Dr. Zou’s laboratory focuses on Epigenetics in the lung and the deregulation of epigenetic enzymes in pulmonary inflammation and infection. One of the ongoing studies is to understand how histone O-palmitoylation acts as a new epigenetic mark to regulate gene transcription. A related study area is to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of deregulation of epigenetic related enzymes at protein level in pulmonary infection, pneumonia, acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome by utilizing the state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches and techniques. The long-term goal of the research aims at unveiling of the molecular behavior at protein level in pathophysiological settings and identifying Epigenetics-oriented therapeutic strategy for multi-drug resistant infectious pulmonary diseases.
- MD, Nanhua University School of Medicine, China, 1986
- MSc, Medical Parasitology, Huazhong S&T University Tongji Medical School, China, 1991
- PhD, Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Japan, 2000
Education & Training
Zou C, Synan MJ, Li J, Xiong S, Manni ML, Liu Y, Chen BB, Zhao Y, Shiva S, Tyurina YY, Jiang J, Lee JS, Das S, Ray A, Ray P, Kagan VE, Mallampalli RK. LPS impairs oxygen utilization in epithelia by triggering degradation of the mitochondrial enzyme Alcat1. Journal of Cell Science. 2016; 129(1): 51-64.
Zou C, Li J, Xiong S, Chen Y, Wu Q, Li X, Weathington NM, Han S, Snavely C, Chen BB, Mallampalli RK. Mortality factor 4 like 1 protein mediates epithelial cell death in a mouse model of pneumonia. Science Translational Medicine. 2015; 7(311): 311ra171.
Chen W, Xiong S, Li J, Li X, Liu Y, Zou C, Mallampalli RK. The ubiquitin E3 ligase SCF-FBXO24 recognizes deacetylated nucleoside diphosphate kinase A to enhance its degradation. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 2015; 35(6): 1001-13.
Chen Y, Li J, Dunn S, Xiong S, Chen W, Zhao Y, Chen BB, Mallampalli RK, Zou C. Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) protein-dependent deacetylation of mortality factor 4-like 1 (MORF4L1) protein enhances its homodimerization. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2014; 289(10): 7092-8.
Zou C, Mallampalli RK. Regulation of histone modifying enzymes by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Cell Research. 2014; 1843(4): 694-702.
Zou C, Chen Y, Smith RM, Snavely C, Li J, Coon TA, Chen BB, Zhao Y, Mallampalli RK. SCF(Fbxw15) mediates histone acetyltransferase binding to origin recognition complex (HBO1) ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation to regulate cell proliferation. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2013; 288(9): 6306-16.
Zou C, Ellis BM, Smith RM, Chen BB, Zhao Y, Mallampalli RK. Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase I (Lpcat1) catalyzes histone protein O-palmitoylation to regulate mRNA synthesis. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011; 286(32): 28019-25.
Zou C, Butler PL, Coon TA, Smith RM, Hammen G, Zhao Y, Chen BB, Mallampalli RK. LPS impairs phospholipid synthesis by triggering beta-transducin repeat-containing protein (beta-TrCP)-mediated polyubiquitination and degradation of the surfactant enzyme acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase I (LPCAT1). The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011; 286(4): 2719-27.
Zou C, Ma J, Wang X, Guo L, Zhu Z, Stoops J, Eaker AE, Johnson CJ, Strom S, Michalopoulos GK, DeFrances MC, Zarnegar R. Lack of Fas antagonism by Met in human fatty liver disease. Nature Medicine. 2007; 13(9): 1078-85.
