Skip to main content

Pei Zhou

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Duke Box 3711, Durham, NC 27710
270 Sands Building, Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


The Zhou lab focuses on the elucidation of the structure and dynamics of protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions and their functions in various cellular processes. Our current efforts are directed at enzymes and protein complexes involved in bacterial membrane biosynthesis, translesion DNA synthesis, co-transcriptional regulation, and host-pathogen interactions. Our investigations of these important cellular machineries have led to the development of novel antibiotics and cancer therapeutics, as well as the establishment of new biotechnology adventures.

The Zhou lab integrates a variety of biochemical and biophysical tools, including NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and enzymology. The lab has played a major role in the development and application of innovative NMR technologies, including high-resolution, high-dimensional spectral reconstruction techniques.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry · 2025 - Present Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Biochemistry · 2015 - Present Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Chemistry · 2015 - Present Chemistry, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2001 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published March 25, 2025
Duke Honors 31 New Distinguished Professors

View All News

Recent Publications


A bacterial nutrition strategy for plant disease control.

Journal Article Science · December 18, 2025 Xanthomonas spp. cause serious diseases in more than 400 plant species. The conserved AvrBs2 family effectors are among the most important virulence factors in xanthomonads, but how AvrBs2 promotes infection remains elusive. We found that AvrBs2 is a glyce ... Full text Link to item Cite

From Obscurity to Opportunity: LpxH Emerges as a Promising Antibiotic Target in the Battle against Gram-Negative Pathogens.

Journal Article ACS Infect Dis · November 14, 2025 The surging crisis of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens underscores the urgent need for antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action. A promising strategy is to target previously unexploited pathways, such as lipid A biosynthesis. Lipid A function ... Full text Link to item Cite

Mechanism of controlled radical initiation in radical SAM GTP 3',8-cyclase.

Journal Article Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · November 11, 2025 Metalloenzymes couple substrate binding and formation of oxidative intermediates to minimize unwanted side reactions. However, the molecular details of such coupling frequently remain ambiguous. Radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzymes constitute one ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


LpxH Inhibitors as Novel Therapeutics Against Multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Interferon-inducible cell-autonomous immunity to cytosolic bacterial pathogens

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024 - 2028

Inhibiting Rev1-mediated DNA translesion synthesis for cancer therapy

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2028

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 1998 Ph.D.