Prof. Beining Chen

School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Professor of Medicinal Chemistry

Beining Chen
Profile picture of Beining Chen
b.chen@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 9467
Dainton Building

Full contact details

Prof. Beining Chen
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
Sheffield
S3 7HF
Profile

After a BSc (1984) and MSc (1987) in China, Prof Chen obtained a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Glasgow in 1991. Subsequently, she became a Research Fellow at the Dyson-Perrins Laboratory in Oxford (1993-1995), after which she became a Research Fellow and then Lecturer at the University of Cranfield (1996-2002). In 2002 she became a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield, where she was promoted to Professor in 2014.

Research interests

The major focus of our research is to use computer aided molecular design and combinatorial chemistry to facilitate drug design and molecular recognition studies.

Therapeutics

TSEs, are progressive, invariably fatal neurological disorders occurring in sheep, cattle and humans, and in a variety of other ungulates, felines and rodents. The disease involves the formation of pathological deposits of protein in the brain. The protein responsible, the non-infectious cellular isoform of prion protein (PrPC), can adopt an aberrant insoluble infectious conformation (PrPRes), which accumulates extracellularly and is resistant to denaturation and digestion with protease. Aggregation of PrPRes leads to neural disorder and thereafter the death of animals and humans affected. The development of therapeutic compounds has always been considered as one of the most important and challenge areas to be tackled in TSE research. The project aims to develop drugs which interacts with the biosynthetic pathway of prion protein either to stabilise its conformation or to provoke the interaction of the protein with its abnormal counterpart.

Our main focus now is to develop novel drugs for prion disease to cure Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) including Scrapie in Sheep, BSE in cattles and CJD in humans. Novel ideas together with a well written proposal have recently secured her group major funding from the Department of Health worth over £1.15 million. We are also building up our research in natural product chemistry/bioorganic chemistry for lead discovery. Activities in therapeutics are expanding into other amyloid diseases as well as areas cardiovascular, CNS, anti-viruses.

Proteomics - Structural Studies of Abnormal Prion Proteins

With very few exceptions, all cells in the human body contain the same genes. We need to know what proteins are produced and are active in different cells and at different times, because it is the proteins that make things happen. For example, they govern how cells communicate with each other to mobilise an immune response, or to detect and respond to changes in their environment. The genome is a parts list and the proteome (the complement of proteins) is an activity report. Proteomics is about understanding the function of proteins, both individually and collectively.

