Biochemistry & Biophysics

Pingwei Li

li Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Molecular Biophysics Training Program

Phone: (979)-845-1469
E-mail:pingwei@tamu.edu
M.Sc. Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China (1992)
Ph.D. Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China (1996)

Post-doc: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (1998-2001)
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (2001-2003)
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California (2003-2005)

Joined Texas A&M faculty 2005

X-ray crystallography/Structural Immunology
The innate immune response is the first line of defense against invading pathogens. It relies on the body's ability to recognize conserved features of pathogens that are not present in uninfected cells. Innate immunity is regulated by a broad range of germline-encoded receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLR) and NK cell receptors. These immunoreceptors detect molecules associated with infection and cellular distress, and initiate specific immune responses.

Our laboratory is interested in the structural and functional basis of protein-protein interactions mediating innate immunity. We use x-ray crystallography, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and site directed mutagenesis, to study the molecular structures of imunoreceptor/ligand complexes and subsequent molecular event in the signaling pathway. The aim of our research is to understand the molecular mechanism of how the immune system recognizes pathogens or cellular stress and how it responds to infections. We are also interested in the structural characterization of several immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) proteins, which are involved in cell adhesion and membrane fusion.

Recent Publications
  1. Jin H, Kagiampakis I, Li P & Liwang PJ (2009) Structural and functional studies of the potent anti-HIV chemokine variant P2-RANTES. Proteins
  2. Li X, Lu C, Stewart M, Xu H, Strong RK, Igumenova T & Li P (2009) Structural basis of double-stranded RNA recognition by the RIG-I like receptor MDA5. Arch Biochem Biophys 488: 23-33
  3. Li X, Ranjith-Kumar CT, Brooks MT, Dharmaiah S, Herr AB, Kao C & Li P (2009) The RIG-I-like receptor LGP2 recognizes the termini of double-stranded RNA. J Biol Chem 284: 13881-91
  4. Ranjith-Kumar CT, Murali A, Dong W, Srisathiyanarayanan D, Vaughan R, Ortiz-Alacantara J, Bhardwaj K, Li X, Li P & Kao CC (2009) Agonist and antagonist recognition by RIG-I, a cytoplasmic innate immunity receptor. J Biol Chem 284: 1155-65
  5. Reeves TE, Wales ME, Grimsley JK, Li P, Cerasoli DM & Wild JR (2008) Balancing the stability and the catalytic specificities of OP hydrolases with enhanced V-agent activities. Protein Eng Des Sel 21: 405-12
  6. Murali A, Li X, Ranjith-Kumar CT, Bhardwaj K, Holzenburg A, Li P & Kao CC (2008) Structure and function of LGP2, a DEX(D/H) helicase that regulates the innate immunity response. J Biol Chem 283: 15825-33
  7. Hu M, Li P, Song L, Jeffrey PD, Chenova TA, Wilkinson KD, Cohen RE & Shi Y (2005) Structure and mechanisms of the proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme USP14. EMBO J 24: 3747-56
  8. Hu M, Li P, Li M, Li W, Yao T, Wu JW, Gu W, Cohen RE & Shi Y (2002) Crystal structure of a UBP-family deubiquitinating enzyme in isolation and in complex with ubiquitin aldehyde. Cell 111: 1041-54
  9. Strong RK, Holmes MA, Li P, Braun L, Lee N & Geraghty DE (2003) HLA-E allelic variants. Correlating differential expression, peptide affinities, crystal structures, and thermal stabilities. J Biol Chem 278: 5082-90
  10. Holmes MA, Li P, Petersdorf EW & Strong RK (2002) Structural studies of allelic diversity of the MHC class I homolog MIC-B, a stress-inducible ligand for the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D. J Immunol 169: 1395-400
  11. Li P, McDermott G & Strong RK (2002) Crystal structures of RAE-1beta and its complex with the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D. Immunity 16: 77-86
  12. Steinle A, Li P, Morris DL, Groh V, Lanier LL, Strong RK & Spies T (2001) Interactions of human NKG2D with its ligands MICA, MICB, and homologs of the mouse RAE-1 protein family. Immunogenetics 53: 279-87
  13. Li P, Morris DL, Willcox BE, Steinle A, Spies T & Strong RK (2001) Complex structure of the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and its MHC class I-like ligand MICA. Nat Immunol 2: 443-51
  14. Li P, Willie ST, Bauer S, Morris DL, Spies T & Strong RK (1999) Crystal structure of the MHC class I homolog MIC-A, a gammadelta T cell ligand. Immunity 10: 577-84
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