Education:

1973-1977 graduated from University of Science & Technology of China(USTC)

1979-1982 M.Sc., Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

1985-1989 Ph.D.,University of Melbourne

Professional Positions:

1977-1979 Research Assistant, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

1982-1985 Research Associate, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

1989-1996 Post-doctoral, Research Scientist, University of Oxford, UK

1996-present Professor, Tsinghua University

Research Areas:

My research have revealed fundamental structure-function and mechanistic insights to the replication/transcription, assembly and host invasion of coronavirus, retrovirus, influenza virus, picornavirus, herpesvirus, Africa-Swine-Fever-virus and other disease-causing viruses, and uncovered how Mycobacterium tuberculosis achieves metabolite/energy transport and drug resistance. This has led to new therapeutic targets and innovative drug designs. To date, I have published more than 420 peer reviewed research papers, including 27 papers in Science, Nature and Cell, with over 35,000 citations (retrieved from Google Scholar), h-index 89, i10-index 306. I also have 38 innovation patents.

Honors and Awards:

➢ EMBO Member (2024)

➢ Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022)

➢ Member of the European Academy of Sciences (2021)

➢ Corresponding Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2015)

➢ Member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences (2015)

➢ Honorary Doctor of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University (2009)

➢ Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Glasgow (2008)

➢ Life Achievement Prize, Tan Jia-Zhen Awards, China (2008)

➢ Trieste Science Prize for Medical Science TWAS, Italy (2006)

➢ Member of the Third World Academy of Science ( 2004)

➢ Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2003)

➢ He-Liang-He-Li Foundation Prize, Hong Kong (2003)

➢ The leading Award of the Innovative Research Groups Project by NSFC, China (2003)

➢ Qiushi Prize in Life Sciences, Hong Kong (1999)

Selected Publications:

(See above)

1.Zhang Y*, Lai Y*, Zhou S, Ran T, Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Feng Z, Yu L, Xu J, Shi K, Wang J, Pang Y, Li L, Chen H, Guddat LW, Gao Y†, Liu F†, Rao Z†, Gong H†. Inhibition of M. tuberculosis and human ATP synthase by BDQ and TBAJ-587. Nature, 2024 Jul;631(8020):409-414.

2.Wang, H. *; Liu, X. *; Zhang, X. *; Zhao, Z. *; Lu, Y. *; Pu, D.; Zhang Z.; Chen J.; Wang Y.; Li M.; Dong X.; Duan, Y.; He Y.; Mao Q.; Guo H.; Sun H.; Zhou Y.; Yang Q.; Gao, Y.; Yang, X.; Cao H.; Guddat, L. W.; Sun L.; Rao, Z.†; Yang, H. †, TMPRSS2 and glycan receptors synergistically facilitate coronavirus entry. Cell, 2024 Jun 21, Online ahead of print.

3.Duan, Y.*; Zhou, H.*; Liu, X.*; Iketani, S.*; Lin, M.*; Zhang, X.; Bian, Q.; Wang, H.; Sun, H.; Hong, S. J.; Culbertson, B.; Mohri, H.; Luck, M. I.; Zhu, Y.; Liu, X.; Lu, Y.; Yang, X.; Yang, K.; Sabo, Y.; Chavez, A.; Goff, S. P.; Rao, Z.; Ho, D. D. †; Yang, H. †, Molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 resistance to nirmatrelvir. Nature, 2023, 622(7982), 376-382.

4.Yan, L. *; Huang, Y. *; Ge, J. *; Liu, Z. *; Lu, P.; Huang, B.; Gao, S.; Wang, J.; Tan, L.; Ye, S.; Yu, F.; Lan, W.; Xu, S.; Zhou, F.; Shi, L.; Guddat, L. W.; Gao, Y. †; Rao, Z. †; Lou, Z. †, A mechanism for SARS-CoV-2 RNA capping and its inhibition by nucleotide analogue inhibitors. Cell,2022 Nov 10; 185(23):4347-4360. e17.

5.Lou, Z. †; Rao, Z. †, The Life of SARS-CoV-2 Inside Cells: Replication–Transcription Complex Assembly and Function. Annual Review of Biochemistry 2022, 91 (1), 381-401. (invited review)

6.Yang, H.†; Rao, Z.†, Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2 and implications for therapeutic development. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021, 19 (11), 685-700. (invited review)

7.Yan, L.*，Yang, Y.*，Li, M.*，Zhang, Y.*，Zheng, L.*; Ge, J.*; Huang, Y. C.*，Liu, Z.*，Wang, T.，Gao, S.，Zhang, R.，Huang, Y. Y.，Guddat, L. W. Gao, Y.† Rao, Z.†，Lou, Z.†, Coupling of N7-methyltransferase and 3'-5' exoribonuclease with SARS-CoV-2 polymerase reveals mechanisms for capping and proofreading. Cell 2021, 184 (13), 3474-3485 e11.

