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SUMMARY:Liquid–liquid phase separation in autophagy - Dr Hong Zhang\; In
 stitute of Biophysics\, Chinese Academy of Sciences
DTSTART:20230621T120000Z
DTEND:20230621T130000Z
UID:TALK200959@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Bobbie Claxton
DESCRIPTION:Hong Zhang is an Investigator in the Institute of Biophysics\,
  Chinese Academy of Sciences. Our molecular understanding of autophagy mai
 nly originates from studying Atg (autophagy-related) genes identified in y
 east. Dr. Hong Zhang’s research has greatly advanced our understanding o
 f the unique steps in the much more complex autophagy pathway in multicell
 ular organisms. Zhang’s group has established C. elegans as a model for 
 genetic screens to study autophagy and identified a set of metazoan-specif
 ic autophagy genes\, called Epg genes. Subsequent analysis of these genes 
 has allowed us to understand the unique autophagy steps in multicellular o
 rganisms. Dr. Zhang will talk about his group’s recent findings that liq
 uid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays important roles in multiple asp
 ects of autophagy\, including specification of the autophagosome formation
  sites in response to ER calcium transients\, and triaging of protein carg
 os for selective degradation. \n\nDr. Hong Zhang is a New Cornerstone Inve
 stigator\, and also an Investigator in the Institute of Biophysics\, Chine
 se Academy of Sciences. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medic
 ine and had his postdoc training in the MGH Cancer Center\, Harvard Medica
 l School. Zhang’s lab demonstrated that during C. elegans embryogenesis\
 , specialized protein aggregates\, called PGL granules\, are removed by au
 tophagy in somatic cells. Using this as a model\, his lab carried out the 
 first systematic genetic screens in multicellular organisms and identified
  a set of metazoan-specific autophagy genes\, called Epg genes. His lab fu
 rther revealed that Epg genes act at steps unique to the autophagy pathway
  in multicellular organisms. Currently\, the research in Zhang’s lab foc
 uses on the mechanism and role of phase separation of autophagy proteins a
 nd regulators in various aspects of autophagy\, including execution and re
 gulation of autophagy and also degradation of protein aggregates. The awar
 ds he has won in recent years include the VCANBIO Award for Biosciences an
 d Medicine-Achievement Award\, the Second Prize of The State Natural Scien
 ce Award\, the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Chinese Society for Ce
 ll Biology\, and an HHMI International Early Career Scientist Award. Dr. H
 ong Zhang is an Associate Editor for Autophagy and is also on the Editoria
 l Board for Trends in Biochemical Sciences\, Journal of Cell Biology\, eLi
 fe\, EMBO reports\, JCS and Cell Death & Differentiation. \n
LOCATION:King's Hedges Room\, Babraham Research Campus
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