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Zhang, Wei

Date：2018-11-08
PI, IDG/McGovern Institute, Tsinghua University
PI, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University
PI, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences
 
 
Office: D214, Medical Sciences Building, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China 100084
Phone: +86-10-62796065(office)  ? +86-10-62790589(lab)
Email: weizhang0505@@126.com
 

[Research Focus]

Brain-organ communications are controlled by complex neural and hormonal systems, and play a crucial role in maintaining the body's physiological and psychological homeostasis. Bodily sensation, or interoception not only extensively participates in the regulation of instinct behaviors, but also affects higher-order cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, and self-awareness. Our lab adopts the bottom-up pipeline of "Biophysics of Receptors - Cell Biology of Neurons - Functionality of Neural Circuits - Animal Behaviors" to explore the molecular and neural mechanisms of interoception.

[Education & Experience]

2016-present   PI, IDG/McGovern Institute, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences
2010-2016       Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology,University of Calif San Francisco/ Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2004-2010       Ph.D. in neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2000-2004       B.A. in biological science, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, China

[Selected Publication]

  • Liwei Zhang*#, Xuan Guo#, Wei Zhang*. Nutrients and pheromones promote insulin release to inhibit courtship drive. Science Advances. 2022
  • Tingting Yang, Zixuan Yuan, Chenxi Liu, Ting Liu, Wei Zhang*. A neural circuit integrates pharyngeal sensation to control feeding. Cell Reports. 2021.
  • Rui Luo, Yuxiang Zhang, Yinjun Jia, Yan Zhang, Zongyang Li, Jieqing Zhao, Ting Liu, Wei Zhang*. Molecular basis and homeostatic regulation of Zinc taste. Protein & Cell. 2021.
  • Pingping Wang, Yinjun Jia, Ting Liu, Yuh-Nung Jan*, Wei Zhang*. Visceral Mechano-sensing Neurons Control Drosophila Feeding by Using Piezo as a Sensor. Neuron. 2020.
  • Chenxi Liu, Bei Zhang, Liwei Zhang, Tingting Yang, Zhewei Zhang, Zihua Gao. A neural circuit encoding mating states tunes defensive behavior in Drosophila. Nature Communications. 2020.
  • Liwei Zhang#*, Jie Yu#, Xuan Guo, Jianhua Wei, Ting Liu, Wei Zhang*. Parallel mechanosensory pathways direct oviposition decision of Drosophila. Current Biology. 2020.
  • Yawen Li #, Yufei Hu#, Jiawei Wang, Xin Liu*, Wei Zhang*; Linfeng Sun*. Structural Insights into a Plant Mechanosensitive Ion Channel MSL1. Cell Reports. 2020.
  • Yufei Hu, Zhilin Wang, Ting Liu, Wei Zhang*. Piezo-like Gene Regulates Locomotion in Drosophila Larvae. Cell Reports. 2019.

Earlier papers:

  • Li, J.#, Zhang, W#., Guo, Z., Wu, S., Jan, L.Y., and Jan, Y.N. (2016). A defensive kicking behavior in response to mechanical stimuli mediated by Drosophila wing margin bristles. J. Neurosci. 36:11275-11282. #: Co-first authors.
  • Guo Y.#, Wang Y.#, Zhang, W.#, Meltzer S.#, Zanini, D.#, Yu Y., Li, J., Cheng, T., Guo, Z., Wang Q., Jacobs J. S., Sharma Y., Eberl D., Goepfert, M., Jan, L.Y., Jan, Y.N. and Wang Z. Transmembrane channel-like (tmc) gene regulates Drosophila larval locomotion. P.N.A.S.  2016 Jun 28;113(26):7243-8. #: Co-first authors.
  • Zhang, W.#, Cheng, L.E.#, Kittelmann, M. #, Li, J., Petkovic, M., Cheng, T., Jin, P., Guo, Z., Goepfert, M., Jan, L.Y., Jan, Y.N. (2015). Ankyrin Repeats Act as a Tether for Conveying Force to Gate the NOMPC Mechanotransduction Channel. Cell. 10 September 2015, 162, Issue 6, p1391–1403. *: Co-first authors.
  • Zhang, W#., Yan, Z. #, Li, B., Jan, Y.L., Jan, Y.N. (2014). Identification of motor neurons and a mechanosensitive sensory neuron in the defecation circuitry of Drosophila larvae. eLife. 2014; 10.7554/eLife.03293. #: Co-first authors.
  • Zhang, W., Yan, Z., Jan, Y.L., Jan, Y.N. (2013). Sound response mediated by the TRP channels NOMPC, NANCHUNG, and INACTIVE in chordotonal organs of Drosophila larvae. P.N.A.S. vol. 110, no. 33.
  • Yan, Z. #, Zhang, W. #, He, Y., Gorczyca, D., Xiang, Y., Cheng, L., Meltzer, S., Jan, Y.L., Jan, Y.N. (2013). Drosophila NompC is a mechanotransduction channel subunit for gentle-touch sensation. Nature. 2013 Jan 10; 493(7431): 221-5. #: Co-first authors.
  • Hu, A. #, Zhang, W. #, Wang, Z. (2010). Functional feedback from mushroom bodies to antennal lobes in the Drosophila olfactory pathway. P.N.A.S. vol. 107 no. 22 10262-10267. #: Co-first authors.