Institute of Pathogen Biology

Sheng CUI Ph.D., Professor

Tel: 86-10-67828669
Email: cui.sheng@ipbcams.ac.cn

Research interests:
We are interested in understanding the structural basis and molecular mechanism underlying virus entry and replication. These processes are important targets for antiviral drug designs, therefore, structure determination of proteins involving in entry or replication will provide valuable information to assist drug design. Particularly, we have two focuses: employing hybrid and integrated methods in structural biology to study 1) the interplay between virus glycoprotein (HIV Env, CoV spike, etc.) and their cellular receptor; 2) the function of virus replicase (helicase, proteinase, etc.) and the assembly of virus replication-transcription complex.

Selected publications:

Gao X, Mu Z, Qin B, Sun Y, Cui S: Structure-BasedPrototype Peptides Targeting the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type VI SecretionSystem Effector as a Novel Antibacterial Strategy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017, 7:411.
Hao W, Wojdyla JA, Zhao R, Han R, Das R,Zlatev I, Manoharan M, Wang M, Cui S: Crystal structure of Middle Eastrespiratory syndrome coronavirus helicase. PLoS Pathog 2017, 13(6):e1006474.
Ou X, Guan H, Qin B, Mu Z, Wojdyla JA, WangM, Dominguez SR, Qian Z, Cui S: Crystal structure of the receptor bindingdomain of the spike glycoprotein of human betacoronavirus HKU1. Nat Commun 2017, 8:15216.
Guan H, Tian J, Qin B, Wojdyla JA, Wang B,Zhao Z, Wang M, Cui S: Crystal structure of 2C helicase from enterovirus 71.Sci Adv 2017, 3(4):e1602573.
Li Q, Mu Z, Zhao R, Dahal G, Viola RE, Liu T,Jin Q, Cui S: Structural Insights into the Tetrameric State ofAspartate-beta-semialdehyde Dehydrogenases from Fungal Species. Sci Rep 2016,6:21067.
Qiu Z, Chong H, Yao X, Su Y, Cui S, He Y: Identificationand characterization of a subpocket on the N-trimer of HIV-1 Gp41: implicationfor viral entry and drug target. AIDS 2015, 29(9):1015-1024.
Yang W, Zhang M, Chi X, Liu X, Qin B, Cui S: Anintramolecular bond at cluster of differentiation 81 ectodomain is importantfor hepatitis C virus entry. FASEB J 2015, 29(10):4214-4226.
Chong H, Yao X, Qiu Z, Sun J, Qiao Y, Zhang M, Wang M, Cui S, He Y: The M-T hook structure increases the potency of HIV-1 fusion inhibitor sifuvirtide and overcomes drug resistance. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014, 69(10):2759-2769.
Gao X, Zou T, Mu Z, Qin B, Yang J, Waltersperger S, Wang M, Cui S, Jin Q: Structural insights into VirB-DNA complexes reveal mechanism of transcriptional activation of virulence genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2013, 41(22):10529-10541.
Mu Z, Wang B, Zhang X, Gao X, Qin B, Zhao Z, Cui S: Crystal Structure of 2A Proteinase from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Virus. J Mol Biol 2013, 425(22):4530-4543.
Chong H, Yao X, Qiu Z, Sun J, Zhang M, Waltersperger S, Wang M, Liu SL, Cui S, He Y: Short-peptide fusion inhibitors with high potency against wild-type and enfuvirtide-resistant HIV-1. FASEB J 2013, 27(3):1203-1213.
Chong H, Yao X, Sun J, Qiu Z, Zhang M, Waltersperger S, Wang M, Cui S, He Y: The M-T hook structure is critical for design of HIV-1 fusion inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2012, 287(41):34558-34568.
Yao X, Chong H, Zhang C, Qiu Z, Qin B, Han R, Waltersperger S, Wang M, He Y, Cui S: Structural Basis of Potent and Broad HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor CP32M. J Biol Chem 2012, 287(32):26618-26629.
Chong H, Yao X, Qiu Z, Qin B, Han R, Waltersperger S, Wang M, Cui S, He Y: Discovery of critical residues for viral entry and inhibition through structural Insight of HIV-1 fusion inhibitor CP621-652. J Biol Chem 2012, 287(24):20281-20289.
Zou T, Yao X, Qin B, Zhang M, Cai L, Shang W, Svergun DI, Wang M, Cui S, Jin Q: Crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Tsi2 reveals a stably folded superhelical antitoxin. J Mol Biol 2012, 417(4):351-361.
Yao X, Chong H, Zhang C, Waltersperger S, Wang M, Cui S, He Y: Broad antiviral activity and crystal structure of HIV-1 fusion inhibitor sifuvirtide. J Biol Chem 2012, 287(9):6788-6796.
Wang J, Fan T, Yao X, Wu Z, Guo L, Lei X, Wang M, Jin Q, Cui S: Crystal structures of enterovirus 71 3C protease complexed with rupintrivir reveal the roles of catalytically important residues. J Virol 2011, 85(19):10021-10030.
Wollmann P, Cui S, Viswanathan R, Berninghausen O, Wells MN, Moldt M, Witte G, Butryn A, Wendler P, Beckmann R, Auble DT, Hopfner KP: Structure and mechanism of the Swi2/Snf2 remodeller Mot1 in complex with its substrate TBP. Nature 2011, 475(7356):403-407.
Cui S, Wang J, Fan T, Qin B, Guo L, Lei X, Wang M, Jin Q: Crystal structure of human enterovirus 71 3C protease. J Mol Biol 2011, 408(3):449-461.
Myong S, Cui S, Cornish PV, Kirchhofer A, Gack MU, Jung JU, Hopfner KP, Ha T: Cytosolic viral sensor RIG-I is a 5'-triphosphate-dependent translocase on double-stranded RNA. Science 2009, 323(5917):1070-1074.
Cui S, Eisenacher K, Kirchhofer A, Brzozka K, Lammens A, Lammens K, Fujita T, Conzelmann KK, Krug A, Hopfner KP: The C-terminal regulatory domain is the RNA 5'-triphosphate sensor of RIG-I. Mol Cell 2008, 29(2):169-179.
Cui S, Arosio D, Doherty KM, Brosh RM, Jr., Falaschi A, Vindigni A: Analysis of the unwinding activity of the dimeric RECQ1 helicase in the presence of human replication protein A. Nucleic Acids Res 2004, 32(7):2158-2170.
Cui S, Klima R, Ochem A, Arosio D, Falaschi A, Vindigni A: Characterization of the DNA-unwinding activity of human RECQ1, a helicase specifically stimulated by human replication protein A. J Biol Chem 2003, 278(3):1424-1432.
Arosio D, Cui S, Ortega C, Chovanec M, Di Marco S, Baldini G, Falaschi A, Vindigni A: Studies on the mode of Ku interaction with DNA. J Biol Chem 2002, 277(12):9741-9748.