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Zhijian J. Chen

Howard Hughes Medical Institute · US
Area of research
Immunology · Molecular Biology
Research interest
We are broadly interested in mechanisms of signal transduction, namely how a cell communicates with its surroundings and within itself. In particular, we are fascinated by how a cell detects harmful or foreign insults and mounts an appropriate response to restore homeostasis.
h-index
113
citations
79,978
works
321
NIH funding
primary concept
Biology
email

Recent publications

PtdIns(3,5)P2 is an endogenous ligand of STING in innate immune signalling
Nature 2026cited by 6position: lastdoi
Innate immune sensing via the cGAS-STING pathway restricts extrachromosomal DNA–driven tumorigenesis
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) 2026cited by 1position: lastdoi
From NF-κB to cGAS: An interview with Prof. Zhijian James Chen on unraveling innate immunity
hLife 2025cited by 1position: middledoi
The STING agonist IMSA101 enhances chimeric antigen receptor T cell function by inducing IL-18 secretion
Nature Communications 2024cited by 50position: middledoi
cGAS goes viral: A conserved immune defense system from bacteria to humans
Molecular Cell 2024cited by 42position: lastdoi
cGAS-activated endothelial cell–T cell cross-talk initiates tertiary lymphoid structure formation
Science Immunology 2024cited by 38position: middledoi
Discovery of cGAS as a DNA-Sensing Enzyme That Triggers Inflammation
JAMA 2024cited by 2position: firstdoi
Ubiquitin-like conjugation by bacterial cGAS enhances anti-phage defence
Nature 2023cited by 114position: lastdoi
Vaccinia E5 is a major inhibitor of the DNA sensor cGAS
Nature Communications 2023cited by 37position: middledoi
Liquid phase separation of NEMO induced by polyubiquitin chains activates NF-κB
Molecular Cell 2022cited by 112position: lastdoi
Epigenetic Repression of STING by MYC Promotes Immune Evasion and Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Cancer Immunology Research 2022cited by 59position: middledoi
An antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 by binding to a conserved spike epitope outside the receptor binding motif
Science Immunology 2022cited by 33position: lastdoi
Nsp1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the mRNA export machinery to inhibit host gene expression
Science Advances 2021cited by 228position: middledoi
Phosphorylation and chromatin tethering prevent cGAS activation during mitosis
Science 2021cited by 225position: lastdoi
TBK1 recruitment to STING mediates autoinflammatory arthritis caused by defective DNA clearance
The Journal of Experimental Medicine 2021cited by 70position: lastdoi
Cooperative DNA binding mediated by KicGAS/ORF52 oligomerization allows inhibition of DNA-induced phase separation and activation of cGAS
Nucleic Acids Research 2021cited by 50position: middledoi
Structures and Mechanisms in the cGAS-STING Innate Immunity Pathway
Immunity 2020cited by 789position: lastdoi
MLH1 Deficiency-Triggered DNA Hyperexcision by Exonuclease 1 Activates the cGAS-STING Pathway
Cancer Cell 2020cited by 232position: middledoi
Old dogs, new trick: classic cancer therapies activate cGAS
Cell Research 2020cited by 191position: lastdoi
STEEP mediates STING ER exit and activation of signaling
Nature Immunology 2020cited by 172position: middledoi
cGAS suppresses genomic instability as a decelerator of replication forks
Science Advances 2020cited by 137position: middledoi
Type I Interferon Response in Radiation-Induced Anti-Tumor Immunity
Seminars in Radiation Oncology 2020cited by 40position: middledoi
Author Correction: STEEP mediates STING ER exit and activation of signaling
Nature Immunology 2020cited by 8position: middledoi
Autophagy induction via STING trafficking is a primordial function of the cGAS pathway
Nature 2019cited by 1,233position: lastdoi
cGAS in action: Expanding roles in immunity and inflammation
Science 2019cited by 1,026position: lastdoi
Roles of the cGAS-STING Pathway in Cancer Immunosurveillance and Immunotherapy
Annual Review of Cancer Biology 2019cited by 101position: lastdoi
Discovery of Small-Molecule Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase Inhibitors
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 2019cited by 83position: middledoi
The cGAS–cGAMP–STING pathway connects DNA damage to inflammation, senescence, and cancer
The Journal of Experimental Medicine 2018cited by 1,233position: lastdoi
DNA-induced liquid phase condensation of cGAS activates innate immune signaling
Science 2018cited by 1,014position: lastdoi
Detection of Microbial Infections Through Innate Immune Sensing of Nucleic Acids
Annual Review of Microbiology 2018cited by 439position: lastdoi

Grants

No grants ingested yet.

Frequent collaborators

Xiang Chen · Hunan Normal University14 papers (2012–2021)Jiaxi Wu · Regeneron (United States)12 papers (2012–2018)Tuo Li · Howard Hughes Medical Institute11 papers (2014–2026)Lijun Sun · University of Kentucky11 papers (2012–2024)Fenghe Du · The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center9 papers (2012–2023)Ming Xu · Nanjing Agricultural University8 papers (2013–2016)Xiao-Dong Li · Shenyang Agricultural University8 papers (2012–2017)Mingjian Du · The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center6 papers (2017–2022)Hui Xu · University of Iowa5 papers (2014–2015)Heping Shi · Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2012–2017)Xin Cai · The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2013–2014)Yang‐Xin Fu · Xiangyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine4 papers (2014–2022)Jueqi Chen · Soochow University4 papers (2013–2018)Daxing Gao · The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2013–2024)Qiu‐Xing Jiang · Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2014–2015)Chuo Chen · Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2012–2017)Seoyun Yum · Spark Therapeutics (United States)4 papers (2019–2022)Minghao Li · Princeton University4 papers (2019–2021)Xuewu Zhang · Southwestern Medical Center4 papers (2014–2020)Adolfo Garcı́a-Sastre · Office of Infectious Diseases3 papers (2017–2021)