Gang Cheng, PhD

Assistant Professor

Locations

Biophysics
TBRC C0785

Contact Information

Education

PhD, Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China, 2005
BS, Pharmacy, Shandong University, Shandong, China, 1999

Research Interests

My current research interests focus on mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox metabolism in cancer cells. I have dedicated a significant portion of my research toward the wide range of metabolic and oxidative vulnerabilities that arise as consequences of the uncontrolled growth and proliferation capacities of cancer cells and toward the application of mitochondria-targeted compounds as potential selective anticancer drugs. We recently discovered that mitochondrial targeting of metformin can be improved by attaching a positively charged lipophilic triphenylphosphonium group; this results in a new class of mitochondria-targeted metformin analogues with significantly enhanced anticancer potential. The lead compound, mito-metformin, potently inhibits mitochondrial respiration through inhibition of complex I, stimulation of superoxide, formation of hydrogen peroxide, and activation of AMPK.

My research projects include the following:

Chemoprevention of Lung Cancer by Targeting Lonidamine to Mitochondria
Chemoprevention of Lung Cancer with Mitochondria-Targeted Honokiol

Mitochondria-targeted hydroxyurea inhibits OXPHOS and induces antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects.

(Cheng G, Hardy M, Topchyan P, Zander R, Volberding P, Cui W, Kalyanaraman B.) iScience. 2021 Jun 25;24(6):102673 PMID: 34189437 PMCID: PMC8215227 07/01/2021
Synchronous effects of targeted mitochondrial complex I inhibitors on tumor and immune cells abrogate melanoma progression.

(AbuEid M, McAllister DM, McOlash L, Harwig MC, Cheng G, Drouillard D, Boyle KA, Hardy M, Zielonka J, Johnson BD, Hill RB, Kalyanaraman B, Dwinell MB.) iScience. 2021 Jun 25;24(6):102653 PMID: 34189432 PMCID: PMC8220235 07/01/2021
Potent inhibition of tumour cell proliferation and immunoregulatory function by mitochondria-targeted atovaquone.

(Cheng G, Hardy M, Topchyan P, Zander R, Volberding P, Cui W, Kalyanaraman B.) Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 21;10(1):17872 PMID: 33087770 PMCID: PMC7578061 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85093870747 10/23/2020
Magnolia extract is effective for the chemoprevention of oral cancer through its ability to inhibit mitochondrial respiration at complex I.

(Zhang Q, Cheng G, Pan J, Zielonka J, Xiong D, Myers CR, Feng L, Shin SS, Kim YH, Bui D, Hu M, Bennett B, Schmainda K, Wang Y, Kalyanaraman B, You M.) Cell Commun Signal. 2020 Apr 07;18(1):58 PMID: 32264893 PMCID: PMC7140380 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85083071315 04/09/2020
Increased formation of reactive oxygen species during tumor growth: Ex vivo low-temperature EPR and in vivo bioluminescence analyses.

(Cheng G, Pan J, Podsiadly R, Zielonka J, Garces AM, Dias Duarte Machado LG, Bennett B, McAllister D, Dwinell MB, You M, Kalyanaraman B.) Free Radic Biol Med. 2020 Feb 01;147:167-174 PMID: 31874251 PMCID: PMC6948008 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85076857582 12/25/2019
Mitochondria-targeted magnolol inhibits OXPHOS, proliferation, and tumor growth via modulation of energetics and autophagy in melanoma cells.

(Cheng G, Hardy M, Zielonka J, Weh K, Zielonka M, Boyle KA, Abu Eid M, McAllister D, Bennett B, Kresty LA, Dwinell MB, Kalyanaraman B.) Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2020;25:100210 PMID: 32987287 PMCID: PMC7883397 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85091576205 09/29/2020
Synergistic inhibition of tumor cell proliferation by metformin and mito-metformin in the presence of iron chelators.

(Cheng G, Zielonka J, Hardy M, Ouari O, Chitambar CR, Dwinell MB, Kalyanaraman B.) Oncotarget. 2019 May 28;10(37):3518-3532 PMID: 31191823 PMCID: PMC6544408 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85089087803 06/14/2019
Targeting lonidamine to mitochondria mitigates lung tumorigenesis and brain metastasis.

(Cheng G, Zhang Q, Pan J, Lee Y, Ouari O, Hardy M, Zielonka M, Myers CR, Zielonka J, Weh K, Chang AC, Chen G, Kresty L, Kalyanaraman B, You M.) Nat Commun. 2019 May 17;10(1):2205 PMID: 31101821 PMCID: PMC6525201 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85065824371 05/19/2019
Low-Temperature EPR Spectroscopy as a Probe-Free Technique for Monitoring Oxidants Formed in Tumor Cells and Tissues: Implications in Drug Resistance and OXPHOS-Targeted Therapies.

(Kalyanaraman B, Cheng G, Zielonka J, Bennett B.) Cell Biochem Biophys. 2019 Mar;77(1):89-98 PMID: 30259334 PMCID: PMC6430651 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85054023520 09/28/2018
High-Throughput Screening of NOX Inhibitors.

(Zielonka J, Zielonka M, Cheng G, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B.) Methods Mol Biol. 2019;1982:429-446 PMID: 31172487 PMCID: PMC6953630 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85067079084 06/07/2019
Detection of mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species in cells using multiple probes and methods: Potentials, pitfalls, and the future.

(Cheng G, Zielonka M, Dranka B, Kumar SN, Myers CR, Bennett B, Garces AM, Dias Duarte Machado LG, Thiebaut D, Ouari O, Hardy M, Zielonka J, Kalyanaraman B.) J Biol Chem. 2018 Jun 29;293(26):10363-10380 PMID: 29739855 PMCID: PMC6028982 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85049623107 05/10/2018
Mitochondria-Targeted Honokiol Confers a Striking Inhibitory Effect on Lung Cancer via Inhibiting Complex I Activity.

(Pan J, Lee Y, Cheng G, Zielonka J, Zhang Q, Bajzikova M, Xiong D, Tsaih SW, Hardy M, Flister M, Olsen CM, Wang Y, Vang O, Neuzil J, Myers CR, Kalyanaraman B, You M.) iScience. 2018 May 25;3:192-207 PMID: 30428319 PMCID: PMC6137433 11/15/2018