Xian, Ming

Ming Xian

Jesse Houghton Metcalf Professor of Chemistry

Overview

Ming Xian received his BS in Chemistry from Nankai University in 1995 and PhD from Wayne State University in 2003. He was a DOD postdoctoral fellow at University of Pennsylvania (2003-2006). He started his academic career at Washington State University (WSU) in 2006. He was the Ralph G. Yount Distinguished Professor at WSU (2017-2020) and served as Associate Chair in the Chemistry Department from 2016 to 2020. He moved to Brown in 2020 and is currently a Professor of Chemistry. His research focuses on the development of novel chemistry and chemical tools to facilitate biological studies of reactive sulfur species.

Brown Affiliations

Chemistry

Research Areas

chemical biology | medicinal chemistry | Organic chemistry

Research

Research Overview

Our group is working on the interface between chemistry and biology. We are especially interested in the research related to signaling molecules. Redox signaling molecules such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play important roles in a number of physiological and pathophysiological processes. The detailed understanding of their biological functions is challenging because these molecules are very reactive and can undergo many possible biochemical reactions to form complicated products. Our long-term goal is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of NO and H2S related to their functions. In this field researchers have limited access of tools to mimic biological generation of these signaling molecules and monitor their fates in biological systems. Our lab has been actively exploring such chemical tools and has identified some promising candidates. We hope our efforts will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the significance of NO and H2S and initiate new strategies of related therapy.

Research Statement

The core of Dr. Xian’s research interests comprises the desire to combine organic synthesis with bioorganic chemistry to examine, understand, and solve problems of biological and medicinal significance. Currently his group is working on the following projects: 1) Bio-orthogonal reactions of S-nitrosothiols and new methods for the study of protein S-nitrosation, 2) Synthetic applications of S-nitrosothiols, 3) Controllable hydrogen sulfide, persulfide, polysulfide donors, 4) New methods for the detection of reactive sulfur species in biological systems, 5) New chemical tools for reactive sulfur species research, 6) The development of bio-based materials, 7) Synthetic methodology development.

Funded Research

NIH, NSF, AHA, ACS, USDA

Background

Education and Training

Year	Degree	Institution
2003	PhD	Wayne State University
1995	BS	Nankai University (南开大学)

Honors and Awards

Ralph G. Yount Distinguished Professorship, Washington State University, 2017

World Science Leaders’ Lectureship, Tsukuba University, Japan, 2016

Tohoku Medical Society Lectureship, Tohoku University, Japan, 2013, 2016

Mid-Career Achievement Award in Scholarship/Research/Creative Activities, Washington State University, 2013

Teva USA Scholar Award-American Chemical Society, 2012

Chinese-American Chemistry & Chemical Biology Professors Association (CAPA) Distinguished Faculty Award, 2012

Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Collaborative Research Travel Award, 2012

NSF CAREER Award, 2009

Young Faculty Achievement Award, Washington State University, 2009

Scientist Development Award, American Heart Association, 2009

Thieme Chemistry Journals Award 2009

U. S. Army Prostate Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship 2004

Researchers@Brown