Zihua Gong Laboratory

Research

Overview

Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DNA repair pathway choice. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are prevalent in familial breast and ovarian cancers. Cells with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are exquisitely sensitive to PARP inhibitors (PARPi). However, treatment of BRCA mutant cancers with PARPi is not curative, and resistance to therapy is a major clinical problem. Our study investigates the mechanism on the competition and coordination of different DNA repair pathways, and uncovers key components in these pathways that we can explore to improve cancer therapy and overcome therapeutic resistance.

Selected Publications

View publications for Zihua Gong, MD, PhD
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1. Samsa WE, Zhang Z, Gong Z*.  CBFβ Regulates RUNX3 ADP-Ribosylation to Mediate Homologous Recombination Repair.  J Cell Physiol. 2025 Jan;240(1):e31503.
2. Zhang Z, Samsa W, Gong Z*. NBS1 dePARylation by NUDT16 is critical for DNA double-strand break repair.  Mol Cell Biochem. 2024 Oct 23. doi: 10.1007/s11010-024-05140-8. Online ahead of print.  
3. Zhang Z, Samsa W, Gong Z*. NUDT16 regulates CtIP PARylation to dictate homologous recombination repair. Nucleic Acids Res. 2024,  52(7):3761-3777. PMID: 38324469 
4.  Dey G, Bharti R, Braley C, Alluri R, Esakov E, Crean-Tate K, McCrae K, Joehlin-Price A, Rose PG, Lathia J, Gong Z, Reizes O. LCK facilitates DNA damage repair by stabilizing RAD51 and BRCA1 in the nucleus of chemoresistant ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res. 2023, 16(1):122. 
5. Zhang Z, Samsa W, De Y, Zhang F, Reizes O, Almasan A, Gong Z*. HDGFRP3 interaction with 53BP1 promotes DNA double-strand break repair. Nucleic Acids Res. 2023, 51(5):2238-2256. 
6. Feng H, Lu J, Song X, Thongkum A, Zhang F, Lou L, Reizes O, Almasan A, Gong Z*. CK2 kinase-mediated PHF8 phosphorylation controls TopBP1 stability to regulate DNA replication. Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 Nov 4;48(19):10940-10952 gkaa756. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33010150
7. Zhang F, Lou L, Peng B, Song X, Reizes O, Almasan A, Gong Z*. Nudix hydrolase NUDT16 regulates 53BP1 protein by reversing 53BP1 ADP-ribosylation. Cancer Res. 2020; 80(5):999-1010. PMID: 31911551
8. Dai Y, Zhang F, Wang L, Shan S, Gong Z*, Zhou Z*. Structural basis for shieldin complex subunit 3-mediated recruitment of the checkpoint protein REV7 during DNA double-strand break repair. J Biol Chem. 2020 Jan 3;295(1):250-262. (* co-corresponding author) PMID: 31796627
9. Sharma A, Alswillah T, Kapoor I, Debjani P, Willard B, Summers MK, Gong Z, Almasan A.USP14 is a deubiquitinase for Ku70 and critical determinant of non-homologous end joining repair in autophagy and PTEN-deficient cells.  Nucleic Acids Res. 2020;48(2):736-747. PMID: 31740976
10. Dai Y, Zhang A, Shan S, Gong Z*, Zhou, Z*. Structural basis for recognition of 53BP1 tandem Tudor domain by TIRR. Nature Communications. 2018 May 29; 9: 2123 (* co-corresponding author) PMID: 29844495
11. Zhang Y, Shi J, Liu X, Feng L, Gong Z, Koppula P, Sirohi K, Li X, Wei Y, Lee H, Zhuang L, Chen G, Xiao ZD, Hung MC, Chen J, Huang P, Li W, Gan B. BAP1 links metabolic regulation of ferroptosis to tumour suppression. Nat Cell Biol. 2018 Oct; 20(10):1181-1192. PMID: 30202049
