Overview
The Zhou lab focuses on the elucidation of the structure and dynamics of protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions and their functions in various cellular processes. Our current efforts are directed at enzymes and protein complexes involved in bacterial membrane biosynthesis, translesion DNA synthesis, co-transcriptional regulation, and host-pathogen interactions. Our investigations of these important cellular machineries have led to the development of novel antibiotics and cancer therapeutics, as well as the establishment of new biotechnology adventures.
The Zhou lab integrates a variety of biochemical and biophysical tools, including NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and enzymology. The lab has played a major role in the development and application of innovative NMR technologies, including high-resolution, high-dimensional spectral reconstruction techniques.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
From Obscurity to Opportunity: LpxH Emerges as a Promising Antibiotic Target in the Battle against Gram-Negative Pathogens.
Journal Article ACS Infect Dis · November 14, 2025 The surging crisis of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens underscores the urgent need for antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action. A promising strategy is to target previously unexploited pathways, such as lipid A biosynthesis. Lipid A function ... Full text Link to item CiteMechanism of controlled radical initiation in radical SAM GTP 3',8-cyclase.
Journal Article Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · November 11, 2025 Metalloenzymes couple substrate binding and formation of oxidative intermediates to minimize unwanted side reactions. However, the molecular details of such coupling frequently remain ambiguous. Radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzymes constitute one ... Full text Link to item CiteREV1 inhibition enhances trinucleotide repeat mutagenesis.
Journal Article bioRxiv · September 16, 2025 Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) instability has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. Because TNR instability causes mutagenesis of the underlying gene, we refer to the repeat instability phenomenon as TNR mutagenesis in t ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
LpxH Inhibitors as Novel Therapeutics Against Multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Interferon-inducible cell-autonomous immunity to cytosolic bacterial pathogens
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024 - 2028Inhibiting Rev1-mediated DNA translesion synthesis for cancer therapy
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2028View All Grants