The newly rising synthetic biology is expected to solve some of the global challenges, such as converting cheap, renewable resources into biofuels or chemicals; producing high quality drugs to fight disease. The overall research goal in our group is to develop usable knowledge and characterize bio-parts (new genes or enzymes), which will advance synthetic biological strategies for improvement of the activity and composition of lignocellulolytic enzyme complex as well as the biosynthesis of rare natural products with potential therapeutic applications, and finally lead to technologies deployable in industry.

Ph. D. Molecular Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Japan (1997.4—2000.3);

M.S. Forest Ecology, Central-South Forestry University, China (1990.9-1993.6);

B.A. Forestry, Central-South Forestry University, China (1984.9-1988.6);

2004 - present:  Principal investigator, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology , 

Shanghai Institutes for Biological Science, CAS;

2003 - 2004:  Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China;

2000 - 2003:  Post-doc fellow at the University of Tokyo, Japan, sponsored by JSPS

(Japanese Society for Promotion of Sciences);

1993 - 1997:  Lecturer, Laboratory of Ecology, Department of Forestry

                      Central-South Forestry University, China;

1988 - 1990:  Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry,

                   Hunan Forestry Technique College, China;

1.        Yu, L., Xiao, M., Zhu, Z., Wang, Y., Zhou, Z., Wang, P., & Zou, G.. Efficient genome editing in Claviceps purpurea using a CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein method. Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology 2022, 7(2), 664-670.

2.        Shunxing Chai1, Zhihua Zhu1, Ernuo Tian, Meili Xiao, Yan Wang, Gen Zou*&Zhi-hua Zhou1*. Building a Versatile Protein Production Platform Using Engineered Trichoderma reesei. ACS Synthetic Biology 2022, 11(1) : 486-496

3.        Jiang, Y. G.;  Ma, J. F.;  Wei, Y. J.;  Liu, Y. N.;  Zhou, Z. H.;  Huang, Y. P.;  Wang, P. P.; Yan, X., De novo biosynthesis of sex pheromone components of Helicoverpa armigera through an artificial pathway in yeast. Green Chem 2022, 24 (2), 767-778.

4.        Xiaodong Li, Yinmei Wang, Zhenjun Fan, Yan Wang, Pingping Wang*, Xing Yan*, Zhihua Zhou*. High-level sustainable production of the characteristic protopanaxatriol-type saponins from Panax species in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Metabolic Engineering 2021, 66: 87-97;

5.        Pingping Wang, Jiali Wang, Guoping Zhao, Xing Yan*, Zhihua Zhou*. Systematic optimization of the yeast cell factory for sustainable and high efficiency production of bioactive ginsenoside Compound K. Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology 2021, 6: 69-76;

6.        Pingping Wang#, Chaojing Li#, Xiaodong Li#, Wenjun Huang#, Yan Wang, Jiali Wang, Yanjun Zhang, Xiaoman Yang, Xing Yan*, Ying Wang* and Zhihua Zhou*. Complete biosynthesis of the potential medicine icaritin by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. Science Bulletin (2021) doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2021.03.002

7.        Hongguan Xing, Gen Zou, Chunyan Liu, Shunxing Chai, Xing Yan, Xinliang Li, Rui Liu, Yi Yang, Zhihua Zhou*. Improving the thermostability of a GH11 xylanase by directed evolution and rational design guided by B-factor analysis. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 2021（143）：109720.

8.        Gen Zou#,  Meili Xiao#,  Shunxing Chai,  Zhihua Zhu,  Ying Wang and Zhihua Zhou*. Efficient genome editing in filamentous fungi via an improved CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein method facilitated by chemical reagents. Microb Biotechnol (2020) doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13652.  

9.        Gen Zou#, Dapeng Bao#, Ying Wang#, Sichi Zhou , Meili Xiao, Zhanshan Yang, Yinmei Wang, Zhihua Zhou*. Alleviating product inhibition of Trichoderma reesei cellulase complex with a product-activated mushroom endoglucanase. Bioresour Technol (2020) 319:124119. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124119.

