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Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Associate Professor, Pharmacology Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research Interests

  • Lipid signaling and small GTPases

Research Synopsis

Our research interest is focused on understanding the roles of endogenous small molecules, particularly the phosphatidylinositides (PIs), in cell signaling events that are responsible for both normal development and diseases. PIs are one of the most versatile signaling molecules, yet are difficult to study due to their dynamic metabolism in the cells and the lack of available reagents and assays for PIs and their metabolic enzymes. Consequently, how PI signaling pathways regulate normal development and diseases is still poorly understood. We are interested in three different approaches to address this question: 1) develop efficient methods and technologies to synthesize PIs and identify their interacting proteins; 2) develop small molecule sensors and inhibitors for different PI metabolic enzymes; and 3) investigate the cellular functions of known and unknown PIs, particularly how PIs synergize with small GTPases in regulating signal transduction.

Publications

View complete list of publications in PubMed
 

Qisheng Zhang, PhD
  • Phone Number

    919-966-9687 (Office Phone)

  • Address

    2020 Genetic Medicine

    120 Mason Farm Road

    CB # 7363

    Chapel Hill, NC 27599