Xinzheng Zhang

Biography

1999-2003: B.S., Peking University, Physics Department. 2003-2008: Ph.D, Peking University, Physics Department. 2009-2014: Postdoctoral Research, Purdue University. 2014-present: Principal Investigator, CAS Institute of Biophysics. 

Research Interest

Cryo-EM is developing fast not only on data process software but also on hardware such as phase plate and direct electron detector.  It is playing more and more important role in the modern structure biology.　The molecular weights of the biology samples that are able to be reconstructed at a high resolution (better than 4 Å) are extended from 103~105kD (virus sample for most cases) to 102kD (protein complexes). 1. Cryo-EM studies of structure and function of micromolecules　 We will use cryo-EM to study the high resolution three-dimensional structures of the important protein complexes at a physiological condition to reveal the relationships between structure and function at an atomic level. 2. Developing cryo-EM We will develop Cryo-EM to improve the resolution of viruses and protein complexes reconstructions and will extend the usage of cryo-EM. 3. Cryo-EM studies of virus structure, virus entry and virus neutralizing We are interested in studying the three dimensional structure of the viruses by using single particle method.  We are also interested in the structure of viral cellular protein complexes such as virus-antibody complexes and virus-receptor complexes.