Our research investigates topics at the interface of chemistry and biology, focusing on elucidating the molecular basis of cellular pathways important for human health and disease biology. We employ integrative approaches to study the structure and behavior of macromolecules, understand their functions, and then predict and validate their roles in different cellular contexts. Current research areas include selective autophagy, chromatin biology and epigenetics, and biomolecular condensates.
Research Information
Research Interests
Dr. Zhang’s research investigates topics at the interface of chemistry and biology, focusing on elucidating the molecular basis of cellular pathways important for human health and disease biology. We employ integrative approaches to study the structure and behavior of macromolecules, understand their functions, and then predict and validate their roles in different cellular contexts.
Current research projects include:
1. Selective autophagy. Research in the lab aims to understand the mechanism and regulation of SQSTM1/p62, a stress-induced multifunctional master regulator. p62 mediates many key cellular responses such as nutrient sensing and inflammation, and is commonly deregulated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This knowledge could lead to new approaches in combination cancer therapy.
2. Biological condensates. We recently made the interesting observation that many proteins form condensates in cells. Our current research investigates the content, regulation, and functional significance of these membrane-less organelles in vitro and in cells. The goal is to develop a comprehensive view of how cells control condensates formation/disassembly and how condensates regulate biological reactions.
3. Chromatin biology and epigenetics. We have broad interests in the structure-function relationship of chromatin-related proteins and how epigenetic marks regulate nuclear processes. We hope to apply this knowledge in drug development for personalized medicine eventually.
Research Projects
Yi Zhang
Publications
- Lan X*, Huang W*, Kim SB*, Fu D, Abeywansha T, Lou J, Balamurugan U, Kwon YT, Ji CH#, Taylor DJ#, Zhang Y#. . Nat Commun 15, 6350 (2024)
- Afandizada Y, Abeywansha T, Guerineau V, Sargueil B, Zhang Y, Ponchon L#, Iannazzo L#, Quelquejeu M#. . Methods. 2024 Jun 2
- Becht DC*, Mohid SA*, Lee JE*, Zandian M*, Benz C, Sinha VK, Ivarsson Y, Ge K, Zhang Y#, Kutateladze TG#. . Structure. 2024 Jun 6;32(6):706-714.e3.
- Zhang Y*, Xie G*, Lee JE*, Zandian M*, Sudarshan D*, Estavoyer B, Benz C, Viita T, Lachance C, Simonetti L, Sinha VK, Messmer C, Lambert JP, Chen YW, Wang SP, Ivarsson Y, Affar EB, Cote J, Ge K, Kutateladze TG. . Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 7;15(1):4883.
- Abeywansha T*, Huang W*, Ye X, Nawrocki A, Lan X, Jankowsky E, Taylor DJ#, Zhang Y#.
Nat Commun 14, 2232 (2023). - Penumutchu S*, Liu J*, Singh UK*, Kutateladze TG, Zhang Y.
STAR protocols.2022; 3 (4), 101842 - Zhang Y#, Towers CG, Singh UK, Liu J, Hakansson M, Logan DT, Donini O#, Kutateladze TG#
Structure. 2022; 30 (8), 1055-1061. e7 - Zhang Y, Brown K, Yu Y, Ibrahim Z, Zandian M, Xuan H, Ingersoll S, Lee T, Ebmeier CC, Liu J, Panne D, Shi X, Ren X, Kutateladze TG.
""
Nat Commun. 2021 07 29; 12(1):4618. - Zhang Y, Narlikar GJ, and Kutateladze TG.
J Mol Biol 433, 166624 (2021). (invited review) - Zhang Y, Guo Y, Gough SM, Zhang J, Vann KR, Li K, Cai L, Shi X, Aplan PD, Wang GG, Kutateladze TG.
Nat Commun 11, 3339 (2020). - Zhang Y, Bertulat B, Tencer AH, Ren X, Wright GM, Black J, Cardoso MC, Kutateladze TG.
iScience 17, 182 (2019). - Zhang Y, Jang Y, Lee JE, Ahn JW, Xu L, Holden MR, Cornett EM, Krajewski K, Klein BJ, Wang SP, Dou Y, Roeder RG, Strahl BD, Rothbart SB, Shi X, Ge K, Kutateladze TG.
Nat Commun 10, 2314 (2019). - Zhang Y, Klein BJ, Cox KL, Bertulat B, Tencer AH, Holden MR, Wright GM, Black J, Cardoso MC, Poirier MG, Kutateladze TG.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 116, 6111 (2019). - Zhang Y, Mi W, Xue Y, Shi X, Kutateladze TG.
Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 54, 1 (2019). (Review) - Zhang Y, Mun SR, Linares JF, Ahn J, Towers CG, Ji CH, Fitzwalter BE, Holden MR, Mi W, Shi X, Moscat J, Thorburn A, Diaz-Meco MT, Kwon YT, Kutateladze TG.
Nat Commun 9, 4373 (2018). - Mi W, Zhang Y, Lyu J, Wang X, Tong Q, Peng D, Xue Y, Tencer AH, Wen H, Li W, Kutateladze TG, Shi X.
Nat Commun 9, 3759 (2018). - Zhang Y, Xue Y, Shi J, Ahn J, Mi W, Ali M, Wang X, Klein BJ, Wen H, Li W, Shi X, Kutateladze TG.
Nat Struct Mol Biol 25, 841 (2018).