Wayne State University
Warrior strong
Login
Search
School of Medicine Biochemistry
Zhe Yang

Zhe Yang

Professor

zyang@med.wayne.edu

313-577-1294

Zhe Yang

Education

Ph.D. Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China, 1999

Postdoctoral:
Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2007
University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 2002

Graduate

Accepting new MS students in 2026: Yes 
Accepting new PhD students in 2026: Yes 

Office location

4340 Scott Hall

Research

Structure and function of SET and MYND domain-containing (SMYD) proteins.

Research focus

Our lab studies the SMYD protein family, a group of lysine methyltransferases with deep evolutionary roots that play critical roles in gene regulation, development, and disease. Dysregulation of SMYD proteins has been linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and infertility. By uncovering their mechanisms, we aim to translate fundamental discoveries into new therapeutic strategies.

We integrate structural biology, molecular and cell biology, and cutting-edge AI-driven computational biology. This multidisciplinary strategy allows us to move from mechanistic discovery to therapeutic development, with the long-term goal of delivering new treatments for cancer and other SMYD-associated diseases.

Current Research Directions

  • Cancer mechanisms of SMYD proteins: We are investigating how SMYD proteins reprogram cancer cells, focusing on processes such as RNA processing, metabolism, angiogenesis, and stress adaptation. Using cancer omics data (RNA-seq, mutation, copy number, methylation, and multi-omics integration), we apply AI and deep learning approaches to discover how SMYD proteins drive tumor progression and therapy resistance.
  • Therapeutic targeting of SMYD proteins: Combining structural biology, computational modeling, and biochemical/cellular assays, we have defined the substrate specificity of SMYD proteins and are developing novel small-molecule inhibitors. We are particularly interested in SMYD4 and SMYD5 as new therapeutic targets in cancer and rare diseases.
  • Broader roles of SMYD proteins in biology: Beyond cancer, we study how SMYD proteins regulate stem cell fate and spermatogenesis, with implications for male infertility. By dissecting SMYD5’s role in balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, we aim to open new therapeutic avenues in reproductive health.

Publications

 Publications (from 2022)
(Complete list of published work can be found here)
  1. Zhang Y, Alshammari E, Sobota J, Spellmon N, Perry E, Cao T, Mugunamalwaththa T, Smith S, Brunzelle J, Wu G, Stemmler T, Jin J, Li C, Yang Z. Structure of the SMYD2-PARP1 Complex Reveals Both Productive and Allosteric Modes of Peptide Binding. bioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.03.626679 (2024).
  2. Shen, J., Ju, D., Wu, S., Zhao, J., Pham, L., Ponce, A., Yang, M., Li, H., Zhang, K., Yang, Z., Xie., Y., Li, L. SM22α deficiency: promoting vascular fibrosis via SRF-SMAD3-mediated activation of Col1a2 transcription following arterial injury. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3941602/v1 (2024).
  3. Zhou, Y., Sharma, S., Sun, X., Guan, X., Hou, Y., Yang, Z., Zou, M., Song, P., Zhou, J., Wang, S., Hu, Z., Li, C. SMYD2 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Intimal Hyperplasia via Interaction with Myocardin. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 80(9):264, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-023-04883-9 (2023).
  4. Yang, A., Zhang, Y. and Yang, Z. Artificial intelligence and machine learning of single-cell transcriptomics of engineered nanoparticles. Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Genomics and Epigenomics, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119896258.ch12, Wiley (2023).
  5. Zhang, Y., Alshammari, E., Yonis, N. and Yang, Z. Adverse epigenetic effects of environmental engineered nanoparticles as drug carriers. Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Genomics and Epigenomics, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119896258.ch10, Wiley (2023).
  6. Alshammari, E., Zhang, Y., Yang, A. and Yang, Z. Toxicogenomics and toxicological mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials. Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Genomics and Epigenomics, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119896258.ch13, Wiley (2023).
  7. Zhang, Y., Yang, A. and Yang, Z. Engineered nanoparticles adversely impact glucose energy metabolism. Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Genomics and Epigenomics, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119896258.ch11, Wiley (2023).
  8. Yonis, N, Alshammari, E., Zhang, Y. and Yang, Z. Carbon nanotubes alter metabolomics pathways leading to toxicity. Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials in Genomics and Epigenomics, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119896258.ch14, Wiley (2023)
  9. Zhang, Y., Alshammari, E., Sobota, J., Yang, A., Li, C. and Yang, Z. Unique SMYD5 Structure Revealed by AlphaFold Correlates with Its Functional Divergence. Biomolecules, 12(6):783, https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12060783 (2022).
  10. Alshammari, E., Zhang, Y., Yang. Z. Mechanistic and functional extrapolation of SMYD2 to pancreatic cancer. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 28(29):3753-3766, https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v28.i29.3753, (2022).
  11. Mitchell, A., Wu, L., Block, J., Zhang, M., Craig, D., Chen, W., Zhao, Y., Zhang, B., Dang, Y., Zhang, X., Zhang, S., Wang, C., Pile, L., Kidder, B., Matherly, L., Yang, Z., Dou, Y., Wu, G.. FOXQ1 Hijacks the MLL Complex to Activate Transcription of the EMT Program and Promote Breast Cancer Metastatic Progression. Nature Communications, 13(1):6548, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34239-z (2022).
  12. Hou, Y., Sun, X., Gheinani, P., Guan, X., Sharma, S., Zhou, Y., Jin, C., Yang, Z., Naren, A., Yin, J., Denning, T., Gewirtz, A., Liu, Y., Xie, Z., Li, C. Epithelial SMYD5 Exaggerates IBD by Downregulating Mitochondrial Functions via Post-Translational Control of PGC-1α Stability. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol, S2352-345X(22)00088-1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.05.006 (2022).
  13. Jeltema, D., Wang, J., Cai, J., Kelley, N., Yang, Z., He, Y. A single amino acid residue defines the difference in NLRP3 inflammasome activation between NEK7 and NEK6. The Journal of Immunology, 208(8):2029-2036, https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2101154 (2022).
  14. Alshammari, E., Zhang, Y., Sobota, J., Yang, Z. Aberrant DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes as cancer biomarkers. Genomic and Epigenomic Biomarkers of Toxicology and Disease, Wiley, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119807704.ch12 (2022).
  15. Zhang, Y., Alshammari, E., Sobota, J., Yang, Z. SMYD protein family as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Genomic and Epigenomic Biomarkers of Toxicology and Disease, Wiley, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119807704.ch13 (2022).
  16. Sobota, J., Zhang, Y., Alshammari, E., Yang, Z. Emerging Non-Invasive Molecular Biomarkers for Early Cancer Detection. Genomic and Epigenomic Biomarkers of Toxicology and Disease, Wiley, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119807704.ch11 (2022).
  17. Zhang, Y., Yang, Z. Molecular Cloning and Purification of the Protein Lysine Methyltransferase SMYD2 and its Co-crystallization with a Target Peptide from Estrogen Receptor alpha. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2418:345-362 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1920-9_19, (2022).

Courses taught by Zhe Yang

Fall 2026 (current)

Winter Term 2026

Fall Term 2025

Winter Term 2025

Fall Term 2024

Winter Term 2024

← Return to listing