8.Yan, L.*; Ge, J.*; Zheng, L.*; Zhang, Y.; Gao, Y.; Wang, T.; Huang, Y.; Yang, Y.; Gao, S.; Li, M.; Liu, Z.; Wang, H.; Li, Y.; Chen, Y.; Guddat, L. W.; Wang, Q.; Rao, Z.†; Lou, Z.†, Cryo-EM Structure of an Extended SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Transcription Complex Reveals an Intermediate State in Cap Synthesis. Cell 2021, 184 (1), 184-193 e10.

9.Lv, Z.*; Deng, Y. Q.*; Ye, Q.*; Cao, L.*; Sun, C. Y.*; Fan, C.*; Huang, W.; Sun, S.; Sun, Y.; Zhu, L.; Chen, Q.; Wang, N.; Nie, J.; Cui, Z.; Zhu, D.; Shaw, N.; Li, X. F.; Li, Q.; Xie, L.†; Wang, Y.†; Rao, Z.†; Qin, C. F.†; Wang, X.†, Structural basis for neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV by a potent therapeutic antibody. Science 2020, 369 (6510), 1505-1509.

10.Lonhienne, T.*†; Low, Y. S.*; Garcia, M. D.; Croll, T.; Gao, Y.; Wang, Q.; Brillault, L.; Williams, C. M.; Fraser, J. A.; McGeary, R. P.; West, N. P.; Landsberg, M. J.; Rao, Z.; Schenk, G.; Guddat, L. W.†, Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases. Nature 2020, 586 (7828), 317-321.

11.Wang, Q.*†; Wu, J.*; Wang, H.*; Gao, Y.*; Liu, Q.*; Mu, A.; Ji, W.; Yan, L.; Zhu, Y.; Zhu, C.; Fang, X.; Yang, X.; Huang, Y.; Gao, H.; Liu, F.; Ge, J.; Sun, Q.; Yang, X.; Xu, W.; Liu, Z.; Yang, H.; Lou, Z.; Jiang, B.; Guddat, L. W.; Gong, P.†; Rao, Z.†, Structural Basis for RNA Replication by the SARS-CoV-2 Polymerase. Cell 2020, 182 (2), 417-428 e13.

12.Zhang, L.*; Zhao, Y.*; Gao, Y.; Wu, L.; Gao, R.; Zhang, Q.; Wang, Y.; Wu, C.; Wu, F.; Gurcha, S. S.; Veerapen, N.; Batt, S. M.; Zhao, W.; Qin, L.; Yang, X.; Wang, M.; Zhu, Y.; Zhang, B.; Bi, L.; Zhang, X.; Yang, H.; Guddat, L. W.; Xu, W.; Wang, Q.†; Li, J.†; Besra, G. S.†; Rao, Z.†, Structures of cell wall arabinosyltransferases with the anti-tuberculosis drug ethambutol. Science 2020, 368 (6496), 1211-1219.

13.Dai, W.*; Zhang, B.*; Jiang, X. M.*; Su, H.*; Li, J.; Zhao, Y.; Xie, X.; Jin, Z.; Peng, J.; Liu, F.; Li, C.; Li, Y.; Bai, F.; Wang, H.; Cheng, X.; Cen, X.; Hu, S.; Yang, X.; Wang, J.; Liu, X.; Xiao, G.; Jiang, H.; Rao, Z.; Zhang, L. K.†; Xu, Y.†; Yang, H.†; Liu, H.†, Structure-based design of antiviral drug candidates targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Science 2020, 368 (6497), 1331-1335.

14.Gao, Y.*; Yan, L.*; Huang, Y.*; Liu, F.*; Zhao, Y.; Cao, L.; Wang, T.; Sun, Q.; Ming, Z.; Zhang, L.; Ge, J.; Zheng, L.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, H.; Zhu, Y.; Zhu, C.; Hu, T.; Hua, T.; Zhang, B.; Yang, X.; Li, J.; Yang, H.; Liu, Z.; Xu, W.; Guddat, L. W.; Wang, Q.†; Lou, Z.†; Rao, Z.†, Structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from COVID-19 virus. Science 2020, 368 (6492), 779-782.

15.Jin, Z.*; Du, X.*; Xu, Y.*; Deng, Y.*; Liu, M.*; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, B.; Li, X.; Zhang, L.; Peng, C.; Duan, Y.; Yu, J.; Wang, L.; Yang, K.; Liu, F.; Jiang, R.; Yang, X.; You, T.; Liu, X.; Yang, X.; Bai, F.; Liu, H.; Liu, X.; Guddat, L. W.; Xu, W.; Xiao, G.; Qin, C.; Shi, Z.; Jiang, H.†; Rao, Z.†; Yang, H.†, Structure of M(pro) from SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of its inhibitors. Nature 2020, 582 (7811), 289-293.

16.Wang, L.*; Wu, J.*; Li, J.*; Yang, H.; Tang, T.; Liang, H.; Zuo, M.; Wang, J.; Liu, H.; Liu, F.; Chen, J.; Liu, Z.; Wang, Y.; Peng, C.; Wu, X.; Zheng, R.; Huang, X.; Ran, Y.; Rao, Z.†; Ge, B.†, Host-mediated ubiquitination of a mycobacterial protein suppresses immunity. Nature 2020, 577 (7792), 682-688.

