Zhang Yan——Professor
Nationality:
CHINA
Phone:
022-87401830，15202205417（Cell）
Email:
yan.zhang@tju.edu.cn
Office:
Office 417-4, Building 24, Tianjin University
School:
School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
ResearcherID:
K-1638-2015
Group weblink
zhangyanlab.org
Education Experience
2001-2006 Ph. D. School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
1992-1996 Bachelor of Science Biology Nanjing University
Professional Experience
2008-2013 Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2013-2014 Senior Scientist R&D Systems Inc
2014-2018 Associate Professor Tianjin University
2018-2021 Professor Tianjin University
2022-2022 Chair Professor Tianjin Univerdity
Research Area

The Zhang lab identifies and characterizes new enzymes and new metabolic pathways in nature using a combination of bioinformatics, genetic, biochemical and biophysical methods.  In particular, the Zhang lab has a long term interest in metal trafficking, metalloenzymes. and their catalytic mechanisms. Other projects in the Zhang lab include synthetic biology, and immuno-based human disease diagnosis.


For more information about the Zhang Lab, please visit

http://zhangyanlab.org 

 
Honors and Awards
New Cornerstone Investigator (2023 新基石研究员）
The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China 2021 （2021 国家自然科学杰出青年基金）
Leading Talent Award in Science and Technology of Tianjin City, 2019 （2019 天津市中青年领军人才）
Peiyang Scholar, 2014 （2014 北洋学者）
Ruth Kirschstein Award 2012-2013
Patents
生化检测分析设备及其应用 （The design and application of a high-throughput machine for immuno-based analysis） 专利授权号：ZL 202022607089.1
参与噬菌体二氨基嘌呤合成的酶及其应用（The application of enzymes involved in phage Z(diaminopurine)-genome biosynthesis）专利申请号：202110045505.X Pending
体外重折叠波形蛋白的方法及其应用 (A methodology for in vitro refolding of recombinant vimentin and its application) 专利授权号：ZL 2017 10565618.6
半乳糖凝集素-3检测试剂盒 (Galectin-3 quantitation kit) 专利授权号：ZL 2017 10589093.x
4-脲基-5-羧基咪唑酰胺水解酶及其用途 (4-ureido-5-carboxyl-imidazole hydrolase and its applications). 专利申请号：202010036519.0 Pending PCT申请号：PCT/CN2021/071497
黄嘌呤酰胺水解酶及其用途 (xanthine hydrolase and its applications). 专利申请号：202010036500.6 Pending PCT申请号：PCT/CN2021/071501
一种高产檀香油的重组酵母菌及其构建方法与应用( A genetically engineered baker yeast strain and its construction for high yield biosynthetic santalol oil production) 专利授权号：ZL201910035457.9
催化谷氨酰胺合成靛蓝获得蓝色花卉的转基因方法 (A method to obtain transgenic blue rose by introducing non-ribosomal peptide synthetase catalyzing the formation of indigoidine from glutamine) 专利授权号：ZL201810095829.2
铁和α酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶的酶活检测体系和方法（A generally applicable iron and α-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase enzyme assay system and assay kit）专利授权号：ZL 2015 1 0897467.5
Highlighted Publications
1. Liu H, Xiao Q, Wu X, Ma H, Li J, Guo X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Luo Y* Mechanistic investigation of a D to N mutation in DAHP synthase that dictates carbon flux into the shikimate pathway in yeast. Commun Chem. 2023 Jul 15;6(1):152. DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00946-x
Ye Z#, Wei Y#, Jiang L, Zhang Y* Oxygenolytic sulfoquinovose degradation by an iron-dependent alkanesulfonate dioxygenase. iScience. 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107803
Liu X#, Wei Y#, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Du Y, Zhang Y* Isethionate is an intermediate in the utilization of sulfoacetate as a terminal electron acceptor by the human gut pathobiont Bilophila wadsworthia. J Biol Chem. 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105010
Chu R#, Wei Y#, Liu J, Li B, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Du Y, Zhang Y* A variant of the sulfoglycolytic transketolase pathway for the degradation of sulfoquinovose into sulfoacetate. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2023 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00617-23
Zhou S#, Wu Y#, Zhao Y#, Zhang Z, Jiang L, Liu L, Zhang Y, Tang J, Yuan Y* Dynamics of synthetic yeast chromosome evolution shaped by hierarchical chromatin organization Natl Sci Rev. 2023 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad073
