Peng, Rui, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Tel: 0512-65880947 (O)       Email: rpeng@suda.edu.cn

Research Interests:

Molecular Biology, RNA Biology, and Nanobiotechnology.

As a molecular biologist, in addition to my interests in the control of gene expression related to human genetic disorders as well as the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing (constitutive and alternative splicing), I am also interested in studying nanomaterials from a biologist's viewpoint, such as the biological effects of various nanomaterials (in particular, carbon-based nanomaterials) and their applications in biosensing.  My current research activities are focused on the understanding and control of the nano/bio and bio/bio interfaces for unveiling the molecular pathogenesis of related diseases, as well as the development of corresponding treatments/applications.

Research Projects:

1.    Biological effects and applications of nanomaterials: their interactions with biomolecules (proteins, including enzymes, splicing factors, cellular factors, and serum factors) as well as their effects on cell morphology, viability, proliferation, and differentiation;

2.    Biosensors for monitoring bio-interactions;

3.    Molecular pathogenesis: disease-associated aberrant pre-mRNA splicing, genetic disorders and their gene therapy.

Selected Publications:

15 publications in high-impact journals including ACS Nano, J. Biol. Chem., RNA, RNA Biol., FASEB J, Mol. Cell Biol. Funding from NSFC, MOE, MOST, and SIP.

1.     Jin L, Yang K, Yao K, Zhang S, Tao H, Lee ST, Liu Z*, Peng R*. 2012. Functionalized Graphene Oxide in Enzyme Engineering: A Selective Modulator for Enzyme Activity and Thermostability. ACS Nano (DOI: 10.1021/nn300217z)

2.     Xu J, He X, Jin L, Jiang L, Kang Z*, Zhou Y*, Peng R*, Lee ST. 2011. A protein-based electrochemical method for label-free characterization of sequence-specific protein–DNA interactions. Electrochimica Acta, 56:5759-5765.

3.     Liu Z, Peng R. 2010. Inorganic nanomaterials for tumor angiogenesis imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol I, 37(Suppl 1): S147-163.

4.     Solis AS^§, Peng R^§, Crawford JB, Phillips JA 3rd, Patton JG. 2008. Growth hormone deficiency and splicing fidelity: two SR proteins, ASF/SF2 and SC35, act antagonistically. J Biol Chem. 283:23619-23626 (^§co-first author).

5.     Peng R, Hawkins I, Link AJ, Patton JG. 2006. The splicing factor PSF is part of a large complex that assembles in the absence of pre-mRNA and contains all five snRNPs. RNA Biol. 3(2):69-76.

6.     Peng R, Thompson AB, Patton JG. 2003. The splicing factor PSF is part of a large complex that links transcription and splicing. FASEB J. 17, A1306 Part 2 Suppl. S.

7.     Peng R, Dye BT, Perez I, Barnard DC, Thompson AB, Patton JG. 2002. PSF and p54nrb bind a conserved stem in U5 snRNA. RNA. 8:1334-47.