Research Interests：
On one hand, receptors and ion channels are key units in cell membrane, and the dysfunction of receptors and ion channels is the important basis of human diseases, and they are major drug targets. On the other hand, living strategies for prey capture and defense have evolved extensive diverse protein and peptide toxins in venomous animals in nature. These biotoxins are characterized by 1) strong activity (acting in pM and nM); 2) high specificity (effectively on subtype of the receptors and ion channels); 3) huge molecular diversity (multiple-gene copy families). They have been widely used as 1) powerful research tools in exploring human patho-physiology, 2) important clinic therapeutics, 3) templates for clinic drug design.

Objective: Dr. Zhang’s Lab carries out long-term, systemic research on the bio-diversity and the structure and function of protein and peptide biotoxins from various animals. At present stage, the work of Dr Zhang's Lab mainly focuses on the biotoxins from amphibians, reptiles and centipedes. Major efforts are projects that will lead to the elucidation of bio-diversity of animal toxin proteins and peptides, their biological targets, action mechanisms involved and biological implications. Such studies hopefully to provide useful information and research tools for biological and biomedical research, and will eventually help to illustrate the human patho-physiology and disease mechanisms. On the basis above, potential drug leads finding, rational new molecule design and clinic utilization are perspective.