Graduated with a bachelor's degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2015 and earned a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2019. From 2019 to 2022, served as a postdoctoral fellow and assistant researcher at Westlake University. In November 2022, joined the Division of Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Science and Technology of China to establish the Laboratory of Macromolecular Structure and Function. The research group employs cutting-edge biochemistry and structural biology approaches to unravel the mechanisms of macromolecular machines critical to life processes, with a special emphasis on RNA-processing enzymes. Our aim is to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and drive the development of new therapeutics.
Main Research Directions
1. Molecular mechanisms of enzymes involved in RNA processing, transport and decay.
2. The working mechanisms of other important macromolecular machines.
Representative Publications (first author, #corresponding author)
1. Xiaofeng Zhang*, Chuangye Yan*#, Jing Hang*, Lorenzo Finci, Jianlin Lei and Yigong Shi# (2017). An Atomic Structure of the Human Spliceosome. CELL (Cover Story)
2. Xiechao Zhan*, Chuangye Yan*, Xiaofeng Zhang*, Jianlin Lei and Yigong Shi# (2018). Structure of a Human Catalytic Step I Spliceosome. Science
3. Xiaofeng Zhang*, Chuangye Yan*, Xiechao Zhan*, Lijia Li, Jianlin Lei and Yigong Shi# (2018). Structure of the Human Activated Spliceosome in Three Conformational States. Cell Research (Cover Story)
4. Xiaofeng Zhang*, Chuangye Yan*, Xiechao Zhan*, Wenyu Zhang*, Dongliang Liu, Jianlin Lei and Yigong Shi# (2019). Structures of the human spliceosomes before and after release of the ligated exon. Cell Research
5. Jianhua Luo*, Qi Yang*, Xiaofeng Zhang*, Yuanyuan Zhang*, Li Wan*, Xiechao Zhan, Yao Zhou, Liuqing He, Dnayang Li, Dazhi Jin, Ying Zhen, Jing Huang, Min Dong, Yanyan Li#, and Liang Tao# (2022). TFPI is an intestinal glandular receptor for C. difficile toxin B from the hypervirulent clade 2 lineages. CELL
6. Xiaofeng Zhang*#, Fenghua Yang*, Xiechao Zhan*, Tong Bian*, Zhihan Xing, Yichen Lu and Yigong Shi# (2023). Structural Basis of Pre-tRNA Intron Removal by Human tRNA Splicing Endonuclease. Molecular Cell
7. Xiaofeng Zhang*#, Xiechao Zhan*, Tong Bian*, Fenghua Yang*, Pan Li, Yichen Lu, Zhihan Xing, Rongyan Fan, Qiangfeng Zhang, Yigong Shi# (2024). Structural Insights into Branch Site Proofreading by Human Spliceosome. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
8. Xiechao Zhan*, Chuangye Yan*, Xiaofeng Zhang*, Wenyu Zhang, Jianlin Lei and Yigong Shi# (2018). Structures of the human pre-catalytic spliceosome and its precursor spliceosome. Cell Research
9. Lorenzo Finci#, Xiaofeng Zhang, Xiuliang Huang, Qiang Zhou, Jennifer Tsai, Teng Teng, Betty Chan, Sean Irwin, Craig Karr, Andrew Cook, Silvia Buonamici, and Nicholas A. Larsen# (2018). The Cryo-EM Structure of the SF3b Spliceosome Complex Bound to a Splicing Modulator Reveals a Pre-mRNA Substrate Competitive Mechanism of Action. Genes & Development
10. Xiechao Zhan, Yicheng Lu, Xiaofeng Zhang, Chuanye Yan and Yigong Shi# (2022). Mechanism of exon ligation by human spliceosome. Molecular Cell
11. Wenyu Zhang, Xiaofeng Zhang, Xiechao Zhan, Rui Bai, Jianlin Lei, Chuangye Yan, Yigong Shi# (2024). Structural insights into human exon-defined spliceosome prior to activation. Cell Research
12. Chengcheng Wang#, Zhouyan Guo, Xiechao Zhan, Fenghua Yang and Xiaofeng Zhang# (2020). Structure of the yeast Swi/Snf complex in a nucleosome-free state. Nature Communications
13. Fenghua Yang, Tong Bian, Xiechao Zhan, Zhe Chen, Zhihan Xing, Nicolas A. Larsen, Xiaofeng Zhang#, and Yigong Shi# (2023). Mechanisms of the RNA Helicases DDX42 and DDX46 in Human U2 snRNP Assembly. Nature Communications
For the complete publication list, visit:
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=wn-h3boAAAAJ
Recruitment
The lab is actively seeking postdoctoral and associate researchers with expertise in biochemistry, structural biology, or cell biology, offering competitive compensation packages. Undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply for master's or doctoral programs within the lab.
Contact
Phone: +86 18515284520
E-mail: xiaofengzhang@ustc.edu.cn