One of the biggest challenges in biological chemistry is the design of small molecules that interact selectively with macromolecules. We are pioneering the development of the use of fragments to address this challenge. This approach involves close synergistic interaction between synthetic organic chemistry, biophysics and structural biology. We are using fragment-based methods to identify inhibitors of enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and to develop small molecules that modulate protein-protein interactions. We are also keen to explore new applications for fragments e.g. to identify molecules that modulate the activity of riboswitches, and to assign function to orphan proteins.
Our second major area of research is to develop the use of microdroplets in microfluidics as a novel experimental platform for biological chemistry. This research is highly interdisciplinary and involves biological chemistry, microfluidics, nanofabrication, laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. We are particularly interested in looking at cells in droplets, e.g. bacteria to study quorum sensing, algae for bio-fuel development.
Rational design of new bifunctional inhibitors of type II dehydroquinase
MD Toscano, KA Stewart, JR Coggins, AJ Lapthorn, C Abell - ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY (
2005)
3, 3102
(DOI:
10.1039/b57156a)
Biosynthesis of pantothenate.
ME Webb, AG Smith, C Abell - Nat Prod Rep (
2004)
21, 695
(DOI:
10.1039/b316419p)
Influence of the foundation layer on the layer-by-layer assembly of poly-L-lysine and poly(styrenesulfonate) and its usage in the fabrication of 3D microscale features
DJ Zhou, A Bruckbauer, M Batchelor, DJ Kang, C Abell, D Klenerman - Langmuir (
2004)
20, 9089
(DOI:
10.1021/la048619s)
A simple voltage controlled enzymatic nanoreactor produced in the tip of a nanopipet
A Bruckbauer, DJ Zhou, LM Ying, C Abell, D Klenerman - Nano Letters (
2004)
4, 1859
(DOI:
10.1021/nl049029h)
Identification of 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase as the molecular target for the antimicrobial action of (6S)-6-fluoroshikimate
EMM Bulloch, MA Jones, EJ Parker, AP Osborne, E Stephens, GM Davies, JR Coggins, C Abell - Journal of the American Chemical Society (
2004)
126, 9912
(DOI:
10.1021/ja048312f)
(1R,4S,5R)-3-fluoro-1,4,5-trihydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid: the fluoro analogue of the enolate intermediate in the reaction catalyzed by type II dehydroquinases
M Frederickson, AW Roszak, JR Coggins, AJ Lapthorn, C Abell - Org Biomol Chem (
2004)
2, 1592
(DOI:
10.1039/b404535a)
An addressable antibody nanoarray produced on a nanostructured surface.
A Bruckbauer, DJ Zhou, DJ Kang, YE Korchev, C Abell, D Klenerman - Journal of the American Chemical Society (
2004)
126, 6508
(DOI:
10.1021/ja0317426)
A novel phase-switching protecting group for multi-step parallel solution phase synthesis.
X Li, C Abell, MS Congreve, BH Warrington, M Ladlow - Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry (
2004)
2, 989
(DOI:
10.1039/b400110a)
Method to determine the spring constant of atomic force microscope cantilevers
CT Gibson, DJ Johnson, C Anderson, C Abell, T Rayment - Review of Scientific Instruments (
2004)
75, 565
(DOI:
10.1063/1.1642750)
Organisation of the pantothenate (vitamin B-5) biosynthesis pathway in higher plants
HH Ottenhof, JL Ashurst, HM Whitney, SA Saldanha, F Schmitzberger, HS Gweon, TL Blundell, C Abell, AG Smith - Plant J (
2004)
37, 61
(DOI:
10.1046/j.1365-313X.2003.01940.x)
