• Introduction
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Funding
  • Publications
  • Awards
  • Honor Reward
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Zhangyifei

Professor

Department： Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering

Fields: Synthetic Biology; Enzyme Catalysis; Chemical Engineering; NanoBiotechnology

Email: yifeizhang@mail.buct.edu.cn

Office: East campus of BUCT

ORCID: 0000-0002-0014-611X

DBLP:

10 Visits

Introduction

Dr. Yifei Zhang is a professor in the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology. He earned his bachelor degree in 2010 and his Ph.D. degree in 2015 from the Chemical Engineering Department of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. He then joined the laboratory of Prof. Henry Hess at Columbia University in the City of New York for his postdoc training. His research focused on the reaction-transport behaviors and complex dynamics of multienzyme systems. In October 2020, he moved to Beijing to start his independent research group. His current research interests include nanobiotechnology, biocatalysis, synthetic biology and adaptive biochemical systems. He was recognized as a finalist of the 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists.

Education Work Experience

Social Position

Social Activities

Research

Enzymes are specialized proteins within living cells that are tasked with performing chemical reactions. They play not only a central role in physiological processes, but also essential catalysts in industrial biotransformation, laundry detergents, clinical diagnosis, etc. Recent developments in materials science, nanotechnology and synthetic biology are advancing the applications of enzymes from the aqueous condition to non-aqueous conditions, from a single enzymatic reaction to multienzyme reactions, and from catalysis to smart, programmable and controllable applications. Engineering enzymes for practical applications will reshape many traditional processes (such as pharmaceutical, food industry, environmental remediation, etc) toward greener, smarter and more efficient processes.


Enzyme Engineering and Immobilization

Frequently native enzymes are not suitable for industrial or clinical use due to their low activity and/or stability. We engineer enzymes through rational mutation and immobilization to improve their activity, stability and reusability. Usually, the incorporation of functional supporting materials renders enzymes with new properties in addition to catalysis and thus opens new avenues for advanced applications. The obtained enzyme catalysts are applied to the synthesis of fine chemicals or biosensing.


Interfacial Enzyme Catalysis

The implementation of enzymes at interfaces (e.g. air-water, water-oil, water-solid interfaces) is of particular interest when dealing with insoluble substrates such as oils, lignocelluloses, plastics and so forth. The catalytic behaviors of enzymes at the interfaces are often different from that in bulk solutions. We try to understand the mechanism of interfacial enzymatic catalysis from aspects of structural changes of proteins and the interplay between reaction and diffusion.


Multienzyme and Chemoenzymatic Catalysis

Cascade reactions catalyzed by multiple enzymes (or sometimes combined with organic synthesis) hold new opportunities in biotransformation and have attracted interest from both academia and industry. Our research focuses on both understandings of cascade reaction kinetics and the construction of high-efficiency multienzyme processes. We are also interested in constructing enzyme reaction networks capable of performing emergent, programmable and predictable functions.


Flow-Chemistry for Biocatalysis

Continuous-flow biocatalysis is the state-of-the-art in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, chiral intermediates, and other high-value-added chemicals. Enzymes are often immobilization and placed in packed bed reactors, and the starting materials and reagents are continuously flown through the reactors with pumping systems. In this way, reaction and separation can take place simultaneously, thus enormously simplifying and intensifying the process.








Teaching

Undergradate level: 

Biochemical kinetics

Understanding Biology by molecules and numbers


Gradute level: 

Soft Matter in life






Postgraduates

Funding

Vertical Project

Horizontal Project

Publications

[+][-]Selected Publications

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2030

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2029

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2028

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2027

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2026

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2025

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2024

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-] 2023

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

[+][-]before 2023

  1. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Microenvironmental engineering: an effective strategy for tailoring enzymatic activities. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28, 2028-2036

  2. Yifei Zhang*, Henry Hess. Inhibitors in commercially available 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonate) affect enzymatic assays, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 1502–1510.

  3. Yifei Zhang, Henry Hess*. Enhanced diffusion of catalytically active enzymes. ACS Central Science, 2019, 5, 939–948.

  4. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Complexdynamics in a two-enzyme reaction network with substrate competition, Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1, 276–281. 

  5. Yifei Zhang, Megan J. Armstrong, Neda M. Bassir Kazeruni, Henry Hess*. Nano Letters, 2018, 18, 8025-8029. 

  6. Yifei Zhang, and Henry Hess*. Toward rational design of high-efficiency enzyme cascade. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6018–6027.

  7. Yifei Zhang, Qin Wang, Henry Hess*. Increasing enzyme cascade throughput by pH-engineering the microenvironment of individual enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 2047–2051.

  8. Yifei Zhang, Stanislav Tsitkov, Henry Hess*. Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade. Nature Communications, 2016, 7, 13982.

  9. Yifei Zhang, You Yong, Jun Ge, Zheng Liu*. Lectin agglutinated multienzyme catalyst with enhanced substrate affinity and activity. ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 3789−3795.

  10. Yifei Zhang, Jun Ge and Zheng Liu*. Enhanced activity of immobilized or chemically modified enzymes. ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4503−4513.

For a full list of my publications, please visit our website at www.zhangbiolab.cn


Awards

2020, Finalist of the Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists

patent

Honor Reward

  •  2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists Finalist (in Chemistry)

  •  Top 1% of reviewers in Biology and Biochemistry on Publons global reviewer database, 2019

  • Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award in Tsinghua University, 2015

  • Gao-Yingshi First Prize Scholarship for Excellence Academic Performance, 2014 (Top 10%)

  • National Scholarship for Doctoral Students, 2013 (Top 5%)

  • Tsinghua-Guanghua Second Prize Scholarship, 2011

  • Cum Laude Graduate in Tsinghua University, 2010 (Top 10%)

  • First Prize of Contribution Award for Lab Construction in Tsinghua University, 2009

  • Second Prize of the “Mitsui Cup” National University Student Chemical Industry Design Competition, 2009

  • Second Prize Scholarship for Excellence Academic Performance, 2009

  • First Prize of the Chinese Chemistry Olympiad (CChO), 2005


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