Shijun Zhang, Ph.D Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry szhang2@vcu.edu (804)6288266 (office) (804)6288265 (lab) McGuire Annex Room 125

The primary research interests in my laboratory focus on studies related to Aß oligomerization and ERK1/2 signal transduction. Two major areas are under investigation:

1) Developing bifunctional molecule inhibitors of beta-amyloid oligomerization as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.

2) Developing small molecule inhibitors by targeting ERK2 kinase, a key member of MAPKs that regulates cell differentiation, proliferation and survival, as chemical probes and potential anticancer agents.

Selected Publications

1. Zhang, Shijun; Yakkirala, Ajay; Tang, Ye; Portoghese, Philip. Identification of a bivalent ligand (KMN21) as antagonist for kappa-µ heterodimeric opioid receptors. (submitted)

2. Zhang, Shijun; Fernandez, Fernando;  Zhen, Juan; Reith, Maarten E. A.; Dutta, Aloke K. Further structural exploration of tri-substituted asymmetric pyran derivatives, (2S, 4R, 5R)-2-benzhydryl-5-benzylamino-tetrahydropyran-4-ol and their corresponding disubstituted (3S, 6S)-pyran derivatives: A proposed pharmacophore model for high affinity interaction with the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters. J.  Med Chem. 2006, 49(14), 4239-4237.

3. Zhang, Shijun; Zhen, Juan; Reith, Maarten E. A.; Dutta, Aloke K.. Design, Synthesis, and Preliminary SAR Study of 3-and 6-Sides-Chain Extended Tetrahydro-Pyran Analogues of cis- and trans-(6-benzhydryl-piperidin-3-yl)-benzylamine. Bioorg. &  Med.  Chem.. 2006, 14(11), 3953-3966.

4. Zhang, Shijun; Zhen, Juan; Reith, Maarten E.A.; Dutta, Aloke K. Discovery of novel tri-substituted asymmetric pyran derivatives, (2S,4R,5R)-2-benzhydryl-5-benzylamino-tetrahydro-pyran-4-ol, exhibiting high affinity for serotonin and norepinephrine transporters in a stereospecific manner. J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48(15), 4962-4971.

5. Zhang, Shijun; Zhen, Juan; Reith, Maarten E.A.; Dutta, Aloke K.  Structural requirements for 2,4- and 3,6-disubstituted pyran biomimetics of cis-(6-benzhydryl-piperidin-3-yl)-benzylamine compounds  to  interact with monoamine transporters.    Bioorg. & Med. Chem.  2004, 12(23),  6301- 6315.

6. Zhang, Shijun; Reith, Maarten E.A.; Dutta, Aloke K.  Design, synthesis, and activity of novel cis- and trans-3,6-disubstituted pyran biomimetics of 3,6-disubstituted piperidine as potential ligands for the dopamine transporter.    Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Lett.  2003,  13(9), 1591-1595.

7. Dutta, Aloke K.; Zhang, Shijun; Kohhatkar, Rohit; Reith, Maarten E.A. Dopamine Transporter as  Target for Drug Development of Cocaine Dependence Medications. Europ. J. of  Pharmacol. 2003, 479(1-3), 93-106.

8. Dutta, Aloke K.; Venkataraman, Sylesh K.; Fei, Xiang-shu; Kolhatkar, Rohit; Zhang, Shijun; Reith,Maarten E.A. Synthesis and biological characterization of novel hybrid 7-{[2-(4-phenyl piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-propyl-amino}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-ol analogues for the dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. Bioorg. & Med. Chem.  2004, 12(16),  4361- 4373.

9. Xu, Wenfang; Yu, Younong; Zhang, Shijun. Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid. Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi. 2001, 32(2), 79-81.

10. Zhang, Shijun; Xu, Wenfang; Cheng, Shucang; Yuan, Yumei. Synthesis of peptidomimetics of N,N’-disubstituted-L-glutamine and their anticancer activity study. Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi. 2000, 31(10), 440-442.

BOOKS

1. Xu, Wenfang; Zhao, Guisen; Zhang, Shijun. “The Principles and Methods of New Drug Design” 1^st Edition, China Medical Science and Technology Publishing House, Jul. 1997.

2. Xu, Wenfang; Zhao, Guisen; Zhang, Shijun. “The Principles and Methods of New Drug Design” 2d Edition, Science Publishing House, Oct. 2000.