1. Department of Chemistry Seminar Announcement Date/Time/VenueTitle/Speaker 7 Apr (Thu) 11am – 12nn @ S8 Level 3 Executive Classroom Development of Molecular Probes for Optical Visualization of Gene Expression and Bacteria Function Dr Xing Bengang Nanyang Technological University Host : Asst Prof Zeng Huaqiang About the Speaker All are Welcome Dr Xing Bengang is currently in the Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences since early of 2006. He received his Bachelor degree in Chemistry from Xingjiang Normal University in 1994, and Ph.D. in bioinorganic chemistry from the Nanjing University in 2000. After his Ph.D., he was a Research Associate at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) from 2001-2003. He did his postdoctoral research at Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2003-2004 and Molecular Imaging Programs at Stanford University, USA from 2004-2005. Abstract Biologically specificity is mediated by the precise and selective regulation of gene expression in response to intrinsic development programs and extrinsic signals. In order to understand the regulation of gene expression, it is essential to apply an assay with high sensitivity and fidelity that reports the expression at single cell level. In general, fluorescent imaging modality is among the most powerful assays for in vitro and in vivo detecting protein or the enzyme expression because of their extreme sensitivity, relative safety, and very easily handling. By studying the fluorescence molecules conjugated enzyme or protein substrates and evaluating their stability, cellular permeability and internalization properties in vitro and in vivo, the specific enzymes or proteins functions can be non-invasively monitored in a highly effective manner not only from cellular level but also from the living subjects. In our group, a series of simple and specific fluorescent probes have been developed to real-time image the special reporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo. The similar chemical probes were also applied in bacterial imaging to understand the mechanisms of the antibiotic activities and to monitor the inactivation of drug resistance bacterial strains. Selected References: 1.B. G. Xing, T. T. Jiang, W. Bi, Y. Y. Yang, L. H. Li, M. L. Ma, C. Chiang, B. Xu, E. Yeow, etc. Chem. Comm. 2011, 47, 1601. 2.X. Aw, Q. Shao, Y. M. Yang, B. G. Xing etc. Chem. Asian. J. 2010, 5, 1317. 3.Q. Shao, B. G. Xing. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2010, 39, 2835. 4.B. G Xing, J. H. Rao. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 4158. 5.B. G. Xing; J. H. Rao, R. R. Liu. Mini-Rev. Med. Chem., 2008, 8, 455. His research interests include nanobiotechnology, and fluorescent imaging. He has done significant research work his research areas and published over 30 top quality international conference and journal papers (such as Journal of the American Chemical Society; Angewandte Chemie International Edition etc). He has been often invited as a referee and reviewer for a number of premier conferences and journals, including Angewandte Chemie International Edition; Chemistry Letters etc. Dr Xing is a member American Chemical Society.