Biographical Info

Research Areas

The Zhou laboratory is interested in the mechanisms mediating cell-cell communication and their roles in normal development, physiology, and diseases. Specifically the Zhou laboratory is investigating the functions of a large family of tyrosine kinase receptors, the Ephs, and their ligands, the ephrins, in neural circuit formation, eye development, and behavior regulations including motor activity, circadian rhythm, and aggression. The Zhou laboratory employs both in vitro and in vivo techniques, including neuron cultures, transgenic and knockout mice, as well as behavior assays.

Research Highlights

Demonstration of a repulsive function of ephrins in axon guidance

Discovering signal transduction pathways mediating ephrin-induced growth cone guidance

Establishing a novel cataract mouse model

Elucidating regulation of cell-cell adhesion by ephrins

Scholarly Activities

Member of editorial board: Neuroscience Bulletin; Cell & Bioscience

Membership in: AAAS, Society of Neuroscice, ARVO

Recent Publications

1. Liang, X, Wan, D, Cai, Y, Yue, W, Wang, X, Zhou, H, Zhou, R, Du, Q, Xiao, J, Zhang, S et al.. Xuanhuang Runtong Tablets Relieve Slow Transit Constipation in Mice by Regulating TLR5/IL-17A Signaling Mediated by Gut Microbes. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2023;2023 :6506244. doi: 10.1155/2023/6506244. PubMed PMID:36700038 PubMed Central PMC9870700
2. Chow, JC, Zhou, R, Hormozdiari, F. MAGI-MS: multiple seed-centric module discovery. Bioinform Adv. 2022;2 (1):vbac025. doi: 10.1093/bioadv/vbac025. PubMed PMID:36699383 PubMed Central PMC9710684
3. Duan, N, Hu, X, Zhou, R, Li, Y, Wu, W, Liu, N. A Review on Dietary Flavonoids as Modulators of the Tumor Microenvironment. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2023; :e2200435. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202200435. PubMed PMID:36698331
4. Xu, X, Zhou, R. The Cerna Network of Long Non-Coding RNA PCAT1/Mir-128-3p/SEC61A1 In Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion. Protein Pept Lett. 2023; :. doi: 10.2174/0929866530666230125110222. PubMed PMID:36698227
5. Rao, X, Zhou, D, Deng, H, Chen, Y, Wang, J, Zhou, X, Jie, X, Xu, Y, Wu, Z, Wang, G et al.. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung epithelial cells triggers radiation-induced lung injury. Respir Res. 2023;24 (1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02331-7. PubMed PMID:36694200 PubMed Central PMC9872296
6. Long, Y, Zeng, J, Yang, M, Zhou, X, Zeng, M, Liu, C, Tong, Q, Zhou, R, Liu, X. Comparative transcriptome analysis to reveal key ethylene genes involved in a Lonicera macranthoides mutant. Genes Genomics. 2023; :. doi: 10.1007/s13258-022-01354-6. PubMed PMID:36694039
7. Yang, M, Zhao, Q, Ma, H, Li, R, Wang, Y, Zhou, R, Liu, J, Wang, X, Hao, Y, Ren, J et al.. Integrated Uniformly Microporous C₄ N/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Composite Toward Ultra-Stable and Ultralow-Temperature Proton Batteries. Small. 2023; :e2207487. doi: 10.1002/smll.202207487. PubMed PMID:36693783