Bao Ting Zhu, Professor

 

PH.D., University of Texas Medical Branch, 1993

Research Interests

The research interest of our laboratory mainly focuses on understanding the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of estrogen's hormonal and carcinogenic actions. In recent years, we have systematically characterized the complete profiles of various biologically-active estrogen metabolites/derivatives that are formed by various human cytochrome P450 isoforms or in various human tissues (hepatic and extrahepatic). In addition, we have also been studying the unique biological functions associated with some of the bioactive estrogen metabolites (such as 2-methoxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestradiol) in selected target sites. Major efforts are currently underway to identify novel estrogen receptors that are believed to mediate the unique biological actions of some estrogen metabolites.

In addition, our laboratory have also been developing novel theories and mechanistic hypotheses for the better understanding of the therapeutic/toxic actions/effects of some commonly-used drugs, and also for the better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying a number of important human diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, spongiform encephalopathies (also called "prion diseases"), and hyperhomocysteinemia-associated diseases.

Selected Recent Publications (most recent first):

Zhu BT, Shim JY, Nagai M and Bai HW [2008] Molecular modelling study of the mechanism of high-potency inhibition of human catechol-O-methyltransferase by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate. Xenobiotica 38: 130-146.

Ding J and Zhu BT [2008] Unique effect of the pregnancy hormone estriol on antigen-induced production of specific antibodies in female BALB/c mice. Steroids 73: 289-298.

Zhu BT, Gallo MA, Burger CW, Meeker RJ, Cai MX, Xu S and Conney AH [2008] Effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin administration and high-fat diet on the body weight and hepatic estrogen metabolism in female C3H/HeN mice. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 226: 107-118.

Zhu BT [2008] Is it necessary to control the level of estrogen receptor α and β activation in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy in order to achieve the optimal outcomes? Molecular Medicine Reports 1: 15-20.

Zhou R, Lai Y and Zhu BT [2008] Estriol has distinctly different effects from 17β-estradiol in modulating mouse splenocyte functions under naïve or inflammatory conditions. Journal of Immunology.

Fukui M, Song J and Zhu BT [2008] Mechanism of 2-methoxyestradiol-induced apoptosis and growth arrest in human breast cancer cells. Molecular Carcinogenesis.

Jiang XR, Wang P, Fu X and Zhu BT [2008] Chemical synthesis and biochemical characterization of biotinylated derivatives of 17β-estradiol with a long side-chain covalently attached to its C-7α position. Steroids.

Bai HW, Wang P and Zhu BT [2008] Identification and characterization of a novel haplotype of the human catechol-O-methyltransferase gene. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics.

Mills LH, Yu J, Xu XM, Lee AJ and Zhu BT [2008] Naturally-occurring estradiol-17beta-fatty acid esters, but not estradiol-17beta, preferentially induce mammary tumorigenesis in female ACI rats. Cancer Research.

Takemura H, Shim JY, Sayama K, Tsubura A, Zhu BT and Shimoi K [2007] Characterization of the estrogenic activities of Zearalenone and Zeranol in vivo and in vitro. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 103: 170-177.

Bai H, Shim JY and Zhu BT [2007] Biochemical and molecular modeling studies of the O-methylation of various endogenous and exogenous catechol substrates catalyzed by recombinant human soluble and membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferases. Chemical Research in Toxicology 20: 1409-1425.

Chen AY, Lee AJ, Jiang XR and Zhu BT [2007] Chemical synthesis of six novel 17β-estradiol and estrone dimers and confirmation of their formation catalyzed by human liver microsomes and cytochrome P450 isoforms. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 50: 5372-5381.

Bai HW and Zhu BT [2007] Activation of cyclooxygenase I and II by bioflavonoids. Submitted.

Zhu BT [2006] Roles of CNS oxidation and methylation of dopamine neurotransmitter in Parkinson's disease. In: Focus on Parkinson's Disease Research. Editor: Marianne J. Willow, Nova Publishers, pp. 21-43.

Zhu BT, Han GZ, Shim JY, Wen Y and Jiang XR [2006] Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of various endogenous estrogen metabolites for human estrogen receptor α and β subtypes: Insights into the structural determinants favoring a differential subtype binding. Endocrinology 147: 4132-4150.

