Zhijian Chen, Ph.D.

• Innate Immunity
• MAVS: mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein
• NF-kappaB Signaling
• RIG-I Signaling
• Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

 Featured Publications

Reconstitution of the RIG-I pathway reveals a signaling role of unanchored polyubiquitin chains in innate immunity

Zeng, W., Sun, L., Jiang, X., Chen, X., Hou, F., Adhikari, A., Xu, M., and Chen, Z.J. Cell April 2010 141 315-330

A ubiquitin replacement strategy reveals distinct mechanisms of IKK activation by TNFα and IL-1β

Xu, M., Skaug, B., Zeng, W., and Chen, Z.J. Molecular Cell October 2009 36 315-325

Key role of Ubc5 and K63 polyubiquitination in viral activation of IRF3

Zeng, W., Xu, M., Liu, S., Sun, L., Chen, Z.J Molecular Cell October 2009 36 302-314

Direct activation of protein kinases by unanchored polyubiquitin chains

Xia, Z.P., Sun, L., Chen, X., Pineda, G., Jiang, X., Adhikari, A., Zeng, W., and Chen, Z.J Nature August 2009 461 114-119

RNA polymerase III detects cytosolic DNA and induces type I interferons through the RIG-I pathway

Chiu, Y.H., Macmillan, J.B., and Chen, Z.J Cell August 2009 138 576-591

The specific and essential role of MAVS in antiviral innate immune responses

Sun, Q., Sun, L., Liu, H-H., Chen, X., Seth, R.B., Forman, J. and Chen, Z.J Immunity May 2006 24 633-642

Activation of IKK by TNFα requires site-specific ubiquitination of RIP1 and polyubiquitin binding by NEMO

Ea, C-K., Deng, L., Xia, Z-P., Pineda, G., and Chen, Z.J Molecular Cell April 2006 22 245-257

Identification and characterization of MAVS: a mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein that activates NF-κB and IRF3.

Seth, R.B., Sun, L., Ea, C., and Chen, Z.J. Cell 2005 122 669-682

TAK1 is a ubiquitin-dependent kinase of MKK and IKK

Wang, C., Deng, L., Hong, M. Akkaraju, G.R., Inoue, J-i., and Chen, Z Nature July 2001 412 346-351

Activation of the IkB kinase complex requires a dimeric ubiquitin conjugating enzyme complex and the formation of a unique polyubiquitin chain

Deng, L., Wang, C., Spencer, E., Yang, L., Braun, A., You, J., Slaughter, C., Pickart, C., and Chen, Z Cell October 2000 103 351-361

• William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology
  (2020)
• Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
  For his discovery of the cGAS enzyme that launches the body's immune defense against infections and cancers. That enzyme patrols the cell's interior and triggers the immune system in response to DNA. (2019)
• Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences
  For his discovery of the cGAS enzyme, a sensor of innate immunity. The enzyme patrols the cell’s interior and sounds the alarm to trigger the immune system in response to DNA. (2018)
• NAS Award in Molecular Biology
  For his creative use of elegant biochemistry both in elucidating an unsuspected role for polyubiquitin in a kinase-signaling cascade important for cancer and immunity and in discovering a novel link between innate immunity and a mitochondrial membrane protein that forms prion-like polymers to trigger antiviral responses. (2012)
• Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science by The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas
  (2007)
• Welch Foundation Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research
  (2005)
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases
  (2002)
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar
  (2002)
• Searle Scholar
  (1998)