Qi Zhang

Dr Qi Zhang

EMBLAus(PLN) Group Leader, Cancer Epigenetics

South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Qi Zhang leads the Epigenetics and Gene Regulation Lab, which studies the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. The lab primarily investigates the role of chromatin-modifying complexes in gene regulation and cancer biology, with the ultimate goal of translating fundamental lab-based discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies. To achieve this, the lab integrates methodologies from biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology, genomics, and bioinformatics.

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2025 Fan, P., Shang, X. Y., Song, A., Chen, S., Mao, R. Y., Ma, J., . . . Chen, F. X. (2025). Catalytic-independent functions of the Integrator–PP2A complex (INTAC) confer sensitivity to BET inhibition. Nature Chemical Biology, 27 pages.
    DOI
    2025 Uckelmann, M., Levina, V., Taveneau, C., Ng, X. H., Pandey, V., Martinez, J., . . . Davidovich, C. (2025). Dynamic PRC1–CBX8 stabilizes a porous structure of chromatin condensates. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 32(3), 32 pages.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Gail, E. H., Healy, E., Flanigan, S. F., Jones, N., Ng, X. H., Uckelmann, M., . . . Davidovich, C. (2024). Inseparable RNA binding and chromatin modification activities of a nucleosome-interacting surface in EZH2. Nature Genetics, 56(6), 1193-1202.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC3
    2024 Healy, E., Zhang, Q., Gail, E. H., Agius, S. C., Sun, G., Bullen, M., . . . Davidovich, C. (2024). The apparent loss of PRC2 chromatin occupancy as an artifact of RNA depletion. Cell Reports, 43(3), 113858-1-113858-12.
    DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC10
    2021 Guo, Y., Liu, Q., Mallette, E., Caba, C., Hou, F., Fux, J., . . . Zhang, W. (2021). Structural and functional characterization of ubiquitin variant inhibitors for the JAMM-family deubiquitinases STAMBP and STAMBPL1. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 297(4), 1-13.
    DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC8
    2021 Zhang, Q., Agius, S. C., Flanigan, S. F., Uckelmann, M., Levina, V., Owen, B. M., & Davidovich, C. (2021). PALI1 facilitates DNA and nucleosome binding by PRC2 and triggers an allosteric activation of catalysis. Nature Communications, 12(1), 4592.
    DOI Scopus22 Europe PMC21
    2021 Davidovich, C., & Zhang, Q. (2021). Allosteric regulation of histone lysine methyltransferases: From context-specific regulation to selective drugs. Biochemical Society Transactions, 49(2), 591-607.
    DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC3
    2019 Paudel, P., Zhang, Q., Leung, C., Greenberg, H. C., Guo, Y., Chern, Y. H., . . . Tong, Y. (2019). Crystal structure and activity-based labeling reveal the mechanisms for linkage-specific substrate recognition by deubiquitinase USP9X. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(15), 7288-7297.
    DOI Scopus39 Europe PMC27
    2019 Zhang, Q., McKenzie, N. J., Warneford-Thomson, R., Gail, E. H., Flanigan, S. F., Owen, B. M., . . . Davidovich, C. (2019). RNA exploits an exposed regulatory site to inhibit the enzymatic activity of PRC2. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 26(3), 237-247.
    DOI Scopus80 Europe PMC59
    2017 Gao, Y., Zhang, Q., Lang, Y., Liu, Y., Dong, X., Chen, Z., . . . Chen, Z. (2017). Human apo-SRP72 and SRP68/72 complex structures reveal the molecular basis of protein translocation. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, 9(3), 220-230.
    DOI Scopus14 Europe PMC13
    2017 Zhang, Q., Wang, Z., Hou, F., Harding, R., Huang, X., Dong, A., . . . Tong, Y. (2017). The substrate binding domains of human SIAH E3 ubiquitin ligases are now crystal clear. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects, 1861(1), 3095-3105.
    DOI Scopus25 Europe PMC14
    2016 Zhang, Q., Harding, R., Hou, F., Dong, A., Walker, J. R., Bteich, J., & Tong, Y. (2016). Structural basis of the recruitment of ubiquitin-specific protease USP15 by spliceosome recycling factor SART3. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291(33), 17283-17292.
    DOI Scopus24 Europe PMC18
    2016 Liu, Y., Tempel, W., Zhang, Q., Liang, X., Loppnau, P., Qin, S., & Min, J. (2016). Family-wide characterization of histone binding abilities of human CW domain-containing proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291(17), 9000-9013.
    DOI Scopus44 Europe PMC36
    2015 Deng, Z., Wang, Q., Liu, Z., Zhang, M., Machado, A. C. D., Chiu, T. P., . . . Chen, Z. (2015). Mechanistic insights into metal ion activation and operator recognition by the ferric uptake regulator. Nature Communications, 6(1), 12 pages.
    DOI Scopus96 Europe PMC74
    2015 Zhang, Q., Fan, L., Hou, F., Dong, A., Wang, Y. X., & Tong, Y. (2015). New Insights into the RNA-Binding and E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Activities of Roquins. Scientific Reports, 5(1), 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus26 Europe PMC18
    2015 Zheng, J., Lang, Y., Zhang, Q., Cui, D., Sun, H., Jiang, L., . . . Chen, Z. (2015). Structure of human MDM2 complexed with RPL11 reveals the molecular basis of p53 activation. Genes and Development, 29(14), 1524-1534.
    DOI Scopus67 Europe PMC49
    2014 Feng, C., Liu, Y., Wang, G., Deng, Z., Zhang, Q., Wu, W., . . . Chen, Z. (2014). Crystal structures of the human RNA demethylase alkbh5 reveal basis for substrate recognition. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289(17), 11571-11583.
    DOI Scopus158 Europe PMC113
    2014 Deng, Z., Lehmann, K. C., Li, X., Feng, C., Wang, G., Zhang, Q., . . . Chen, Z. (2014). Structural basis for the regulatory function of a complex zinc-binding domain in a replicative arterivirus helicase resembling a nonsense-mediated mRNA decay helicase. Nucleic Acids Research, 42(5), 3464-3477.
    DOI Scopus44 Europe PMC41
    2013 Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., & Wang, G. (2013). Crystallization and initial X-ray data of abscisic acid receptor PYL3 in the presence of (-)-ABA. Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 69(5), 540-543.
    DOI
    2013 Zhang, X., Jiang, L., Wang, G., Yu, L., Zhang, Q., Xin, Q., . . . Chen, Z. (2013). Structural Insights into the Abscisic Acid Stereospecificity by the ABA Receptors PYR/PYL/RCAR. PLoS ONE, 8(7), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus42 Europe PMC23
    2013 Zhang, Q., Qi, S., Xu, M., Yu, L., Tao, Y., Deng, Z., . . . Wong, J. (2013). Structure-function analysis reveals a novel mechanism for regulation of histone demethylase LSD2/AOF1/KDM1b. Cell Research, 23(2), 225-241.
    DOI Scopus56 Europe PMC42
    2012 Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., Xin, Q., Yu, L., Wang, Z., Wu, W., . . . Chen, Z. (2012). Complex structures of the abscisic acid receptor PYL3/RCAR13 reveal a unique regulatory mechanism. Structure, 20(5), 780-790.
    DOI Scopus70 Europe PMC42
    2010 Yu, L., Wang, Y., Huang, S., Wang, J., Deng, Z., Zhang, Q., . . . Chen, Z. (2010). Structural insights into a novel histone demethylase PHF8. Cell Research, 20(2), 166-173.
    DOI Scopus63 Europe PMC50
    - Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Native structure of LSD2/AOF1/KDM1b in spacegroup of I222 at 2.9A.
    DOI
    - Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., Wang, G., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). X-ray crystal structure of the Py13 -pyrabactin complex.
    DOI
    - DONG, A., ZHANG, Q., TEMPEL, W., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & TONG, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the RC3H2 ROQ domain in complex with stem-loop and double-stranded forms of RNA.
    DOI
    - Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Walker, J. R., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human USP9X.
    DOI
    - Zhang, Q., & Davidovich, C. (n.d.). Crystal structure of EED in complex with PALI1-K1219me3 peptide.
    DOI
    - Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., Wang, G., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Complex structure of abscisic acid receptor PYL3-(+)-ABA-HAB1 in the presence of Mn2+.
    DOI
    - Walker, J. R., Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Huang, X., Li, Y., Bountra, C., . . . Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of SIAH1 SINA domain in complex with a USP19 peptide.
    DOI
    - Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Walker, J. R., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the HAT domain of sart3 in complex with USP15 DUSP-UBL domain.
    DOI
    - Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Native structure of LSD2 /AOF1/KDM1b in spacegroup of C2221 at 2.13A.
    DOI
    - Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Walker, J. R., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of siah2 SBD domain.
    DOI
    - Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Li, Y., Walker, J. R., Guan, X., Bountra, C., . . . Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal Structure of a Functionally Uncharacterized Domain of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SHPRH.
    DOI
    - Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Complex structure of LSD2/AOF1/KDM1b with H3K4 mimic.
    DOI
    - DONG, A., ZHANG, Q., TEMPEL, W., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & TONG, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the ROQ domain of human Roquin-2.
    DOI
    - Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Crystal structure of native abscisic acid receptor PYL5 at 2.65 Angstrom.
    DOI
    - Walker, J. R., Zhang, Q., Dong, A., Wernimont, A., Li, Y., He, H., . . . Tong, Y. (n.d.). CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF THE WD40 DOMAIN OF THE HUMAN PROLACTIN REGULATORY ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEIN.
    DOI
    - Walker, J. R., Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Ong, M., Duan, S., Li, Y., . . . Tong, Y. (n.d.). Tandem Tudor and PHD domains of UHRF2.
    DOI
    - Dong, A., Zhang, Q., Li, Y., Tempel, W., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., . . . Tong, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the ROQ domain of human Roquin-1.
    DOI
    - DONG, A., ZHANG, Q., TEMPEL, W., Bountra, C., Arrowsmith, C. H., Edwards, A. M., & TONG, Y. (n.d.). Crystal structure of the HAT domain of sart3.
    DOI
    - Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Complex Structure of Abscisic Acid Receptor PYL3 with (+)-ABA in Spacegroup of I 212121 at 2.70A.
    DOI
    - Zhang, Q., & Davidovich, C. (n.d.). Crystal structure of EED in complex with PALI1-K1241me3 peptide.
    DOI
    - Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., & Chen, Z. (n.d.). Crystal structure of native abscisic acid receptor PYL9 with ABA.
    DOI

  • Preprint
    Year Citation
    2023 Barszczyk, A., Bandura, J., Zhang, Q., Wang, H., Deurloo, M., Ahmed, Y., . . . Feng, Z. -P. (2023). Caltubin regulates microtubule stability via Ca<sup>2+</sup>-dependent mechanisms favouring neurite regrowth.
    DOI
    2023 Healy, E., Zhang, Q., Gail, E., Agius, S., Sun, G., Bullen, M., . . . Davidovich, C. (2023). The apparent loss of PRC2 chromatin occupancy as an artefact of RNA depletion.
    DOI
    2023 Uckelmann, M., Levina, V., Taveneau, C., Ng, X. H., Pandey, V., Martinez, J., . . . Davidovich, C. (2023). Dynamic PRC1-CBX8 stabilizes a porous structure of chromatin condensates.
    DOI
    2023 Deevy, O., Monger, C., Matrà, F., Tuck, E., Conway, E., Badonyi, M., . . . Bracken, A. (2023). Dominant negative effects on H3K27 methylation by Weaver syndrome-associated EZH2 variants.
    DOI

2024-2026 ARC ARC Discovery Project (Sole CI, $ $544k)

2023-2025 NHMRC Idea Grant (AI, $774k)

2023-2026 mRNA Victoria Activation Program Grant (CIA, $472k)

2022-2023 Monash BDI Career Continuity Grant (sole CI, $50k)

2022-2023 Monash BDI Advancing Women’s Success Grant (Sole CI, $10.5k)

2022-2024 NHMRC Idea Grant (AI, $849k)

2021-2022 NHMRC Equipment Grant (CI, $307k)

2021-2025 NHMRC Investigator Grant Emerging Leadership 1 (Sole CI, $595k,)

2020-2022 NHMRC Idea Grant (CIB, $714k)

2018-2020 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (Sole CI, $344k)

2018-2019 Monash Platform Access Grants (CIA, $5k)

  • Position: EMBLAus(PLN) Group Leader, Cancer Epigenetics
  • Phone: 83133755
  • Email: qi.zhang@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: West End Health Precinct
  • Building: AHMS - Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor Ninth Floor
  • Room: 9065
  • Org Unit: South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute
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