Dr. Zhiqiang Molly Wang

Zhiqiang Molly Wang
Dr. Zhiqiang Molly Wang
Ph.D. Fudan University, 1999
Professor
138 Science Research Building
zwang3@kent.edu
330-672-3352
 

Our research interests in a broad sense are to understand the biological functions of certain proteins from their structural point of view. Particularly, we focus on structure-function relationships of metalloenzymes, as well as protein-protein interaction and protein-ligand interactions that are related to signal transductions in cells. Our long-term goal is to translate these basic research studies into the discovery of new drugs and therapeutic methods to treat human diseases.

Our research interests are in the following areas:

  1. Regulation of Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Bacterial Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS)
  2. Cellular Metabolic Pathway in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
  3. Develop Copper Chelating Nanoparticles for PAH and Cancer
  4. Receptor and Protein Interactions in NO Signaling
  5. Structure-function Studies of Heme O2 and NO Sensors
  6. Mechanism of NOS-related Endothelial Dysfunction

Selected Publications:

  1. Ding, Y., Sun, D., Wang, G., Yu H., Meng, S., Chen, J., Xie, Y., Wang, Z.Q. “In vivo study of doxorubicin-loaded cell penetrating peptide-modified pH-sensitive liposomes: biocompatibility, bio-distribution, and pharmacodynamics in BALB/C-nude mice bearing human breast tumors ", Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 11, 1–13, 2017.
  2. Wang, Z.Q., Haque, M.M., Binder, K., Sharma, M., Wei, C.-C., and Stuehr, D. J. “Engineering nitric oxide synthase chimeras to function as NO dioxygenases.” J Inorg. Biochem., 158, 122-30, 2016.
  3. Ding, Y., Sun, D., Wang, G., Yang, H., Xu, H., Chen, J., Xie, Y., Wang, Z.Q. “An efficient PEGylated liposomal nanocarrier containing cell penetrating peptide and pH-sensitive hydrazone bond for enhancing tumor-targeted drug delivery", International Journal of Nanomedicine, 10, 6199-6124, 2015.
  4. Jensen, D., Reynold, N., Yang, Y.P., Shakya S, Wang, Z.Q., Stuehr, D. J., and Wei, C.-C., “The Exchanged EF-hands in Calmodulin and Troponin C Chimeras Alter the Induced Hydrophobicity and Impair the Interaction with: A Spectroscopic, Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study.”  BMC Biochemistry, 16:6, 2015.
  5. Perera V, Liu, H, Wang, Z.-Q. and Huang, S. “Cell-permeable Au@ZnMoS4 NPs Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Toward a Novel Cellular Copper Detoxifying Drug for Wilson’s Disease”. Chemistry of Materials, 25, 4703-09, 2013.
  6. Wang, Z.-Q., and Stuehr D. J. “Calcium Signaling: NO Synthase”, In: Lennarz, W.J. and Lane, M.D. (eds.) The Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 3, pp. 342-346. Waltham, MA: Academic Press, 2013.
  7. Wang, Z.-Q., Tejero J., Wei, C.-C., Haque, M.M., Santolini J., Fadlalla M., Biswas A., and Stuehr, D. J. “Arg375 tunes tetrahydrobiopterin functions and modulates catalysis by inducible nitric oxide synthase.”      J. Inorg. Biochem. 108, 203-15, 2012.
  8. Tejero, J., Biswas, A., Haque, M.M., Wang, Z.-Q., Hemann, C., Varnado, C.L., Novince, Z., Hille, R., Goodwin. D.C., Stuehr, D.J. “Mesohaem substitution reveals how haem electronic properties can influence the kinetic and catalytic parameters of neuronal NO synthase.”  Biochem. J. 433, 163-74, 2011.
  9. Wang, Z.-Q., Wei, C.-C., and Stuehr, D. J. “How Does a Valine Residue That Modulates Heme-NO Binding Kinetics in Inducible NO Synthase Regulate Enzyme Catalysis” J Inorg. Biochem. 104, 349-56, 2010.
  10. Wang, Z.-Q., Lawson R. J., Madhavan, B. R., Wei, C.-C., Crane, B. R., Munro, A.W., and Stuehr, D. J. “Bacterial Flavodoxin Support Nitric Oxide Production by Bacillus Subtilis Nitric-Oxide Synthase.” J. Biol. Chem., 282, 2196-202, 2007.
  11. Wang, Z.-Q., Wei, C.-C., Santolini, J., Koustubh, P., Wang, Q. and Stuehr, D. J. “A Tryptophan That Modulates Tetrahydrobiopterin-Dependent Electron Transfer in Nitric Oxide Synthase Regulates Enzyme Catalysis by Additional Mechanisms.” Biochemistry, 44, 4676-90, 2005.
  12. Wang, Z.-Q., Wei, C.-C., Sharma, M., Pant, K., Crane, B. R., and Stuehr, D. J. “A Conserved Val to Ile Switch Near the Heme Pocket of Animal and Bacterial Nitric-Oxide Synthases Helps Determine Their Distinct Catalytic Profiles. J. Biol. Chem., 279, 19018-25, 2004.
  13. Wang, Z.-Q., Wang Y.-H., Wang W.-H., Xue, L.-L., Wu, X.-Z., Xie, Y., and Huang Z.-X., "The Effect of Mutation at Valine-45 on the Stability and Redox Potentials of Trypsin-cleaved Cytochrome b5", Biophysical Chemistry, 83(1), 3-17, 2000.
  14. Wang, Z.-Q., Wang Y.-H., Wang W.-H., Xie, Y., and Huang Z.-X., "Effect of Mutation at Val45 and Pro40 of Cytochrome b5 on Protein's Stability", J. Inorganic Chemistry, 74, 169, 1999.
  15. Wang, Z.-Q., Zhang S.-G. Liu, Q.-M., and Ni, J.-Z., "Studies on The Action of Rare Earth with Bovine Serum Albumin in Multimolecular System", Journal of Rare Earth (Special Issue), 573, 1995.