Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, CAS


	Research Areas

	State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology

	Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, CAS

	Principal Investigators

	Center for Cell Signaling

	Center for Comprehensive Protein Sciences

	Members of CAS, CAE

	National Outstanding Young Scientists Award

	100 Talents Program of the CAS

ZHANG Lei
Ph.D., Professor
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.

Tel: 54921336 Email: RayZhang@sibs.ac.cn

Research Interests
        How cell growth and organ size are regulated and how growth and patterning are coordinated is a fundamental and prevalent mechanism during animal development. It is clear that cancer always involves the inappropriate regulation of genetic pathways used during normal development. Throughout embryogenesis and tissue morphogenesis, the Hippo (Hpo), Hedgehog (Hh) and Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway regulate programmed cellular responses that are essential for normal cell growth and differentiation in invertebrate and vertebrate species. In adult organisms, they appear to be essential for stem cell self-renewal and inappropriate activation of these pathways can lead to tumor formation.
        To study conserved developmental pathways, we use Drosophila as a genetic tool as initial, and we will use a combination of genetics, cell biology and biochemistry to further dissect signaling networks.
        As a novel defined tumor-suppressor pathway initially discovered in Drosophila, the Hippo (Hpo) pathway has been recognized as a conserved signaling pathway that plays a critical role in stopping organ growth. We are trying to identify additional components of the Hpo pathway exploring the upstream regulators and downstream effectors and uncovering the elusive regulation of its activation. And also, we are interested in resolving the question how it can coordinate with the other signaling.

Selected Publications

Fangfang Ren, Lei Zhang, Jin Jiang. Hippo signaling regulates Yorkie nuclear localization and activity through 14-3-3 dependent and independent mechanisms. Developmental Biology. 2010, 337, 303-312
Lei Zhang, Tao Yue and Jin Jiang. Hippo signaling pathway and organ size control. Fly 2009, 3(1), 1-6. (invited review).
Lei Zhang, Fangfang Ren, Qing Zhang, Yongbin Chen, Bing Wang, Jin Jiang. The TEAD/TEF family of transcription factor Scalloped mediates nuclear responses to the Hippo pathway in organ size control. Developmental Cell. 2008, 14:377-387.
Lei Zhang, Jianhang Jia, Bing Wang, Kazuhito Amanai, Keith A. Wharton Jr, Jin Jiang. Regulation of wingless signaling by the CKI family in Drosophila limb development. Developmental Biology. 2006, 299:221-237.
Qing Zhang*, Lei Zhang*, Bing Wang, Chan-Yen Oh, Cheng-Ting Chien, Jin Jiang. A Hedgehog-Induced BTB Protein Modulates Hedgehog Signaling by Degrading Ci/Gli Transcription Factor. Developmental Cell. 2006, 10, 719-729. (* Equally contributed to this work).
Jianhang Jia*, Lei Zhang*, Qing Zhang* et al. Phosphorylation by Double-time/CKIε and CKIα targets Cubitus interruptus for Slimb/β-TRCP mediated proteolytic processing. Developmental Cell. 2005, 9:819-830 (* Equally contributed to this work).
Zhipan Yang, Lei Zhang, Fengqiu Diao, Meijuan Huang, Naihu Wu. Sucrose regulates elongation of Carrot somatic embryo radicles as a signal molecule. Plant Molecular Biology. 2004, 54:441-459.
HuiXin Lin, Lei Zhang, Zhipan Yang et al. Molecular Characterization of Poly(A)-binding Protein from Daucus carota. DNA sequencing. 2004, 14(2):147-153.
Yiming Liu, Fengqiu Diao, Lei Zhang, Meijuan Huang, Naihu Wu. Cloning and function analysis of DcLEA1, a new number of LEA gene family. Progress in Natural Science, 2004;14(5):20-26.
Huixin Lin, Lei Zhang, Zhipan Yang, et al. Isolation and Functional Identification of DcPAB from Daucus carota. Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular biology. 2004, 20(3):319-324. (in Chinese, English abstract).
Zhipan Yang, Lei Zhang, Fengqiu Diao et al. Cloning and expression of DnaJ homolog in Carrot somatic embryo. Progress in Natural Science. 2003,13(5):350-356.
Lei Zhang, Zhipan Yang, Yiming Liu et al. Analysis of gene expression in carrot somatic embryonic development by differential screening of a Cdna library. Progress in Natural Science. 2002,12(3):261-265.
Lei Zhang, Fengqiu Diao, Zhipan Yang et al. Isolation and characterization of a new member of sucrose carrier Cdna from carrot by functional expression in yeast. Chinese Science Bulletin. 2001;46(14):1190-1195.
Fengqiu Diao, Lei Zhang, Meijuan Huang et al. Isolation of development-related genes in somatic embryo radicle of carrot (Daucus carota L.) using modified Cdna RDA. Science in China. 2000;43(1):47-56.