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.