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

Full contact details

Prof. Beining Chen
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dainton Building
13 Brook Hill
91Ö±²¥
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 91Ö±²¥, 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). RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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, 153696-153696. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ghiandoni G, Bodkin MJ, Chen B, Hristozov D, Wallace JEA, Webster J & Gillet V (2020) . Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jassem AM, Al-Ajely HM, Almashal FAK & Chen B (2019) . Russian Journal of General Chemistry, 89(12), 2562-2570. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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). RIS download Bibtex download
  • de la Vega de Leon A, Chen B & Gillet V (2018) . Journal of Cheminformatics, 10. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Buswell W, Schwarzenbacher ER, Luna E, Sellwood M, Chen B, Flors V, Pétriacq P & Ton J (2018) . New Phytologist, 218(3), 1205-1216. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Patil AA, Hua P, Sellwood MA, Jellinek DA, Carroll TA, Chen B & Collis SJ (2015) . Neuro-Oncology, 17(suppl 8), viii20.1-viii20. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Butler AJE, Thompson MJ, Maydom PJ, Newby JA, Guo K, Adams H & Chen B (2015) . ChemInform, 46(16), no-no. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Butler AJE, Thompson MJ, Maydom PJ, Newby JA, Guo K, Adams H & Chen B (2014) . The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 79(21), 10196-10202. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B, Thompson M, Louth J & Guo K (2013) . Curr Top Med Chem, 13(19), 2441-2464. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fang Z, He W, Li X, Li Z, Ouyang P, Guo K & Chen B (2013) . Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Little SM, Jackson MP, Boursereau Y, Chen B & Coldham I (2012) . ChemMedChem, 7(4), 578-586. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B (2012) Indole-3-glyoxylamides as a novel lead series against prion diseases. PRION, 6, 99-99. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Little SM, Chen B & Coldham I (2011) . Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 21(12), 3644-3647. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hristozov D, Bodkin M, Chen B, Patel H & Gillet VJ (2011) , 29-43. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Ferrara S, Sorrell FJ, Irving BJ, Cochrane EJ, Meijer AJHM & Chen B (2011) . ChemMedChem, 6(1), 115-130. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sorrell FJ, Greenwood GK, Birchall K & Chen B (2010) . J Pharm Biomed Anal, 52(5), 802-808. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Greenwood GK, Sorrell FJ, Knight SG, Adams NB & Chen B (2010) . ChemMedChem, 5(9), 1406. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Louth JC, Greenwood GK, Sorrell FJ, Knight SG, Adams NBP & Chen B (2010) . ChemMedChem, 5(9), 1476-1488. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen BN, Mueller C & Willett P (2010) . MOL INFORM, 29(6-7), 533-541. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Abdo A, Chen B, Mueller C, Salim N & Willett P (2010) . J Chem Inf Model, 50(6), 1012-1020. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2010) . ChemInform, 41(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ & Chen B (2010) . ChemInform, 41(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B (2010) . Methods Mol Biol, 627, 147-155. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Borsenberger V, Louth JC, Judd KE & Chen B (2009) . J Med Chem, 52(23), 7503-7511. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Adams H & Chen B (2009) . ChemInform, 40(40). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(18), 6999-7006. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(18), 7084-7093. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Patel H, Bodkin MJ, Chen B & Gillet VJ (2009) . J Chem Inf Model, 49(5), 1163-1184. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Adams H & Chen B (2009) . J Org Chem, 74(10), 3856-3865. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B, Mueller C & Willett P (2009) . J Cheminform, 1(1), 5. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Hurst JM & Chen BN (2008) . SYNLETT(20), 3183-3187. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ & Chen B (2008) . ChemInform, 39(49). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ & Chen BN (2008) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 49(36), 5324-5327. