Zhiwei Huang: PhD, Professor

Phone: 86-0451-86403163

Email: huangzhiwei@hit.edu.cn

Research Area: Structural Biology and Signal Transduction

Lab Home: http://slst.hit.edu.cn/research/labs/structural-biology-and-si

Dr. Zhiwei Huang is a professor of School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology. After finishing his PhD thesis from Jijie Chai’s laboratory at National Institute of Biological Sciences in 2008, he went to Laurie H. Glimcher’s laboratory at Harvard University to receive his postdoctoral training. In March 2012 he joined the School and Life Science and Technology at Harbin Institute of Technology as professor.

Research Description

We use multi-disciplinary approaches including structural biology, biochemistry, virology, cell biology, and mouse genetics in our studies. Our research interests focus on:

1). Investigates the structure-function relationships of macromolecules (soluble & membrane proteins) of interest in the field of immunology and infectious diseases. Our research focus on understanding the molecular basis of important pathogen-host interactions. We are interested in studying structure-function relationship of soluble/membrane protein complexes involved in immunology and infectious diseases signaling pathways and using structural information to rational design therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases.

2). Studies the molecular mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas systems. Most of archaea and many bacteria encode a diverse set of CRISPR-Cas systems as an adaptive immune system to defend themselves against phage infection. After integration of short segments of invader-derived DNAs (or RNAs in some cases) into a CRISPR array within the host genome, expression and processing of the precursor CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) produces mature crRNAs. The mature crRNAs then guide an effector protein or a Cas protein complex, to target and cleave foreign DNAs (or RNAs in some cases) bearing complementary sequences. We are interested in figuring out how CRISPR-Cas systems work, and engineering CRISPR-Cas systems for precisely genome editing applications.

3). Identifies regulators and signal transduction events involved in cell death during HIV or bacterial infection. Pyroptosis is triggered by various pathological stimuli, such as pathogen infection, which is important for controlling microbial infection. But it is largely unknown for the mechanism on this pathogen-induced lytic form of cell death. Our efforts are focused on identifying novel signaling components and signaling pathways in pyroptosis.

Publications  (^* Co-first   author, ^#  Corresponding   author）

1. De  Dong*, Kuan Ren*,  Xiaolin Qiu*, Jianlin Zheng, Minghui Guo, Xiaoyu Guan,  Hongnan Liu, Ningning Li,  Bailing Zhang, Daijun Yang, Chuang Ma, Shuo Wang, Dan  Wu, Yunfeng Ma, Shilong  Fan, Jiawei Wang, Ning Gao and Zhiwei   Huang^#（2016）.  Crystal structure  of CRISPR-Cpf1 in complex with CRISPR RNA (crRNA).  Nature.  532, 522-526.

2. Yingying  Guo*, Liyong  Dong*, Xiaolin Qiu*, Yishu Wang, Bailing Zhang, Hongnan Liu,  You Yu,  Yi Zang, Maojun Yang  and Zhiwei Huang# (2014). Structural basis for hijacking  CBF-β and CUL5 E3  ligase complex by HIV-1 Vif. Nature. 505, 229-233. (This  paper is featured with  News & Views, Nature. 505, 167-168, highlighted in  Nature Structural &  Molecular Biology, 21, 117 (2014))

3. Jae-Hyuck  Shim, Matthew  B. Greenblatt, Weiguo Zou, Zhiwei   Huang,  Marc N. Wein, Nicholas  Brady, Dorothy Hu, Jean Charron, Heather R. Brodkin,  Gregory A. Petsko, Dennis  Zaller, Bo Zhai, Steven Gygi, Laurie H. Glimcher and  Dallas C. Jones (2013).  Schnurri-3 regulates ERK downstream of WNT signaling in   osteoblasts. J  Clin  Invest.   doi:10.1172/JCI69443.

4. Zehan  Hu,  Chuangye  Yan,  Peiyuan  Liu,  Zhiwei   Huang,  Rui  Ma,  Chenlu  Zhang,  Ruiyong  Wang,  Yueteng  Zhang,  Fabio  Martinon,  Di  Miao,  Haiteng  Deng,  Jiawei  Wang,  Junbiao  Chang,  Jijie  Chai (2013).  Crystal structure  of NLRC4 reveals its autoinhibition mechanism.  Science.  12, 172-175.

5. Weiguo  Zou, Xi Chen, Jae  Shim, Zhiwei   Huang,  Nicholas Brady, Dorothy  Hu, Rebecca Drapp, Kirsten Sigrist, Laurie H. Glimcher,  Dallas Jones (2011). The  E3 ubiquitin ligase Wwp2 regulates craniofacial  development through  monoubiquitination of Goosecoid. Nature  Cell  Biology.  13, 59-65.

6. Chen  D, Lei L, Flores  R, Zhiwei   Huang,  Wu Z, Chai J, Zhong G.  (2010). Autoprocessing and self-activation of the  secreted protease CPAF in  Chlamydia-infected cells. Microbial   Pathogene­sis.  1(10), 1-10.

7. Zhiwei   Huang and  Jijie Chai (2010).  Mapping the selection mechanisms by bacterial GEFs.  Virulence.  1(2), 1-4.

8. Zhiwei   Huang*,  Sarah E. Sutton*, Adam  J. Wallenfang, Robert C. Orchard, Xiaojing Wu, Yingcai  Feng, Jijie Chai and Neal  M. Alto (2009). Structural insights into host GTPase  isoform selection by a  family of bacterial GEF mimics. Nature  Structural &  Molecular Biology.  16(8), 853 – 860. (This  publication was selected as cover story, and  high­lighted by Nature  China）

9. Zhiwei   Huang,  Yingcai Feng, Ding Chen,  Xiaojing Wu, Xiaojun Wang, Xingguo Xiao, Wenhui Li,  Niu Huang, Lichuan Gu,  Guangming Zhong and Jijie Chai (2008). Structural basis  for activation and  inhibition of the secreted chlamydia protease CPAF.  Cell  Host &  Microbe.  4(6), 529-542. (This  publication was selected as a research “highlight” by  Nature China）

10. Maikke  B.  Ohlson, Zhiwei   Huang,  Neal M. Alto, Jack E.  Dixon, Jijie Chai and Samuel I. Miller (2008). Structure  and Function of  Salmonella SifA Indicate that Its Interactions with SKIP, SseJ,  and RhoA Family  GTPases Induce Endosomal Tubulation. Cell  Host &  Microbe.  4(5), 434-446