Huimin Zhao

Infobox_Scientist
name = Huimin Zhao


image_size = 170px
caption = Huimin Zhao
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
residence = U.S.
nationality = Chinese-American
field = Chemical Engineering
work_institution = University of Illinois
alma_mater = University of Science and Technology of China
California Institute of Technology
doctoral_advisor = Frances H. Arnold
doctoral_students =
prizes = ACS Young Investigator (2008)
DuPont Young Investigator (2005)
NSF Career Award (2004)

Dr. Huimin Zhao is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on directed evolution, metabolic engineering, bioinformatics and high throughput technologies.

= External links=
* [http://www.chemeng.uiuc.edu/~zhaogrp/ The Huimin Zhao Research Group]

= Publications=

2008

*M.A. DeSieno, J. Du, and H. Zhao. “Protein Engineering of Enzymes with Altered Substrate and Cofactor Specificity. “ In Protein Engineering Handbook, (S. Lutz, U. Bornscheuer, Eds.), Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, accepted.

*N.U. Nair and H. Zhao. “Improving Proteins by Directed Evolution.” In Handbooks for Metabolic Engineering, (C. Smolke, Ed.) CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, accepted.

*F. Wen, M.J. McLachlan, and H. Zhao. “Novel and Improved Enzymes through Directed Evolution.” In Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ accepted.

*M.J. McLachlan, R.P. Sullivan, and H. Zhao. “Directed Enzyme Evolution and High Throughput Screening.” In Biocatalysis for the Pharmaceutical Industry-Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing, (J. Tao, G., Lin, and A. Liese, Eds.) John Wiley and Sons, accepted.

*Y. Choi, H. Zhang, J.S. Brunzelle, S. Nair, and H. Zhao. “In vitro Reconstitution and Structure of an Arylamine N-Oxygenase Involved in Biosynthesis of Aureothin.” Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,105,6858-6863 (2008).

*F. Wen, O. Esteban, and H. Zhao. “Rapid Identification of CD4+ T-cell Epitopes Using Yeast Displaying Pathogen-derived Peptide Library.” Journal of Immunological Methods, 336, 37-44 (2008).

*N.U. Nair and H. Zhao. “Evolution in Reverse: Engineering a D-Xylose-specific Xylose Reductase.” ChemBioChem, 9, 1213-1215 (2008).

*W. Zha, S.B. Rubin-Pitel, and H. Zhao. “Exploiting Genetic Dversity by Directed Evolution: Molecular Breeding of Type III Polyketide Synthases Improves Productivity”, Molecular Biosystems, 4, 246-248 (2008).

*M.J. McLachlan, T.W. Johannes, and H. Zhao. “Further Improvement of Phosphite Dehydrogenase Thermostability by Saturation Mutagenesis.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 99, 268-274 (2008).

2007

*R.P. Sullivan and H. Zhao. “Cloning and Characterization of a Highly Active L-Arabinitol Dehydrogenase from Neurospora crassa.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 77, 845–852 (2007).

*J. Lee and H. Zhao. “Identification and Characterization of a Flavin:NADH Reductase (PrnF) Involved in the Novel Two-component Arylamine Oxygenase.” Journal of Bacteriology, 189, 8556-8563 (2007).

*H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of Novel Protein Functions.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 98, 313-317 (2007).

*N.U. Nair and H. Zhao. “Biochemical Characterization of an L-Xylulose Reductase from Neurospora crassa.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73, 2001-2004 (2007).

*E. Ang, J.P. Obbard, and H. Zhao. “Probing the Molecular Determinants of Aniline Dioxygenase Substrate Specificity.” FEBS Journal, 274, 928-939 (2007).

*R.D. Woodyer, G. Li, H. Zhao and W.A. van der Donk. “New Insight into the Mechanism of Methyl Transfer during the Biosynthesis of Fosfomycin.” Chemical Communications, 359-361 (2007).

