Hang-zi CHEN, Ph.D.

Professor

E-mail: chenhz@xmu.edu.cn

Education

1999-2003, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Bachelor

2003-2009, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Ph.D.

Professional Experience

2005, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Visiting Students

2009-2012, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Assistant Professor

2012-2018, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Associate Professor

2018-present, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Professor

Research Area

The main interest of our lab is the understanding of the biological effects of nuclear receptors, focusing on the regulatory roles of nuclear receptors in process of cell fate determination, the association of nuclear receptors with tumor and metabolic syndrome, and screening small molecular compounds that targeting to nuclear receptors.

We also interest in investigating the regulatory mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming during tumorigenesis, mainly discussing how tumor cells sense and adapt to metabolic stress.

Selected Publications (*Corresponding author, #co-first author)

1. Zhou B^#, Zhang JY^#, Liu XS^#, Chen HZ^#, Ai YL, Cheng K, Sun RY, Zhou D, Han J, Wu Q*. Tom20 senses iron-activated ROS signaling to promote melanoma cell pyroptosis. Cell Research. 2018, 28(12):1171-1185.

2. He JP^#, Hou PP^#, Chen QT^#, Wang WJ, Sun XY, Yang PB, Li YP, Yao LM, Li X, Jiang XD, Chien KY, Zhang ZM, Wu QW, Cowin AJ, Wu Q, Chen HZ*. Flightless-I Blocks p62-Mediated Recognition of LC3 to Impede Selective Autophagy and Promote Breast Cancer Progression. Cancer Research. 2018, 78(17):4853-4864.

3. Li XX^#, Wang ZJ^#, Zheng Y^#, Guan YF^#, Yang PB, Chen X, Peng C, He JP, Ai YL, Wu SF, Chien KY, Wu Q*, Chen HZ*. Nuclear receptor Nur77 facilitates melanoma cell survival under metabolic stress by protecting fatty acid oxidation. Molecular Cell. 2018, 69(3):480-492.

4. Bian XL^#, Chen HZ^#, Yang PB^#, Li YP^#, Zhang FN, Zhang JY, Wang WJ, Zhao WX, Zhang S, Chen QT, Zheng Y, Sun XY, Wang XM, Chien KY, Wu Q*. Nur77 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma via switching glucose metabolism toward gluconeogenesis through attenuating phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase sumoylation. Nature Communications. 2017, 8:14420.

5. Li L^#, Liu Y^#, Chen HZ^#, Li FW^#, Wu JF, Zhang HK, He JP, Xing YZ, Chen Y, Wang WJ, Tian XY, Li AZ, Zhang Q, Huang PQ, Han J, Lin T*, Wu Q*. Impeding the interaction between Nur77 and p38 reduces LPS-induced inflammation. Nature Chemical Biology. 2015, 11(5):339-46.

6. Wang WJ^#, Wang Y^#, Chen HZ^#, Xing YZ^#, Li FW^#, Zhang Q, Zhou B, Zhang HK, Zhang J, Bian XL, Li L, Liu Y, Zhao BX, Chen Y, Wu R, Li AZ, Yao LM, Chen P, Zhang Y, Tian XY, Beermann Friedrich, Wu M, Han J, Huang PQ, Lin T*, Wu Q*. Orphan nuclear receptor TR3 acts in autophagic cell death of melanoma via a mitochondrial signaling pathway. Nature Chemical Biology. 2014, 10:133-140.

7. Chen HZ*^#, Wen Q^#, Wang WJ, He JP, Wu Q. The orphan nuclear receptor TR3/Nur77 regulates ER stress and induces apoptosis via interaction with TRAPγ. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. 2013, 45:1600-1609.

8. Chen HZ, Li L, Wang WJ, Du XD, Wen Q, He JP, Zhao BX, Li GD, Zhou W, Xia Y, Yang QY, Hew C-L, Liou Y-C*, Wu Q*. Prolyl isomerase Pin1 stabilizes and activates orphan nuclear receptor TR3 to promote mitogenesis. Oncogene. 2012, 31:2876-2887.

9. Chen HZ^#, Liu QF^#, Li L^#, Wang WJ, Yao LM, Yang M, Liu B, Chen Wei, Zhan YY, Zhang MQ, Cai JC, Zheng ZH, Lin SC, Li BA*, Wu Q*. The orphan receptor TR3 suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis in mice by downregulating Wnt signaling. Gut. 2012, 61:714-724.

10. Zhao BX^#, Chen HZ^#, Du XD, Luo J, He JP, Wang RH, Wang Y, Wu R, Hou RR, Hong M, Wu Q* Orphan Receptor TR3 Enhances p53 Transactivation and Represses DNA Double-Strand Break Repair in Hepatoma Cells under Ionizing Radiation. Molecular Endocrinology. 2011, 25:1337-1350.

11. Chen HZ, Zhao BX, Zhao WX, Li L, Zhang B, Wu Q*. Akt phosphorylates the TR3 orphan receptor and blocks its targeting to the mitochondria. Carcinogenesis. 2008, 29:2078-2088.

12. Chen HZ, Wu Q*. A novel function of p53 in TR3-MDM2 cross-talk. Cell Res. 2007, 17(4):293-4.