主要研究方向为应用微生物代谢工程及合成生物学技术构建高效微生物细胞工厂，生产大宗化学品和植物天然产物。成功构建了生产L-丙氨酸、丁二酸、D-乳酸、β-揽香烯等化学品的高效微生物细胞工厂，11个化学品实现技术转让，3个化学品完成产业化。L-丙氨酸技术在国际首次实现发酵法产业化，丁二酸和D-乳酸技术在国内首次实现发酵法产业化，新增产值20亿元。发表SCI论文60余篇，被引2000余次。获授权中国专利21项和国外专利7项。
代表论著：
1. Dai Z, Liu Y, Sun Z, Wang D, Qu G, Ma X, Fan F, Zhang L, Li S, Zhang X*. Identification of a novel cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the C-2α hydroxylation of pentacyclic triterpenoids and its application in yeast cell factories. Metab Eng. 2019. 51:70-78
2. Wu T, Li S, Ye L, Zhao D, Fan F, Li Q, Zhang B, Bi C*, Zhang X*. Engineering an Artificial Membrane Vesicle Trafficking System (AMVTS) for the Excretion of β-Carotene in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol. 2019. 8(5):1037-1046.
3. Li Q, Fan F, Gao X, Yang C, Bi C, Tang J, Liu T, Zhang X*. Balanced activation of IspG and IspH to eliminate MEP intermediate accumulation and improve isoprenoids production in Escherichia coli. Metab Eng. 2017. 44:13-21
4. Wu T, Ye L, Zhao D, Li S, Li Q, Bi C*, Zhang X*. Membrane engineering - A novel strategy to enhance the production and accumulation of β-carotene in Escherichia coli. Metab Eng. 2017, 43:85-91.
5. Zhu X, Zhao D, Qiu H, Fan F, Man S, Bi C*, Zhang X*. The CRISPR/Cas9-facilitated multiplex pathway optimization (CFPO) technique and its application to improve the Escherichia coli xylose utilization pathway. Metab Eng. 2017. 43:37-45.
6. Zhu X, Tan Z, Xu H, Chen J, Tang J, Zhang X*. Metabolic evolution of two reducing equivalent-conserving pathways for high-yield succinate production in Escherichia coli. Metab Eng. 2014, 24:87-96.
7. Dai Z, Liu Y, Zhang X, Shi M, Wang B, Huang L*, Zhang X*. Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for production of ginsenosides. Metab Eng. 2013, 20:146-156.
8. Zhao J, Li Q, Sun T, Zhu X, Xu H, Tang J, Zhang X*, Ma Y. Engineering central metabolic modules of Escherichia coli for improving β-carotene production. Metab Eng. 2013, 17: 42-50.
9. Shi A, Zhu X, Lu J, Zhang X*, Ma Y. Combinatorial activation of transhydrogenase and NAD kinase for improving isobutanol production. Metab Eng. 2013, 16:1-10.
10. Dai Z, Liu Y, Huang L, Zhang X*. Production of miltiradiene by metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2012, 109(11): 2845–2853.
