RNA Faculty Spotlight – Zhonggang Hou, Biological Chemistry

Zhonggang Hou, Ph.D.
Research Investigator
Biological Chemistry
Medical School

Yan Zhang lab

CRISPR-Cas is a very diverse adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea. It uses a small RNA as guide to find and destroy its target. It has revolutionized the field of genome engineering once adapted as tools for use in Eukaryotes. However, only a very small fraction of CRISPR-Cas systems (<10%) have been adapted as tools so far. I am interested in exploring the diverse CRISPR-Cas systems in nature and adapting those with unique properties (e.g. CRISPR-Cas3) as tools for use in eukaryotic cells for genetic manipulation.

  • What is the role of RNA in your research?
    I study CRISPR-Cas, which is an RNA guided adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea. These systems use small RNAs as guides to find and destroy their targets.
  • Who/what brought you to science?
    I am curious about everything unknown. The field of life science with all the fascinating molecular processes happening in various biological systems is the perfect place to satisfy my curiosity.
  • What brought you to the University of Michigan?
    The huge and vibrant community of life science research and fantastic core facility support.
  • What advice would you give to students who’d like to get more involved in research?
    Be passionate about your research. Don’t be afraid of failures.
  • Are there any opportunities for students to engage in your projects, currently or in the future?
    Yes
    • What skills would they need?
      They need to be motivated and we can teach them everything else.
    • What could they expect to learn?
      Our research is quite interdisciplinary. Students will have opportunity to learn molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, genome engineering, bacteriology, bioinformatics or protein biochemistry depending on the specific project they take on.
  • What profession other than your own would you enjoy, or what is your favorite hobby? 
    Pilot, astronomer.

Similar Posts

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Evan Keller

  We explore single cell transcriptomes through single cell RNASeq. Primarily focused on cancer. Visit Website What are your research interests? I am interested in the interaction between the cancer and the microenvironment. This includes exploring how both macromolecules and physical forces modulate cancer growth. In addition, our lab focuses on single cell analysis technologies…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Analisa DiFeo, Pathology and Ob/Gyn

  Analisa DiFeo, Ph.D.  Associate Professor Pathology and Ob/Gyn Michigan Medicine Twitter Faculty page DiFeo Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar Research Interests: Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, my lab hopes to better understand the mechanism by which both microRNA’s and the genes they regulate are involved in ovarian tumor biology at…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – JK Nandakumar, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Jayakrishnan Nandakumar, Ph.D. Associate Professor Departments of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology We are interested in the biogenesis, trafficking, recruitment to telomeres, and catalytic mechanism of the RNP enzyme telomerase. We are also investigating other noncoding RNAs that are involved in gene regulation. Visit Lab Website Follow on Twitter: @LabNandakumar   What are your research…

RNA Faculty Spotlight — Anthony Antonellis, Human Genetics

    Anthony Antonellis, Ph.D James V. Neel Collegiate Professor of Human Genetics Chair, Department of Human Genetics Professor of Neurology, Medical School Our group is broadly interested in how human genetic variation affects gene and genome function. One area of research is grounded in the observation that mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases cause myriad disease…

RNA Faculty Spotlight — Ryan Mills, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

Ryan Mills, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics Associate Professor of Human Genetics Our laboratory develops methods for analyzing RNA sequence data, with a focus on quantifying and assessing rates of translation using ribosome footprinting techniques. We are also actively studying novel mechanisms of translational regulation at the transcriptional level. Visit Lab Website…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Aaron Frank, Biophysics and Chemistry

Aaron Frank, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Departments of Biophysics and Chemistry In order to understand the relationship between molecular structure and dynamics and biological function, the Frank research group seeks to develop and deploy integrative modeling tools to elucidate the structure and dynamics of biologically relevant molecules. We are primarily interested in using our methods to…