Professor Simon Hubbard and Dr Paul Sims together with Drs Graham Pavitt, Mark Ashe and Chris Grant have been awarded £2,847,862 by BBSRC to fund a study entitled "Understanding how RNA interacting proteins modulate the translatability of mRNAs".
Previous work shows that, when stressed, yeast cells down-regulate the translation of most genes. However, hundreds of individual mRNAs resist this global trend, demonstrating an additional level of control important for determining how such mRNAs respond to stress conditions. Using yeast cells exposed to specific stresses, the goal is to define these novel mechanisms of translational control. Experimentally, the proposal is to conduct a large genome-wide study to characterise both regulated mRNAs and the protein partners that mediate their control in response to three different stress regimens.
simon.hubbard@manchester.ac.uk
Andrew Almond's spin-off company Conformetrix is going from strength to strength. Conformetrix offers a new platform technology that, for the first time, can rapidly determine highly accurate and biologically-relevant (aqueous) 3D and 4D structures of any small soluble molecule. Its proprietary method quantifies experimentally the 4D conformational preference (in terms of modality, angle and libration amplitude) of each rotatable bond without recourse to electrostatics or van der Waals calculations. Conformetrix structures can be used to advantage within existing research and development infrastructures in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, petrochemical, food additive and cosmetics industries.
http://www.conformetrix.com/
Recent F1000 BIOLOGY selected papers
Cobalamin uptake and reactivation occurs through specific protein interactions in the methionine synthase-methionine synthase reductase complex.
Wolthers KR, Scrutton NS
FEBS J 2009 Apr 276(7):1942-51
Nuclear Quantum Tunneling in the Light-activated Enzyme Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase.
Heyes DJ, Sakuma M, de Visser SP, Scrutton NS
J Biol Chem 2009 Feb 6 284(6):3762-7
Molecular basis of halorespiration control by CprK, a CRP-FNR type transcriptional regulator.
Levy C, Pike K, …, van der Oost J, Leys D
Mol Microbiol 2008 Aug 20
RECENT APPOINTMENT
Steve Rigby - The main theme of my research is the study of free radicals and transition metal ions in biological systems using spectroscopic techniques. Free radicals and transition metal ions are found naturally at the active sites of many enzymes, alternatively they can be inserted as 'artificial' probes of structure and function. I specialise in the 'electron magnetic resonance' (EMR) techniques electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. The key to extracting biologically relevant information from such experiments is to combine the spectroscopy with appropriate biological perturbations. Most experiments involve a close association between biology and spectroscopy, often to the point where the division between the two disciplines vanishes.
stephen.rigby@manchester.ac.uk
The Molecular Enzymology Group
The Group is based within the new state-of-the-art research centre, the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (MIB), and comprises a number of independent but highly complementary research groups who broadly tackle a number of key questions regarding the structures and mechanisms of enzymes. They take a multidisciplinary approach using fast reaction kinetic and spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, NMR, computational chemistry, protein engineering and chemistry to seek a detailed understanding at the atomic level of how enzymes 'work'. With this knowledge enzymes can be developed as drug targets, manipulated for use in biotechnology/biocatalysis or used to further our general understanding of various processes in biology and chemistry.
The Molecular Enzymology Group
As part of an EU network, Structural and functional genomics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (X-TB), Andrew Munro is studying the worldwide threat to human life that Mtb presents. Novel intervention strategies are desperately needed to avert what the World Health Organization describes as a potential “global catastrophe”. Azole drugs are potent antituberculars, and typically target cytochrome P450 enzymes by inactivating their function. We have solved crystal structures of key mycobacterial P450s and established their functional role, providing critical data for design of novel antitubercular therapeutics.
andrew.munro@manchester.ac.uk
RITA AND JOHN CORNFORTH AWARD
Congratulations to the “Tunnelling team”
Nigel Scrutton, David Leys, Mike Sutcliffe, Sam Hay, Chris Pudney, Linus Johannissen, Jiayun Pang and Derren Heyes are the first winning team of the RSC Rita & John Cornforth Award (previously the Chemistry Biology Interface Forum Team Award). This award rewards scientists working in collaborative research teams with both chemistry and the life sciences disciplines. The tunnelling team work has focused on studying the quantum mechanical behaviour of H-atoms in enzymes. Detailed investigations into this process require the interdisciplinary collaboration the team now routinely undertakes.
Rita and John Cornforth Award