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Guo K, Thompson MJ, Reddy TRK, Mutter R & Chen B (2007) . TETRAHEDRON, 63(24), 5300-5311. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Heal W, Thompson MJ, Mutter R, Cope H, Louth JC & Chen B (2007) . J Med Chem, 50(6), 1347-1353. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mekhalfia A, Mutter R, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . ChemInform, 37(43). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cope H, Mutter R, Heal W, Pascoe C, Brown P, Pratt S & Chen B (2006) . Eur J Med Chem, 41(10), 1124-1143. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . ChemInform, 37(29). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Thompson MJ, Heal W & Chen BN (2006) . TETRAHEDRON LETT, 47(14), 2361-2364. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Touil F, Pratt S, Mutter R & Chen B (2006) . J Pharm Biomed Anal, 40(4), 822-832. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mpamhanga CP, Chen B, McLay IM & Willett P (2006) . J Chem Inf Model, 46(2), 686-698. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B, Harrison RF, Pasupa K, Willett P, Wilton DJ, Wood DJ & Lewell XQ (2006) . J Chem Inf Model, 46(2), 478-486. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Reddy TRK, Mutter R, Heal W, Guo K, Gillet VJ, Pratt S & Chen B (2006) . J Med Chem, 49(2), 607-615. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mekhalfia A, Mutter R, Heal W & Chen B (2006) . Tetrahedron, 62(24), 5617-5625. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen BN, Harrison RF, Hert J, Mpanhanga C, Willett P & Wilton DJ (2005) . MOL SIMULAT, 31(8), 597-604. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mpamhanga CP, Chen B, McLay IM, Ormsby DL & Lindvall MK (2005) . J Chem Inf Model, 45(4), 1061-1074. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Molloy DP & Chen B (2005) . Journal of Molecular Modeling, 11(6), 468-473. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mascini M, Del Carlo M, Minunni M, Chen B & Compagnone D (2005) . Bioelectrochemistry, 67(2 SPEC. ISS.), 163-169. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Qiao BL & Chen BN (2004) Prion therapeutics from traditional Chinese herbs. MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS, 3(10), S45-S45. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Beining Chen BSP, Sergey Piletsky BSP & Anthony P.F. Turner BSP (2002) . Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 5(6), 409-427. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chianella I, Lotierzo M, Piletsky SA, Tothill IE, Chen B, Karim K & Turner APF (2002) . Analytical Chemistry, 74(6), 1288-1293. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Karim K, Weston D, Barrett G, Lowe P & Turner APF (2000) . Analytical Chemistry, 72(18), 4381-4385. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Subrahmanyam S, Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Day R & Turner APF (2000) . Advanced Materials, 12(10), 722-724. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Turner APF, Chen B & Piletsky SA (1999) . Clinical Chemistry, 45(9), 1596-1601. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B, Bestetti G, Day RM & Turner APF (1998) . Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 13(7-8), 779-785. RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Chen B, Kirby GW, Rao GV & Cain RB (1996) . Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1(11), 1153-1153. RIS download Bibtex download
  • ADLINGTON RM, BALDWIN JE, CHEN B, COOPER SL, MCCOULL W, PRITCHARD GJ, HOWE TJ, BECKER GW, HERMANN RB, MCNULTY AM & NEUBAUER BL () . ChemInform, 28(46), no-no. RIS download Bibtex download
  • CHEN B, KIRBY GW, RAO GV & CAIN RB () . ChemInform, 27(36), no-no. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

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

Conference proceedings papers

  • Jackson MP, Louth J, Thompson MJ, Ciani B & Chen B (2013) Anti prion molecules and their interaction with amyloid beta. PRION, Vol. 7 (pp 77-77) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mascini M, Del Carlo M, Compagnone D, Cozzani I, Tiscar PG, Mpamhanga CP & Chen B (2006) . ANALYTICAL LETTERS, Vol. 39(8) (pp 1627-1642) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Subrahmanyam S, Piletsky SA, Piletska EV, Chen B, Karim K & Turner APF (2001) . Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Vol. 16(9-12) (pp 631-637) RIS download Bibtex download
  • 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) RIS download Bibtex download
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