Ph.D., Associate Professor

Tel: +86-510-8519-7551

Email: wjcui(AT)Jiangnan.edu.cn(replace AT   to @)

Web:

2017-2018              Visiting Scholar, School of Chemical and Biomolecular   Engineering, Cornell University, USA

2014-present              Associate Professor, School of   Biotechnology,

Jiangnan University, China

2010-2014                Lecturer, School of Biotechnology,

Jiangnan University, China

2007-2010                Ph.D., Nankai University (China),

Biochemistry &   Molecular Biology

2005-2007                M.Sc. Jilin University(China)

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

2001-2005                B.Sc., Henan Agricultural University (China)

Veterinary Medicine

The molecular mechanism and utilization of   artificially controllable gene expression in bacterial synthetic biology

Synthetic and   controllable gene expression and the designer regulation are molecular basis   to the development of synthetic biology. In bacteria, gene expression is   primarily controlled by specific kind of genetic elements, the promoter, which   drives the given recombinant gene(s) to transcribe, triggering the genetic   information to transfer. Our researches are focusing on the fabrication and   development of novel synthetic genetic elements, etc. synthetic promoter,   terminator, and regulatory elements, to control and coordinate expression of   multiple genes on spatiotemporal scale. In specific, the Bacillus subtilis,   which is a gram-positive bacterium that have widely been utilized in   overproduction of several high value-added industrial and pharmaceutical   proteins, was employed in our current study to serve the workhorse. We   fabricated and engineered a number of strong promoters derived from the   native ones. These synthetic promoters were evaluated and tested by several   homologous and heterologous genes and verified that these synthetic gene   expression elements are able to work at a relatively high efficiency. The   terminator is responsible for the termination of gene expression in the   natural and recombinant gene cassette, which plays vital role in regulating   the transcription efficiency and has potential impact on the following   translation. By using directed evolution and semi-rational design, serval   synthetic bacterial terminators were developed and utilized to tune the gene   expression in B. subtilis.

Synchronization   and combination of these genetic elements have tremendous potential in   construction of complex genetic circuits in synthetic biology.

Engineering   of biomolecules to obtain desired functions and elucidation of the mechanism   of function evolution

Biocatalysts,   especially, enzymes, are the kind of catalytic proteins, which is able to   transform small chemicals and macromolecules to the corresponding products.   Because the reactions catalyzed by enzyme are highly specific as well as can   be performed in a mild condition, so the transformation is easier to   implement and the products are relatively pure. Our current studies focus on   the evolution of several industrial and pharmaceutical enzymes, such as   nitrile hydratase, aspartate ammonia-lyase, aspartase, natto-kinase and so   on, by which the catalytic activities, stabilities and some other properties   can be improved. The elevated catalytic properties give more powerful   capability in transformation of substrate to product.

We have modified   the thermos-stability, activity and the substrate resistance of nitrile   hydratase by protein engineering and semi-rational design. The key feature to   the recognition and binding of diverse substrates of nitrile hydratase was   revealed by a systematical mutagenesis and rational-design. The elucidation   of the mechanism enables us to broaden the substrate scope and extend the   utilization of this enzyme.

1)           Laichuang Han, Feiya   Suo, Cui Jiang, Jie Gu, Ningna Li, Naixin Zhang, Wenjing Cui*, Zhemin   Zhou*. Fabrication and characterization of a robust and strong bacterial   promoter from semi-rationally engineered promoter library in Bacillus   subtilis. Process Biochem. 2017, Jun (in press)

2)           Wenjing Cui, Jintao Cheng, Shengnan Miao, Li Zhou,   Zhongmei Liu, Junling Guo, Zhemin Zhou*. Comprehensive characterization of a   theophylline riboswitch reveals two pivotal features of Shine-Dalgarno   influencing activated translation property. Appl Microb Biotechnol.   2017, 101(5):2107-2120

3)          Wenjing Cui, Laichuang Han, Jintao Cheng, Zhongmei   Liu, Li Zhou, Junling Guo, Zhemin Zhou ^*. Engineering an inducible   gene expression system for Bacillus subtilis from a strong   constitutive promoter and a theophylline-activated synthetic riboswitch. Microb   Cell Fact. 2016, 15:199.

