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Academic Staff

Prof. Y.X. Zhao
PolyU Scholars Hub

Prof. Zhao Yanxiang

Assoc. Head(ABCT) , DLTC Chair & Professor

Education and Academic Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Peking University
  • Master of Arts, State University of New York
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The Rockefeller University

Research Overview

Our lab is interested in understanding the functional mechanism of important cellular signaling proteins, in particular the protein complexes that regulate cellular homeostasis and development in response to environmental stimuli.

Research Interests

  • Autophagy
  • Cell Metabolism
  • Structure-based Development of Functional Molecules with Therapeutic Potential

Achievements

  1. Deng Z, Lim J, Wang Q, Purtell K, Wu S, Wold MS, Carrasco GMP, Tan H, Manfredi G, Zhao Y, Peng J, Hu B, Chen S, Yue Z*. "ALS-FTLD-linked mutations of SQSTM1/p62 disrupt selective autophagy and NFE2L2/Nrf2 anti-oxidative stress pathway" Autophagy (2019) Jul 30:1-15. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1644076.
  2. Wu S, He Y, Qiu X, Yang W, Liu W, Li X, Li Y, Shen H-M, Wang R, Yue Z, Zhao Y*. "Targeting the potent Beclin 1-UVRAG coiled coil interaction with designed peptides enhances autophagy and endolysosomal trafficking" Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2018); 115(25): E5669-E5678.
  3. Pan X, He Y, Lei J, Huang X and Zhao Y*. "Crystallographic snapshots of Class A β-lactamase catalysis reveal structural changes that facilitate β-lactam hydrolysis" Biol. Chem. (2017); 292(10): 4022-4033.
  4. Lim JY, Lachenmayer ML, Wu S, Liu W, Kundu M, Wang R, Komatsu M, Oh YJ, Zhao Y, and Yue Z. "Proteotoxic Stress Induces Phosphorylation of p62/SQSTM1 by ULK1 to Regulate Selective Autophagic Clearance of Protein Aggregates" PLOS Genetics. (2015) 11(2): e1004987
  5. Jehi SE, Li X, Sandhu RS, Ye F, Benmerzouga I, Zhang M, Zhao Y*, Bibo Li*. "Suppression of subtelomeric VSG switching by Trypanosoma brucei TRF requires its TTAGGG repeat-binding activity". Nucleic Acids Res. (2014) 42(20):12899-12911 (*: co-corresponding authors)
  6. McKnight NC, Zhong Y, Gong S, Phillips GR, Dou Z, Zhao Y, Heintz N, Zong W-X, Yue Z. "Beclin 1 Is Required for Neuron Viability and Regulates Endosome Pathways via the UVRAG-VPS34 Complex." PLOS Genetics. (2014) 10(10): e1004626.
  7. Li X, He L, Zhang M, Yue Z, Zhao Y*. "The BECN1 coiled coil domain: An "imperfect" homodimer interface that facilitates ATG14 and UVRAG binding." Autophagy (2012); 8(8): 1258 – 1260.
  8. Li X, He L, Che KH, Funderburk S, Pan L, Pan N, Zhang M, Yue Z, Zhao Y*. "Imperfect and metastable dimer interface of Beclin 1 coiled coil domain distinctively regulates its association with Atg14L and UVRAG" Nature Communications (2012); 3: 662.
  9. Wong WT, Chan KC, So PK, Yap HK, Chung WH, Leung YC, Wong KY, Zhao Y*. "Increased structural flexibility at the active site of a fluorophore-conjugated β-lactamase distinctively impacts its binding toward diverse cephalosporin antibiotics." J Biol Chem. (2011); 286(36): 31771 – 31780.
  10. Yu C, Feng W, Wei Z, Miyanoiri Y, Wen W, Zhao Y, Zhang M. "Myosin VI undergoes cargo-mediated dimerization." Cell (2009); 138: 537 – 548.

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