On the afternoon of June 3, 2026, the School of Life Sciences hosted the second lecture of the 2026 Life Sciences Forum. For this academic exchange, the school invited Professor Zhang Jun from the Medical College of Shihezi University to deliver an academic lecture entitled "Odd-Chain Fatty Acids (OCFA) and Diabetes." The lecture was hosted by Dean Dou Xiaobing, and attended by many faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students of the school.
Professor Zhang Jun is currently the Vice Dean of the Medical College of Shihezi University. His research mainly focuses on the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders. He has undertaken a host of research projects, including Regional Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key R&D Programs of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Major Science and Technology Projects of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. To date, he has authored more than 300 academic papers, which have been cited over 2,600 times.
During the lecture, Professor Zhang Jun systematically shared his team's research findings on the mechanisms by which C19:0 improves type 2 diabetes. He first introduced the epidemiological characteristics of the Xinjiang region: the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Kazakh population is significantly lower than that in the Han and Uyghur populations. Combined with sample analysis, it was found that the C19:0 content in the serum of the Kazakh population is generally higher, and this indicator is negatively correlated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Based on this clinical phenomenon, the team further conducted mechanistic studies. The research confirmed that C19:0 is an endogenous ligand for GPR120, which can enhance the body's insulin sensitivity by activating the Gαq signaling pathway, while also promoting the browning of adipose tissue to effectively improve obesity-related metabolic problems. On this basis, the team continued to trace the root causes for the high levels of serum C19:0 in the Kazakh population. The results showed that this ethnic group possesses a higher species richness in their gut microbiota, and their microbial metabolites can enhance the activity of the HACL2 enzyme in the liver, thereby promoting the in vivo synthesis of C19:0. In addition, the study elucidated the related pathological mechanism: obesity can regulate endocrine levels, inhibit the expression of HACL2, and reduce the endogenous synthesis of C19:0, ultimately forming a metabolic disorder cycle where obesity and insulin resistance mutually influence each other. In the lecture, Professor Zhang not only introduced the latest research results but also demonstrated a mature scientific research paradigm of "discovering a phenomenon - explaining the mechanism - tracing the source," which expanded everyone's scientific thinking and provided a referential model for scientific research.
After the report concluded, the participating faculty and students actively asked questions and engaged in in-depth discussions with Professor Zhang Jun regarding the details of the research. Professor Zhang Jun also sincerely invited the faculty and students to visit Xinjiang for academic exchange and cooperation. This academic forum has broadened the academic vision of teachers and students across the college and greatly inspired young researchers’ scientific thinking, giving a strong impetus to their academic development.