Tong Y#, Wu X#, Liu Y#, Chen H, Zhou Y, Jiang L, Li M, Zhao S, Zhang Y* Alternative Z-genome biosynthesis pathway shows evolutionary progression from archaea to phage. Nat Microbiol 2023 DOI:10.1038/s41564-023-01410-1
Tong Y#, Wei Y#, Ju Y#, Li P, Zhang Y, Li L, Gao L, Liu S, Liu D, Hu Y, Li Z, Yu H, Luo Y, Wang J, Wang Y*, Zhang Y* Anaerobic purinolytic enzymes enable dietary purine clearance by engineered gut bacteria.Cell Chem Biol 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.04.008
Zhou Y#, Wei Y#, Jiang L, Zhang Y*, Jiao X* A (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase belonging to the 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase family facilitates hydroxyacid degradation in anaerobic bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023 DOI:10.1128/aem.00366-23
Zhou Y#, Wei Y#, Jiang L, Jiao X*, Zhang Y* Oxygen-independent phloroglucinol degradation by gut and environmental microbiota. mBio 2023 DOI:10.1128/mbio.01099-23
Wei Y*, Tong Y, Zhang Y* New mechanisms for bacterial degradation of sulfoquinovose Biosci Rep. 2022 DOI：10.1042/BSR20220314
Zhao F#, Wei Y#, Wang X, Zhou Y, Tong Y, Ang EL, Liu S, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* Enzymatic Synthesis of the Unnatural Nucleotide 2'-Deoxyisoguanosine 5'-Monophosphate ChemBioChem 2022 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200295.
Duan Y#, Wei Y#, Xing M, Liu J, Jiang L, Lu Q, Liu X, Ang EL, Liao RZ, Yuchi Z*, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* Anaerobic hydroxyproline degradation involving C-N cleavage by a glycyl radical enzyme J Am Chem Soc 2022, 144, 22, 9715–9722.
Xu J*, Kerr L, Jiang Y, Suo W, Zhang L, Lao T, Chen Y*, Zhang Y* Rapid antigen diagnostics as frontline testing in the COVID-19 pandemic Small Science 2022, DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202200009.
Zhang Z; Li P, Wang M, Zhang Y, Wu B, Tao Y, Pan G, Chen Y* (S)-3-aminopiperidine-2,6-dione is a biosynthetic intermediate of microbial blue pigment indigoidine mLife 2022, 1(2)146–155.
Li G#, Nanjaraj A.N#, Dancis A* and Zhang Y* Genetic suppressors of Δgrx3 Δgrx4, lacking redundant multi-domain monothiol yeast glutaredoxins, rescue growth and iron homeostasis Biosci Rep. 2022 42 (6): BSR20212665.
Liu Y#, Wei Y#, Teh T, Liu D, Zhou Y, Zhao S, Ang EL, Zhao H*, and Yan Zhang* Identification and Characterization of the Biosynthetic Pathway of the Sulfonolipid Capnine Biochemistry 2022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00102
Qin J, Zhang J, Lin L, Haji-Ghassemi O, Lin Z, Woycechowsky KJ, Petegem FV, Zhang Y*, Yuchi Z* Structures of PKA-phospholamban complexes reveal a mechanism of familial dilated cardiomyopathy eLife 2022;11:e75346.
Liu J#, Wei Y#, Ma K#, An J#, Liu X, Liu Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* Mechanistically diverse pathways for sulfoquinovose degradation in bacteria ACS Catalysis 2021 11: 14740-14750.
Xu J, Jiang J-C, Sun L, Liam Kerr, Paulsson, J, Zhang Y*, Lao T* Handheld microfluidic filtration platform enables rapid, low-cost and robust self-testing of SARS-CoV-2 virus Small 2021, 17(52):e2104009
An J#, Wei Y#, Liu J, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* Biochemical investigation of 3-sulfopropionaldehyde reductase HpfD ChemBioChem 2021, 22(19) 2862-2866.
Zhang H#, Wei Y#, Lin L, Liu J, Chu R, Cao P, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y* Structural and biochemical investigation of UTP cyclohydrolase ACS Catalysis 2021, 11(14), 8895–8901.
Lu Q#, Wei Y#, Lin L, Liu L, Duan Y, Li Y, Zhai W, Liu Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y* The glycyl radical enzyme arylacetate decarboxylase from Olsenella scatoligenes ACS Catalysis 2021, 11(9), 5789–5794.
Zhou Y#, Xu X#, Wei Y#, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Khudyakov I, Liu F, He P, Song Z, Li Z, Gao Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y*, Zhao S* A widespread pathway for substitution of adenine by diaminopurine in phage genomes. Science 2021, 372(6541):512-516.