The most challenging area in the study of TSE is to understand how abnormal prion protein forms, and its structure and functions. Modern available technologies such as x-ray crystallography and NMR prove to be little use in studying the abnormal prion conformation due to the special insoluble properties of the plaque formed during protein aggregation. Theoretical modelling using molecular dynamics and bioinformatics as tools together with various labelling techniques are being developed in Prof. Chen's group for the prediction of abnormal prion structures.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Ghiandoni GM, Bodkin MJ, Chen B, Hristozov D, Wallace JEA, Webster J & Gillet VJ (2022) . Molecular Informatics, 41(4).
  • Qian X-P, Zhang X-H, Sun L-N, Xing W-F, Wang Y, Sun S-Y, Ma M-Y, Cheng Z-P, Wu Z-D, Xing C , Chen B-N et al (2021) . Phytomedicine, 91, 153696-153696.
  • Grayson JD, Baumgartner MP, Santos Souza CD, Dawes SJ, El Idrissi IG, Louth JC, Stimpson S, Mead E, Dunbar C, Wolak J , Sharman G et al (2021) . Chemical Science, 12(10), 3768-3785.
  • de Matos AM, Blázquez-Sánchez MT, Bento-Oliveira A, de Almeida R, Nunes RS, LOpes P, Machuqueiro M, Cristovão J, Gomes CM, Souza CS , El Idrissi IG et al (2020) . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63(20), 11663-11690.
  • Ghiandoni GM, Bodkin MJ, Chen B, Hristozov D, Wallace JEA, Webster J & Gillet VJ (2020) . Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 34(7), 783-803.
  • Jassem AM, Al-Ajely HM, Almashal FAK & Chen B (2019) . Russian Journal of General Chemistry, 89(12), 2562-2570.
  • Ghiandoni GM, Bodkin MJ, Chen B, Hristozov D, Wallace JEA, Webster J & Gillet V (2019) . Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 59(10), 4167-4187.
  • Matos AM, Man T, Idrissi I, Souza CC, Mead E, Dunbar C, Wolak J, Oliveira MC, Evans D, Grayson J , Partridge B et al (2019) . Pure and Applied Chemistry, 91(7), 1107-1136.
  • de la Vega de Leon A, Chen B & Gillet V (2018) . Journal of Cheminformatics, 10.
  • Buswell W, Schwarzenbacher ER, Luna E, Sellwood M, Chen B, Flors V, Pétriacq P & Ton J (2018) . New Phytologist, 218(3), 1205-1216.
  • Thomas MR, Morton AC, Hossain R, Chen B, Luo L, Shahari NNBM, Hua P, Beniston RG, Judge HM & Storey RF (2016) . Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 116(1), 96-102.
  • Patil AA, Hua P, Sellwood MA, Jellinek DA, Carroll TA, Chen B & Collis SJ (2015) . Neuro-Oncology, 17(suppl 8), viii20.1-viii20.
  • Butler AJE, Thompson MJ, Maydom PJ, Newby JA, Guo K, Adams H & Chen B (2015) . ChemInform, 46(16).
  • Butler AJE, Thompson MJ, Maydom PJ, Newby JA, Guo K, Adams H & Chen B (2014) . The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 79(21), 10196-10202.
  • Luna E, van Hulten M, Zhang Y, Berkowitz O, López A, Pétriacq P, Sellwood MA, Chen B, Burrell M, van de Meene A , Pieterse CMJ et al (2014) . Nat Chem Biol, 10(6), 450-456.
  • Chen B, Thompson M, Louth J & Guo K (2013) . Curr Top Med Chem, 13(19), 2441-2464.
  • Fang Z, He W, Li X, Li Z, Ouyang P, Guo K & Chen B (2013) . Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters.
  • Louth J, Thompson MJ, Evans C, Wright PC, Heath P, Delagadillo JMV, Gillet V & Chen B (2013) Deconvolution of molecular targets for small molecule anti-prion compounds using proteomic and microarray techniques. PRION, 7, 66-66.
  • Mohanty ST, Cairney CJ, Chantry AD, Madan S, Fernandes JA, Howe SJ, Moore HD, Thompson MJ, Chen B, Thrasher A , Keith WN et al (2012) . Stem Cells, 30(6), 1134-1143.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Little SM, Jackson MP, Boursereau Y, Chen B & Coldham I (2012) . ChemMedChem, 7(4), 578-586.
  • Chen B (2012) Indole-3-glyoxylamides as a novel lead series against prion diseases. PRION, 6, 99-99.
  • Louth J, Thompson M, Evans C, Wright P, Heath P, Delgadillo JV, Gillet V & Chen B (2012) Deconvoluting molecular targets for small molecule anti-prion compounds using proteomic and microarray techniques. PRION, 6, 98-98.
  • Hristozov D, Bodkin M, Chen B, Patel H & Gillet VJ (2011) , 29-43.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Little SM, Chen B & Coldham I (2011) . Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 21(12), 3644-3647.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Ferrara S, Jackson MP, Sorrell FJ, Cochrane EJ, Gever J, Baxendale S, Silber BM, Roehl HH & Chen B (2011) . Eur J Med Chem, 46(9), 4125-4132.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Ferrara S, Sorrell FJ, Irving BJ, Cochrane EJ, Meijer AJHM & Chen B (2011) . ChemMedChem, 6(1), 115-130.
  • Sorrell FJ, Greenwood GK, Birchall K & Chen B (2010) . J Pharm Biomed Anal, 52(5), 802-808.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Greenwood GK, Sorrell FJ, Knight SG, Adams NB & Chen B (2010) . ChemMedChem, 5(9), 1406.
  • Chen BN, Mueller C & Willett P (2010) . MOL INFORM, 29(6-7), 533-541.
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Greenwood GK, Sorrell FJ, Knight SG, Adams NBP & Chen B (2010) . ChemMedChem, 5(9), 1476-1488.
