On April 6th, invited by Prof. Tian He (Academician of CAS), Prof. Chen Peng (the National Outstanding Youth Fund Owner, from Peiking University) visited our school. Prof. Chen attended the 162nd "Famous Teacher Forum" and gave a lecture titled "Protein Chemistry in Living Cells". Prof. Zhu Weihong hosted the lecture, and Prof. Tian He, Long Yitao, Zhu Linyong, Qu Dahui, Hua Jianli also attended the lecture.
In the lecture, Prof. Chen stated that the focus of his research is to develop novel technologies for protein manipulation in living cells, which include protein-based bioorthoganol chemistry and precise protein engineering. The aims of these research programs are to utilize the developed valuable tools to address fundamental questions in life sciences. Protein photo-cross-linking, via the introduction of non-natural amino acids, has emerged as a superior strategy for covalently trapping transient protein-protein interactions in living conditions, which is generally not feasible using other methodologies. One of the key challenges on using the chemical strategy for protein labeling is to selectively incorporate the bioorthogonal chemical groups into the target proteins, which allows the subsequent conjugation with probes bearing the complementary functionalities. Directed evolution enabled the encoding of this non-natural amino acid in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with great efficiency. This offers a facile and cost-effective approach for the site-specific introduction of an azide group into target proteins that can be easily accessed by alkyne probes using click chemistry. After the lecture, Prof. Chen discussed with participants and exchanged opinions.
Prof. Chen also visited the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials. Prof. Tian made a detailed introduction of the construction, development of the Key Lab, and Prof. Long introduced the operation of the Innovation Group of National Natural Science Foundation of China. In the visit, Prof. Chen discussed with young teacher of the Key Laboratory and exchanged opinions.
CV of Prof. Chen Peng:
RESEARCH INTERESTS
(1) Protein bioorthogonal chemistry
(2) Intracellular protein labeling and manipulation
(3) Protein therapeutic engineering
(4) Host-pathogen interactions
AWARDS
2015 Young Science and Technology Innovation Talents, China
2014 Roche Chinese Young Investigator Award
2014 RSC Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Lectureship
2014 CAPA Biomatik Distinguished Faculty Award
2013 National Young Scientists Award, China.
2013 National Program for Special Support of Eminent Professionals, China.
2012 National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar, China.
2012 CCS (Chinese Chemical Society) Young Investigator Award
2012 SCOPUS Young Scholar, Elsevier.
2011 WuXi PharmaTech Life Science and Chemistry Award
2011 Instructor award for the “Challenge Cup” undergraduate research competition at PKU
2007 Elizabeth R. Norton Prize for excellence in research in chemistry, The University of Chicago.
