Research Interests

Postgraduate Research

• The b-sheet. We have analysed the physical interactions that affect the correlations of amino acids within an antiparallel beta sheet. We have also identified the physical mechanism responsible for the shear and twist of beta-sheets.

• Archeal Proteins. We are studying proteins from the archea Methanococcus janaaschii. In particular, we are looking at chaperonin and prefoldin.

• Functional genomics. We are looking at how closely related functional groups between proteins are within domains

• Thermostability of proteins. This involved the simulation of thermal agitation using X-PLOR.

Human Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2 (PAI-2). PAI-2 is a serpin that finds, binds to and inhibits Human Plasminogen. During the process of inhibition, the serpin undergoes an incredible conformational change, which involves inserting a loop into a beta sheet as an extra strand. We have determined the crystal structure of PAI-2 in the stressed state (image, PDB entry: 1BY7).

Light harvesting membrane complexes pf cryptophytes. We have determined the crystal structure of phycoerythrin 545. This protein holds several tetrapyrrole chromophores which trap photons. (image, PDB entry: 1QGW, on-line article).

Rubisco. Rubisco is the most abundant protein in plants. Based on the structure, we have postulated a mechanism for closing and a mechanism for catalysis. (image, PDB entry: 1EJ7).