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Photo of Xiaohua Peng

Xiaohua Peng

  • Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Education

Ph.D., University of Osnabrueck

Research Interests

Professor Peng's research is interdisciplinary, focusing on nucleic acid chemistry and its applications in other fields including drug discovery, DNA diagnostics, and nanotechnology. A common thread in her research is in understanding the chemical reactivity and function of DNA. As the carrier of genetic information, understanding the chemistry of DNA is extremely important. Her group investigate the structural basis for carcinogenic and anticancer activity of DNA- and protein-modifying agents. Synthetic methodologies are developed to prepare structurally modified nucleosides and amino acids as potential antitumor, antiviral, and/or anticancer agents. They will use the tools of synthetic and physical organic chemistry, as well as biochemistry, and molecular biology for the mechanistic studies of their biological processes.

Their studies on nucleic acids are divided into the following principal areas.

  • DNA-DNA and DNA-protein cross-linking by antitumor drugs and bifunctional carcinogens
  • Drug/nucleic acids interactions
  • The use of modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligonucleotides as potential therapeutic agents
  • Modified peptide nucleic acids and their applications for DNA/RNA detection and DNA nanotechnology

Her research spans several fields utilizing knowledge and techniques from many areas of science, including organic and bioorganic chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, materials science, and biology.

Selected Publications

Chen, H. Fan, K. Balakrishnan, Y. Wang, H. Sun, Y. Fan, V. Gandhi, L. A. Arnold, X. Peng.* Discovery and Optimization of Novel Hydrogen Peroxide Activated Aromatic Nitrogen Mustard Derivatives as Highly Potent Anticancer Agents. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 9132−9145
Lin, H. Fan, Q. Zhang, X. Peng. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Investigation of New Binaphthalene Precursors as Efficient Photo-Activated DNA Interstrand Cross-Linkers. J. Org. Chem. 2018, 83, 8815−8826.
Fan, H. Sun, X. Peng. Substituents Have a Large Effect on Photochemical Generation of Benzyl Cations and DNA Cross-Linking. Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 7671 – 7682.
Wang, H. Fan, K. Balakrishnan, Z. Lin, S. Cao, W. Chen, Y. Fan, Q. A. Guthrie, H. Sun, K. A. Teske, V. Gandhi, L. A. Arnold, X. Peng. Hydrogen Peroxide Activated Quinone Methide Precursors with Enhanced DNA Cross-Linking Capability and Cytotoxicity towards Cancer Cells. Eur J Med Chem. 2017, 133, 197-207.
Sun, H. Fan, H. Eom, X. Peng. Coumarin-Induced DNA Ligation, Rearrangement to DNA Interstrand Cross-Links, and Photo-Release of Coumarin Moiety. ChemBioChem. 2016, 17, 2046–2053.
Wang, Z. Lin, H. Fan, X. Peng. Photo-Induced DNA Interstrand Cross-Link Formation by Naphthalene Boronates via a Carbocation. Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 10382–10386.
Wang, S. Liu, Z. Lin, Y. Fan, Y. Wang, X. Peng. Photochemical Generation of Benzyl Cations that Selectively Cross-Link Guanine and Cytosine in DNA. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 2544–2547
Fan, X. Peng. Novel DNA Cross-Linking Reagents. Advances in Molecular Toxicology, 2016, 10, 235-292.
Han, W. Chen, Y. Kuang, H. Sun, Z. Wang, X. Peng. UV-Induced DNA Interstrand Cross-linking and Direct Strand Breaks from a New Type of Binitroimidazole Analogues. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2015, 28, 915-926.
Sun, H. Fan, X. Peng.* Quantitative DNA Interstrand Cross-link Formation by Coumarin and Thymine: Structure Determination, Sequence Effect, and Fluorescence Detection. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 11359-11369.
Chen, Y. Han, X. Peng.* Aromatic Nitrogen Mustard-Based Prodrugs: Activity, Selectivity, and the Mechanism of DNA Cross-linking. Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 7410-7418.
Chen, K. Balakrishman, Y. Kuang, Y. Han, M. Fu, V. Gandhi, X. Peng.* Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Inducible DNA Cross-Linking Agents and Their Effect on Cancer Cells and Normal Lymphocytes. J. Med. Chem. 2014, 57, 4498-4510.
M. Haque, H. Sun, S. Liu, Y. Wang, X. Peng.* Photo-Switchable DNA Interstrand Cross-Link Formation by a Coumarin-Modified Nucleotide. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 7001-7005.
Cao, Y. Wang, X. Peng.* The Leaving Group Strongly Affects H2O2‑Induced DNA Cross-Linking by Arylboronates. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 501-508.
Cao, X. Peng.* Exploiting Endogenous Cellular Process to Generate Quinone Methides in vivo. Curr. Org. Chem. 2014, 18, 70-85.
M. Haque, X. Peng.* DNA Associated Click Chemistry. Sci. China Chem. 2014, 57 (2), 215-231.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.