17.Zhang, S.*; Heyes, D. J.*; Feng, L.*; Sun, W.*; Johannissen, L. O.*; Liu, H.; Levy, C. W.; Li, X.; Yang, J.; Yu, X.; Lin, M.; Hardman, S. J. O.; Hoeven, R.; Sakuma, M.; Hay, S.; Leys, D.; Rao, Z.; Zhou, A.†; Cheng, Q.†; Scrutton, N. S.†, Structural basis for enzymatic photocatalysis in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Nature 2019, 574 (7780), 722-725.

18.Wang, N.*; Zhao, D.*; Wang, J.*; Zhang, Y.*; Wang, M.; Gao, Y.; Li, F.; Wang, J.; Bu, Z.†; Rao, Z.†; Wang, X.†, Architecture of African swine fever virus and implications for viral assembly. Science 2019, 366 (6465), 640-644.

19.Zhang, B.*; Li, J.*†; Yang, X.; Wu, L.; Zhang, J.; Yang, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, L.; Yang, X.; Yang, X.; Cheng, X.; Liu, Z.; Jiang, B.; Jiang, H.; Guddat, L. W.; Yang, H.†; Rao, Z.†, Crystal Structures of Membrane Transporter MmpL3, an Anti-TB Drug Target. Cell 2019, 176 (3), 636-648 e13.

20.Gong, H.*; Li, J.*; Xu, A.*; Tang, Y.; Ji, W.; Gao, R.; Wang, S.; Yu, L.; Tian, C.; Li, J.; Yen, H. Y.; Man Lam, S.; Shui, G.; Yang, X.; Sun, Y.; Li, X.; Jia, M.; Yang, C.; Jiang, B.; Lou, Z.; Robinson, C. V.; Wong, L. L.; Guddat, L. W.; Sun, F.†; Wang, Q.†; Rao, Z.†, An electron transfer path connects subunits of a mycobacterial respiratory supercomplex. Science 2018, 362 (6418).

21.Ma, D.*; Wang, Z.; Merrikh, C. N.; Lang, K. S.; Lu, P.; Li, X.; Merrikh, H.; Rao, Z.; Xu, W.†, Crystal structure of a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase. Nature 2018, 562 (7726), 286-290.

22.Yuan, S.*; Wang, J.*; Zhu, D.*; Wang, N.; Gao, Q.; Chen, W.; Tang, H.; Wang, J.†; Zhang, X.†; Liu, H.†; Rao, Z.†; Wang, X.†, Cryo-EM structure of a herpesvirus capsid at 3.1 A. Science 2018, 360 (6384).

23.Yao, R. *; Ming, Z. *; Yan, L. *; Li, S. *; Wang, F.; Ma, S.; Yu, C.; Yang, M.; Chen, L.; Chen, L.; Li, Y.; Yan, C.; Miao, D.; Sun, Z.; Yan, J.; Sun, Y.; Wang, L.; Chu, J.; Fan, S.; He, W.; Deng, H.; Nan, F.; Li, J.; Rao, Z. †; Lou, Z. †; Xie, D. †, DWARF14 is a non-canonical hormone receptor for strigolactone. Nature 2016, 536 (7617), 469-73.

24.Wang, X. *; Ren, J. *; Gao, Q. *; Hu, Z.; Sun, Y.; Li, X.; Rowlands, D. J.; Yin, W.; Wang, J. †; Stuart, D. I. †; Rao, Z. †; Fry, E. E. †, Hepatitis A virus and the origins of picornaviruses. Nature 2015, 517 (7532), 85-88.

25.Yuan, P. *; Bartlam, M. *; Lou, Z. *; Chen, S.; Zhou, J.; He, X.; Lv, Z.; Ge, R.; Li, X.; Deng, T.; Fodor, E.; Rao, Z. †; Liu, Y. †, Crystal structure of an avian influenza polymerase PA(N) reveals an endonuclease active site. Nature 2009, 458 (7240), 909-13.

26.He, X. *; Zhou, J.; Bartlam, M.; Zhang, R.; Ma, J.; Lou, Z.; Li, X.; Li, J.; Joachimiak, A.; Zeng, Z.; Ge, R.; Rao, Z. †; Liu, Y. †, Crystal structure of the polymerase PA(C)-PB1(N) complex from an avian influenza H5N1 virus. Nature 2008, 454 (7208), 1123-6.

27.Sun, F.*; Huo, X.; Zhai, Y. J.; Wang, A. J.; Xu, J. X.; Su, D.; Bartlam, M.; Rao, Z. H. †, Crystal structure of mitochondrial respiratory membrane protein complex II. Cell 2005, 121 (7), 1043-1057.

28.Rao, Z.; Belyaev, A. S.; Fry, E.; Roy, P.; Jones, I. M.; Stuart, D. I. †, Crystal structure of SIV matrix antigen and implications for virus assembly. Nature 1995, 378 (6558), 743-7.

29.Rao, Z.; Handford, P.; Mayhew, M.; Knott, V.; Brownlee, G. G.; Stuart, D., The structure of a Ca(2+)-binding epidermal growth factor-like domain: its role in protein-protein interactions. Cell 1995, 82 (1), 131-41.