Shengxi Chen

Shengxi Chen

Retired Faculty or Staff,
Biodesign Center for Bioenergetics
  • [email protected]
Biography Research Teaching Public Work
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Long Bio

Dr. Shengxi Chen is an associate research professor at the Biodesign Center for BioEnergetics, Arizona State University. He has made significant progress in the development of novel protein models to study their function and dynamic, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), DNA topoisomerase, human transcription factor hnRNP, human transcription factor NF-kB, HIV-1 gp120, et al. Previous to the Center, Dr. Chen worked at the University of Virginia. In his time there, he contributed primarily to research that concerned the incorporation of natural and unnatural amino acids into several kinds of protein and studied their activities. Dr. Chen obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiological Pharmacology at Peking Union Medical College in China.  His primary Ph.D. research focused on the design, synthesis, and testing activities of a series of antibiotic analogs. 

Currently, his researches focus on developing new therapeutic agents for treatment of breast cancers; and developing new detection methods to diagnose virus RNAs, such as dengue and SAR-CoV-2. 

 

Education

Shandong Medical University, Jinan, China, B. S., 1998

Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, Ph.D., 2003

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Postdoctoral, 2006

 

CV
Curriculum Vitae
Google Scholar URL
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=oyv7TFYAAAAJ
Research Interests

Early diagnosis of HIV and dengue infection; Development of inhibitors against AIDS/HIV; Development of drugs and novel strategies to prevent cancer cell metastasis; Study of protein dynamics.

Publications
  1. Xiaoqing Cai, Libing Zhang and Shengxi Chen. Editorial: cancer treatment and early detection targeting HER receptors, Volume II. Front. Mol. Biosci. 10, 1229765 (2023).

 

  1. Xuan Fu, Yuqin Shang, Shengxi Chen, Larisa M. Dedkova, Sidney M. Hecht. Activation of d‑asparagine and d‑glutamine derivatives using the Mitsunobu reaction. Org. Lett. 25, 1310–1314 (2023).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Xun Ji, Larisa M Dedkova, Gal Reddy Potuganti and Sidney M Hecht. Site-Selective Tyrosine Phosphorylation in the Activation of the p50 Subunit of NF-κB for DNA Binding and Transcription. ACS Chem. Biol. 18, 59–69 (2023).

 

  1. Xiaoqing Cai, Libing Zhang and Shengxi Chen. Editorial: cancer treatment and early detection targeting HER receptors. Front. Mol. Biosci. 9, 940055 (2022).

 

  1. Chao Zhang, Xiaoguang Bai, Shengxi Chen, Larisa M Dedkova, Sidney M Hecht. Local conformational constraint of firefly luciferase can affect the energy of bioluminescence and enzyme stability. CCS Chemistry 4 (5), 1695-1707 (2022).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Xun Ji, Larisa M Dedkova, Sidney M Hecht. Site-selective incorporation of phosphorylated tyrosine into the p50 subunit of NF-κB and activation of its downstream gene CD40. Chemical Communications 57, 12651-12654 (2021).

 

  1. Chao Zhang, Shengxi Chen, Larisa M. Dedkova, Sidney M. Hecht. Effects of nucleobase amino acids on the binding of Rob to its promoter DNA: differential alteration of DNA affinity and phenotype. Biochemistry 59, 2111–2119 (2020).

 

  1. Sasha M. Daskalova, Brian M. Eisenhauer, Mingxuan Gao, Xizhi Feng, Xun Ji, Qi Cheng, NourEddine Fahmi, Omar M. Khdour, Shengxi Chen, Sidney M. Hecht. An assay for DNA polymerase β lyase inhibitors that engage the catalytic nucleophile for binding. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 28, 115642 (2020).

 

  1. Chao Zhang, Shengxi Chen, Xiaoguang Bai, Larisa M. Dedkova, and Sidney M. Hecht. Alteration of transcriptional regulator Rob in vivo: enhancement of promoter DNA binding and antibiotic resistance in the presence of nucleobase amino acids. Biochemistry 59, 1217-1220 (2020).

 

  1. Xun Ji, Qi Chen, Viswanath Arutla, Omar Khdour, Qiong-Ying Hu, Shengxi Chen. Double-component diazeniumdiolate derivatives as anti-cancer agents. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 28, 115405 (2020).

