DownloadHi-Res Photo

Jack Zhang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Research & Publications
Biography

Research Summary

Our laboratory is at the forefront of exploring the fascinating cellular processes governing intracellular cargo transport, cell motility, and the mechanisms of cellular energy production, distribution, and utilization. Our goal is to dissect the atomic details of molecular mechanism by which the cytoskeletal motor proteins, in particular dyneins, convert biochemical energy into mechanical work, facilitating ciliary beating and cellular cargo transport along microtubules. Additionally, we are committed to deciphering how mitochondria produce energy molecules in a precise spatiotemporal manner and to revealing the mechanisms by which motor proteins influence mitochondrial positioning and the distribution in various types of cells.

Coauthors

Joe Howard

Research Interests

Biochemistry; Biophysics; Cell Membrane; Cilia; Cytoskeleton; Diagnostic Imaging; Dyneins; Energy Metabolism; Flagella; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Intracellular Membranes; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Microtubules; Mitochondria; Molecular Biology; Nervous System Diseases; Protein Conformation; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Tomography; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Molecular Motor Proteins; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Cell Membrane Structures; Cellular Structures; Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; Axoneme; Electron Microscope Tomography; Axonemal Dyneins; Cytoplasmic Dyneins; Molecular Imaging; Machine Learning; Dynactin Complex

