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Pei Zhou

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


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

Recent Publications


Assessing the threat of Yersinia pestis harboring a multi-resistant IncC plasmid and the efficacy of an antibiotic targeting LpxC.

Journal Article Antimicrob Agents Chemother · March 5, 2025 Self-transmissible IncC plasmids rapidly spread multidrug resistance in many medically important pathogens worldwide. A large plasmid of this type (pIP1202, ~80 Kb) has been isolated in a clinical isolate of Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague. Here, we r ... Full text Link to item Cite

Pathological modulation of genome maintenance by cancer/testes antigens (CTAs).

Journal Article DNA Repair (Amst) · February 16, 2025 The Cancer Testis Antigens (CTAs) are a group of germ cell proteins that are absent from normal somatic cells yet aberrantly expressed in many cancer cells. When mis-expressed in cancer cells, many CTAs promote tumorigenic characteristics including genome ... Full text Link to item Cite

Evaluation of a potent LpxC inhibitor for post-exposure prophylaxis treatment of antibiotic-resistant Burkholderia pseudomallei in a murine infection model.

Journal Article Antimicrob Agents Chemother · January 31, 2025 LPC-233 (a.k.a. VB-233) is a potent antibiotic targeting the essential enzyme LpxC in Gram-negative bacteria. We present herein the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data of LPC-233 for treating murine infections caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


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

Structural and Functional Analysis of Nucleocytoplasmic Protein O-Glycosyltransferases in Plants

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2023 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 1998 Ph.D.