  • Abdo A, Chen B, Mueller C, Salim N & Willett P (2010) . J Chem Inf Model, 50(6), 1012-1020.
  • Chen B (2010) . Methods Mol Biol, 627, 147-155.
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2010) . ChemInform, 41(5).
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ & Chen B (2010) . ChemInform, 41(5).
  • Thompson MJ, Borsenberger V, Louth JC, Judd KE & Chen B (2009) . J Med Chem, 52(23), 7503-7511.
  • Thompson MJ, Adams H & Chen B (2009) . ChemInform, 40(40).
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(18), 7084-7093.
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(18), 6999-7006.
  • Patel H, Bodkin MJ, Chen B & Gillet VJ (2009) . J Chem Inf Model, 49(5), 1163-1184.
  • Chen B, Mueller C & Willett P (2009) . J Cheminform, 1(1), 5.
  • Thompson MJ, Adams H & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(10), 3856-3865.
  • Thompson MJ, Hurst JM & Chen BN (2008) . SYNLETT(20), 3183-3187.
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2008) . ChemInform, 39(49).
  • Thompson MJ & Chen BN (2008) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 49(36), 5324-5327.
  • Guo K, Mutter R, Heal W, Reddy TRK, Cope H, Pratt S, Thompson MJ & Chen B (2008) . Eur J Med Chem, 43(1), 93-106.
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ, Reddy TRK, Mutter R & Chen B (2007) . TETRAHEDRON, 63(24), 5300-5311.
  • Heal W, Thompson MJ, Mutter R, Cope H, Louth JC & Chen B (2007) . J Med Chem, 50(6), 1347-1353.
  • Chen B, Harrison RF, Papadatos G, Willett P, Wood DJ, Lewell XQ, Greenidge P & Stiefl N (2007) . J Comput Aided Mol Des, 21(1-3), 53-62.
  • Mekhalfia A, Mutter R, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . ChemInform, 37(43).
  • Thompson MJ, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . ChemInform, 37(29).
  • Cope H, Mutter R, Heal W, Pascoe C, Brown P, Pratt S & Chen B (2006) . Eur J Med Chem, 41(10), 1124-1143.
  • Mekhalfia A, Mutter R, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . Tetrahedron, 62(24), 5617-5625.
  • Thompson MJ, Heal W & Chen BN (2006) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 47(14), 2361-2364.
  • Chen B, Harrison RF, Pasupa K, Willett P, Wilton DJ, Wood DJ & Lewell XQ (2006) . J Chem Inf Model, 46(2), 478-486.
  • Mpamhanga CP, Chen B, McLay IM & Willett P (2006) . J Chem Inf Model, 46(2), 686-698.
  • Reddy TRK, Mutter R, Heal W, Guo K, Gillet VJ, Pratt S & Chen B (2006) . J Med Chem, 49(2), 607-615.
  • Touil F, Pratt S, Mutter R & Chen B (2006) . J Pharm Biomed Anal, 40(4), 822-832.
  • Molloy DP & Chen B (2005) . Journal of Molecular Modeling, 11(6), 468-473.
  • Chen BN, Harrison RF, Hert J, Mpanhanga C, Willett P & Wilton DJ (2005) . MOL SIMULAT, 31(8), 597-604.
  • Mpamhanga CP, Chen B, McLay IM, Ormsby DL & Lindvall MK (2005) . J Chem Inf Model, 45(4), 1061-1074.
  • Mascini M, Del Carlo M, Minunni M, Chen B & Compagnone D (2005) . Bioelectrochemistry, 67(2), 163-169.
  • Qiao BL & Chen BN (2004) Prion therapeutics from traditional Chinese herbs. MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS, 3(10), S45-S45.
  • Gygi CM, Leibovitch IY, Adlington R, Baldwin JE, Chen B, McCoull W, Pritchard GJ, Becker GW, Dixon EP, Little SP , Sutkowski DM et al (2002) Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-mediated proliferation, androgenic regulation and inhibitory effects of LY312340 in HOS-TE85 (TE85) human osteosarcoma cells. Anticancer Research, 22(5), 2725-2732.
  • Beining Chen BSP, Sergey Piletsky BSP & Anthony P.F. Turner BSP (2002) . Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 5(6), 409-427.
  • Chianella I, Lotierzo M, Piletsky SA, Tothill IE, Chen B, Karim K & Turner APF (2002) . Analytical Chemistry, 74(6), 1288-1293.
  • Adlington RM, Baldwin JE, Becker GW, Chen B, Cheng L, Cooper SL, Hermann RB, Howe TJ, McCoull W, McNulty AM , Neubauer BL et al (2001) . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 44(10), 1491-1508.
  • Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Karim K, Weston D, Barrett G, Lowe P & Turner APF (2000) . Analytical Chemistry, 72(18), 4381-4385.
  • Subrahmanyam S, Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Day R & Turner APF (2000) . Advanced Materials, 12(10), 722-724.
  • Turner APF, Chen B & Piletsky SA (1999) . Clinical Chemistry, 45(9), 1596-1601.
  • Chen B, Bestetti G, Day RM & Turner APF (1998) . Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 13(7-8), 779-785.
  • ADLINGTON RM, BALDWIN JE, CHEN B, COOPER SL, MCCOULL W, PRITCHARD GJ, HOWE TJ, BECKER GW, HERMANN RB, MCNULTY AM & NEUBAUER BL (1997) . ChemInform, 28(46).
  • Adlington RM, Baldwin JE, Chen B, Cooper SL, McCoull W, Pritchard GJ, Howe TJ, Becker GW, Hermann RB, McNulty AM & Neubauer BL (1997) . Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7(13), 1689-1694.
  • CHEN B, KIRBY GW, RAO GV & CAIN RB (1996) . ChemInform, 27(36).
  • Chen B, Kirby GW, Rao GV & Cain RB (1996) . Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1(11), 1153-1153.

