Assistant Professor Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Room 411, Evans Hall
4170 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 871-6588 (voice)
(215) 871-6865 (fax)
dianzhengzh@pcom.edu
Education
- PhD Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona
- MS Biochemistry, Hunan Medical University
- BS Chemistry, Qufu Teaching University
Dr. Dianzheng Zhang assumed an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology at PCOM in 2006 after three and a half years of postdoctoral research in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Zhang's general research interests are in the nutrient control of gene expression (transcriptional and translational) in health and diseases. As living organisms we continuously exchange chemical components with the environment; through this exchange, nutrients are implicated in the regulation of gene expression and cell fates, which ultimately confer life or death. With increasing knowledge of the importance of nutrition in our aging population, medicine is shifting its focus from the treatment of acute diseases to the prevention of cancer and chronic diseases. It has been estimated that thirty percent of all cancers could be prevented by attention to dietary factors. Dr. Zhang is particularly interested in the regulation of gene expression by micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, as well as phytochemicals. Presently, Dr. Zhang's research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of different phytochemicals in prostate cancer chemoprevention. Presently, there is a technician, an MS student and a second year DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) student working in Dr. Zhang's laboratory.
In addition, Dr. Zhang has recently accepted a visiting professor position at the Central South University in the People's Republic of China, which will foster international collaborations in both medical teaching and research.
Publications
Zhang, D., Cho, E. and Wong, J. (2007) A critical role for the co-repressor N-CoR in
erythroid differentiation and heme synthesis. Cell Research 17 (9): 804-14
Li, J., Zhang, D., Fu, J., Huang, Z. and Wong, J. (2007) Structural and functional analysis of
androgen receptor in chromatin. Molecular Endocrinology (2007 Jan 16, Epub ahead
of print)
Geiser D.L., Zhang, D., Winzerling, J. J. (2006) Secreted ferritin: Mosquito defense against
iron overload? Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 36 (3): 177-187
Zhang, D., Yoon, H. and Wong, J. (2005) JMJD2A is a novel N-CoR interacting protein and is
involved in repression of the human transcription factor Achaete Scute-Like Homologue-2
(ASCL2/HASH2). Molecular and Cellular Biology 25 (15): 6404-6414
Thompson, P. R., Wang, D., Wang, L., Fulco, M., Pediconi, N., Zhang, D., An, W., Ge Q.,
Roeder, R.G., Wong, J., Levrero M., Sartorelli V., Cotter R. J., Cole P.A. (2004) Regulation
of the p300 HAT domain via a novel activation loop. Nature Structural and Molecular
Biology 11(4): 308-415
Mayo, J., Kohlhepp, E., Zhang, D., and Winzerling, J. (2004) Effects of Sham air and
cigarette smoke on A549 lung cells implications for iron-mediated oxidative damage.
American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
284(4): L866-876
Zhang, D., Dimopoulos, G., Wolf, A., Minana, B., Kafatos, F., and Winzerling, J. (2002)
Cloning and molecular characterization of two mosquito iron regulatory protein 1
genes. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 32 (5): 579-589
Gailer, J., George, G., Pickering, I., Prince R., Kohlhepp, P., Zhang, D., F. Walker, A. and
Winzerling, J. (2001) Human cytosolic iron regulatory protein 1 contains a linear
iron-sulfur cluster. Journal of American Chemical Society 123 (41): 10121-10122
Zhang, D., Albert, D., Kohlhepp P., Pham, D. Q-D., and Winzerling, J. J. (2001) Repression
of Manduca sexta ferritin synthesis by IRP1/IRE interaction. Insect Molecular Biology
10(6): 531-539
Zhang, D., Ferris, C., Gailer, J., Kohlhepp, P., and Winzerling, J. (2001) Manduca sexta IRP1:
Molecular characterization and in vivo response to iron. Insect Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology 32 (1): 85-96
Click
here for a full list of Dr. Zhang's publications.
