Faculty

Biography

Di Zhang, an assistant professor at the School of Life Sciences, Peking University, is a Boya Young Scholar, and a researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Gene Function Research and Manipulation and the Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences. He explores signaling mechanisms in metabolic adaptation and regulation.
Zhang graduated from the Peking University Basic Medical College's eight-year program under Academician Yongfeng Shang, studying the molecular mechanisms of epigenetics and transcriptional regulation in tumorigenesis. During his postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago with Professor Yingming Zhao, he first found that metabolic products (e.g., lactate, ketone bodies) in mammalian cells drive novel protein modifications like lysine lactylation, with his work cited over 2,000 times.

Education

2010 - 2013   Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
2005 - 2010   B.S. Basic Medical Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

Professional Experience

2021.03 – present Assistant Professor, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
2021.03 – present Principal Investigator, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
2013.09 – 2021.01 Postdoc, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, USA

Social Services

Has long served as a reviewer for journals such as Cell Metabolism, Cell Research, Nature Metabolism, Nature Cancer, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications.

Honors and Awards

The Outstanding Instructor Award in the 24th Peking University Teaching Basic Skills Competition for Young Teachers, 2025.
First Prize in the 22nd Peking University Teaching Basic Skills Competition for Young Teachers, 2023.
Peking University Dongbao Teaching Award, 2023
Peking University Boya Young Fellow, 2022
Bayer Investigator, 2021
Yi Fang Investigator, 2021

Porfessional Society Affiliations

2021-2025，Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (CSBMB)

Research Interests

Cellular functions are intricately linked with metabolic processes, which not only serve as the source of cellular energy but also act as pivotal regulators of a wide range of physiological activities. Our research team is dedicated to uncovering the intricate mechanisms through which metabolism governs key physiological activities, thereby enabling cellular adaptation.
We employ a multi-faceted approach, integrating traditional biochemical, cellular, and molecular biology techniques with state-of-the-art omics technologies. This comprehensive methodology allows us to explore the nuances of metabolic regulation in depth. We have been at the forefront of identifying novel protein modifications catalyzed by cellular metabolites, including lysine lactylation (mediated by lactate) and lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (mediated by ketone bodies).
Our current research is concentrated on three pivotal areas:
1. Discovery and Functional Analysis of Metabolite-Driven Protein Modifications: We are uncovering and studying new types of protein modifications, shedding light on previously unknown pathways through which metabolites modulate protein functions.
2. Regulation of Chromatin Activity by Metabolites: We are delving into the novel mechanisms by which metabolites influence chromatin activity, which in turn affects gene expression and ultimately, cellular fate.
3. Role of Metabolic Enzymes in Metabolic Adaptation and Regulation: We are examining new mechanisms involving metabolic enzymes in the context of metabolic adaptation and regulation, enhancing our understanding of the multifaceted role that metabolic processes play in cellular physiology and disease.

Representative Peer-Reviewed Publications

(*Co-first author, # Corresponding author)
(1) Ren H, Tang Y, Zhang D#. (2025).The emerging role of protein l-lactylation in metabolic regulation and cell signalling. Nat Metab. online. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01259-0.
(2) Zhang D#, Gao J, Zhu Z, Mao Q, Xu Z, Singh PK, Rimayi CC, Moreno-Yruela C, Xu S, Li G, Sin YC, Chen Y, Olsen CA, Snyder NW, Dai L, Li L, Zhao Y. (2024). Lysine L-lactylation is the dominant lactylation isomer induced by glycolysis. Nat Chem Biol. 21(1): 91–99.
(3) Ren H, Zhang D#. (2024). Lactylation constrains OXPHOS under hypoxia. Cell Res. 34(2):91-92.
(4) Gao J, Sheng X, Du J, Zhang D, Han C, Chen Y, Wang C, Zhao Y. (2023). Identification of 113 new histone marks by CHiMA, a tailored database search strategy. Sci Adv. 9(14): eadf1416.
(5) Moreno-Yruela C, Zhang D*, Wei W, Bæk M, Liu W, Gao J, Danková D, Nielsen AL, Bolding JE, Yang L, Jameson ST, Wong J, Olsen CA, Zhao Y. (2022). Class I histone deacetylases (HDAC1-3) are histone lysine delactylases. Sci Adv. 8(3): eabi6696.
(6) Huang H, Zhang D*, Weng Y, Delaney K, Tang Z, Yan C, Qi S, Peng C, Cole PA, Roeder RG, Zhao Y. (2021). The regulatory enzymes and protein substrates for the lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation pathway. Sci Adv. 7(9): eabe2771.
(7) Zhang D*, Tang Z*, Huang H, Zhou G, Cui C, Weng Y, Liu W, Kim S, Lee S, Perez-Neut M, Czyz D, Hu R, Ye Z, He M, Zheng YG, Shuman H, Ding J, Dai L, Ren B, Robert RG, Becker L, Zhao Y. (2019). Metabolic regulation of gene expression by histone lactylation. Nature. 574: 575-580.
(8) Huang H, Zhang D, Wang Y, Perez-Neut M, Han Z, Zheng YG, Hao Q, Zhao Y. (2018). Lysine benzoylation is a histone mark regulated by SIRT2. Nat Commun. 9(1): 3374.
(9) Sabari BR*, Zhang D*, Allis CD, Zhao Y. (2017). Metabolic Regulation of Gene Expression through Differential Histone Acylation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 18(2): 90-101.
(10) Xie Z*, Zhang D*, Chung D*, Tang Z, Huang H, Dai L, Qi S, Li J, Colak G, Chen Y, Xia C, Peng C, Ruan H, Kirkey M, Wang D, Jensen LM, Kwon OK, Lee S, Pletcher SD, Tan M, Lombard DB, White KP, Zhao H, Li J, Roeder RG, Yang X, Zhao Y. (2016). Metabolic Regulation of Gene Expression by Histone Lysine beta-hydroxybutyrylation. Mol Cell. 62(2): 194-206.
(11) Goudarzi A*, Zhang D*, Huang H, Barral S, Kwon OK, Qi S, Tang Z, Buchou T, Vitte AL, He T, Cheng Z, Montellier E, Gaucher J, Curtet S, Debernardi A, Charbonnier G, Puthier D, Petosa C, Panne D, Rousseaux S, Roeder RG, Zhao Y, Khochbin S. (2016). Dynamic Competing Histone H4 K5K8 Acetylation and Butyrylation Are Hallmarks of Highly Active Gene Promoters. Mol Cell. 62(2): 169-80.
(12) Zhang Y*, Zhang D*, Liang J, Yi X, Gui B, Yu W, Sun L, Yang X, Han X, Chen Z, Liu S, Si W, Yan R, Wang Y, Shang Y. (2016). Nucleation of DNA Repair Factors by FOXA1 Links DNA Demethylation to Transcriptional Pioneering. Nat Genet. 48(9): 1003-13.

Teaching

《Molecular Biology》for Undergraduate Students；
《Biochemistry Seminar》for Undergraduate Students；
《Frontiers of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology》for Undergraduate Students；
《Research Practices in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology》for Undergraduate Students；
《Research Ethics and Thesis Guidance in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology》for Undergraduate Students；
《Advances in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology》for Graduate Students；
《Fundamentals of Life Science Experiments》for Graduate Students