*T.W. Johannes, R.D. Woodyer, and H. Zhao. “Efficient Regeneration of NADPH using an Engineered Phosphite Dehydrogenase.” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 96, 18-26 (2007).

2006

*H. Zhao and W. Zha. “In vitro Sexual Evolution through the PCR-based Staggered Extension Process (StEP).” Nature Protocols, 1, 1865-1871 (2006).

*R.D. Woodyer, Z. Shao, P. Thomas, N. L. Kelleher, J. A. V. Blodgett, W. M. Metcalf, W. A. van der Donk, and H. Zhao.”Heterologous Production of Fosfomycin and Identification of the Minimal Fosfomycin Biosynthetic Cluster.” Chemistry & Biology, 13, 1171-1182 (2006).

*K. Chockalingam, J. Luba, H.S. Nick, D.N. Silverman, and H. Zhao. “Engineering and Characterization of Human Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Mutants with High Activity and Low Product Inhibition.” FEBS Journal, 273, 4853-4861 (2006).

*W. Zha, S.B. Rubin-Pitel, and H. Zhao. “Characterization of the Substrate Specificity of PhlD, a Type III Polyketide Synthase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281, 32036-32047 (2006).

*J. Lee, E. Ang, and H. Zhao. “Probing the Substrate Specificity of Aminopyrrolnitrin Oxygenase (PrnD) by Mutational Analysis.” Journal of Bacteriology, 188, 6179-6183 (2006).

*M. Simurdiak, J. Lee, and H. Zhao. “A New Class of Arylamine Oxygenases: Evidence that p-Aminobenzoate N-Oxygenase (AurF) is a Diiron Enzyme and Further Mechanistic Studies.” ChemBioChem, 7, 1169-1172 (2006).

*T.W. Johannes and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of Enzymes and Biosynthetic Pathways.” Current Opinion in Microbiology, 9, 261-267 (2006).

*S.B. Rubin-Pitel, C. M.-H. Cho, W. Chen, and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution Tools in Bioproduct and Bioprocess Development.” In Bioprocessing for Value-Added Products from Renewable Resources: New Technologies and Applications, (S.-T. Yang, Ed.) pp. 49-72, Elsevier Science, New York, NY, (2006).

*T.W. Johannes, R.D. Woodyer, and H. Zhao. “High Throughput Screening Methods for Oxidoreductases.” In Enzyme Assays: High-throughput Screening, Genetic Selection and Fingerprinting, (J.L Reymond, Ed.) Wiley VCH-Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany, Chapter 3, pp. 77-93, (2006).

*S.B. Rubin-Pitel and H. Zhao. “Recent Advances in Biocatalysis by Directed Enzyme Evolution.” Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, 9, 247-257 (2006).

*R.D. Woodyer, W.A. van der Donk, and H. Zhao. “Optimizing a Biocatalyst for Improved NAD(P)H Regeneration: Directed Evolution of Phosphite Dehydrogenase.” Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, 9, 237-245 (2006).

*D. Xie, Z. Shao, J. Achkar, W. Zha, J.W. Frost, and H. Zhao. “Microbial Synthesis of Triacetic Acid Lactone” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 93, 727-736 (2006).

*J. Lee and H. Zhao. “Mechanistic Studies of an N-oxygenase that Catalyzes Arylamine Oxidation.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 45, 622-625 (2006).

*T.W. Johannes, M. Simurdiak and H. Zhao. “Biocatalysis.” In Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing, (S. Lee, Ed.) pp. 101-110, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, (2006).

2005

*Z. Chen and H. Zhao. “Protein Design.” In Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing, (S. Lee, Ed.) pp. 2467-2477, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, (2005).

*Z. Shao, E. Ang, and H. Zhao. “Biomolecular Engineering.” In Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing, (S. Lee, Ed.) pp. 171-182, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, (2005).