10.    Gen Zou and Zhihua Zhou*. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing of Trichoderma reesei. Methods in Molecular Biology (2020) 2234: 87-99.

11.    ChengshuaiYang，Chaojing Li, Wei Wei1 , Yongjun Wei, Qunfang Liu, Guoping Zhao, JianminYue, XingYan*, Pingping Wang* and Zhihua Zhou*. The unprecedented diversity of UGT94 family UDP glycosyltransferases in Panax plants and their contribution to ginsenoside biosynthesis. Scientific Reports（2020）10：1-11.

12.    Yongjun Wei, Yuqian Wu, Lei Zhang, Zhihua Zhou , Haokui Zhou * and Xing Yan*，Genome recovery and metatranscriptomic confirmation of functional acetate-oxidizing bacteria from enriched anaerobic biogas digesters，Environmental Pollution，265，1-10.

13.    Yu Ping^#, Xiaodong Li^#, Baofu Xu, Wei Wei, Wenping Wei, Guoyin Kai, ZhiHua Zhou*, and Youli Xiao*, Building Microbial Hosts for Heterologous Production of N-methylpyrrolinium, ACS Synthetic Biology，2019，DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00483 

14.    Yu Ping#, Xiaodong Li#, Wenjing You#, Guoqiang Li#, Mengquan Yang, Wenping Wei, ZhiHua Zhou*, and Youli Xiao*, De Novo Production of the Plant-Derived Tropine and Pseudotropine in Yeast, ACS Synthetic Biology, 2019, doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00152.

15.    Pingping Wang, Wei Wei, Wei Ye, Xiaodong Li, Wenfang Zhao, Chengshuai Yang, Chaojing Li, Xing Yan*, Zhihua Zhou*. Synthesizing ginsenoside Rh2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factory at high-efficiency, Cell Discovery, 2019, 5 (5): 1-14

16.    Gen Zou, Yanping Jiang, Rui Liu, Zhihua Zhu, Zhihua Zhou*, The putative β-glucosidase BGL3I regulates cellulase induction in Trichoderma reesei. Biotechnology for Biofuels (2018) 11:314;

17.    Chengshuai Yang, Weichao Li, Chen Li, Zhihua Zhoua∗, Youli Xiaoa∗, Xing Yana∗. Metabolism of ganoderic acids by a Ganoderma lucidum cytochrome P450 and the 3-keto sterol reductase ERG27 from yeast. Phytochemistry (2018) 155:83-92

18.    Yongjun Wei, Lei Zhang, Zhihua Zhou and Xing Yan, Diversity of Gene Clusters for Polyketide and Nonribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis of the Yellow Sea Sediment, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018. (9) 295：1-12.

19.    Rui Liu, Ling Chen, Yanping Jiang, Gen Zou and Zhihua Zhou. A novel transcription factor specifically regulates glycoside hydrolase 11 xylanase genes in Trichoderma reesei. Biotechnology for Biofuels (2017) 10:194

20.    Wei Wei‡, Tong Liu‡, Xinfeng Li, Ruofan Wang, Wei Zhao, Guoping Zhao, Shimin Zhao*, Zhihua Zhou*. Lysine acetylation regulates the function of the global anaerobic transcription factor FnrL in Rhodobacter sphaeroides: Acetylation of FnrL in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Molecular Microbiology (2017)104：278-293

21.    Ma L, Chen L, Zhang L, Zou G, Liu R, Jiang Y, Zhou Z. RNA Sequencing Reveals Xyr1 as a Transcription Factor Regulating Gene Expression beyond Carbohydrate Metabolism. Biomed Res Int. 2016:4841756. doi: 10.1155/2016/4841756

22.    Ling Chen, Gen Zou, Jingzhi Wang, Jin Wang, Rui Liu, Yanping Jiang, Guoping Zhao, Zhihua Zhou. Characterization of the Ca2+-responsive signaling pathway in regulating the expression and secretion of cellulases in Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30. Molecular Microbiology (2016) 100: 560-575.