 

  1. Chao Zhang, Mengnan Han, Fanghua Zhang, Xueli Yang, Jie Du, Honglei Zhang, Wei Li, Shengxi Chen. Enhancing antitumor efficacy of nucleoside analog 5-fluorodeoxyuridine on HER2-overexpressing breast cancer by affibody-engineered DNA nanoparticle. International Journal of Nanomedicine 15, 885–900 (2020).

 

  1. Mingxuan Gao, Jesse J. Waggoner, Sidney M. Hecht, Shengxi Chen. Selective detection of dengue virus serotypes using tandem toehold-mediated displacement reactions. ACS Infectious Diseases 5, 1907-1914 (2019).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Xun Ji, Mingxuan Gao, Larisa M. Dedkova, and Sidney M. Hecht. In cellulo synthesis of proteins containing a fluorescent oxazole amino acid. Journal of the American Chemical Society 141, 5597–5601 (2019).

 

  1. Chao Zhang, Honglei Zhang, Mengnan Han, Xueli Yang, Chaohong Pei, Zhidong Xu, Jie Du, Wei Li and Shengxi Chen. DNA–affibody nanoparticle delivery system for cisplatin-based breast cancer chemotherapy. RSC Advances 9, 1982-1989 (2019).

 

  1. Mingxuan Gao, Douglas Daniel, Hongyan Zou, Shouxing Jiang, Su Lin, Chengzhi Huang, Sidney M. Hecht, and Shengxi Chen. Rapid detection of a dengue virus RNA sequence with single molecule sensitivity using tandem toehold-mediated displacement reactions. Chem. Commun. 54, 968-971 (2018).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Rumit Maini, Xiaoguang Bai, Ryan C. Nangreave, Larisa M. Dedkova, and Sidney M. Hecht. Incorporation of phosphorylated tyrosine into proteins: In vitro translation and study of phosphorylated IκB-α and its interaction with NF-κB. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139, 14098–14108 (2017).

 

  1. Xiaoguang Bai, Poulami Talukder, Sasha M. Daskalova, Basab Roy, Shengxi Chen, Zhongxian Li, Larisa M. Dedkova, and Sidney M. Hecht. Enhanced binding affinity for an i-motif DNA substract exhibited by a protein containing nucleobase amino acids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139, 4611–4614 (2017).

 

  1. Yanmin Zhang, Shuoxing Jiang, Dongdong Zhang, Xiaoguang Bai, Sidney M. Hecht, and Shengxi Chen. DNA–affibody nanoparticles for inhibiting breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2. Chem. Commun. 53, 573-576 (2017).

 

  1. Sandipan Roy Chowdhury, Pradeep S. Chauhan, Larisa M. Dedkova, Xiaoguang Bai, Shengxi Chen, Poulami Talukder, and Sidney M. Hecht. Synthesis and evaluation of a library of fluorescent dipeptidomimetic analogues as substrates for modified bacterial ribosomes. Biochemistry, 55, 2427–2440 (2016). 

 

  1. Poulami Talukder, Shengxi Chen, Basab Roy, Petro Yakovchuk, Michelle M. Spiering, Mohammad P. Alam, Manikandadas M. Madathil, Chandrabali Bhattacharya, Stephen J. Benkovic, and Sidney M. Hecht. Cyanotryptophans as novel fluorescent probes for studying protein conformational changes and DNA–protein interaction. Biochemistry, 54, 7457–7469 (2015).

 

  1. Rumit Maini, Larisa M. Dedkova, Rakesh Paul, Manikandadas M. Madathil, Sandipan Roy Chowdhury, Shengxi Chen, Sidney M. Hecht. Ribosome-mediated incorporation of dipeptides and dipeptide analogues into proteins in vitro. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137, 11206–11209 (2015).

 

  1. Rumit Maini, Sandipan Roy Chowdhury, Larisa M. Dedkova, Basab Roy, Sasha M. Daskalova, Rakesh Paul, Shengxi Chen, and Sidney M. Hecht. Protein synthesis with ribosomes selected for the incorporation of β-amino acids. Biochemistry, 54, 3694–3706 (2015).

