Our lab studies the molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease integrating structural and cellular approaches. Using cryo-electron tomography, we visualise protein aggregates, complexes and organelles in their native cellular context at nanometer to near-atomic resolution. We investigate how disease-associated amyloid aggregates disrupt proteostasis and how cellular strategies can mediate aggregate clearance and a return to homeostasis.
Explore the Zhao Lab
Collaborations
Learn more about our collaborations with scientists at UCL, other universities, and scientific bodies.
Our principal funders
Selected publications
Zhao, DY*, Mi, C, Wagner, J, Jiang, W, Pöge, M, Saha, I, Xu, P, Plitzko, J, Guo, Q, Beck, F, Baumeister, W (2025). The targeting of non-fibrillar polyQ via distinct VCP-proteasome coupling. bioRxiv.
Zhao, DY*, Bauerlein, FJ, Saha I, Hartl, FU*, Baumeister, W*, Wilfling, F* (2024) Autophagy preferentially degrades non-fibrillar polyQ aggregates. Molecular Cell, 84(10):1980-1994. PMID 38759629
Zhao, DY, Nabeel-Shah, S, Ni, Z, Pu, S, Zhong, G, Schmitges, FW, Braunschweig, U, Blencowe, BJ, Greenblatt, JF (2025). TDP-43 and FUS function in R-loop resolution to regulate transcription termination. Journal of Biological Chemistry, under review. bioRxiv
Zhao, DY, Pöge, M, Morizumi, T, Gulati, S, Zhang, J, Mahamid, J, Miszta, P, Filipek, S, Plitzko, J, Baumeister, W, Ernst, OP, Palczewski, K (2019). Cryo-EM structure of the native rhodopsin dimer in nanodiscs. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(39):14215-14230. PMID 31399513
Zhao, DY, Gish, G, Braunschweig, U, Li, Y, Ni, Z, Schmitges, F, Zhong, G, Liu, K, Li, W, Moffat, J, Vedadi, M, Min, J, Pawson, T, Blencowe, BJ, Greenblatt, JF (2016). SMN and Symmetric Arginine Dimethylation of RNAP II CTD Control Termination. Nature, 529(7584):48-53. PMID 26700805
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