4)          Chengran Guan^†, Wenjing Cui*^†, Jintao Cheng, Li Zhou, Zhongmei Liu, Zhemin Zhou*.   Development of an efficient autoinducible expression system by promoter   engineering in Bacillus subtilis. Microb Cell Fact. 2016,   15(1):66.

5)          Chengran Guan, Wenjing   Cui, Jintao Cheng, Rui Liu, Zhongmei Liu, Li Zhou, Zhemin   Zhou*. Construction of a highly active secretory expression system via an   engineered dual promoter and a highly efficient signal peptide in Bacillus   subtilis. N Biotechnol. 2016, 33(3):372-379.

6)          Zhongyi Cheng ^†, Wenjing Cui ^†, Zhongmei Liu, Li Zhou, Min Wang, Michihiko   Kobayash*, Zhemin Zhou*. A switch in a substrate tunnel for directing   regioselectivity of nitrile hydratases towards alpha,omega-dinitriles. Catal   Sci Technol. 2016, 6(5):1292-1296.

7)          Jintao Cheng, Chengran   Guan, Wenjing Cui, Li Zhou, Zhongmei Liu, Li Weijiang*, Zhemin Zhou*. Enhancement of a high   efficient autoinducible expression system in Bacillus subtilis by   promoter engineering. Protein Expr Purif. 2016, 127:81-87.

8)          Yuanyuan Xia, Wenjing   Cui, Zhongmei Liu, Li Zhou, Youtian Cui, Michihiko Kobayashi*,   Zhemin Zhou*. Construction of a subunit-fusion nitrile hydratase and   discovery of an innovative metal ion transfer pattern. Sci Rep. 2016,   6:19183.

9)          Li Zhou, Wenjing   Cui, Zhongmei Liu, Zhemin Zhou*. Metabolic engineering   strategies for D-lactate over production in Escherichia coli. J   Chem Technol Biot. 2016, 91(3):576-584.

10)      Chengran Guan, Wenjing   Cui*, Jiantao Cheng, Li Zhou, Junling Guo, Xu Hu, Guoping   Xiao, Zhemin Zhou*. Construction and development of an auto-regulatory gene   expression system in Bacillus subtilis. Microb Cell Fact. 2015,   14(1):150.

11)      Chengran Guan, Wenjing   Cui^†, Xiaotian He, Xu Hu, Guocheng Du, Jian   Chen, Zhemin Zhou*. Construction and development of a novel expression system   of Streptomyces. Protein Expr Purif. 2015, 113:17-22.

12)    Wenjing Cui^†,   Zengxiu Shi ^†, Yueqin Fang, Li Zhou, Ning Ding, Zhemin   Zhou^*. Significance   of Arg3, Arg54, and Tyr58 of L-aspartate α-decarboxylase from Corynebacterium   glutamicum in the process of self-cleavage. Biotechnol Lett, 2014,   36(1):121-126.

13)    Youtian Cui, Wenjing   Cui, Zhongmei Liu, Li Zhou, Michihiko Kobayashi, Zhemin Zhou^*.   Improvement of stability of nitrile hydratase via protein fragment swapping. Biochem   Bioph Res Comm. 2014, 450: 401-408.

14)    Wenjing Cui, Shuai Zhang, Changliang Shan, Li Zhou, Zhemin Zhou^*.   microRNA-133a regulates cell cycle and proliferation of breast cancer cells   by targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor through EGFR/Akt signaling   pathway. FEBS J, 2013, 280(16):3962-3974.

15)    Wenjing Cui, Xiaoyan Yang, Yueqin Fang, Shengmin   Zhou, Song Liu, Guocheng Du, Kun Du, Jian Chen, Guanjun Tao, Zhemin Zhou^*.   Discovery of two transglutaminases derived from same zymogen from Streptomyces   hygroscopicus and analysis for the formation processes. J Sci Food   Agric, 2013, 93(7):1711-1717.

16)    Wenjing Cui, Yu Zhao, Changliang Shan, Guangyao Kong, Nan Hu,   Yingyi Zhang, Shuai Zhang, Weiying, Zhang, Xiaodong Zhang^*, and   Lihong Ye^*. HBXIP upregulates CD46, CD55 and CD59 through   ERK1/2/NF-kappaB signaling to protect breast cancer cells from complement   attack. FEBS Lett, 2012, 586(6): 766-771.