*Z. Chen and H. Zhao. “A Highly Sensitive Selection Method for Directed Evolution of Homing Endonucleases.” Nucleic Acids Research, 33, e154 (2005).

*J. Lee, M. Simurdiak, and H. Zhao. “Reconstitution and Characterization of Aminopyrrolnitrin Oxidase that Catalyzes Unusual Arylamine Oxidation.” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 36719-36728 (2005).

*T.W. Johannes, R.D. Woodyer and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of a Thermostable Phosphite Dehydrogenase for NAD(P)H Regeneration.” Applied Environmental Microbiology, 71, 5728-5734 (2005).

*R.D. Woodyer, H. Zhao, and W.A. van der Donk. “Mechanistic Investigation of a Highly Active Phosphite Dehydrogenase Mutant and its Application for NADPH Regeneration.” FEBS Journal, 272, 3816-3827 (2005).

*K. Chockalingam, and H. Zhao. “Creating New Specific Ligand-Receptor Pairs for Transgene Regulation.” Trends in Biotechnology, 23, 333-335 (2005).

*J. Achkar, M. Xian, H. Zhao, and J.W. Frost. “Biosynthesis of Phloroglucinol.” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 127, 5332-5333 (2005).

*K. Chockalingam, Z. Chen, J.A. Katzenellenbogen, and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of New Specific Receptor-Ligand Pairs for Use in the Creation of Gene Switches.” Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102, 5691-5696 (2005).

*Z. Chen and H. Zhao. “Rapid Creation of a Novel Protein Function by in vitro Co-evolution” Journal of Molecular Biology, 348, 1273-1282 (2005).

*E. Ang, H. Zhao, and J.P. Obbard. “Bioremediation of Persistent Organic Pollutants via Biomolecular Engineering” Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 37, 487-496 (2005).

*R.D. Woodyer, M. Simurdiak, W. van der Donk, and H. Zhao. “Heterologous Expression, Purification and Characterization of a Highly Active Xylose Reductase from Neurospora crassa” Applied Environmental Microbiology, 71, 1642-1647 (2005).

2004

*Z. Chen, B.S. Katzenellenbogen, J.A. Katzenellenbogen, and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of Human Estrogen Receptor Variants with Significantly Enhanced Androgen Specificity and Affinity” Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279, 33855-33864 (2004).

*O. Esteban, and H. Zhao. “Directed Evolution of Soluble Single-chain Human Class II MHC Molecules on the Yeast Cell Surface.” Journal of Molecular Biology, 340, 81-95 (2004).

*W. Zha, Z. Shao, J.W. Frost, and H. Zhao. “Rational Pathway Engineering of Type I Fatty Acid Synthase Allows Biosynthesis of Triacetic Acid Lactone from D-Glucose in vivo.” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126, 4534-4535 (2004).

*H. Zhao. “Staggered Extension Process (StEP) In vitro DNA Recombination” Methods in Enzymology, 388, 42-49 (2004).

*R.D. Woodyer, W. Chen and H. Zhao. “Outrunning Nature: Directed Evolution of Superior Biocatalysts.” Journal of Chemical Education, 81, 126-133 (2004).

*R.D. Woodyer, T.W. Johannes, and H. Zhao. “Cofactor Regeneration for Biocatalytic Applications.” In Enzyme Technology, (A. Pandey, C. Webb, C. S. Soccol, and C. Larroche, Eds.) Chapter 5, pp. 83-101, Asiatech Publishers, Inc., New Delhi, India, (2004).

2003

*R.D. Woodyer, W.A. van der Donk and H. Zhao. “Relaxing the Nicotinamide Cofactor Specificity of Phosphite Dehydrogenase by Rational Design.” Biochemistry, 42, 11604-11614 (2003).

*H. Zhao and W.A. van der Donk. “Cofactor Regeneration for Use in Biocatalysis.” Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 14, 583-589 (2003).

