Zhijian Chen, PhD

Professor
Endowed Title: George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science
Molecular Biology
Graduate Program: Genetics and Development
Immunology

Contact Information

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390

Office Phone: 214-648-1145
Office Fax: 214-648-1675

zhijian.chen@utsouthwestern.edu

Education

Graduate SchoolSUNY at Buffalo, Biochemistry (1991)
UndergraduateFujian Normal University, China, Biology (1985)

Research Interests

Innate Immunity
MAVS: mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein
NF-kappaB Signaling
RIG-I Signaling
Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

Publications

Featured
Activation of the IkB kinase complex requires a dimeric ubiquitin conjugating enzyme complex and the formation of a unique polyubiquitin chain

Deng, L., Wang, C., Spencer, E., Yang, L., Braun, A., You, J., Slaughter, C., Pickart, C., and Chen, Z , Cell , October 2000; (103):351-361

Featured
The specific and essential role of MAVS in antiviral innate immune responses

Sun, Q., Sun, L., Liu, H-H., Chen, X., Seth, R.B., Forman, J. and Chen, Z.J , Immunity , May 2006; (24):633-642

Featured
TAK1 is a ubiquitin-dependent kinase of MKK and IKK

Wang, C., Deng, L., Hong, M. Akkaraju, G.R., Inoue, J-i., and Chen, Z , Nature , July 2001; (412):346-351

Featured
Direct activation of protein kinases by unanchored polyubiquitin chains

Xia, Z.P., Sun, L., Chen, X., Pineda, G., Jiang, X., Adhikari, A., Zeng, W., and Chen, Z.J , Nature , August 2009; (461):114-119

Featured
Reconstitution of the RIG-I pathway reveals a signaling role of unanchored polyubiquitin chains in innate immunity

Zeng, W., Sun, L., Jiang, X., Chen, X., Hou, F., Adhikari, A., Xu, M., and Chen, Z.J. , Cell , April 2010; (141):315-330

Featured
Activation of IKK by TNFα requires site-specific ubiquitination of RIP1 and polyubiquitin binding by NEMO

Ea, C-K., Deng, L., Xia, Z-P., Pineda, G., and Chen, Z.J , Molecular Cell , April 2006; (22):245-257

Featured
Identification and characterization of MAVS: a mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein that activates NF-κB and IRF3.

Seth, R.B., Sun, L., Ea, C., and Chen, Z.J. , Cell , 2005; (122):669-682

A ubiquitin replacement strategy reveals distinct mechanisms of IKK activation by TNFα and IL-1β

Xu, M., Skaug, B., Zeng, W., and Chen, Z.J. , Molecular Cell , October 2009; (36):315-325

Key role of Ubc5 and K63 polyubiquitination in viral activation of IRF3

Zeng, W., Xu, M., Liu, S., Sun, L., Chen, Z.J , Molecular Cell , October 2009; (36):302-314

RNA polymerase III detects cytosolic DNA and induces type I interferons through the RIG-I pathway

Chiu, Y.H., Macmillan, J.B., and Chen, Z.J , Cell , August 2009; (138):576-591

Honors/Awards

Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science by The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas

(2007)

Welch Foundation Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research

(2005)

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases

(2002)

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar

(2002)

Searle Scholar

(1998)