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Yaofang Zhang

Dr. Joseph A. Caruso
 
 

Yaofang's current research focuses on identification of distribution, structure and function of metalloprotein in bacteriophage lambda. Bacteriophage lambda is a non-toxic virus to human beings with a very well studied proteome and genome. In addition to being a model organism for many years, bacteriophage lambda has recently been utilized in the new fields of phage display as well as drug (or vaccine) delivery.  This viral species consists of genetic material (DNA) encapsulated within a head, and a flexible tail, both of which are made from several types of proteins which contain numerous sulfur groups, indicating high potential for metal binding. There are very limited reports, however, about metal-containing proteins within bacteriophage lambda, even though there is evidence suggesting that metals may stabilize phage particles. The study of metalloproteome in λ phage can provide basic fundamental knowledge and facilitate the future phage usage.

 
  
  Contact: zhangyo@email.uc.edu  
 

EDUCATION

    
 

1998-2002

B.S.  major in Applied Chemistry   Shantou University, China

         Thesis Tile: Determination of Ethyl P-hydroxybenzoate in Gelatin by Solid Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass

                           spectrometry

 
 

2002-2005

M.S.  major in Green chemical Technology  Shantou Univerisy, China

          Thesis Title: Synthesis, Properties and Structure of Aromatic Aminocarboxylic Acids and their Supramolecular Complexes

  
  2006-Present

Ph.D. candidate, Analytical Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH  

 
       
 

EXPERIENCE

    
 

Research

    
     2007-2008 Project deals with removal of inorganic phosphate via chemical precipitation for analysis of organophosphorus chemical warfare agent degradation products. Speciation techniques are LC coupled with ICPMS with ultra trace detection capabilities monitoring 31P.  
     2008-present Research focuses on identification of distribution, structure and function of metalloprotein in bacteriophage lambda. This study includes examination of culture environment for phage growth, developing methods for native protein preparation and separation, and characterizing metal-containing species by various analytical techniques such as ICPMS and ESI-MS.  
 

Work

    
 

   2006 – present

Teaching Assistant, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

  •  Laboratory teaching assistant to supervise laboratory experiments

  • Taught students in a classroom setting

  • Evaluated student performance

  
 

  2005-2006

Full-time Research Associate, Central Laboratory of Shantou University, China

  • Director of GC-MS service and UV-VIS-NIR service

  • Codirector of Crystallographic Services

  • Analyzed various samples and provide technical support to other institutes

  
 

   2001-2005

 Part-time Research Associate, Central Laboratory of Shantou University, China
  • Director of GC-MS Service and Crystallographic Services
  • Analyzed various samples and provide technical support to other institutes
  
 

Instrumental

    
      Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer, QP5050A, Shimazu  
 

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), 1100, Agilent

 
 

Capillary High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Cap-HPLC) ,1200, Agilent

  
 

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) , 7500ce, Agilent

  
 

Single Crystal CCD X-Ray Diffraction, SMART APEX, Bruker

  
 

UV/Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer, Lambda950,  Perkin Elmer

  
 

Scanning Probe Microscopy, Veeco

  
      Scanning Electron Microscope, JSM-6460, JEOL  
 

Capillary Electrophoresis, 270A-HT, Perkin Elmer

  
 

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer , Magna-IR750, Nicolet

  
     
       
  AWARDS    
  2008

Henry Hochstetter Prize  for excellence as graduate teaching assistant, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

  
       
 

Oral presentations

    
  1. Yaofang Zhang, Richard Thompson and Joseph Caruso, “Investigating the Metalloproteome for Lambda Phage Proteins”, 2008 Pittsburgh Conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 7-12, 2008    
  2. Yaofang Zhang, Richard Thompson and Joseph Caruso, “A Metallomics Approach to the Investigation of Various Metal Species within Bacteriophage Lambda Utilizing Size Exclusion Chromatography on-line with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry”, 2008 Ohio Valley Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Columbus, Ohio, April 20-21, 2008    
 

Poster presentations

    
  1. Yaofang Zhang, M.Bates, R.Kennedy, K.M-Forsyth and P. Tsang, “Human Lysyl Aminoacyl rRNA Synthetase and tRNA Binding”, 2006 Ralph and Helen Oesper Banquet and Poster Session, Oct-27-2006; Cincinnati, Ohio    
  2. Yaofang Zhang, Kevin Kubachka, Joseph Caruso “Removal of Inorganic Phosphate Via Chemical Precipitation for Determining Contamination from Chemical Warfare Agents” P, 2007 Ralph and Helen Oesper Banquet and Poster Session, Oct-26-2007; Cincinnati, Ohio    
  3. Yaofang Zhang, Kevin Kubachka, Joseph Caruso “Removal of Inorganic Phosphate Via Chemical Precipitation for Determining Contamination from Chemical Warfare Agents” , 2008 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry,Temecula, California, Jan-10-2008 (ThP05)    
  4. Yaofang Zhang, Richard Thompson and Joseph Caruso “Investigating Metal Ions Associated with Lambda Phage Proteins by Size Exclusion Chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry”, 2008 Ralph and Helen Oesper Banquet and Poster Session, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct-25-2008;    
         
  References    
  Joseph A. Caruso, Professor Dr. Peter Padolik    
  University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati    
  Department of Chemistry Department of Chemistry    
  Mail Location 0172 Mail Location 0172    
  Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172    
  USA USA    
         
  Email: joseph.caruso@uc.edu Email: Peter.Padolik@uc.edu    
  Phone: (513)-556-9306 Phone: (513)-556-9315    
  Fax: (513)-556-9239 Fax: (513)-556-9239