23.    Wei Y, Zhou H, Zhang J, Zhang L, Geng A, Liu F, Zhao G, Wang S, Zhou Z, Yan X. (2015). "Insight into Dominant Cellulolytic Bacteria from Two Biogas Digesters and Their Glycoside Hydrolase Genes." PLoS One 10(6).

24.    Wei W, Wang P, Wei Y, Liu Q, Yang C, G Zhao, Yue J *, Yan X *, Zhou Z * Characterizations of Panax ginseng UDP-glycosyltransferases catalyzing protopanaxatriol and biosyntheses of bioactive ginsenosides F1 and Rh1 in metabolically engineered yeasts. Molecular Plant (2015) 8(9): 1412-1424  15

25.    Rui Liu, Ling Chen, Yanping Jiang, Zhihua Zhou*, Gen Zou*. Efficient genome editing in filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell Discovery (2015) 1, 15007; doi:10.1038/celldisc.2015.7

26.    Wang P., Y Wei, Y Fan, Q Liu, W Wei, C Yang, L Zhang, G Zhao, J Yue*, X Yan*, Z Zhou*. Production of bioactive ginsenosides Rh2 and Rg3 by metabolically engineered yeasts. Metab Eng (2015) 29: 97-105. 27

27.    Qian C, Liu N, Yan X, Wang Q, Zhou Z*, Wang Q*. Engineering a high-performance, metagenomic-derived novel xylanase with improved soluble protein yield and thermostability. Enzyme and Microbial Technology (2015) 70: 35–41

28.    Yan X, Y Fan, W Wei, P Wang, Q Liu, L Zhang, G Zhao^*, J Yue^*, Z Zhou^*. Production of bioactive ginsenoside compound K in metabolically engineered yeast. Cell Research(2014) 24:770–773 

29.    Meiling Zhang, Ning Liu, Changli Qian,Qianfu Wang, Qian Wang, Yanhua Long,Yongping Huang, Zhihua Zhou, Xing Yan. Phylogenetic and Functional Analysis of Gut Microbiota of a Fungus-Growing Higher Termite: Bacteroidetes from Higher Termites Are a Rich Source of β-Glucosidase Genes. Microbial Ecology, 2014，68:416–425

30.    Tong Liu, Li Zhu, Wei Wei, Zhihua Zhou*. Function of glucose catabolic pathways in hydrogen production from glucose in　Rhodobacter sphaeroides 6016, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2014) 39( 9) 4215–4221 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.188)

31.    Ling Chen, Gen Zou, Lei Zhang, Ronald P. de Vries, Xing Yan, Jun Zhang, Rui Liu, Chengshu Wang, Yinbo Qu, Zhihua Zhou* (2014) The distinctive regulatory roles of PrtT in the cell metabolism of Penicillium oxalicum. Fungal Genet Biol 63:42-54. ( http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2013.12.001).

32.    Wei Wei , Ling Chen, Gen Zou, Qianfu Wang, Xing Yan, Jun Zhang, Chengshu Wang^*, Zhihua Zhou^* (2013) N-Glycosylation Affects the Proper Folding, Enzymatic Characteristics and Production of a Fungal β-Glucosidase. Biotechnol Bioeng110 (12): 3075-3084

33.    Han Q, Liu N , H Robinson, L Cao, C Qian, Q Wang, L Xie, H Ding, Q Wang, Y Huang, Jianyong Li^*, Zhihua Zhou^* (2013) Biochemical Characterization and Crystal Structure of a GH10 Xylanase from Termite Gut Bacteria Reveal a Novel Structural Feature and Significance of Its Bacterial Ig-like Domain. Biotechnol Bioeng110 (12): 3093-3103

