Li Zhongjun Ph.D Full Professor
Research Areas
Carbohydrate Chemistry and Chemical Glycobiology
Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry
Educations & Position
Peking University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ph.D 1992.
Peking University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lecturer and Associate Professor 1993-1998.
Peking University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Full Professor 1999 to present.
Faculty Accolades
Top Ten Outstanding Teachers, Peking University (2015).
Excellent Teaching Award for graduate students of Peking University (2018).
Research Interests and Highlights
1) Synthesize and study the biological activities of oligosaccharides; 2) Develop new methods for glycosylation coupling; 3) Design and development for tumor immunotherapy drugs.
Over the past five years, our team has focused on the areas of oligosaccharide synthesis and their biological functions. Based on efficient enzymatic-degradation techniques, we established a semi-synthesis strategy toward defined glycosaminoglycans oligosaccharides, for example, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and fucosylated chondroitin sulfate. We applied these structurally defined molecules as tools to investigate the structure activity relationships between GAG and key bio-functions such as coagulant and neurogenesis. We are also interested in developing novel lectin binding molecules. To simplify the oligosaccharide synthesis, we have developed novel synthetic protocols to ease the purification of the oligosaccharide from the reaction. Ionic liquid precipitation, C18 silica gel assisted purification and carbonyl cobalt resin facilitated purifications are three major strategies that have been successfully developed. Further, we have also developed efficient glycosylation strategies, which facilitate the synthesis of β-2-de-O-glycoside, L-glycoside and LPS.
Grants and Fundings
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 21232002, 81273369, 91213301, 21472007 and 21772007).
Grant from Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012ZX09502001).
Total fundings: more than 15,000,000 Yuan RMB.
Publications (2013 to present)
1. Xiao Zhang, Huiying Liu, Lisha Lin, Wang Yao, Jinhua Zhao, Mingyi Wu*, Zhongjun Li*, Synthesis of Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate Nonasaccharide as a Novel Anticoagulant Targeting Intrinsic Factor Xase Complex. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2018, 57, 12880.
2. Wei Li, Yu Gao, Qing Li, Zhongjun Li*, Ionic-liquid supported rapid synthesis of an N-glycan core pentasaccharide on a 10 g scale. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2018, 16, 4720.
3. Yanbo Liu, Wang Yao, Shuai Meng, Xiangbao Meng, Zhongjun Li*, Qinghua Lou*, A novel cobalt(0) alkyne complex assisted “capture and release” strategy for oligosaccharide rapid assembly. Org. Chem. Front. 2018, 5, 2098.
4. Xiao Zhang, Wang Yao, Xiaojiang Xu, MingYi Wu, Zhongjun Li*, Synthesis of fucosylated chondroitin sulfate glycoclusters: a robust route to novel anticoagulant agents. Chem. Eur. J., 2018, 24, 1694.
5. Yuan Guo, Inga Nehlmeier, Emma Poole, Chadams Sakonsinsiri, Nicole Hondow, Andy Brown, Qing Li, Shuang Li, Jessie Whitworth, Zhongjun Li, Anchi Yu, Rik Brydson, W. Bruce Turnbull, Stefan P？hlmann, Dejian Zhou. Dissecting Multivalent Lectin-Carbohydrate Recognition Using Polyvalent Multifunctional Glycan-Quantum Dots. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 11833.
6. Shuai Meng, Tian Tian, Yunhe Wang, Xiangbao Meng, Zhongjun Li*, Convergent synthesis of oligosaccharides on the gram-scale using cetyl thioglycoside based on a hydrophobically assisted switching phase method. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2016, 14, 7722.
7. Shuai Meng, Tian Tian, Dong Han, Li-Na Wang, Shao-Geng Tang, Xiangbao Meng, Zhongjun Li*, Efficient assembly of oligomannosides using the hydrophobically assisted switching phase method. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2015, 13, 6711.
8. Wang Yao, Mengjie. Xia, Xiangbao Meng, Qing. Li*, Zhongjun Li*, Adaptable synthesis of C-lactosyl glycoclusters and its binding affinity with galectin-3, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2014, 11, 8180.
9. Xiaochao Xue, Zhaojun Yin, Xiangbao Meng, Zhongjun Li*, A Carbohydrate-Based Approach for the Total Synthesis of (-)-Dinemasone B,(+)-4a-epi-Dinemasone B, (-)-7-epi-Dinemasone B, and (+)-4a,7-Di-epi-dinemasone B. J. Org. Chem., 2013, 78, 9354.
