The research of the Zhou Laboratory is centered on understanding of the fundamental molecular mechanisms of epigenetic control of gene expression and silencing of the human genome in health and disease. We seek new structural and functional insights into molecular interactions and regulation of histone-directed chromatin biology in the cell nucleus. Integrated approaches of structural and chemical biology, molecular and cell biology are used to determine three-dimensional structures of proteins, to investigate their chemical properties for molecular modifications and interactions, to elucidate their cellular functions, and to develop chemical molecules capable of modulating these functions.