34.    Liu Ning, Lei Zhang, Haokui Zhou, Meiling Zhang, Xing Yan, Qian Wang, Yanhua Long, Lei Xie, Shengyue Wang, Yongping Huang, and Zhihua Zhou* (2013) Metagenomic insights into metabolic capacities of the gut microbiota in a fungus-cultivating termite. PLoS ONE, 2013, 8(7): e69184. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069184

35.    Xing Yan, Alei Geng, Jun Zhang, Yongjun Wei, Lei Zhang, Changli Qian, Qianfu Wang, Shengyue Wang & Zhihua Zhou (2013). Discovery of (hemi-)cellulase genes in a metagenomic library from a biogas digester using 454 pyro-sequencing. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2013) 97:8173–8182

36.    Liu G, Zhang L, Qin Y, Zou G, Li Z, Yan X, Wei X, Chen M, Chen L, Zheng K, Zhang J, Ma L, Li J, Liu R, Xu H, Bao X, Fang X, Wang L, Zhong Y, Liu W, Zheng H, Wang S, Wang C, Xun L, Zhao GP*, Wang T*, Zhou Z*, Qu Y* (2013) Long-term strain improvements accumulate mutations in regulatory elements responsible for hyper-production of cellulolytic enzymes. Sci. Rep. 3, 1569; DOI:10.1038/srep01569 　

37.    Liu GD, Zhang L, et al. Zhou ZH* and Qu YB* (2013).Genomic and Secretomic Analyses Reveal Unique Features of the Lignocellulolytic Enzyme System of Penicillium decumbens. PLoS ONE 01/2013 8(2):e55185 　　　

38.    Ruisong Yu, Ruofan Wang, Ting Bi, Weining Sun, Zhihua Zhou* (2013) Blocking the butyrate-formation pathway impairs hydrogen production in Clostridium perfringens. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin. 45:408-415.

39.    Qianfu Wang, Changli Qian, Xiao-Zhou Zhang, Nin Liu, Xing Yan, Zhihua Zhou* (2012) Characterization of a novel thermostable -glucosidase from a metagenomic library of termite gut. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 51: 319– 324.　　6

40.    Gen Zou, Shaohua Shi, Yanping Jiang, Joost van den Brink, Ronald P de Vries, Ling Chen, Jun Zhang, Liang Ma, Chengshu Wang and Zhihua Zhou*(2012) Construction of a cellulase hyper-expression system in Trichoderma reesei by promoter and enzyme engineering. Microbial Cell Factories 2012, 11:21.

41.    Alei Geng, Gen Zou, Xing Yan, Qianfu Wang, Jun Zhang, Fanghua Liu, Baoli Zhu, Zhihua Zhou*(2012) Expression and characterization of a novel metagenome-derived cellulase Exo2b and its application to improve cellulase activity in Trichoderma reesei. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 96(4):951-62 

42.    Yongzhen Tao, Deng Liu, Xing Yan, Zhihua Zhou, Jeong K. Lee, and Chen Yang. Network identification and flux quantification of glucose metabolism in Rhodobacter sphaeroides under photoheterotrophic H2-producing conditions. Journal of Bacteriology (2012) 194:274-83

43.    Liang Ma, Jun Zhang，Gen Zou，Chengshu Wang，Zhihua Zhou* (2011). Improvement of cellulase activity in Trichoderma reesei by heterologous expression of a beta-glucosidase gene from Penicillium decumbens. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 49: 366– 371.

44.    Ruofan Wang, Wenming Zong, Changli Qian, Yongjun Wei，Ruisong Yu, Zhihua Zhou* (2011) Isolation of Clostridium perfringens strain W11 and optimization of its biohydrogen production by genetic modification. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 36: 12159-12167;

45.    Jun Zhang, Yongjun Wei, Wei Xiao, Zhihua Zhou, Xing Yan* (2011) Performance and spatial community succession of an anaerobic baffled reactor treating acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation wastewater. Bioresource Technology102: 7407–7414.

