CURRICULUM VITAE
Donghai Zheng
Human Performance Lab
Department of Exercise and Sport Science
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858
(252)-744-3465 (Office), (252)-757-1238 (Home)
zhengd@ecu.edu
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Research Associate; East Carolina University, Department of Exercise and Sport
Science, School of Health and Human Performance.
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
PhD, Bioenergetics, 2006 Mentor: Dr. G. Lynis Dohm
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
MS, Computer Science, 2003 East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
MA, Exercise Physiology. 1995 East Carolina University, Greenville
BA, Biology/Physiology. 1986. Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
April 2007 – Present Senior Research Associate
Dept. of Exercise and Sport Science
East Carolina University, Greenville NC
July 2002-Mar.,2007 Visiting Instructor & Research Associate
Dept. of Physiology/Exercise and Sport Science
East Carolina University, Greenville NC
May,95 - May, 2002 Research Technician III
Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Medicine
East Carolina University, Greenville NC
Aug.,92-May,95
Graduate Research Assistant
Human Performance Lab
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
July,86-Aug.,92
Research Associate
Dept. of Biochemistry and Physiology
Jiangsu Research Institute of Sports Science
Nanjing 210014, China
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
American Physiological Society
RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Metabolism and Exercise
• Insulin signaling pathway, insulin receptor and IRS1 phosphorylation in muscle
and myocyte from insulin resistant patients (obese and diabetic).
• Mechanism of regulation of Glut4 gene expression in response to exercise,
Immobilization/denervation, fiber type and agents such as AICAR, hormones
using rats, transgenic mice and human subject models.
• Fatty acid uptake and oxidation regulation in muscle and cultured myocyte.
• Energy expenditure, oxygen consumption and cardiac function in response to
exercise training.
Obesity, Diabetes and Exercise
• Obese gene, uncoupling protein gene expression regulation by exercise and
hormones in mice, rats and human models.
• Glucose transport, fatty acid oxidation regulation in muscle from obese and
diabetic animal models, obese and diabetic patients, exercise and after weight
loss.
Teaching Experience
Exercise Physiology (EXSS 3805, East Carolina University), Spring 2004
PUBLICATION
1. W. Jiang, D. Zheng, Y. Li, N. Ding, L. Sheng, S. Ji: Maximal Oxygen Uptake,
Anaerobic Threshold and Cardiac Function in Athletes of Different Span of Training
Years. Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology (in Chinese). 5(3): 260-265, 1989
2. W. Jiang, D. Zheng: Cardiac Function at and Above Anaerobic Threshold in Athelets.
Chinese Sports Medicine (in Chinese). 8(3): 135-138, 1989
3. W.Jiang, W.Bai, N.Ding, D.Zheng, L.Sheng, S.Ji: Individual Characteristics of
Aerobic Capacity in Oarsmen. Sports, Medicine and Health. 1990 Elsevier Science
Publishers BV. pp707-712
4. W. Jiang, D. Zheng, N. Ding, S. Ji: The Effect of Different Training Cycle on Aerobic
and Anaerobic Capacity of 2000 Meters Oarswoman. Sports Science (in Chinese). 12 (5):
53-55, 1992
5. W. Jiang, F. Ying, Z. Chen, N. Ding, D. Zheng, S. Ji: Using the Test of "LHRH-A" to
Observe the effect of Hypothalamus on Pituitary--Gondad and Pituitary—Adrenal After
Intensive Exercise. Sports Science (in Chinese). 14(2): 66-71, 1994
6. J.A.Houmard, M.D.Weidner, P.L.Dolan, N.Leggett-Frazier, K.E.Gavigan,
M.S.Hickey, G.L.Tyndall, D.Zheng, A.Alshami, G.L.Dohm: Skeletal Muscle GLUT4
Protein Concentration and Aging in Humans. Diabetes. 44(5):555-560, 1995
7. M.S.Hickey, M.D.Weidner, K.E.Gavigan, D.Zheng, G.L.Tyndall, J.A.Houmard: The
Insulin Action-Fiber Type Relationship in Humans Is Muscle Group Specific.
American Journal of Physiology. 269 (1 pt 1):E150-154, 1995
8. T.Hortobagyi, D.Zheng, M.Weidner, N.J.Lambert, S.Westbrook, J.A.Houmard: The
Influence of Aging on Muscle Strength and Muscle Fiber Characteristics With
Special Reference to Eccentric Strength. Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.
50A(6): B399-B406, 1995
9. D.Zheng, J.P.Jones, S.J.Usala, G.L.Dohm: Differential Expression of ob mRNA
in Rat Adipose Tissues in Response to Insulin. Biochemical and Biophysical Research
Communications. 218: 434-437, 1996
10. D.Zheng, M.H.Wooten, Q.Zhou, and G.L.Dohm: The Effect of Exercise on ob Gene
Expression. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 225:747-750, 1996
11. J.A.Houmard, D.S.O’Neill, D.Zheng, M.S.Hickey, and G.L.Dohm: Impact of
Hyperinsulinemia on Myosin Heavy Chain Gene Regulation. Journal of Applied of
Physiology. 86(6): 1828-1832, 1999
12. D.S. O’Neill, D. Zheng, W.K. Anderson, G.L. Dohm, and J.A. Houmard: Effect of
endurance exercise on myosin heavy chain gene regulation in human skeletal muscle.
American Journal of Physiology. 276 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R414R419, 1999
13. R.N. Cortright, D. Zheng, J.P. Jones, J.D. Fluckey, S.E. Dicarlo, D. Grujic,
B.B.Lowell, and G.L. Dohm: Regulation of Skeletal Muscle UCP-2 and UCP-3 Gene By
Expression By Exercise and Denervation. American Journal of Physiology. 276.
