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| Born Guizhou, P. R. China, 1972. |
| University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), B.S., 1994. |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D., 2000. |
| Harvard University, Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000-2002. |
| University of Chicago, Assistant Professor 2002-. |
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| Accolades |
| 2007 CACPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award. |
| 2006 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award. |
| 2005 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation. |
| 2005 Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation. |
| 2005 Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator. |
| 2005 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. |
| 2004 W. M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholar in Medical Science. |
| 2004 G&P Foundation for Cancer Research Young Investigator. |
| 2003 Research Corporation Research Innovation Award. |
| 2003 Searle Scholar Award. |
| 2001 Davison Prize for The Best Thesis in Inorganic Chemistry, MIT. |
| 2000-2002 Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellow (Harvard). |
| 1997-1999 Merck/MIT Graduate Fellowship. |
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| Chuan He |
| Associate Professor (effective July 1, 2008) |
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 Postdoctoral Positions Available (PDF) |
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| Research Interests |
| Our research program spans a broad range of chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, chemical biology, and microbiology. We work on virulence and antibiotic resistance regulation in pathogens. We study selective metal ion recognition by naturally occurring and engineered proteins. We probe the mechanism of DNA repair proteins by structural, biochemical, and biophysical characterization. We develop tools to trap and identify new DNA repair and modification proteins. We also study silver- and gold-catalyzed organic transformations. |
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| 1. Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Regulation in Pathogens |
| Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are human pathogens responsible for most wound and hospital-acquired infections. The extensive use of antibiotics to treat infections has led to the emergence of high-level resistances in various strains of these pathogens. Virulence suppression provides an alternative strategy to effectively reduce pathogenic potential without asserting selective pressure for developing resistances. A recent discovery in our laboratory has identified the MgrA protein as a key virulence regulator in S. aureus. This protein belongs to the MarR family of transcriptional regulators that controls antibiotic resistance and virulence in various bacteria. We demonstrated that the mgrA knockout strain shows a 10,000-fold reduction of virulence in vivo. Subsequently, we discovered that oxidative stress leads to dissociation of MgrA from its promoter DNA. The host immune response to S. aureus infection is to produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to counter the pathogen. Our study suggests that the microorganism uses MgrA to sense the oxidative stress generated by the host and regulate a global defensive response. We plan to fully elucidate the mechanism of MgrA and its regulation pathways, and exploring several strategies to suppress S. aureus virulence by tuning MgrA’s function with small molecules. In addition, we are studying MgrA homologues in S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and other pathogens. Our ultimate goal is to develop new strategies for treating infections. . |
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| 2. Selective Metal Ion Recognition by Proteins |
| The ability to regulate essential or toxic metal ion concentrations is critical for cell survival. Our goal is to understand how specific metal ions are recognized and regulated in biological systems. We have been working on elucidating the mechanisms of proteins that exhibit remarkable selective towards metal ions such as lead(II), cadmium(II), gold(I), and iron(II). We also hope to engineer/build proteins that possess high sensitivity and selectivity towards various metal ions. |
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| 3. DNA Repair |
| Accumulation of genetic changes due to the presence of unrepaired DNA lesions can lead to cancer development and other diseases. One component of our research program is to develop and apply a novel chemical cross-linking technique to stabilize protein/DNA interactions in distinct states in these systems. An integrative approach uniting chemical synthesis, structural biology and biochemical/biophysical characterization is used to study these interactions in DNA repair O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases (C-Ada and human AGT), the AlkB proteins and other DNA base repair and modification proteins. In the other component of the research, we seek to develop a chemical proteomic approach to trap and identify undiscovered base repair and modification proteins. |
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| 4. Chemistry and Catalysis with Silver and Gold |
| a) Develop gold(III)-catalyzed aromatic C-H functionalization We discovered a gold(III)-mediated hydroarylation reaction of electron deficient alkynes and alkenes. Our group also developed functionalization of aromatic C-H with epoxides and primary alcohol sulfonate esters. These reactions work at ambient temperature and provide favorable methods for constructing complicated aromatic molecules. Study of other interesting gold(III) chemistry, for instance, redox chemistry and activation of aliphatic alkenes, is also going on in the lab. |
| b) Discover new silver-mediated oxidation reactions Oxidation chemistry with high-valent silver ions has not been extensively studied in the past. We have discovered the first example of olefin aziridination catalyzed by a silver complex. The same compound also catalyzes intramolecular and intermolecular amination of saturated C–H bonds. |
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| c) Dioxygen chemistry of silver and high-valent silver chemistry Silver particles have been used to activate dioxygen to epoxidize ethylene in industry. We are studying silver-dioxygen chemistry in solution. Due to high oxidation potential typically associated with silver ions, oxygenated silver species may exhibit unique oxidation activity. We design and prepare donating, sterically bulky ligands to explore dioxygen-activation and high-valent silver chemistry. |
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Inorganic Chemistry 