Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica

Research

My research interest is regarding protein folding and misfolding behaviors in order to answer how proteins can fold into its native structure and how certain proteins can misfold and cause disease. Studies about protein folding are mainly the development of new methodologies to explore the folding process in order to unravel the intrinsic folding properties. Studies about protein misfolding are focus on two diseases: prion disease and Alzheimer’s disease. We are interested in studying the mechanism of amyloid fibril formation, factors influencing molecular assembly, designing inhibitor for amyloid formation, and species barrier in prion disease.

Degrees and Positions Held

• 1993 – 1998   Ph. D, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
• 1989 – 1991   M. Sc., Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University
• 1985 – 1989   B. S., Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University

• 2017 – present   Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 2019 – 2022   Deputy Director, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 2010 – 2017   Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 2003 – 2010   Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 1999 – 2003   postdoctor, Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 1992 – 1993   Research Assistant, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica

Selected Publications

Visualizing the membrane disruption action of antimicrobial peptides by cryo-electron tomography. 
Chen EH, Wang CH, Liao YT, Chan FY, Kanaoka Y, Uchihashi T, Kato K, Lai L, Chang YW, Ho MC*, Chen RP* 
Nature Communications (2023)

Cholesterol twists the transmembrane Di-Gly region of amyloid-precursor protein. 
Wang DT, Tang TYC, Kuo CT, Yu YT, Chen EHL, Lee MT, Tsai RF, Chen HY, Chiang YW*, Chen RPY* 
PNAS Nexus (2023)

2.2 Å Cryo-EM Tetra-Protofilament Structure of the Hamster Prion 108–144 Fibril Reveals an Ordered Water Channel in the Center. 
Chen EH, Kao HW, Lee CH, Huang JYC, Wu KP*, Chen RP* 
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022)

Biodistribution analysis of an intranasal-delivered peptide by the nanoSPECT/CT imaging. 
Lo WL, Wang YH, Chen EH, Wang SM, Chen LC, Chen RP* 
Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (2022)

Location of the cross‐β structure in prion fibrils: A search by seeding and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. 
Chu BK, Tsai RF, Hung CL, Kuo YH, Chen EH, Chiang YW*, Chan SI*, Chen RP* 
Protein Science (2022)

An intranasally delivered peptide drug ameliorates cognitive decline in Alzheimer transgenic mice. 
Cheng YS, Chen ZT, Liao TY, Lin C, Shen HC, Wang YH, Chang CW, Liu RS, Chen RP*, Tu PH* 
EMBO molecular medicine (2017)

Publication List