Our new 2026 lab group photo!🎉

Congratulations to Sarai Faulkner, who has been selected to receive this year's Katherine Blood Hoffman Excellence Awards!🎉🎉

We got to see our undergrad, Avery, perform in the FSU circus! It was amazing 🎪🎪

Four undergraduate researchers presented three posters today at two fantastic campus events: the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the WIMSE Research Symposium. We couldn’t be prouder!!

New preprint! We report the characterization of a radical SAM enzyme in the bacterial pathogen, Moraxella catarrhalis. A fantastic collaboration with the Britt Lab and de Crécy-Lagard Lab. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

February is Rare Disease Month 💜 In collaboration with Takagi Lab, we show that conformational remodeling underlies activity loss in an asparagine synthetase variant that causes asparagine synthetase deficiency, a rare neurometabolic disease. biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #RareDisease

Happy holidays from the WZhu Lab!🎄

It’s winter break. Happy Holidays!

Snapshot of the microscope view of plaque assay results, which is a quantitative test for baculovirus titer.

Our tree is extra special this year! We decorated it with publications from all six labs on our floor. Cheers to a year full of hard work and discoveries!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A fire at the Seminole Social apartment complex has left some PhD students at Florida State University without a home. Please consider donating or sharing to support them during this difficult time. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. gofund.me/ab3fba3b8

Official warm welcome to Sarai, a first year PhD student who joined our lab this semester 👩‍🔬😊

We had a great time at the Tallahassee Science Festival today! The kids learned what an amino acid is and made a keychain or bracelet corresponding to the chemical formula of an amino acid.👩‍🔬🧑‍🔬

#RareDiseaseThursday Mutations in SMPD1 disrupt acid sphingomyelinase, leading to Niemann-Pick disease type A, a devastating lysosomal storage disorder. Lipids accumulate in cells, causing neurodegeneration, hepatosplenomegaly, and failure to thrive in infancy.

Check out our latest preprint on an unexpected mechanism of a potent ASNS inhibitor: Cryo-EM reveals how ASX-173 inhibits human asparagine synthetase to activate the integrated stress response www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Passionate about enzyme structure, function, and dynamics, and applying that knowledge to drug discovery? 💊🧬🧫🧪 We’re recruiting a Postdoc! Come join us! Apply: wzhulab.com/contact #PostdocJobs #Biochemistry #Enzymology #Metalloenzymes #ProteinDynamics

Today in our #RareDiseaseThursday spotlight: Argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency (ASSD), a urea cycle disorder caused by pathogenic variants in ASS1, impairing the conversion of citrulline+aspartate to argininosuccinate. This leads to long-term neurological damage.

Our first group retreat at Clearwater, FL.

Congrats Wen! 🎉🎉➡️FSU chemist earns $2.1 million NIH grant to investigate molecular causes of disease: news.fsu.edu/news/science...

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) uniquely powers both the TCA cycle & electron transport chain. SDH mutations cause SDH deficiency, disrupting energy metabolism & leading to developmental delays. #RareDiseaseThursday

KARS1 encodes lysyl-tRNA synthetase. Biallelic KARS mutations cause KARS syndrome, a severe disorder that affects multiple organs, particularly the nervous system. #RareDiseaseThursday

Congratulations to Julia and Adwaith for completing the 2025 Young Scholar Program and research symposium. It was a joy having you both in lab and we are very proud of you!

Transaldolase deficiency is a rare metabolic disorder affecting the pentose phosphate pathway, leading to liver dysfunction, growth delays, and skin abnormalities. It’s caused by mutations in the TALDO1 gene. Early diagnosis is key to managing symptoms. #RareDiseaseThursday

#RareDiseaseThursday Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI) deficiency is one of the rarest inborn errors of metabolism. Still no cure. It affects the pentose phosphate pathway, leading to impaired RNA synthesis or accumulation of D-ribitol and D-arabitol.

🤔 What if classic probability puzzles could be encoded in chemistry? We mapped the Monty Hall problem into a deterministic chemical reaction network using mass-action kinetics. Curious? ... then check out our latest paper with @wenzhulab.bsky.social in @pccp.rsc.org doi.org/10.1039/D5CP...

So excited that our work has already inspired one young girl to fall in love with science!

Welcome to our #ColorMyMetalloE coloring series. This is an interactive adventure that brings the hidden world of metalloenzymes to life! You can also explore various existing careers as a chemist! Simply download the PDF, grab your favorite coloring tools, and let your creativity flow.

Wrapped up Zhu Lab’s 2nd Annual Undergraduate Researcher Appreciation Day with a sweet treat! 🍦 Thanks to our amazing young scholars, student mentors and neighboring labs for joining the ice cream social!

On #RareDiseaseThursday, learn about Ribose-phosphate isomerase deficiency: an ultra-rare autosomal recessive disorder causing leukoencephalopathy, developmental delays, and spinocerebellar atrophy. Fewer than 10 cases known; metabolic testing matters!

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by impaired gluconeogenesis. Without this enzyme, the body can't maintain blood sugar, leading to hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, and coma. #RareDiseaseThursday

#RareDiseaseThursday Mutations in glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), an enzyme critical for glucose release, can lead to Von Gierke's Disease Type I. Dysfunctional G6Pase results in glycogen buildup in the liver and kidneys, leading to low blood sugar and organ damage

Today is a heartbreaking day. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. It's time to put an end to gun violence on campuses!

We had several great presentations lately! Lucciano passed his second-year milestone talk. Jack presented at the FSU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Congrats!

Congratulations to Caitlin Padgett on receiving the Honorable Mention in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program! We're incredibly proud of your hard work and achievements! 🥳🥳🥳

Our latest review on #TBCK and #TBCKSyndrome is out now in Frontiers in Biophysics!! We look into the multi-domain architecture of the protein and its cellular function, shedding light on how mutations can lead to neurological disorders. #Raredisease www.frontiersin.org/journals/bio...

🖋️Hexosaminidase A deficiency leads to the devastating effects of Tay-Sachs disease, an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Understanding this enzyme is key to advancing diagnosis and treatment options.🧠 #TaySachsDisease #RareDiseaseThursday

On this day in 1879, Maud Menten was born in Port Lambton, Ontario. In her work as a medical researcher, she became a leading expert in histochemistry and enzyme kinetics while fighting against sexism in her field. Let's learn more about her life! 🧵1/10

🧬 Meet SOD1, a crucial Cu/Zn metalloenzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress. Mutations in SOD1 are linked to a rare form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, leading to motor neuron degeneration & paralysis. 🧠⚡ #RareDiseaseThursday #SOD1

We are excited to welcome Dr. Maurya joining our lab as a postdoctoral scholar! Her expertise in protein biochemistry will be a great addition to our translational enzymology team!

🧬Meet TBCK, a key regulator in cell growth & metabolism. Mutations in TBCK cause TBCK Syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder linked to motor delays, hypotonia, & intellectual disability. Understanding TBCK helps uncover new therapeutic paths!🧠✨ #RareDiseaseThursday #TBCK

🚨 Meet ASNS (Asparagine Synthetase) – a crucial enzyme that makes asparagine, an amino acid vital for brain development. Mutations in ASNS cause Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency (ASD), a rare disease leading to severe neurodevelopmental impairments. 🧠⚠️ #RareDisease #ASNS #Neurobiology

Our lab studies proteins and enzymes linked to rare diseases. Our mission is to create a brighter future for affected individuals and their families. To raise awareness, we’re launching #RareDiseaseThursday. #RareDisease