Yan Zhang
Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Yan Zhang
Associate Professor
  • Research Overview
  • Links
  • Recent Publications
  • Research Overview

    The overarching goal of my lab is (i) to decipher the fascinating biology of diverse CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria, and (ii) to convert their novel features into new biotechnologies and gene therapy strategies for treating human diseases. We use a multidisciplinary approach blending cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and animal models to uncover brand-new CRISPR systems from nature, invent gene-editing tools, and leverage CRISPR therapeutics to tackle a wide range of genetic disorders.

    Links
    • https://yanzhanglab.med.umich.edu/
    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Development and implementation of a Type I-C CRISPR-based programmable repression system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
      Geslewitz WE, Cardenas A, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Criss AK, Seifert HS. mBio, 2024 Feb 14; 15 (2): e0302523 DOI:10.1128/mbio.03025-23
      PMID: 38126782
    • Journal Article
      Exploiting activation and inactivation mechanisms in type I-C CRISPR-Cas3 for genome-editing applications.
      Hu C, Myers MT, Zhou X, Hou Z, Lozen ML, Nam KH, Zhang Y, Ke A. Mol Cell, 2024 Feb 1; 84 (3): 463 - 475.e5. DOI:10.1016/j.molcel.2023.12.034
      PMID: 38242128
    • Journal Article
      Snapshots of a tiny ancestral nuclease of Cas9.
      Hou Z, Tan R, Zhang Y. Trends Biochem Sci, 2023 Jan; 48 (1): 9 - 10. DOI:10.1016/j.tibs.2022.08.008
      PMID: 36100522
    • Journal Article
      Cas11 enables genome engineering in human cells with compact CRISPR-Cas3 systems.
      Tan R, Krueger RK, Gramelspacher MJ, Zhou X, Xiao Y, Ke A, Hou Z, Zhang Y. Mol Cell, 2022 Feb 17; 82 (4): 852 - 867.e5. DOI:10.1016/j.molcel.2021.12.032
      PMID: 35051351
    • Journal Article
      Introducing Large Genomic Deletions in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using CRISPR-Cas3.
      Hou Z, Hu C, Ke A, Zhang Y. Curr Protoc, 2022 Feb; 2 (2): e361 DOI:10.1002/cpz1.361
      PMID: 35129865
    • Journal Article
      Biochemical characterization of RNA-guided ribonuclease activities for CRISPR-Cas9 systems.
      Gramelspacher MJ, Hou Z, Zhang Y. Methods, 2020 Feb 1; 172: 32 - 41. DOI:10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.06.018
      PMID: 31228550
    • Journal Article
      Introducing a Spectrum of Long-Range Genomic Deletions in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Type I CRISPR-Cas.
      Dolan AE, Hou Z, Xiao Y, Gramelspacher MJ, Heo J, Howden SE, Freddolino PL, Ke A, Zhang Y. Mol Cell, 2019 Jun 6; 74 (5): 936 - 950.e5. DOI:10.1016/j.molcel.2019.03.014
      PMID: 30975459
    • Journal Article
      Inserting DNA with CRISPR.
      Hou Z, Zhang Y. Science, 2019 Jul 5; 365 (6448): 25 - 26. DOI:10.1126/science.aay2056
      PMID: 31273110
    Featured News & Stories Headshot of Renke Tan
    Department News
    Congratulations to Renke Tan, PhD
    Biological Chemistry PhD student Renke Tan of the Zhang lab at U-M Medical School defends her doctoral thesis.
    Five faculty members who have been promoted
    Department News
    Five Biological Chemistry faculty members receive promotions
    Yan Zhang, PhD, Jeanne Stuckey, PhD, Markus Ruetz, PhD, Michael Cianfrocco, PhD, and Wei Cheng, PhD, have been promoted.
    National Science Foundation logo
    Department News
    Yan Zhang, PhD, receives a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation
    Assistant Professor Yan Zhang of the Department of Biological Chemistry at U-M Medical School is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award.
    Department News
    PhD student Mason Myers is a lead author of a research article in Molecular Cell
    PhD student Mason Myers of the Zhang lab at U-M Medical School is a lead author of "Exploiting activation and inactivation mechanisms in type I-C CRISPR-Cas3 for genome-editing applications."
    Department News
    Yan Zhang lab receives Research Scouts Award for collaborative project
    Yan Zhang lab receives Research Scouts Award for collaborative project