Research Biologist
Renewable Product Technology
1815 N University
Peoria, IL 61604
+1(309) 681-6046
B.S. in Biology from Tsinghua University
Ph. D in Biomedical Science from Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University
Zhengliang (Leon) Wu joined the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Peoria in 2023 and is currently working on projects involving synthesis of novel carbohydrates products. Leon obtained his bachelor's degree in biology in 1991 from Tsinghua University, China, and PhD in biomedical science in 1994 from Kent State University/Northeast Ohio Medical University. His PhD projects involved cloning and characterizing the gene CYP7B1 (responsible for the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids) under the guidance of Dr. John Chiang, a pioneer in the field of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism. In 2000, Leon joined Dr. Robert Rosenberg’s lab at MIT as a post-doc and started working on heparan sulfate, a sulfated polysaccharide found in all animal tissues, and characterized the structures and functions of biologically active heparan sulfate using mass spectrometry. Leon was recruited to R&D Systems/Bio-techne in 2006 where he developed over 200 reagents and numerous assays for glycobiology research and drug development. Particularly, Leon developed methods for labeling and imaging native glycans/carbohydrates using enzymatic biorthogonal chemistry (EBC). His work on cell surface glycan imaging was highlighted on the cover page of Glycobiology in 2019.
Antimicrobials for Biorefining and Agricultural Applications In-House Appropriated (D) Accession Number:439228 
No publications listed for this employee.