*W.A. van der Donk and H. Zhao. “Recent Developments in Pyridine Nucleotide Regeneration.” Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 14, 421-426 (2003).

*J. Sun, J.A. Katzenellenbogen, H. Zhao, and B.S. Katzenellenbogen. “DNA Shuffling Method for Generating Estrogen Receptor a and b Chimeras in a Yeast System.” Biotechniques, 34, 278-288 (2003).

*Z. Chen and H. Zhao. “A Highly Efficient and Sensitive Screening Method for Trans-activation Activity of Estrogen Receptors.” Gene, 306, 127-134 (2003).

*H. Zhao. “A pH Indicator Based Screening Method for Hydrolytic Haloalkane Dehalogenase.” In Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 230, pp. 213-221: Directed Enzyme Evolution: Screening and Selection Methods (F.H. Arnold and G. Georgiou, Eds.), Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ, (2003).

*O. Esteban, R. D. Woodyer, and H. Zhao. “In vitro DNA recombination by Random Priming.” In Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 231, pp. 101-106: Directed Evolution Library Creation: Methods and Protocols, (F.H. Arnold and G. Georgiou, Eds.), Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ, (2003).

*W. Zha, T. Zhu, and H. Zhao. “Family Shuffling with Single-stranded DNA.” In Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 231, pp. 93-99: Directed Evolution Library Creation: Methods and Protocols, (F.H. Arnold and G. Georgiou, Eds.), Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ, (2003).

*H. Zhao and W. Zha. “Evolutionary Methods for Protein Engineering.” In Enzyme Functionality: Design, Engineering and Screening, (Allan Svendsen Ed.) Chapter 15, pp. 353-373, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, (2003).

2002

*H. Zhao, K. Chockalingam and Z. Chen. “Directed Evolution of Enzymes and Pathways for Industrial Biocatalysis.” Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 13, 104-110 (2002).

1990s

*F.H. Arnold, L. Giver, A. Gershenson, H. Zhao and K. Miyazaki. “Directed Evolution of Mesophilic Enzymes into Their Thermophilic Counterparts.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 870, 400-403 (1999).

*H. Zhao and F.H. Arnold. “Directed Evolution Converts Subtilisin E into a Functional Equivalent of Thermitase.” Protein Engineering, 12, 47-53 (1999).

*H. Zhao, J.C. Moore, A.A. Volkov and F.H. Arnold. “Methods for Optimizing Industrial Enzymes by Directed Evolution.” In Manual of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2nd Ed. (A. L. Demain and J. E. Davies, Eds.) Chapter 49, pp. 597-604, ASM Press, Washington, DC, (1999).

*H. Zhao, L. Giver, Z. Shao, J.A. Affholter and F.H. Arnold. “Molecular Evolution by Staggered Extension Process (StEP) in vitro Recombination.” Nature Biotechnology, 16, 258-261 (1998).

*Z. Shao, H. Zhao, L. Giver and F.H. Arnold. “Random-Priming In Vitro Recombination: An Effective Tool for Directed Evolution.” Nucleic Acids Research, 26, 681-683 (1998).

*H. Zhao and F.H. Arnold. “Combinatorial Protein Design: Strategies for Screening Protein Libraries.” Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 7, 480-485 (1997).

*H. Zhao and F.H. Arnold. “Functional and Non-functional Mutations Distinguished by Random Recombination of Homologous Genes.” Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 94, 7997-8000 (1997).

*H. Zhao and F.H. Arnold. “Optimization of DNA Shuffling of High Fidelity Recombination.” Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 1307-1308 (1997).

*H. Zhao, L. You and F.H. Arnold. “Strategy for the Directed Evolution of a Peptide Ligase.” Proceedings of the 13th Enzyme Engineering Conference, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 799, 1-6 (1996).

*Y. Shi, H. Zhao and C. Wang. “Relative Binding Free Energy Calculations of DNA to Daunomycin and its 13-dihydro Analogue.” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 15, 247-251 (1993).