6031080. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 3967179. PMID 24633395.
  9. ^ Alam, Md Maksudul; Lal, Sneha; FitzGerald, Keely E.; Zhang, Li (March 2016). "A holistic view of cancer bioenergetics: mitochondrial function and respiration play fundamental roles in the development and progression of diverse tumors". Clinical and Translational Medicine. 5 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/s40169-016-0082-9. ISSN 2001-1326. PMC 4728164. PMID 26812134.
  10. ^ Zhang, Li, Ph.D (2011). Heme biology : the secret life of heme in regulating diverse biological processes. World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-4287-92-0. OCLC 819316563.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Zhang, Li (Biological science professor), editor. (2020). Heme biology : heme acts as a versatile signaling molecule regulating diverse biological processes. World scientific. ISBN 978-981-12-1128-7. OCLC 1128887356. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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