Institute of Molecular Physiology
zhang_adam@szbl.ac.cn
Molecular biology,Cell Biology
Junior Principal Investigator
Postdoc Fellow
Ph.D.
B.S.
Epigenetics, genomics, 3D genomics, transcription regulation and disease, mitosis, aging.
• Established an in-vitro induction and differentiation system for vascular smooth muscle cells from premature aging HGPS patients.
• Revealed the molecular mechanism of HGPS smooth muscle cell death, providing noval therapeutic potential for the treatment of HGPS patients.
• Revealed the process of chromatin 3D structural reconfiguration during the mitosis to G1 phase transition; uncovered the dynamic process of post-mitotic chromatin recruitment of the architectural protein CTCF and cohesin ring complex; provides noval supports for the regulation role of loop extrusion model in post-mitotic chromatin 3D structural reconfiguration.
• Uncovered the relationship between chromatin 3D structural reconfiguration and transcription reactivation after mitosis.
• Uncovered the role of architecture protein CTCF in the reconfiguration of chromatin 3D structure after mitosis.
Has been publishing in prestigious journals includingNature,PNAS,Aging Celletc.

Reestablishment of chromatin A/B compartments during the mitosis to G1 phase transition
Preprints:
Aboreden, N. G., H. Zhao, F. Shan, F. Liu,H. Zhang*, and G. A. Blobel*. "Cis-Regulatory Chromatin Contacts Form De Novo in the Absence of Loop Extrusion." bioRxiv (Feb 8 2025). https://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.12.632634.
Primary publications:
Zhao, H., L. Shu, S. Qin, F. Lyu, F. Liu, E. Lin, S. Xia, B. Wang, M. Wang, F. Shan, Y. Lin, L. Zhang, Y. Gu, G. A. Blobel, K. Huang*, andH. Zhang*."Extensive Mutual Influences of Smc Complexes Shape 3D Genome Folding."Nature(Feb 26 2025).https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08638-3.
Zhao, H., Y. Lin, E. Lin, F. Liu, L. Shu, D. Jing, B. Wang, M. Wang, F. Shan, L. Zhang, J. C. Lam, S. C. Midla, B. M. Giardine, C. A. Keller, R. C. Hardison, G. A. Blobel*, andH. Zhang*."Genome Folding Principles Uncovered in Condensin-Depleted Mitotic Chromosomes."Nat Genet(May 27 2024). https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41588-024-01759-x.
Zhang, H*., J. Lam, D. Zhang, Y. Lan, M. W. Vermunt, C. A. Keller, B. Giardine, R. C. Hardison, and G. A. Blobel. "Ctcf and Transcription Influence Chromatin Structure Re-Configuration after Mitosis."Nat Commun12, no. 1 (Aug 27 2021): 5157. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25418-5.
Zhang, H., D. J. Emerson, T. G. Gilgenast, K. R. Titus, Y. Lan, P. Huang, D. Zhang, H. Wang, C. A. Keller, B. Giardine, R. C. Hardison, J. E. Phillips-Cremins, and G. A. Blobel. "Chromatin Structure Dynamics During the Mitosis-to-G1 Phase Transition."Nature576, no. 7785 (Dec 2019): 158-62. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1778-y.
Zhang, H., L. Sun, K. Wang, D. Wu, M. Trappio, C. Witting, and K. Cao. "Loss of H3k9me3 Correlates with Atm Activation and Histone H2ax Phosphorylation Deficiencies in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome."PLoS One11, no. 12 (2016): e0167454. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167454.
Zhang, H., Z. M. Xiong, and K. Cao. "Mechanisms Controlling the Smooth Muscle Cell Death in Progeria Via Down-Regulation of Poly(Adp-Ribose) Polymerase 1."Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A111, no. 22 (Jun 3 2014): E2261-70. https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1320843111.
Review Articles:
Zhang, H*., and G. A. Blobel. "Genome Folding Dynamics During the M-to-G1-Phase Transition."Curr Opin Genet Dev80 (Jun 2023): 102036.https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gde.2023.102036.
Zhang, H., J. E. Kieckhaefer, and K. Cao. "Mouse Models of Laminopathies."Aging Cell12, no. 1 (Feb 2013): 2-10. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acel.12021.
Contact
Address: Gaoke Innovation Center,Guangming District, Shenzhen
Phone: +86-755-86967710
Email: webmaster@szbl.ac.cn
Postal Code: 518132
Copyright © 2025 Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. All Rights Reserved.