Wei Y, Zhang Y* Glycyl Radical Enzymes and Sulfonate Metabolism in the Microbiome. Annual Rev. Biochem. 2021, 90:817-846.
Jiang J-C, Zhang Y* Serological antibody testing in the COVID-19 pandemic: their molecular basis and applications. Biochem Soc Trans. 2020 48 (6): 2851–2863.
Liu Y#, Wei Y#, Zhou Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* A transaldolase-dependent sulfoglycolysis pathway in Bacillus megaterium DSM 1804. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 2020 Dec 17;533(4):1109-1114.
Ma R#, Ghassemi OH#, Ma D#, Jiang H, Lin L, Yao L, Samurkas A, Li Y, Wang Y, Cao P, Wu S, Zhang Y, Murayama T, Moussian B, Petegem FV*, Yuchi Z* Structural basis for diamide modulation of ryanodine receptor. Nat Chem Biol. 2020 Nov;16(11):1246-1254.
Wang F#, Wei Y#, Lu Q, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* A ferredoxin-dependent dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in Clostridium chromiireducens. Biosci Rep. 2020 Jul 31;40(7):BSR20201642.
Liu J#, Wei Y#, Lin L, Teng L, Yin J, Lu Q, Chen J, Zheng Y, Li Y, Xu R, Zhai W, Liu Y, Liu Y, Cao P, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y* Two radical-dependent mechanisms for anaerobic degradation of the globally abundant organosulfur compound dihydroxypropanesulfonate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Jul 7;117(27):15599-15608.
Zhu D#, Wei Y#, Yin J, Liu D, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y*. A pathway for degradation of uracil to acetyl coenzyme A in Bacillus megaterium. Appl & Environ Microbiol. 2020 Mar 18;86(7):e02837-19.
Yin J#, Wei Y#, Liu D, Hu Y, Lu Q, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* An extended bacterial reductive pyrimidine degradation pathway that enables nitrogen release from β-alanine. J Biol Chem. 2019 Oct 25; 294(43): 15662-15671.
Xing M#, Wei Y#, Hua G, Li M, Nanjaraj Urs AN, Wang F, Hu Y, Zhai W, Liu Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y*. A gene cluster for taurine sulfur assimilation in an anaerobic human gut bacteria. Biochem J. 2019 Aug 15;476(15):2271-2279.
Zhou Y#, Wei Y#, Nanjaraj A.N., Lin L, Xu T, Hu Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y*. Identification and characterization of a new sulfoacetaldehyde reductase from the human gut bacterium Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense. Biosci Rep. 2019 Jun 20;39(6).
Tong Y#, Wei Y#, Hu Y, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Zhang Y* A pathway for isethionate dissimilation in Bacillus krulwichiae. Appl & Environ Microbiol. 2019 Jul 18;85(15).
Li M#, Wei Y#, Yin J, Lin L, Zhou Y, Hua G, Cao P, Ang EL, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y*. Biochemical and structural investigation of taurine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase from Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense. Biochem J. 2019 Jun 11;476(11):1605-1619..
Xing M#, Wei Y#, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Lin L, Hu Y, Hua G, Nanjaraj A.N.,Liu D, Wang F, Guo C, Tong Y, Li M, Liu Y, Ang E, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y*. Radical-mediated C-S bond cleavage in C2 sulfonate degradation by anaerobic bacteria. Nature Comm. 2019 Apr 8;10(1):1609.
Zhang J#, Nanjaraj A.N. #, Lin L, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y*. Structure of glycerol dehydrogenase (GldA) from Escherichia coli. ACTA CRYSTALLOGR F.2019, Mar ; 75(Pt 3):176-183.
Zhou Y#, Wei Y#, Lin L, Xu T, Ang E, Zhao H*, Yuchi Z*, Zhang Y*. Biochemical and structural investigation of sulfoacetaldehyde reductase from Klebsiella oxytoca. Biochem J. 2019 Feb 28;476(4):733-746.
Nanjaraj A.N., Hu Y, Li P, Yuchi Z, Chen Y*, Zhang Y*. Cloning and expression of a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase to generate blue rose. ACS Synth. Biol. 2019 Aug 16;8(8):1698-1704.
Liu D#, Wei Y#, Liu X, Zhou Y, Jiang L, Yin J, Wang F, Hu Y, Nanjaraj A.N., Liu Y, Ang E, Zhao S*, Zhao H*, Zhang Y*. Indoleacetate decarboxylase is a glycyl radical enzyme catalysing the formation of malodorant skatole. Nat. Comm. 2018 Oct 11;9(1):4224. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06627-x.
