Molecular Biology Program
The Xiaolan Zhao Lab
Research
Professor
DNA replication, repair, and damage response, collectively called the 3Rs, support genome stability and faithful genetic inheritance. Proteins involved in the 3Rs are genome guardians that prevent a broad spectrum of diseases, ranging from cancers, immunological and neurodegenerative diseases, to developmental disorders such as diabetes and premature aging. Our lab investigates 3R mechanisms, 3R protein functions and structures, and their links to human disease. Our main research interests include:
- Mechanisms of genome duplication during growth and under stress conditions that mimics carcinogenic exposure or chemotherapeutic treatment.
- DNA repair processes that restore genetic information perturbed by a variety of DNA lesions arising from genotoxic exposures.
- The DNA damage response systems that monitor genome lesion burdens and deploy signaling pathways to induce multi-faceted physiological changes, ranging from metabolic and epigenetic changes, cell cycle delays, to chromosomal organization and maintenance adjustments.
To illuminate 3R processes and genome guardian functions, we have implemented cutting-edge and multi-disciplinary approaches, including genetic, biochemical, cell biological, structural, and genomic strategies. Our broad research scope and approaches provide lab members ample opportunities to explore and discover new biological principles. Our lab also offers a nurturing and supportive environment with tailored mentoring and training to advance lab members’ abilities in research, writing, presentation, and leadership.
Featured News
Publications Highlights
Selected Papers in the Past 5 years
2024
Li Q, Zhang J, Haluska C, Zhang X, Wang L, Liu G, Wang Z, Jin D, Cheng T, Wang H, Tian Y, Wang X, Sun L, Zhao X*, Chen Z*, Wang L* (*co-corresponding authors) Cryo-EM structures of Smc5/6 in multiple states reveal its assembly and functional mechanisms. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 31:1532-1542.
Fan J, Dhingra N, Yang T, Yang V, Zhao X (2024). Srs2 binding to PCNA and its sumoylation contribute to RPA antagonism during the DNA damage response. eLife 13:RP98843.
Zhao R, Xu M, Yu X, Wondisford AR, Lackner RM, Salsman J, Dellaire G, Chenoweth DM, O’Sullivan RJ, Zhao X, Zhang H (2024). SUMO promotes DNA repair protein collaboration to support alternative telomere lengthening in the absence of PML. Genes Dev. 38:614-630.
Fingerman DF, O’Leary DR, Hansen AR, Tran T, Harris BR, DeWeerd RA, Hayer KE, Fan J, Chen E, Tennakoon M, Meroni A, Szeto JH, Devenport J, LaVigne D, Weitzman MD, Shalem O, Bednarski J, Vindigni A, Zhao X, Green AM (2024). The SMC5/6 complex prevents genotoxicity upon APOBEC3A-mediated replication stress. EMBO J. 43:3240-3255
People
Xiaolan Zhao, PhD
Professor
- Molecular biologist Xiaolan Zhao studies chromosomal organization, genome integrity, DNA replication and repair, dynamic protein modification.
- PhD, Columbia University
- [email protected]
- Email Address
- 212-639-5582
- Office Phone
Members
- BS, Northeastern University
- BS, Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York
- BS, Cornell University
- Florida State University, PhD
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, PhD
- BS, University of Virginia
- BA in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Smith College
- PhD, GSK Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- BS in Chemistry-Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- PhD, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- BS in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology
- MD/PhD Student, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
- MS, Tsinghua University
- PhD GSK Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
- PhD Student, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
- B. Tech, Indian Institute of Technology
- PhD Student, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
- BA in Biology/Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca
- PhD Student, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
- BS in Biology, University of California, Berkeley
- PhD Student, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University
- Diploma in Biology, Justus-Liebig University, Germany
- Ph.D with Dr Karsten Rippe, Graduate Summa cum laude, German Cancer Research Center.
- BS in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge
- PhD, University College London
- BS in Biotechnology, Nankai University
- MSc in Bio-Engineering, Tianjin University
- PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Lab Alumni
Lab Affiliations
Achievements
- Bressler Scholar, Alfred W. Bressler Scholar Endowment Fund
- Research Scholar, American Cancer Society
- Scholar, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Discovery of the extensive SUMO-based DNA damage response
- Discovery of the connection between the nuclear pore complex and desumoylation
Read more
- Discovery of the Smc5/6 complex in budding yeast
- Discovery of the essential function of the DNA replication and damage checkpoint
Lab News & Events
Accolades
Team Recognitions
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Congratulations to Sophia for receiving the GSK Olayan Fellowship (2024)!
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Cheers to Warren who received the SternBerg Thesis Award (2024)!
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Kudos to Tzippora who was awarded an NIH F31 Fellowship (2024)!
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Congratulations to Tzippora who was awarded the Kravis WiSE fellowship!
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Congrats to Cory who was awarded an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship and Best Photo Award from Postdoc Association in 2023 & 2024!
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Cheers to Tzippora! She received honorable mention for the NSF grant
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Victoria won Faculty Choice for best poster award at the BCMB Retreat in 2023 and People's Choice in 2022! Great Job!
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Congrats to our lab for being awarded the following grants: BRIA (2023), CER (2022), Geoffrey Beene (2021)
Open Positions
To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center
To learn more about compensation and benefits for postdoctoral researchers at MSK, please visit Resources for Postdocs
Postdoctoral, Graduate Student, & Technician Positions
Positions are available for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and technicians in the research group of Dr. Xiaolan Zhao.
Get in Touch
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Lab Head Email
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Office Phone
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Lab Phone
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Lab Fax
Disclosures
Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.
MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.
Xiaolan Zhao discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Fusion Conferences
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
Gordon Research Conferences
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
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Keystone Symposia
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.
This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].