Xinyu Qian

Cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLiPs) are secondary metabolites synthesized non-ribosomally by bacteria from multiple genera.The membranes of bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells serve as the primary targets for Cyclic Lipopeptides. In our research, we are focusing on CLiPs from pseudomonas. Previous structure-activity relationship studies on CLiPs have demonstrated that the acyl chain length in these lipopeptides plays a crucial role in determining their membrane-disrupting activity.
In our work, further understanding and improvement of CLiP bioactivity will be explored in this project using a combination of chemical synthesis and biophysical investigation.
Using NMR spectroscopy, we will investigate and model the location and orientation of their structures and assess the factors underlying the optimal chain length. This will also provide a working model for the CLiPs structure at the membrane:water interface, which will guide the following modification of Clips by chamical synthesis. The synthesized CLips will be evaluated for the anti-cancer activity and membrane permeability. This work may lead to a better understanding in terms of how lipopeptides interact with membranes and contribute to anti-cancer drug development.
 

Xinyu Qian obtained her Master of Pharmaceutical Science at Uppsala University, majoring in Drug Discovery and Development in 2023. She conducted her master thesis in Pharmacognosy group, focusing on the designing a screening method for inhibitors against Protein Arginine Deiminases and developing peptide-based auto-antibody scavengers for Rheumatoid Arthritis. 
In 2024, She started her PhD in the NMRSTR group at Ghent University, under the supervision of Prof. José C. Martins, in a joint research project with the OBCR group led by Prof. Annemieke Madder. Her research mainly focuses on explores the significance of the acyl chain in the bioactivity of Cyclic Lipodepsipeptides derived from Pseudomonas.
 

• Lab address: NMR and structure analysis research group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4bis, 1st floor, B-9000 GENT
• Xinyu Qian is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks