Faculty
SELF-INTRODUCTION：
Baotong Zhang is a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Southern University of Science and Technology School of Medicine. Dr. Zhang graduated from Nankai University with his Ph. D. degree in Genetics in 2014. He was a postdoctoral fellow from 2014 to 2020 and then promoted as an Instructor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. He joined SUStech in 2021. Dr. Zhang has authored 27 research articles in high-profile journals (i.e., Nature Communications, Cell Metabolism, Theranostics, Molecular Cancer, Molecular and Cellular Biology, etc.) with 840+ citations. His achievement in prostate cancer bone metastasis won the AACR 2020 Scholar-in-Training Award. Dr. Zhang’s primary research focus is the genetic determinants of cancer metastasis, especially in prostate cancer. He is an ad-hoc reviewer of many journals, including Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, International Journal of Cancer, Journal of Genetics and Genomics, Scientific Reports, and Cancers. He is also on the editorial board of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology，Biomed Research International, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine.
EDUCATION:
2009.9 ~ 2014.6: Ph.D. major in Genetics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; (Mentor: Dr. Jin-Tang Dong)
2005.9 ~ 2009.6: B.Sc. major in Biological Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China;
WOKRING EXPERIENCE:
2020.12~2021.7: Instructor
Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia
2014.9 ~ 2020.11: Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia
(Mentor: Drs. Jin-Tang Dong and Wei Zhou)
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2008 China National Scholarship (Top 0.2%), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
2020 AACR Scholar-in-Training Award
RESEARCH:
1. Genetic determinants of cancer metastasis.
2. Microenvironment of cancer metastasis.
3. Drug resistance of cancer metastasis.
4. Prostate development and tumorigenesis.
MANUSCRIPT EDITOR：
2021.06 - Present，Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
2020.07 - Present，Academic Editor, Biomed research international
2021.05 - Present，Editor Board Member, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
PUBLICATIONS：
Baotong Zhang, Yixiang Li, Qiao Wu, Lin Xie, Benjamin Barwick, Changying Fu, Xin Li, Daqing Wu, Siyuan Xia, Jing Chen, Wei Ping Qian, Lily Yang, Adeboye O. Osunkoya, Lawrence H. Boise, Paula M. Vertino, Yichao Zhao, Menglin Li, Hsiao-Rong Chen, Jeanne Kowalski, Omer Kucuk, Wei Zhou & Jin-Tang Dong. Acetylation of KLF5 maintains EMT and tumorigenicity to cause chemoresistant bone metastasis in prostate cancer. Nature communications 12, doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21976-w (2021).
Baotong Zhang,Siyuan Xia, Mingcheng Liu, Xiawei Li, Shimin Shuai, Wei Tao, Yixiang Li, Jianping Jenny Ni, Wei Zhou, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Jin-Jang Dong. Interruption of Klf5 acetylation in basal progenitor cells promotes luminal commitment by activating Notch signaling. Journal of genetics and genomics 21, doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2021.11.013 (2021).
Baotong Zhang,Xin Li, Weiping Qian, Daqing Wu, Jin-Jang Dong. Measurement of Bone Metastatic Tumor Growth by a Tibial Tumorigenesis Assay. Bio-protocol 11, doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4231 (2021).
Baotong Zhang, Xinpei Ci, Ran Tao, Jianping Jenny Ni, Xiaoyan Xuan, Jamie L. King, Siyuan Xia, Yixiang Li, Henry F. Frierson, Dong-Kee Lee, Jianming Xu, Adeboye O. Osunkoya & Jin-Tang Dong. Klf5 acetylation regulates luminal differentiation of basal progenitors in prostate development and regeneration. Nature communications 11, doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14737-8 (2020).
Yixiang Li, Baotong Zhang#, Lingwei Xiang, Siyuan Xia, Omer Kucuk, Xingming Deng, Lawrence H. Boise & Jin-Tang Dong#. TGF-beta causes Docetaxel resistance in Prostate Cancer via the induction of Bcl-2 by acetylated KLF5 and Protein Stabilization. Theranostics 10, 7656-7670, doi:10.7150/thno.44567 (2020). (# 共同通讯作者)
Qiao Wu, Changying Fu, Menglin Li, Juan Li, Zhigui Li, Leilei Qi, Xinpei Ci, Gui Ma, Ang Gao, Xing Fu, Na An, Mingcheng Liu, Yixiang Li, Jamie L King, Liya Fu, Baotong Zhang# & Jin-Tang Dong#. CINP is a novel cofactor of KLF5 required for its role in the promotion of cell proliferation, survival and tumor growth. International journal of cancer 144, 582-594 . doi: 10.1002/ijc.31908(2019). (# 共同通讯作者)
Ran Tao*, Baotong Zhang*, Yixiang Li, Jamie L. King, Ruoyu Tian, Siyuan Xia, Cara R. Schiavon & Jin-Tang Dong. HDAC-mediated deacetylation of KLF5 associates with its proteasomal degradation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 500, 777-782, doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.153 (2018). (* 共同第一作者)
Baotong Zhang*, Ranran Zhao*, Yuan He, Xing Fu, Liya Fu, Zhengmao Zhu, Li Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. MicroRNA 100 sensitizes luminal A breast cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment in part by targeting mTOR. Oncotarget 7, 5702-5714, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.6790 (2016). (* 共同第一作者)
Baotong Zhang, Zhiqian Zhang, Siyuan Xia, Changsheng Xing, Xinpei Ci, Xin Li, Ranran Zhao, Sha Tian, Gui Ma, Zhengmao Zhu, Liya Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. KLF5 activates microRNA 200 transcription to maintain epithelial characteristics and prevent induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in epithelial cells. Molecular and Cellular Biology 33, 4919-4935, doi:10.1128/MCB.00787-13 (2013).
Jun A, Baotong Zhang, Zhiqian Zhang, Hailiang Hu & Jin-Tang Dong. Novel Gene Signatures Predictive of Patient Recurrence-Free Survival and Castration Resistance in Prostate Cancer. Cancers 13, doi:10.3390/cancers13040917 (2021).
Yuanli Chen; Jiamin Su; Yali Yan; Qian Zhao; Jialing Ma; Mengmeng Zhu; Xiaoyu He; Baotong Zhang; Hongmei Xu; Xiaoxiao Yang; Yajun Duan; Jihong Han. Intermittent Fasting Inhibits High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis by Ameliorating Hypercholesterolemia and Reducing Monocyte Chemoattraction. Frontiers in pharmacology 12, doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.719750(2021).
Ge Dong, Gui Ma, Rui Wu, Jinming Liu, Mingcheng Liu, Ang Gao, Xiawei Li, Jun A, Xiaoyu Liu, Zhiqian Zhang, Baotong Zhang, Liya Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. ZFHX3 Promotes the Proliferation and Tumor Growth of ER-Positive Breast Cancer Cells Likely by Enhancing Stem-Like Features and MYC and TBX3 Transcription. Cancers 12, doi:10.3390/cancers12113415 (2020).
Rui Wu, Jiali Fang, Mingcheng Liu, Jun A, Jinming Liu, Wenxuan Chen, Juan Li, Gui Ma, Zhiqian Zhang, Baotong Zhang, Liya Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. SUMOylation of the transcription factor ZFHX3 at Lys-2806 requires SAE1, UBC9, and PIAS2 and enhances its stability and function in cell proliferation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 295, 6741-6753, doi:10.1074/jbc.RA119.012338 (2020).
Juan Li, Baotong Zhang, Mingcheng Liu, Xing Fu, Xinpei Ci, Jun A, Changying Fu, Ge Dong, Rui Wu, Zhiqian Zhang, Liya Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. KLF5 Is Crucial for Androgen-AR Signaling to Transactivate Genes and Promote Cell Proliferation in Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 12, doi:10.3390/cancers12030748 (2020).
Changying Fu, Na An, Jinming Liu, Jun A, Baotong Zhang, Mingcheng Liu, Zhiqian Zhang, Liya Fu, Xinxin Tian, Dan Wang & Jin-Tang Dong. The transcription factor ZFHX3 is crucial for the angiogenic function of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha in liver cancer cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 295, 7060-7074, doi:10.1074/jbc.RA119.012131 (2020).
Gui Ma, Ang Gao, Yinan Yang, Yuan He, Xi Zhang, Baotong Zhang, Zhiqian Zhang, Mei Li, Xing Fu, Dan Zhao, Rui Wu, Leilei Qi, Qingxia Hu, Juan Li, Liya Fu, Zhengmao Zhu & Jin-Tang Dong. Zfhx3 is essential for progesterone/progesterone receptor signaling to drive ductal side-branching and alveologenesis in mouse mammary glands. Journal of Genetics and Genomics (2019).
Qingxia Hu, Baotong Zhang, Rui Chen, Changying Fu, A Jun, Xing Fu, Juan Li, Liya Fu, Zhiqian Zhang & Jin-Tang Dong. ZFHX3 is indispensable for ERβ to inhibit cell proliferation via MYC downregulation in prostate cancer cells. Oncogenesis 8, 28 (2019).
Xinxin Tian, Fangfang Tao, Baotong Zhang, Jin-Tang Dong & Zhiqian Zhang. The miR-203/SNAI2 axis regulates prostate tumor growth, migration, angiogenesis and stemness potentially by modulating GSK-3beta/beta-CATENIN signal pathway. IUBMB Life 70, 224-236, doi:10.1002/iub.1720 (2018).
Jamie L. King, Baotong Zhang, Yixiang Li, Kathy P. Li, Jianping J. Ni, Harold I. Saavedra & Jin-Tang Dong. TTK promotes mesenchymal signaling via multiple mechanisms in triple negative breast cancer. Oncogenesis 7, 69, doi:10.1038/s41389-018-0077-z (2018).
Siyuan Xia, Ruiting Lin, Lingtao Jin, Liang Zhao, Hee-Bum Kang, Yaozhu Pan, Shuangping Liu, Guoqing Qian, Zhiyu Qian, Evmorfia Konstantakou, Baotong Zhang, Jin-Tang Dong, Young R. Chung, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Taha Merghoub, Lu Zhou, Ragini R. Kudchadkar, David H. Lawson, Hanna J. Khoury, Fadlo R. Khuri, Lawrence H. Boise, Sagar Lonial, Benjamin H. Lee, Brain P. Pollack, Jack L. Arbiser, Jun Fan, Qun-Ying Lei & Jing Chen. Prevention of Dietary-Fat-Fueled Ketogenesis Attenuates BRAF V600E Tumor Growth. Cell Metabolism 25, 358-373, doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.12.010 (2017).
Leilei Qi, Baotong Zhang, Shiying Zhang, Xinpei Ci, Qiao Wu, Gui Ma, Ang Luo, Liya Fu, Jamie L. King, Rita Nahta & Jin-Tang Dong. ERRF sensitizes ERBB2-positive breast cancer cells to lapatinib treatment likely by attenuating MCL1 and ERBB2 expression. Oncotarget 8, 36054-36066, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.16425 (2017).
Xiaodong Sun, Changsheng Xing, Xiaoying Fu, Jie Li, Baotong Zhang, Henry F. Frierson, Jr. & Jin-Tang Dong. Additive Effect of Zfhx3/Atbf1 and Pten Deletion on Mouse Prostatic Tumorigenesis. Journal of Genetics and Genomics 42, 373-382, doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2015.06.004 (2015).
Xin Li, Baotong Zhang, Qiao Wu, Xinpei Ci, Ranran Zhao, Zhiqian Zhang, Siyuan Xia, Dan Su, Jie Chen, Gui Ma, Liya Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. Interruption of KLF5 acetylation converts its function from tumor suppressor to tumor promoter in prostate cancer cells. International journal of cancer 136, 536-546, doi:10.1002/ijc.29028 (2015).
Xinpei Ci, Changsheng Xing, Baotong Zhang, Zhiqian Zhang, Jenny J. Ni, Wei Zhou & Jin-Tang Dong. KLF5 inhibits angiogenesis in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer by attenuating AKT activation and subsequent HIF1alpha accumulation. Molecular Cancer 14, 91, doi:10.1186/s12943-015-0365-6 (2015).
Zhiqian Zhang, Zhengmao Zhu, Baotong Zhang, Weidong Li, Xin Li, Xiao Wu, Lijuan Wang, Liya Fu, Li Fu & Jin-Tang Dong. Frequent mutation of rs13281615 and its association with PVT1 expression and cell proliferation in breast cancer. Journal of Genetics and Genomics 41, 187-195, doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2014.03.006 (2014).
Mei Li, Dan Zhao, Gui Ma, Baotong Zhang, Xiaoying Fu, Zhengmao Zhu, Liya Fu, Xiaodong Sun & Jin-Tang Dong. Upregulation of ATBF1 by progesterone-PR signaling and its functional implication in mammary epithelial cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 430, 358-363, doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.11.009 (2013).
Zhiqian Zhang, Baotong Zhang, Weidong Li, Liya Fu, Li Fu, Zhengmao Zhu & Jin-Tang Dong. Epigenetic Silencing of miR-203 Upregulates SNAI2 and Contributes to the Invasiveness of Malignant Breast Cancer Cells. Genes & cancer 2, 782-791, doi:10.1177/1947601911429743 (2011).