The OSUCCC – James Zheng Lab’s team is dedicated to developing new cancer therapeutics at the atomic level by better understanding the mechanisms of cancer-related metabolic disorders and epigenetic dysregulation.
During Dr. Zheng’s PhD training, he uncovered the unique biochemical and genetic basis of microbial secondary metabolite biosynthesis. He then reprogrammed these pathways to produce more potent anticancer and anti-infective natural product drugs.
And then, during his postdoctoral training, Dr. Zheng discovered a new histone epigenetic modification induced by a cancer cell metabolite, called methylglyoxal, and its unique function in tumorigenesis. Based on the regulatory mechanisms of this new epigenetic modification, Dr. Zheng uncovered two new target proteins (DJ-1 and PAD4) for breast cancer treatment.
Recent publications include:
- Nature Communications
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A.
- Protein & Cell
- Cell Chemical Biology (August 2015)
- Cell Chemical Biology (March 2016)
- Cell Chemical Biology (June 2018)