Prof. ZHANG Yu, deputy director of the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on May 21, 2026. (Credit: IHB)

Prof. ZHANG Yu, deputy director of the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on May 21, 2026 and delivered a presentation titled "RNA Polymerase Structure and Mechanisms of Gene Transcription."

Gene transcription is fundamental to all life processes, and RNA polymerase serving as the "molecular machine" that drives this function. During his presentation, Prof. Zhang systematically presented his team's breakthroughs in the gene transcription regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. He placed special emphasis on the three-dimensional structures of plant-specific RNA polymerases and their dynamic regulatory mechanisms during the stage of transcription initiation, elongation, and termination.

Using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, Zhang's team has visualized the detailed molecular processes by which RNA polymerase recognizes promoters, unwinds DNA duplex, and synthesizes RNA chains. Their work has futher revealed differences among various RNA polymerases types in substrate selection, transcriptional fidelity, and interactions with regulatory factors.

Zhang also highlighted recent discoveries concerning plant-specific RNA polymerase V (Pol V), elucidating its role in non-coding RNA-mediated chromatin silencing and offering a new molecular basis for understanding epigenetic regulation in plants.

Following the presentation, Zhang held a lively discussion with IHB faculty and students, covering topics such as the pharmacological targeting potential of RNA polymerase, transcriptional circuit design in synthetic biology, and the evolutionary conservation of plant-specific RNA polymerases.

According to IHB, the academic exchange enhanced understanding of cutting-edge research in transcription biology and opened new possibilities for technical collaboration in the study of gene expression regulation.

Prof. Zhang’s research focuses on gene transcription and regulation. His group has recently elucidated the molecular mechanisms of gene transcription and regulation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, as well as the structures and transcription mechanisms of plant-specific RNA polymerases. These findings have been published in leading journals including Cell, Nature, and Science.