University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · GeneticsZhang Lab
Zhao Zhang · Dallas, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Zhao Zhang's lab focuses on understanding lipid metabolism and its implications for diseases like atherosclerosis and liver disease. They study how a specific protein, HELZ2, regulates the degradation of Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) mRNA in the liver, which is crucial for managing cholesterol levels. By investigating genetic variations and their effects on lipid homeostasis, the lab aims to find new therapeutic strategies to treat metabolic disorders.
lipid metabolismApolipoprotein Batherosclerosissteatotic liver diseasegenetic screeningmRNA degradationhigh-fat diettherapeutic targetsmouse models
Research Aims
3AIM 01Identify the mechanism of steatotic liver disease development in Helz2 mutant mice.
AIM 02Determine HELZ2's role in regulating Apob mRNA.
AIM 03Investigate how human HELZ2 mutations affect APOB regulation.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic screeningmRNA analysismouse model experimentationbiochemical assaysimmunoprecipitationPCRcell culturemutagenesis techniquesdata analysis with Python
Output against the department
Publications158top 49% of dept.126th of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.2kbottom 17% of dept.216th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
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