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headshot of Wei Qiang

Wei Qiang

Professor

Chemistry
SN 1043

Background

Wei Qiang's research applies the biological solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and other biophysical, biochemistry and cell biology approaches to understand the mechanisms of b-amyloid-aggregation-induced neuronal cell toxicity and cell death. 

Current projects include: 

  1. Understanding the molecular and structural basis of non-specific membrane disruption along the process of b-amyloid aggregation. This project uses mainly solid-state NMR approaches to explore the structural and dynamic features of intermediate states in the process of membrane-associated amyloidosis. 
  2. Exploring the amyloid structural polymorphisms and cell disruption induced by the post-translational modified b-amyloid peptide variants. This project applies solid-state NMR spectroscopy, microscopy approaches and cell-based quantitative analysis.

Accepting BCCB graduate students

Select Publications

  • Controlled seeding of b-amyloid fibrillation reveals propagation of structural polymorphisms in cellular environments (2026) T. Wang, Y. Sun, Y.R. Lin, L. Yao, and W. Qiang. Biochemistry, 65, 8, 1261-1269.
  • Structural convergence and membrane interactions of Ab1-42 along the primary nucleation process studied by solid state NMR (2025) M.K. Kengwerere, J.M. Kenyaga, P. Xiao, S.S. Gunaga, F.J. Scott, X. With-Hughes, J. Wang, B. Lum, Y. Sun, F. Mentink-Vigier, T. Wang, and W. Qiang. Commun. Chem., 8, 131.
  • Extraction of in-cell b-amyloid fibrillar aggregates for studying molecular-level structural propagations using solid-state NMR spectroscopy (2024) J.M. Kenyaga, W. Qiang. Biochemistry, 63, 20, 2557-2564.
  • Modulation of lipid dynamics in the b-amyloid aggregates induced membrane fragmentation (2024) W. Qiang, M.K. Kengwerere, J.M. Kenyaga. J. Phys. Chem. B, 128, 23, 5667-5675.
  • Heterotypic Interactions Between the 40- and 42-Residue Isoforms of b-Amyloid Peptides on Lipid Bilayer Surfaces (2023) W. Qiang, M.K. Kengwerere. W. Zhao, F.J. Scotts, X. Wutoh-Hughes, T. Wang, F. Mentink-Vigier. ACS Chem. Neurosci., 14, 23, 4153-4162.

    Education

    • PhD, Michigan State University
    • BS, Tsinghua University, China


    Research Interests

    • Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
    • Membrane Biophysics
    • Structural Biology of Amyloid Aggregates
    • Molecular Mechanism of Amyloid Cytotoxicity

    Awards

    • Founders’ Medal Award, International Council on Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, 2022

    Research Profile

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