Research Images

A brief view of cryo-EM flow chart

Selected Publications

LRRC23 truncation impairs radial spoke 3 head assembly and sperm motility underlying male infertilityHwang J, Chai P, Nawaz S, Choi J, Lopez-Giraldez F, Hussain S, Bilguvar K, Mane S, Lifton R, Ahmad W, Zhang K, Chung J. LRRC23 truncation impairs radial spoke 3 head assembly and sperm motility underlying male infertility. ELife 2023, 12: rp90095. PMID: 38091523, PMCID: PMC10721216, DOI: 10.7554/elife.90095.
Cryo-EM reveals how the mastigoneme assembles and responds to environmental signal changesWang Y, Yang J, Hu F, Yang Y, Huang K, Zhang K. Cryo-EM reveals how the mastigoneme assembles and responds to environmental signal changes. Journal Of Cell Biology 2023, 222: e202301066. PMID: 37882754, PMCID: PMC10602792, DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202301066.
Abl2 repairs microtubules and phase separates with tubulin to promote microtubule nucleationDuan D, Lyu W, Chai P, Ma S, Wu K, Wu C, Xiong Y, Sestan N, Zhang K, Koleske A. Abl2 repairs microtubules and phase separates with tubulin to promote microtubule nucleation. Current Biology 2023, 33: 4582-4598.e10. PMID: 37858340, PMCID: PMC10877310, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.018.
Microtubule-binding-induced allostery triggers LIS1 dissociation from dynein prior to cargo transportTon W, Wang Y, Chai P, Beauchamp-Perez C, Flint N, Lammers L, Xiong H, Zhang K, Markus S. Microtubule-binding-induced allostery triggers LIS1 dissociation from dynein prior to cargo transport. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2023, 30: 1365-1379. PMID: 37322240, PMCID: PMC10590275, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01010-x.
Author Correction: Cryo-EM structure of an active central apparatusHan L, Rao Q, Yang R, Wang Y, Chai P, Xiong Y, Zhang K. Author Correction: Cryo-EM structure of an active central apparatus. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2023, 30: 564-564. PMID: 36899097, PMCID: PMC10113143, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-00961-5.
High-Resolution Structural Analysis of Dyneins by Cryo-electron MicroscopyChai P, Rao Q, Wang Y, Zhang K. High-Resolution Structural Analysis of Dyneins by Cryo-electron Microscopy. 2023, 2623: 257-279. PMID: 36602691, PMCID: PMC10371436, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2958-1_16.
Structures of the CcmABCD heme release complex at multiple statesLi J, Zheng W, Gu M, Han L, Luo Y, Yu K, Sun M, Zong Y, Ma X, Liu B, Lowder EP, Mendez DL, Kranz RG, Zhang K, Zhu J. Structures of the CcmABCD heme release complex at multiple states. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 6422. PMID: 36307425, PMCID: PMC9616876, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34136-5.
Multi-curve fitting and tubulin-lattice signal removal for structure determination of large microtubule-based motorsChai P, Rao Q, Zhang K. Multi-curve fitting and tubulin-lattice signal removal for structure determination of large microtubule-based motors. Journal Of Structural Biology 2022, 214: 107897. PMID: 36089228, PMCID: PMC10321216, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107897.
Cryo-EM structure of an active central apparatusHan L, Rao Q, Yang R, Wang Y, Chai P, Xiong Y, Zhang K. Cryo-EM structure of an active central apparatus. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2022, 29: 472-482. PMID: 35578022, PMCID: PMC9113940, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00769-9.
Structures of the CcmABCD heme release complex at multiple statesStructures of the CcmABCD heme release complex at multiple statesLi L, Zheng W, Gu M, Han L, Luo Y, Yu K, Sun M, Zong Y, Ma X, Liu B, Lowder EP, Mendez DL, Kranz RG, Zhang K, Zhu J. Nature Communications, 2022, 13: 6422
Structures of outer-arm dynein array on microtubule doublet reveal a motor coordination mechanismRao Q, Han L, Wang Y, Chai P, Kuo YW, Yang R, Hu F, Yang Y, Howard J, Zhang K. Structures of outer-arm dynein array on microtubule doublet reveal a motor coordination mechanism. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2021, 28: 799-810. PMID: 34556869, PMCID: PMC8500839, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00656-9.
Cryo-EM structures of Escherichia coli cytochrome bo3 reveal bound phospholipids and ubiquinone-8 in a dynamic substrate binding siteLi J, Han L, Vallese F, Ding Z, Choi SK, Hong S, Luo Y, Liu B, Chan CK, Tajkhorshid E, Zhu J, Clarke O, Zhang K, Gennis R. Cryo-EM structures of Escherichia coli cytochrome bo3 reveal bound phospholipids and ubiquinone-8 in a dynamic substrate binding site. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2106750118. PMID: 34417297, PMCID: PMC8403832, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106750118.
Cryo‐EM Structures of Outer‐arm Dynein Array Bound to Microtubule Doublet Reveal a Mechanism for Motor CoordinationRao Q, Wang Y, Chai P, Kuo Y, Han L, Yang R, Yang Y, Howard J, Zhang K. Cryo‐EM Structures of Outer‐arm Dynein Array Bound to Microtubule Doublet Reveal a Mechanism for Motor Coordination. The FASEB Journal 2021, 35 DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.03099.
NLRP6 self-assembles into a linear molecular platform following LPS binding and ATP stimulationLeng F, Yin H, Qin S, Zhang K, Guan Y, Fang R, Wang H, Li G, Jiang Z, Sun F, Wang DC, Xie C. NLRP6 self-assembles into a linear molecular platform following LPS binding and ATP stimulation. Scientific Reports 2020, 10: 198. PMID: 31932628, PMCID: PMC6957519, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57043-0.