Guo C#, Hu Y#, Yang C, Nanjaraj Urs AN, Zhang Y* Developing a colorimetric assay for Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase. Anal Biochem. 2018 May 1;548:109-114.
Hua G#, Hu Y#, Yang C, Liu D, Mao Z, Zhang L, Zhang Y* Characterization of santalene synthases using an inorganic pyrophosphatase coupled colorimetric assay. Anal Biochem. 2018 Apr 15;547:26-36.
Zhang Y, Yang C, Dancis A, Nakamaru-Ogiso E. EPR studies of wild type and mutant Dre2 identify essential [2Fe–2S] and [4Fe–4S] clusters and their cysteine ligands. J Biochem. 2017 Jan;161(1):67-78.
Zhang Y#, Li H#, Zhang C, An X, Liu L, Stubbe J, Huang M. The Conserved Electron Donor Complex Dre2-Tah18 Is Required for Ribonucleotide Reductase Metallocofactor Assembly and DNA Synthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Apr 29; 111(17): E1695-704.
Yoon H, Knight SA, Pandey A, Pain J, Zhang Y, Pain D, Dancis A. Frataxin-bypassing Isu1: characterization of the bypass activity in cells and mitochondria. Biochem J. 2014 Apr 1;459(1):71-81.
Zhang Y, Liu L, Stubbe J. Huang M. Investigation of in vivo roles of the carboxyl terminal tails of the small subunit (ββ’) of S. cerevisiae ribonucleotide reductase: contribution to cofactor formation and inter-subunit association within the active holoenzyme. J Biol Chem. 2013 May 17;288(20):13951-9. Selected as the “Papers of The Week”， highlighted at http://www.jbc.org/content/288/20/13960/suppl/DCAuthor_profile
Zhang Y, Liu L, Wu X, An X, Stubbe J , Huang M. Investigation of in vivo diferric tyrosyl radical formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rnr2: requirement of Rnr4 and contribution of Grx3/4 and Dre2. J Biol Chem. 2011. Dec 2;286(48):41499-509. Selected as the “Papers of The Week”, highlighted at http://www.jbc.org/content/286/48/41499/suppl/DCAuthor_profile http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday_article.aspx?id=14939
Zhang Y, Stubbe J, Bacillus subtilis Class Ib Ribonucleotide Reductase Is a Dimanganese(III)-Tyrosyl Radical Enzyme. Biochemistry. 2011 Jun 28;50(25):5615-23.
Mühlenhoff U, Molik S, Godoy JR, Uzarska MA, Richter N, Seubert A, Zhang Y, Stubbe J, Pierrel F, Herrero E, Lillig CH, Lill R. Cytosolic monothiol glutaredoxins function in intracellular iron sensing and trafficking via their bound iron-sulfur cluster. Cell Metab. 2010 Oct 6;12(4):373-85.
Yoon H, Zhang Y, Pain J, Lyver ER, Lesuisse E, Pain D, Dancis A. Rim2, pyrimidine nucleotide exchanger, is needed for iron utilization in mitochondria. Biochem J. 2011 Nov 15;440(1):137-46.
Zhang Y, Lyver, ER, Amutha B, Ohnishi, T, Pain, D, and Dancis, A. Dre2, a conserved eukaryotic protein with both [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters, functions in cytosolic iron-sulfur protein biogenesis. Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Sept. 28 (18) 5569-82.
Zhang Y, Lyver, ER, Knight, SAB, Pain, D, Lesuisse, E, and Dancis, A. Mrs3p, Mrs4p, and frataxin provide iron for Fe-S cluster synthesis in mitochondria. J Biol Chem. 2006 Aug 11;281(32):22493-502.
Zhang Y, Lyver, ER, Knight, SAB, Lesuisse, E, and Dancis, A. Frataxin and mitochondrial carrier proteins, Mrs3p and Mrs4p, cooperate in providing iron for heme synthesis. J Biol Chem. 2005 May 20; 280 (20):19794-807.
He Y, Alam SL, Proteasa SV, Zhang Y, Lesuisse E, Dancis A, and Stemmler T.L. Yeast frataxin solution structure, iron binding, and ferrochelatase interaction. Biochemistry. 2004 Dec 28;43(51):16254-62.
Deshmukh M, May M, Zhang Y, Gabbert KK, Karberg KA, Kranz RG, and Daldal F. Overexpression of ccl1-2 can bypass the need for the putative apocytochrome chaperone CycH during the biogenesis of c-type cytochromes. Mol. Microbiology 2002 Nov 46(4)1069-1080.