46.    Ning Liu, Xing Yan, Meiling Zhang, Lei Xie, Qian Wang,Yongping Huang, Xuguo Zhou, Shengyue Wang, Zhihua Zhou* (2011) Microbiome of fungus-growing termites: a new reservoir for mining lignocellulase genes, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2011)77：48-56.   

47.    Tong Liu, Xinfeng Li, Zhihua Zhou* (2010) Improvement of Hydrogen Yield By Hupr Gene Knock-Out And Nifa Gene Overexpression In Rhodobacter Sphaeroides 6016. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy35: 9603-9610; 

48.    Yue Huang, Wenming Zong, Xing Yang, Ruofan Wang, Christopher L. Hemme, Jizhong Zhou, Zhihua Zhou*(2010) Succession of the Bacterial Community and Dynamics of Hydrogen Producers in a Hydrogen-Producing Bioreactor. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76: 3387-3390.

49.    Xinfeng Li, Tong Liu, Yongqiang Wu, Guoping Zhao, Zhihua Zhou* (2010)  Derepressive Effect of NH₄⁺ on Hydrogen Production by Deleting the glnA1 Gene in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 106 (4):564-572 IF3.7      

50.    Qin Sun, Wei Xiao, Dan Xin, Jiping Shi, Xing Yan, Zhihua Zhou* (2010) Statistical optimization of process parameters on biohydrogen production from sucrose by co-culture of Clostridium acidisoli sp. Nov and Rhodobacter sphaeroides. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 35: 4076-4084;

51.    Alei Geng, Yanling He, Changli Qian, Xing Yan and Zhihua Zhou* (2010) Effect of Key Factors on Hydrogen Production from Cellulose in a Co-Culture of Clostridium thermocellum and C. thermopalmarium. Bioresource Technology 101: 4029-4033.

52.    Wenming Zong, Ruisong Yu, Peng Zhang, Meizhen Fan, Zhihua Zhou* (2009) Efficient hydrogen gas production from cassava and food waste by a two-step process of dark fermentation and photo-fermentation. Biomass and Bioenergy 33: 1458-1463       

53.    Fanghua Liu, Sibao Wang, Jianshe Zhang, Jun Zhang, Xing Yan, Haokui Zhou, Guoping Zhao and Zhihua Zhou* (2009) The structure of the bacterial and archaeal community in a biogas digester as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. Journal of Applied Microbiology 106: 952–966.   

54.    Fanghua Liu, Guofang Lin, Guang Gao, Boqiang Qin, Jianshe Zhang, Guoping Zhao, Zhihua Zhou* and Jianhua Shen* (2009)Bacterial and archaeal assemblages in sediments of a large shallow freshwater lake, Lake Taihu, as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Journal of Applied Microbiology 106:1022–1032.      

55.    Yongzhen Tao, Yanling He, Yongqiang Wu, Fanghua Liu, Xinfeng Li, Wenming Zong and Zhihua Zhou* (2008) Characteristics of a new photosynthetic bacterial strain for hydrogen production and its application in wastewater treatment. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 33: 963-973;

已指导学生

刘芳华  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

李欣峰  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

于瑞嵩  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

张珺  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

刘通  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

汪若凡  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

马良  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

魏勇军  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

钱昌丽  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

陈玲  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

江艳萍  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

魏维  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

刘睿  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

王平平  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

杨成帅  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

柴顺星  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

邢宏观  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

李晓东  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

朱志华  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

李超静  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

熊伦艺  硕士研究生  085238-生物工程  

现指导学生

田尔诺  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

樊震鋆  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

魏文苹  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

肖美丽  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

马迩东  硕士研究生  071005-微生物学  

王引梅  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

张通  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

苏振  硕士研究生  086000-生物与医药  

张娜  博士研究生  071005-微生物学  

刘占圣  硕士研究生  086000-生物与医药