Structural basis of antagonism of human APOBEC3F by HIV-1 VifHu Y, Desimmie BA, Nguyen HC, Ziegler SJ, Cheng TC, Chen J, Wang J, Wang H, Zhang K, Pathak VK, Xiong Y. Structural basis of antagonism of human APOBEC3F by HIV-1 Vif. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2019, 26: 1176-1183. PMID: 31792451, PMCID: PMC6899190, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0343-6.
New interfaces on MiD51 for Drp1 recruitment and regulationMa J, Zhai Y, Chen M, Zhang K, Chen Q, Pang X, Sun F. New interfaces on MiD51 for Drp1 recruitment and regulation. PLOS ONE 2019, 14: e0211459. PMID: 30703167, PMCID: PMC6355003, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211459.
Towards dynamic structure of biological complexes at atomic resolution by cryo-EMZhang K. Towards dynamic structure of biological complexes at atomic resolution by cryo-EM. Chinese Physics B 2018, 27: 066801. DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/6/066801.
A brief introduction of cryo-EM revolution—the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017Zhang K, Liu Z. A brief introduction of cryo-EM revolution—the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017. Science China Life Sciences 2018, 61: 368-370. PMID: 29318502, DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9215-3.
Crystal structure of E. coli apolipoprotein N-acyl transferaseLu G, Xu Y, Zhang K, Xiong Y, Li H, Cui L, Wang X, Lou J, Zhai Y, Sun F, Zhang XC. Crystal structure of E. coli apolipoprotein N-acyl transferase. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 15948. PMID: 28885614, PMCID: PMC5500890, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15948.
Cryo-EM Reveals How Human Cytoplasmic Dynein Is Auto-inhibited and ActivatedZhang K, Foster HE, Rondelet A, Lacey SE, Bahi-Buisson N, Bird AW, Carter AP. Cryo-EM Reveals How Human Cytoplasmic Dynein Is Auto-inhibited and Activated. Cell 2017, 169: 1303-1314.e18. PMID: 28602352, PMCID: PMC5473941, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.025.
FIRT: Filtered iterative reconstruction technique with information restorationChen Y, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Deng Y, Wang S, Zhang F, Sun F. FIRT: Filtered iterative reconstruction technique with information restoration. Journal Of Structural Biology 2016, 195: 49-61. PMID: 27134004, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2016.04.015.
Cryo-EM Reveals How Dynein Binds Dynactin and CargoCarter A, Urnavicius L, Zhang K, Foster H. Cryo-EM Reveals How Dynein Binds Dynactin and Cargo. Biophysical Journal 2016, 110: 8a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.11.095.
Gctf: Real-time CTF determination and correctionZhang K. Gctf: Real-time CTF determination and correction. Journal Of Structural Biology 2015, 193: 1-12. PMID: 26592709, PMCID: PMC4711343, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2015.11.003.
The structure of the dynactin complex and its interaction with dyneinUrnavicius L, Zhang K, Diamant AG, Motz C, Schlager MA, Yu M, Patel NA, Robinson CV, Carter AP. The structure of the dynactin complex and its interaction with dynein. Science 2015, 347: 1441-1446. PMID: 25814576, PMCID: PMC4413427, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa4080.
A PH Domain in ACAP1 Possesses Key Features of the BAR Domain in Promoting Membrane CurvaturePang X, Fan J, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Gao B, Ma J, Li J, Deng Y, Zhou Q, Egelman EH, Hsu VW, Sun F. A PH Domain in ACAP1 Possesses Key Features of the BAR Domain in Promoting Membrane Curvature. Developmental Cell 2014, 31: 73-86. PMID: 25284369, PMCID: PMC4198613, DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.08.020.
C-terminal motif within Sec7 domain regulates guanine nucleotide exchange activity via tuning protein conformationQiu B, Zhang K, Wang S, Sun F. C-terminal motif within Sec7 domain regulates guanine nucleotide exchange activity via tuning protein conformation. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications 2014, 446: 380-386. PMID: 24613384, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.02.125.
Cryo-EM structures of two bovine adenovirus type 3 intermediatesCheng L, Huang X, Li X, Xiong W, Sun W, Yang C, Zhang K, Wang Y, Liu H, Huang X, Ji G, Sun F, Zheng C, Zhu P. Cryo-EM structures of two bovine adenovirus type 3 intermediates. Virology 2014, 450: 174-181. PMID: 24503080, DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.12.012.
Structure Reveals Regulatory Mechanisms of a MaoC-Like Hydratase from Phytophthora capsici Involved in Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)Wang H, Zhang K, Zhu J, Song W, Zhao L, Zhang X. Structure Reveals Regulatory Mechanisms of a MaoC-Like Hydratase from Phytophthora capsici Involved in Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e80024. PMID: 24244597, PMCID: PMC3823801, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080024.
Flexible interwoven termini determine the thermal stability of thermosomesZhang K, Wang L, Liu Y, Chan KY, Pang X, Schulten K, Dong Z, Sun F. Flexible interwoven termini determine the thermal stability of thermosomes. Protein & Cell 2013, 4: 432-444. PMID: 23709365, PMCID: PMC3740188, DOI: 10.1007/s13238-013-3026-9.
Structural Insights into the Intrinsic Self-Assembly of Par-3 N-Terminal DomainZhang Y, Wang W, Chen J, Zhang K, Gao F, Gao B, Zhang S, Dong M, Besenbacher F, Gong W, Zhang M, Sun F, Feng W. Structural Insights into the Intrinsic Self-Assembly of Par-3 N-Terminal Domain. Structure 2013, 21: 997-1006. PMID: 23643951, DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2013.04.004.
Identification of SERPINB1 As a Physiological Inhibitor of Human Granzyme HWang L, Li Q, Wu L, Liu S, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhu P, Zhang H, Zhang K, Lou J, Liu P, Tong L, Sun F, Fan Z. Identification of SERPINB1 As a Physiological Inhibitor of Human Granzyme H. The Journal Of Immunology 2013, 190: 1319-1330. PMID: 23269243, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202542.