 

  1. Zhongjie Wang, Poulami Talukder, Sidney M. Hecht, Shengxi Chen*. Fluorescent CD4 probe for potential HIV-1 gp120 protein detection. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 25, 1182-1185 (2015).

 

  1. Zhiqiang Yu, Bin Yu, Justin Boy Kaye, Chenhong Tang, Shengxi Chen, Chenbo Dong, and Bing Shen. Perspectives and Challenges of Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Effective siRNA Delivery. Nano LIFE, 4, 1441016 (2014)

 

  1. Xiaobo Yu, Poulami Talukder, Chandrabali Bhattacharya, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Jamie A. Lines, Larisa M. Dedkova, Joshua LaBaer, Sidney M. Hecht, Shengxi Chen*. Probing of CD4 binding pocket of HIV-1 gp120 glycoprotein using unnatural phenylalanine analogues. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 24, 5699-5703 (2014).

 

  1. Jamie A. Lines, Zhiqiang Yu, Larisa M. Dedkova and Shengxi Chen*. Design and expression of a short peptide as an HIV detection probe. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 443, 308-312 (2014).

 

  1. Poulami Talukder, Shengxi Chen, C. Tony Liu, Edwin A. Baldwin, Stephen J. Benkovic, and Sidney M. Hecht. Tryptophan Derivatives as Probes of Protein Conformational Changes. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 22, 5924-5934, (2014).

 

  1. Poulami Talukder, Shengxi Chen, Pablo M. Arce and Sidney M. Hecht. Efficient asymmetric synthesis of trypophan analogues having useful photophysical properties. Organic Letters, 16, 556-559 (2014).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Chandrabali Bhattacharya, Lin Wang, Yuguang Jin, Stephen J. Benkovic and Sidney M. Hecht. Fluorescent biphenyl derivatives of phenylalanine suitable for protein modification. Biochemistry, 52, 8580-8589 (2013).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Lin Wang, Chandrabali Bhattacharya, Stephen J. Benkovic and Sidney M. Hecht. Detection of DHFR conformational change by FRET using two fluorescent amino acids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135, 12924-12927 (2013).

 

  1. Rumit Maini, Dan T. Nguyen, Shengxi Chen, Larisa M. Dedkova, Sandipan Roy Chowdhury, Rafael Alcala-Torano, Sidney M. Hecht. Incorporation of b-amino acids into dihydrofolate reductase by ribosomes having modifications in the peptidyltransferase center. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 21, 1088-1096 (2013).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Lin Wang, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Stephen J. Benkovic and Sidney M. Hecht. Two pyrenylalanines in dihydrofolate reductase form an excimer enabling the study of protein dynamics. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 134, 18883-18885 (2012).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Ryan C. Nangreave, Youcef Mehellou and Sidney M. Hecht. Synthesis of pdCpAs and transfer RNAs activated with thiothreonine and derivatives. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 20, 2679-2689 (2012).

 

  1. Larisa M. Dedkova, Nour Eddine Fahmi, Rakesh Paul, Melissa del Rosario, Liqiang Zhang, Shengxi Chen, Glen Feder and Sidney M. Hecht. b-Puromycin selection of modified ribosomes for in vitro incorporation of b-amino acids, Biochemistry, 51, 401-415 (2012).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Yi Zhang and Sidney M. Hecht. p-Thiophenylalanine-induced DNA cleavage and religation activity of a modified vaccinia topoisomerase IB, Biochemistry, 50, 9340-9351 (2011).

 

  1. Ryan C. Nangreave, Larisa M. Dedkova, Shengxi Chen and Sidney M. Hecht. A new strategy for the synthesis of bisaminoacylated tRNAs, Organic Letters, 13, 4906–4909 (2011).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Sidney M. Hecht. Synthesis of pdCpAs and transfer RNAs activated with derivatives of aspartic acid and cysteine, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 16, 9023-9031 (2008).

 

  1. Maria Duca, Shengxi Chen and Sidney M. Hecht. Modeling the reactive properties of tandemly activated tRNAs. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 6, 3292-3299 (2008).

 

  1. Maria Duca, Shengxi Chen and Sidney M. Hecht. Aminoacylation of transfer RNAs with one and two amino acids. Methods, 44, 87-99 (2008).

