Dr. Danzhou Yang

Biography

Professor Danzhou Yang is a distinguished figure in the field of Medicinal Chemistry, specializing in Molecular Pharmacology, Analytical Chemistry, and Biochemistry. His research laboratory focuses on structures and functions of cancer-specific DNA molecular targets, and he employs structure-based rational design to develop new anticancer drugs. Yang's work encompasses a variety of molecular targets within cancer therapeutics, particularly the investigation of DNA secondary structures such as G-quadruplexes, which have significant biological functions. He explores molecular interactions involving small molecules and proteins, specifically targeting DNA binding and transcription factors with DNA bis-intercalating drugs. Yang's research highlights biologically relevant DNA G-quadruplexes found in human oncogene promoters and telomeres, making them attractive candidates for new anticancer drug development. Utilizing a range of biophysical, biochemical, and molecular cellular biology methods, his laboratory emphasizes high-field NMR spectroscopy, the primary technique for structurally studying biologically relevant DNA secondary structures.

Research Interests