Atomic Model of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Cryo-Electron Microscopy and CrystallographyWang X, Xu F, Liu J, Gao B, Liu Y, Zhai Y, Ma J, Zhang K, Baker TS, Schulten K, Zheng D, Pang H, Sun F. Atomic Model of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Crystallography. PLOS Pathogens 2013, 9: e1003132. PMID: 23341770, PMCID: PMC3547835, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003132.
Atomic Model of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Cryo-Electron Microscopy and CrystallographySun F, Wang X, Xu F, Liu J, Gao B, Liu Y, Zhai Y, Ma J, Zhang K, Baker T, Schulten K, Zheng D, Pang H. Atomic Model of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Crystallography. Biophysical Journal 2013, 104: 414a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.11.2307.
Mechanistic Insights into Regulated Cargo Binding by ACAP1 Protein*Bai M, Pang X, Lou J, Zhou Q, Zhang K, Ma J, Li J, Sun F, Hsu VW. Mechanistic Insights into Regulated Cargo Binding by ACAP1 Protein*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2012, 287: 28675-28685. PMID: 22645133, PMCID: PMC3436524, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.378810.
Cryo-EM structure of a transcribing cypovirusYang C, Ji G, Liu H, Zhang K, Liu G, Sun F, Zhu P, Cheng L. Cryo-EM structure of a transcribing cypovirus. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 6118-6123. PMID: 22492979, PMCID: PMC3341035, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1200206109.
Structural Insights into the Substrate Specificity of Human Granzyme H: The Functional Roles of a Novel RKR MotifWang L, Zhang K, Wu L, Liu S, Zhang H, Zhou Q, Tong L, Sun F, Fan Z. Structural Insights into the Substrate Specificity of Human Granzyme H: The Functional Roles of a Novel RKR Motif. The Journal Of Immunology 2012, 188: 765-773. PMID: 22156497, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101381.
ATOM 1.0: A GPU Powered Package for Electron Tomography ReconstructionCHU Q, ZHANG K, WAN X, ZHANG C, ZHANG Y, ZHANG G, SHEN B, LU X, ZHAO K, CHU X, ZHANG F, SUN F. ATOM 1.0: A GPU Powered Package for Electron Tomography Reconstruction. 生物物理学报 2011, 27: 231-241. DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1260.2011.00231.
Three-dimensional reconstruction using an adaptive simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique in electron tomographyWan X, Zhang F, Chu Q, Zhang K, Sun F, Yuan B, Liu Z. Three-dimensional reconstruction using an adaptive simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique in electron tomography. Journal Of Structural Biology 2011, 175: 277-287. PMID: 21699984, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2011.06.002.
Crystal Structure of a Novel Esterase Rv0045c from Mycobacterium tuberculosisZheng X, Guo J, Xu L, Li H, Zhang D, Zhang K, Sun F, Wen T, Liu S, Pang H. Crystal Structure of a Novel Esterase Rv0045c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLOS ONE 2011, 6: e20506. PMID: 21637775, PMCID: PMC3102732, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020506.
Autotransporter passenger domain secretion requires a hydrophobic cavity at the extracellular entrance of the β-domain poreZhai Y, Zhang K, Huo Y, Zhu Y, Zhou Q, Lu J, Black I, Pang X, Roszak AW, Zhang X, Isaacs NW, Sun F. Autotransporter passenger domain secretion requires a hydrophobic cavity at the extracellular entrance of the β-domain pore. Biochemical Journal 2011, 435: 577-587. PMID: 21306302, DOI: 10.1042/bj20101548.
Substrate Binding Properties of Thermosome ATcpnβFrom Acidianus TengchongensisWANG L, ZHANG K, FAN Z, DONG Z, SUN F. Substrate Binding Properties of Thermosome ATcpnβFrom Acidianus Tengchongensis. 生物化学与生物物理进展 2011, 38: 151-158. DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1206.2010.00504.
Atomic model of a cypovirus built from cryo-EM structure provides insight into the mechanism of mRNA cappingCheng L, Sun J, Zhang K, Mou Z, Huang X, Ji G, Sun F, Zhang J, Zhu P. Atomic model of a cypovirus built from cryo-EM structure provides insight into the mechanism of mRNA capping. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2011, 108: 1373-1378. PMID: 21220303, PMCID: PMC3029759, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1014995108.
Crystal Structure of Group II Chaperonin in the Open StateHuo Y, Hu Z, Zhang K, Wang L, Zhai Y, Zhou Q, Lander G, Zhu J, He Y, Pang X, Xu W, Bartlam M, Dong Z, Sun F. Crystal Structure of Group II Chaperonin in the Open State. Structure 2010, 18: 1270-1279. PMID: 20947016, PMCID: PMC3048791, DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2010.07.009.
Five mutations in N-terminus confer thermostability on mesophilic xylanaseZhang S, Zhang K, Chen X, Chu X, Sun F, Dong Z. Five mutations in N-terminus confer thermostability on mesophilic xylanase. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications 2010, 395: 200-206. PMID: 20361933, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.03.159.
Development and Frontier of Electron Microscopy 3D Reconstruction.Zhang K, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Ji G, and Sun F. Development and Frontier of Electron Microscopy 3D Reconstruction. Acta Biophys Sin 2010, 26:533-559.
3D Structural Investigation of Caveolae From Porcine Aorta Endothelial Cell by Electron Tomography.Sun S, Zhang K, Xu W, Wang G, Chen J, and Sun F. 3D Structural Investigation of Caveolae From Porcine Aorta Endothelial Cell by Electron Tomography. Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2009, 36:729-735.

Edit Profile

Jack Zhang, PhD

Contact Information

Mailing Address

Research & Publications

Biography