12. Hu Y, Lin J, Fang H, Fang J, Li C, Chen W, Liu S, Ondrejka S, Gong Z, Reu F, Maciejewski J, Yi Q, Zhao JJ. Targeting the MALAT1/PARP1/LIG3 complex induces DNA damage and apoptosis in multiple myeloma. Leukemia. 2018 Oct; 32(10):2250-2262. PMID: 29632340
13. Zhang A, Peng B, Huang P, Chen J*, Gong Z*. The p53-binding Protein 1-Tudor Interacting Repair Regulator Complex Participates in the DNA Damage Response. J Biol Chem. 2017, 292(16): 6461–6467. PMID: 28213517.  This paper is selected as “Editor Picks”, only top 2 percent of manuscripts is selected in a year.
14. Chen Z, MyTran K, Tang MF, Wang W, Gong Z*, Chen J*. Proteomic Analysis Reveals a Novel MutS Partner Involved in Mismatch Repair Pathway. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2016, 15(4):1299-308. PMID: 27037360. (* co-corresponding author)
15. Wang J, Aroumougame A, Lobrich M, Li Y, Chen J*, Gong Z*. PTIP associates with Artemis to dictate DNA repair pathway choice. Genes Dev 2014, 28 (24): 2693-8. PMID: 25512557.
16. Xu S1, Li X1, Gong Z1, Wang W, Li Y, Nair BC, Piao H, Yang K, Wu G, Chen J. Proteomic analysis of the human CDK family reveals a novel CDK5 complex involved in cell growth and migration. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2014, 13(11):2986-3000. PMID: 25096995. (1 these authors contributed equally to this work)
17.  Li Y, Fong KW, Tang M, Han X, Gong Z, Ma W, Hebert M, Songyang Z, Chen J. Fam118B, a novel component in Cajal bodies, is required for Cajal body formation, snRNP biogenesis and cell viability. J Cell Sci. 2014, 127(Pt 9):2029-39. 
18. Wang J, Chen J*, Gong Z*. TopBP1 controls BLM protein level to maintain genome stability. Mol Cell. 2013 Dec 12;52(5):667-78. PMID: 24239288
19. Leung CC, Sun L, Gong Z, Burkat M, Edwards R, Assmus M, Chen J, Glover JN. Structural insights into recognition of MDC1 by TopBP1 in DNA replication checkpoint control. Structure. 2013 Aug 6;21(8):1450-9. PMID: 23891287
20. Wang J, Leung JW, Gong Z, Feng L, Shi X, Chen J. PHF6 regulates cell cycle progression by suppressing ribosomal RNA synthesis. J Biol Chem  2013, 288(5):3174-83. PMC3561539
21. Wang J1, Gong Z1, Chen J. MDC1 collaborates with TopBP1 in DNA replication checkpoint control. J Cell Biol 2011, 193(2):267-73. (1 these authors contributed equally to this work). PMCID: PMC3080258.
22. Gong Z, Chen J. E3 ligase RFWD3 participates in replication checkpoint control. J Biol Chem 2011, 286(25):2230
23. Leung CC, Gong Z, Chen J, Glover JN. Molecular basis of BACH1/FANCJ recognition by TopBP1 in DNA replication checkpoint control. J Biol Chem 2011, 286(6):4292-301. PMCID: PMC3039391.
24. Geunyeong P, Gong Z, Chen J, Kim JE. Characterization of the DOT1L network: Implications of diverse roles for DOT1L. Protein Journal 2010, 29(3): 213-223. PMID: 20431927
25. Gong Z, Kim, JE, Leung, CC, Glover, JM, Chen J. BACH1/FANCJ acts with TopBP1 and participates early in DNA replication checkpoint control. Mol Cell 2010, 37(3):438-46. PMID: 20159562.
26. Huang J1, Gong Z1, Ghosal G, Chen J. SOSS cooperates with RPA to maintain genomic stability.  Mol Cell 2009, 35(3):384-93. (1 these authors contributed equally to this work).  PMCID: PMC2756616.
27. Gong Z, Cho YW, Kim JE, Ge K, Chen J. Accumulation of Pax2 Transactivation Domain Interaction Protein (PTIP) at Sites of DNA Breaks via RNF8-dependent Pathway Is Required for Cell Survival after DNA Damage. J Biol Chem 2009, 284(11):7284-93. PMCID: PMC2652327