(Endocrinol. Metab. 39): E217-E221, 1999
14. T. Hortobagyi, L.Dempsey, D.Fraser, D.Zheng, G.Hamilton, J.Lambert, and L.Dohm:
Changes in Muscle Strength, Muscle Fibre Size and Myofibrillar Gene Expression after
Immobilization and Retraining in Humans. Journal of Physiology (Lond).
524 (Pt1):293-304, 2000
15. P.S.MacLean, D.Zheng, and G.L.Dohm: Muscle Glucose Transporter (GLUT4) Gene
Expression During Exercise. Exercise and Sports Sciences Review. 28 (4), 2000
16. D. Zheng, P.S.MacLean, S.C.Pohnert, J.B.Kight, A.L.Olson, W.W.Winder,
G.L.Dohm: Regulation of Muscle GLUT-4 transcription by AMP-activated protein
kinase. Journal of Applied of Phsiology.. 91: 1073-1080, 2001
17. P.S. MacLean, D. Zheng, J.P. Jones, A.L. Olson, G.L. Dohm: Exercise-Induced
Transcription of The Muscle Glucose Transporter (Glut4) Gene. Biochemical and
Biophysical Research Communications. 292(2):409-14, 2002
18. M.W. Hulver, D. Zheng, C.J. Tanner, J.A. Houmard, W.E. Kraus,C.A. Slentz, M.K.
Sinha,W.J. Pories, K.G. MacDonald, G.L. Dohm: Adiponectin is not altered with
exercise training despite enhanced insulin action. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.
283(4):E861-5, 2002
19. R.C. Noland, R.C. Hickner, M. Jimenez-Linan, A. Vidal-Puig, D. Zheng, G.L. Dohm,
R.N. Cortright: Acute endurance exercise increases skeletal muscle uncoupling protein-3
gene expression in untrained but not trained humans. Metabolism. 52(2):152-8, 2003
20. J.P. Thyfault, M.G. Cree, D. Zheng, J.J. Zwetsloot, E.B. Tapscott, T.R. Koves, O.
Ilkayeva, R.R. Wolfe, D.M. Muoio, and G.L. Dohm: Contraction of insulin resistant
muscle alters metabolic flux and normalizes insulin action. Am J Physiol Cell 292: C729C739, 2007
21. J.J. Zwetsloot, E. B. Tapscott, D. Zheng, S.I. Itani, J.Kim, E.G. Fontenot, M. Leitges,
B. B. Roman, R. McKinney, P.M. Buttrick, and G. L. Dohm: PKCbeta Regulates IRS1
Signaling in Transgenic Mice. (Manuscript submitted to Diabetes. 2007)
22. D. Zheng, J.P. Thyfault, J.E. DeVente, G.L. Dohm,: IRS1 Serine Phosphorylation Is
Increased in Skeletal Muscle From Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Patients. (Manuscript in
preparation).
23. D. Zheng, J.R. Berggren, J.E. DeVente, P. Shaver, G.L. Dohm: Inhibition of Protein
Kinase C Reverses Insulin Resistance in Human Cultured Myotubes Caused by Free Fatty
Acids but Not by Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha. (Manuscript in preparation).
RECENT PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
D. Zheng, J.P. Thyfault, J.M. Bennet, C.M. Isler, G.L. Dohm, J.E. DeVente: Serine
phosphorylation is increased in skeletal muscle from gestational diabetes mellitus
patients. FASEB Journal, 18, 451.14, 2004.
J.P. Thyfault, E.B. Tapscott, R.R. Fish, D. Zheng, and G.L. Dohm. Acute muscle
contraction restores insulin effect on glucose uptake in insulin resistant muscle.
Integrative Biology of Exercise, 28.2, 2004.
J.J. Zwetsloot, D. Zheng, W.J. Pories, K.G. MacDonald, and G.L. Dohm: Link between
PKC and IRS-1 serine phosphorylation in obese human skeletal muscle. American
Diabetes Association's 65th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2005.
D. Zheng, J.P. Thyfault, J.E. DeVente, G.L. Dohm: TNF Alpha Increased IRS1 Serine
312 Phosphorylation is Associated with Decreased Insulin Sensitivity in Cultured Human
Myotubes. (poster ) 2006 Keystone Symposia-- Diabetes Mellitus and the Control of
Cellular Energy Metabolism.
J.P. Thyfault, M.G. Cree, D. Zheng, J.J. Zwetsloot, E.B. Tapscott, T.R. Koves, R.R.
Wolfe, D.M. Mouio, G.L. Dohm: Contraction of Insulin Resistant Muscle Alters
Metabolic Flux and Normalizes Insulin Action. (poster ) 2006 Keystone Symposia-Diabetes Mellitus and the Control of Cellular Energy Metabolism.
D. Zheng, J.R. Berggren, J.E. DeVente, P. Shaver, G.L. Dohm: Inhibition of Protein
Kinase C Reverses Insulin Resistance Caused by Free Fatty Acids in Human Cultured
Myotubes. (poster) American Diabetes Association's 66th Annual Scientific Sessions.
2006.
E.B. Jensen, D. Zheng, R.A. Russell, A.L. Olson, G.L. Dohm: The Decline in Skeletal
Muscle GLUT4 Expression in Response to Denervation is Regulated by MEF2 and GEF.
(poster) American Diabetes Association's 66th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2006.