Book chapters

  • Chen B & Heal W (2008) Thiazoles, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III (pp. 635-754).
  • Chen B & Heal W (2008) , Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III (pp. 635-754). Elsevier

Conference proceedings

  • Jackson MP, Louth J, Thompson MJ, Ciani B & Chen B (2013) Anti prion molecules and their interaction with amyloid β. PRION, Vol. 7 (pp 77-77)
  • Gillet VJ, Allen B, Bodkin M, Chen B, Cole J, Hristozov D, Liebeschuetz J & Patel H (2012) De novo design of synthetically accessible compounds: Application to fragment-based drug design. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 243
  • Valencia J, Chen B & Gillet V (2012) Searching putative targets in silico for anti-prion compounds. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 243
  • Mascini M, Del Carlo M, Compagnone D, Cozzani I, Tiscar PG, Mpamhanga CP & Chen B (2006) . ANALYTICAL LETTERS, Vol. 39(8) (pp 1627-1642)
  • MASCINI M, COZZANI I, COMPAGNONE D, MACAGNANO A, DI NATALE C, D'AMICO A, MONTI D, PAOLESSE R, CHEN B & WARNER P (2004) . Sensors and Microsystems (pp 88-94)
  • Mascini M, Macagnano A, Monti D, Del Carlo M, Paolesse R, Chen B, Warner P, D'Amico A, Di Natale C & Compagnone D (2004) . BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS, Vol. 20(6) (pp 1203-1210)
  • Subrahmanyam S, Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Karim K & Turner APF (2001) . Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Vol. 16(9-12) (pp 631-637)
  • Sancandi M, Ceccherini I, Costa M, Fava M, Chen B, Wu Y, Hofstra R, Laurie T, Griffths M, Burge D & Tam PKH (2000) . Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Vol. 35(1) (pp 139-143)
Teaching interests

Medicinal Chemistry; Biological Chemistry.

Teaching activities

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules

  • Chemistry and the World Around Us (Level 1): Healthy Eating: Nutrients and Nutraceuticals
    Introducing some simple chemical principles of familiar aspects of the world around us which we often take for granted and to highlight the significance of chemistry to everyday life, society, and the future of our planet.
  • Introduction to Chemical Biology & Medicinal Chemistry (Level 3)
    This course explores the chemical biology behind proteins, and how they can be targeted in the development of new medicinal drugs.
  • Medicinal Chemistry (Year 4)
    This segment introduces the main concepts, methods and limitations of the technique of modelling molecules using empirical (classical) descriptions of the interactions between atoms, functional groups and other properties of molecular fragments.

Support Teaching:

  • Tutorials: Level 1 General Chemistry
  • Level 3 Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching:

  • Level 2 Organic Laboratories
  • Level 3 Organic Laboratories
  • Level 4 Research Project