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

Gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids, alpha-synuclein, neuroinflammation, and ROS/RNS: Relevance to Parkinson's disease and therapeutic implications.

(Kalyanaraman B, Cheng G, Hardy M.) Redox Biol. 2024 May;71:103092 PMID: 38377788 PMCID: PMC10891329 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85185575430 02/21/2024
Redox-crippled MitoQ potently inhibits breast cancer and glioma cell proliferation: A negative control for verifying the antioxidant mechanism of MitoQ in cancer and other oxidative pathologies.

(Cheng G, Karoui H, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B.) Free Radic Biol Med. 2023 Aug 20;205:175-187 PMID: 37321281 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85162228734 06/16/2023
Antiproliferative effects of mitochondria-targeted N-acetylcysteine and analogs in cancer cells.

(Cheng G, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B.) Sci Rep. 2023 May 04;13(1):7254 PMID: 37142668 PMCID: PMC10160116 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85158068757 05/05/2023
Polyphenolic Boronates Inhibit Tumor Cell Proliferation: Potential Mitigators of Oxidants in the Tumor Microenvironment.

(Cheng G, Karoui H, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B.) Cancers (Basel). 2023 Feb 08;15(4) PMID: 36831432 PMCID: PMC9953882 02/26/2023
OXPHOS-targeting drugs in oncology: new perspectives.

(Kalyanaraman B, Cheng G, Hardy M, You M.) Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2023;27(10):939-952 PMID: 37736880 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85173986031 09/22/2023
Combining PEGylated mito-atovaquone with MCT and Krebs cycle redox inhibitors as a potential strategy to abrogate tumor cell proliferation.

(Cheng G, Hardy M, You M, Kalyanaraman B.) Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 24;12(1):5143 PMID: 35332210 PMCID: PMC8948292 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85127039662 03/26/2022
Therapeutic Targeting of Tumor Cells and Tumor Immune Microenvironment Vulnerabilities.

(Kalyanaraman B, Cheng G, Hardy M.) Front Oncol. 2022;12:816504 PMID: 35756631 PMCID: PMC9214210 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85133350425 06/28/2022
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
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