Xiaoting Zhang
Title: Assistant Professor
Address:
Vontz Center for Molecular Studies
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
3125 Eden Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0521
Tel: (513) 558-3017
Email: zhangxt@ucmail.uc.edu
Xiaoting Zhang, Assistant Professor of Cancer and Cell Biology, joined University of Cincinnati in 2007 from the Rockefeller University in New York City. Dr. Zhang's laboratory is aimed to understand the molecular mechanism of the gene expression regulation by gene- and cell type- specific transcriptional cofactors in health and diseases. Cellular events from cell growth, differentiation and homeostasis to organ development and functions are largely achieved through differential regulation of the expression of specific genes. Expression of these genes is precisely controlled, primarily at the level of transcription, while aberrant regulation of their expression often results in diseases, including cancer, type II diabetes and obesity. The lab is focused currently on a 30-subunit transcriptional coactivator complex called Mediator that has recently emerged as the central player to directly transduce signals from transcription factors to the transcription machinery. Biochemical analyses of this complex have revealed an unexpected heterogeneity, subunit composition complexity and functional specificity of the Mediator complex. The Zhang laboratory has found that Mediator complex contains distinct subpopulations that can be differentiated by the presence or absence of a group of newly identified subunits. Intriguingly, these Mediator subpopulations are selectively recruited to specific target genes promoter by individual transcriptional factors (e.g. ERa vs p53) upon activation. Furthermore, the Zhang laboratory has recently discovered that the expression and posttranslational modifications of individual subunits as well as the composition of the Mediator complexes are modulated at different developmental stages, and during cell differentiation and malignancy. The Zhang lab is currently investigating the structure and function of the Mediator complexes, as well as its regulation and des-regulation in above mentioned diseases by utilizing a combination of biochemical, cellular and mouse genetic approaches by developing conditional knockout and mutant knockin mice.
Recent Publications via PubMed