微生物能够产生结构多样和活性丰富的次级代谢产物，是现代药物发现和创新的重要源泉。本课题组针对微生物天然产物开展化学和生物学等多领域交叉研究，研究内容主要包含以下方面：1.微生物活性天然产物的发现、结构改造与新药研发；2.微生物次级代谢产物的生物合成及其调控与合成生物学应用

1.Zhou S#, Bhukya H#, Malet NR#, Harrison PJ, Rea D, Belousoff MJ, Venugopal H, Sydor PK, Styles KM, Song L, Cryle MJ, Alkhalaf LM, Fülöp V, Challis GL*, Corre C*. Molecular basis for control of antibiotic production by a bacterial hormone. Nature 2021, 590: 463-467.

2. Zhou S, Malet NR, Song L, Corre C, Challis GL*. MmfL catalyses formation of a phosphorylated butenolide intermediate in methylenomycin furan biosynthesis. Chem. Commun. 2020, 56: 14443-14446.

3. Kosol S#, Gallo A#, Griffiths D#, Valentic TR#, Masschelein J, Jenner M, de los Santos ELC, Manzi L, Sydor PK, Rea D, Zhou S, Fulop V, Oldham NJ, Tsai S-C, Challis GL*, Lewandowski JR*. Structural basis for chain release from the enacyloxin polyketide synthase. Nat. Chem. 2019, 11: 913-923.

4. Zhou S, Song L, Masschelein J, Sumang FAM, Papa IA, Zulaybar TO, Custodio AB, Zabala D, Alcantara EP, de los Santos ELC*, Challis GL*. Pentamycin biosynthesis in Philippine Streptomyces sp. S816: cytochrome P450-catalyzed installation of the C-14 hydroxyl group. ACS Chem. Biol. 2019, 14: 1305-1309.  

5. Inahashi Y#, Zhou S#, Bibb MJ, Song L, Al-Bassam MM, Bibb MJ*, Challis GL*. Watasemycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces venezuelae: thiazoline C-methylation by a type B radical-SAM methylase homologue. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8: 2823-2831.

6. Zhou S, Alkhalaf LM, de los Santos ELC, Challis GL*. Mechanistic insights into class B radical-S-adenosylmethionine methylases: Ubiquitous tailoring enzymes in natural product biosynthesis. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2016, 35: 73-79.

7. Wang R#, Zhang X#, Song H, Zhou S, Li S*. Synthesis and evaluation of novel alkannin and shikonin oxime derivatives as potent antitumor agents. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2014, 24: 4304-4307.

8. Song H, Zhou S, Wang R*, Li S*. Kinesin spindle protein (KSP) inhibitors in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for cancer therapy. ChemMedChem 2013, 8: 1736-1749.

9. Wang R, Zhou S, Jiang H, Zheng X, Zhou W, Li S*. An efficient multigram synthesis of alkannin and shikonin. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 7: 1373-1379.

10. Wang R, Zhou S, Li S*. Cancer therapeutic agents targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1. Curr. Med. Chem. 2011, 18: 3168-3189.