 

  1. Lyudmila Yakovleva, Shengxi Chen, Sidney M. Hecht, and Stewart Shuman. Chemical and traditional mutagenesis of vaccinia DNA topoisomerase provide insights to cleavage site recognition and transesterification chemistry. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283, 16093-16103 (2008).

 

  1. David J. Maloney, Shengxi Chen and Sidney M. Hecht. Stereoselective synthesis of the atropisomers of myristinin B/C. Organic Letters, 8, 1925-1927 (2006).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Huiyuan Guo. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 7-[(2S)-2-hydroxymethyl-4- amino-pyrrolindine-1-yl]-quinolone derivatives. Chinese Journal of Pharmaceuticals, 36, 129-132 (2005).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Huiyuan Guo. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 7-[(2S)-2-aminomethyl -pyrrolindine-1-yl]-quinolone derivatives. Chinese Journal of Antibiotics, 29, 397-400 (2004).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Xiandong Xu. Synthesis of 9-oxime-6-O-methyl-3-oxo erythromycin. Chinese Journal of Pharmaceuticals, 34, 58-59 (2003).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Jie Dai. Research development of preventive and curative drugs against AIDS. World Notes on Antibiotics, 23, 155-157 (2002).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Huiyuan Guo. Novel fluoroquinoloe-gemifloxacin. World Notes on Antibiotics, 23, 279-283 (2002).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Xiandong Xu and Lanxiang Yu. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 3-hydroxy-6-O- methylerythromycin-9-O-substituted oxime derivatives. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 36, 581-584 (2001).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen and Huiyuan Guo. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fluoroquinoloe. World Notes on Antibiotics, 22, 253-258 (2001).

 

  1. Shengxi Chen, Xiandong Xu and Lanxiang Yu. 3-Keto-9-O-substituted oxime derivatives of 6-O-methyl erythromycin A, synthesis and in vitro activity. J. Antibiotics, 54, 506-509 (2001).

 

Research Activity

  • NIH: R21 CA280458-01

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    Crosslinking-based targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer

    4/13/2023 - 3/31/2025

     

    Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    (PI: Hecht, Sidney; co-I: Shengxi Chen)

    Develop System for Synthesis of Receptor Binding Cyclic Polypeptides

    1/24/2020 – 06/30/2023

     

    Atlanta Center for Microsystems Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME-POCT)

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    Enzyme-free RNA Microsensor

    4/1/2021 – 3/31/2022

     

    NIH: 2 R01 GM103861-04

    (PI: Hecht, Sidney; co-I: Shengxi Chen)

    Selection of Modified Ribosomes Using Novel Puromycins

    12/1/2017 – 11/30/2021

     

    DOD-ARMY: W81XWH-16-1-0141

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    A low-cost tool to rapidly detect dengue virus in the field

    6/1/2016 – 11/30/2017

     

    Arizona State University Foundation – Women and Philanthropy

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    Peptide-DNA-drug nanoparticle to inhibit metastasis of HER2+ cancers

    6/1/2016 – 5/31/2017

     

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    Fluorescent Protein Sensor to Diagnose HIV at Low Cost (OPP1061337)

    5/1/2012 – 10/31/2013

     

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

    (PI: Shengxi Chen)

    Novel Materials to Increase Pleasure and Enhance Erection (OPP1108171)

    5/1/2014 – 10/31/2015

Teaching Website URL
https://catalog.apps.asu.edu/catalog/classes/classlist?searchType=all&collapse=…
Courses
2027 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
2026 Fall
Course Number Course Title
MBB 493 Honors Thesis
2026 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
2025 Fall
Course Number Course Title
MBB 493 Honors Thesis
2025 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
2024 Fall
Course Number Course Title
MBB 493 Honors Thesis
2024 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 493 Honors Thesis
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
2023 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
2022 Spring
Course Number Course Title
MBB 495 Undergraduate Research
Presentations

MBB 495

Editorships

2022 – Present      Associate Editor, Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment.

2022                      Session Chair, 7th World Congress on Breast Cancer, Las Vegas, USA

2021 – 2022          Guest Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, collection on “Cancer Treatment and Early Detection Targeting HER Receptors”.

2023 - Present        Associate Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.

Expertise Areas
Biotechnology
Cancer
Proteins
Biochemistry
Viruses
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