Vijayanathan V, Venkiteswaran S, Nair SK, Verma A, Thomas TJ, Zhu BT and Thomas T [2006]Physiological levels of 2-methoxyestradiol interfere with nongenomic signaling of 17β-estradiol in human breast cancer cells. Clinical Cancer Research 12: 2038-2048.

Lee WJ and Zhu BT [2006] Inhibition of enzymatic DNA methylation by caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, two common catechol-containing coffee polyphenols. Carcinogenesis 27: 269-277.

Jiang XR, Sowell JW and Zhu BT [2006] Chemical synthesis of several 7α-substituted derivatives of 17β-estradiol. Steroids 71: 334-342.

Lee WJ, Shim JY and Zhu BT [2005] Mechanisms for inhibition of DNA methyltransferases by tea catechins and bioflavonoids. Molecular Pharmacology 68: 1018-1030. (Figure 11A of this paper was featured on the journal cover.)

Liu ZJ, Lee WJ and Zhu BT [2005] Selective insensitivity of ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells to 2-methoxyestradiol: Evidence for type II 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as the underlying cause. Cancer Research 65: 5802-5811.

Han GZ, Liu ZJ, Shimoi K and Zhu BT [2005] Synergism between the anticancer actions of 2-methoxyestradiol and microtubule-disrupting agents in human breast cancer. Cancer Research 65: 387-393.

Zhu BT [2005] Human and animal spongiform encephalopathies are autoimmune diseases: A novel theory and its supporting evidence. International Review of Neurobiology 63: 155-190.

Takemura H, Jie M, Sayama K, Terao Y, Zhu BT and Shimoi K [2005] In vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity of chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A. Toxicology 207: 215-221.

Zhu BT [2005] Mechanistic explanation for the unique pharmacologic properties of receptor partial agonists. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 59: 76-89.

Zhu BT [2005] Human and animal spongiform encephalopathies are the result of chronic autoimmune attack in the CNS: A novel medical theory supported by overwhelming experimental evidence. Histology and Histopathology 20: 575-592.

Zhu BT and Lee AJ [2005] NADPH-dependent metabolism of 17β-estradiol and estrone to polar and nonpolar metabolites by human tissues and cytochrome P450 isoforms. Steroids 70: 225-244.

Lee WJ and Zhu BT [2005] Modulation of the rate of enzymatic DNA methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase. Medical Hypotheses and Research 2: 325-337.

Yu J, Liu ZJ, Han GZ, Lee AJ and Zhu BT [2004] Precipitous dose-response curves for the anticancer actions of microtubule-disrupting agents in human breast cancer cells: Implication for high-dose regimen in anticancer chemotherapy. Medical Hypotheses and Research 1: 267-274.

Zhu BT [2004] Various human and animal spongiform encephalopathies are actually autoimmune diseases: A novel theory on the mechanism of pathogenesis. Medical Hypotheses and Research 1: 29-52.

Lee JA, Pellechia PJ, Walla MD and Zhu BT [2004] Characterization of a novel class of nonpolar 17β-estradiol metabolites formed by human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Medical Hypotheses and Research 1: 53-65.

Liu ZJ and Zhu BT [2004] Concentration-dependent mitogenic and antiproliferative actions of 2-methoxyestradiol in estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cells. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 88: 265-275.

Lee AJ, Sowell JW, Cotham WE and Zhu BT [2004] Chemical synthesis of two novel diaryl ether dimers of estradiol-17β. Steroids 69: 61-65.

Lee JA and Zhu BT [2004] NADPH-dependent formation of polar and nonpolar estrogen metabolites following incubations of 17β-estradiol with human liver microsomes. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 32: 876-883.

Nagai M, Conney AH and Zhu BT [2004] Strong inhibitory effects of common tea catechins and bioflavonoids on the O-methylation of catechol estrogens catalyzed by human liver cytosolic catechol-O-methyltransferase. Drug Metabolism and Disposition 32: 497-504.

Zhu BT [2004] CNS dopamine oxidation and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT): Importance in the etiology, pharmacotherapy, and dietary prevention of Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 13: 343-354.

Contact Information:

Bao Ting Zhu, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Therapeutics
The University of Kansas Medical Center
MS 1018, KLSIC 4061
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone:  (913) 588-9842
Fax:  (913) 588-7501
E-mail address:  btzhu@kumc.edu

Updated 02/15/2007