Zhang Lab recent studies have indicated that Ate1-mediated arginylation is an essential step in stress response. Also, the dysregulation of arginylation would lead to cell cycle checkpoint disruption, genomic instabilities, mitochondrial defects and increased glycolysis.

Currently, they are focused on how the down-regulation of Ate1 may drive the progression of prostate cancer and breast cancer, and how Ate1 and its novel substrates may be used as predictive biomarkers for the metastasis of cancer.

They are also interested in the role of Ate1 in general stress response in other types of conditions, which include spinal cord injury and cardiac arrest.