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Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

 

Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics

Our research

We study the physical and chemical aspects of the behaviour of biopolymers and other soft systems. Much of our work has been focused on the physical aspects underlying the self-assembly of protein molecules. Self-organisation is the driving force generating complex matter in nature, and the process by which the machinery providing functionality in living systems is assembled. The goal of our research is to understand the physical and chemical factors which control the structures and dynamics of biomolecular assemblies, and the connections between the nanoscale characteristics of the component molecules and the physical properties of large-scale assemblies and their behaviour on a mesoscopic to macroscopic scale. The techniques used in our laboratory include biosensors, optical lithography, microfluidic devices and scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy. We work both with natural and synthetic polymers and our interests range from fundamental chemical physics to technological applications in material science and molecular medicine.

Watch Professor Knowles discuss his research

Take a tour of the Sir Rodney Sweetnam laboratory

Publications

Selenium-silk microgels as antifungal and antibacterial agents †
EG Wiita, Z Toprakcioglu, AK Jayaram, TPJ Knowles
– Nanoscale horizons
(2024)
9,
609
Design of amyloidogenic peptide traps.
DD Sahtoe, EA Andrzejewska, HL Han, E Rennella, MM Schneider, G Meisl, M Ahlrichs, J Decarreau, H Nguyen, A Kang, P Levine, M Lamb, X Li, AK Bera, LE Kay, TPJ Knowles, D Baker
– Nature Chemical Biology
(2024)
A Relationship between the Structures and Neurotoxic Effects of Aβ Oligomers Stabilized by Different Metal Ions
S Chia, RL Cataldi, FS Ruggeri, R Limbocker, I Condado-Morales, K Pisani, A Possenti, S Linse, TPJ Knowles, J Habchi, B Mannini, M Vendruscolo
– ACS Chem Neurosci
(2024)
15,
1125
Cathepsin B Processing Is Required for the In Vivo Efficacy of Albumin-Drug Conjugates.
B Bernardim, J Conde, T Hakala, JB Becher, M Canzano, AV Vasco, TPJ Knowles, J Cameron, GJL Bernardes
– Bioconjugate chemistry
(2024)
35,
132
Self-replication of Aβ42 aggregates occurs on small and isolated fibril sites
S Curk, J Krausser, G Meisl, D Frenkel, S Linse, TCT Michaels, TPJ Knowles, A Šarić
– Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
(2024)
121,
e2220075121
Maturation-dependent changes in the size, structure and seeding capacity of Aβ42 amyloid fibrils
A Miller, S Chia, E Klimont, TPJ Knowles, M Vendruscolo, FS Ruggeri
– Commun Biol
(2024)
7,
153
Temperature-induced changes in protein interactions control RNA recruitment to G3BP1 condensates
CM Fischer, H Ausserwöger, T Sneideris, D Qian, R Scrutton, S Qamar, P St George-Hyslop, TPJ Knowles
(2024)
Thermodynamics of temperature modulation in biomolecular phase separation
CM Fischer, H Ausserwöger, T Sneideris, D Qian, R Scrutton, S Qamar, P St George-Hyslop, TP Knowles
– Biophysical Journal
(2024)
123,
495a
Molecular chaperones and their role in amyloid formation
MM Schneider, A Bracher, EA Andrzejewska, G Krainer, L-U Lin, R Riek, U Hartl, TPJ Knowles
– Biophysical Journal
(2024)
123,
301a
Novel methods to study amyloid oligomers
LO Pascual, EA Andrzejewska, T Pálmadóttir, TP Knowles, S Linse
– Biophysical Journal
(2024)
123,
41a
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Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336344

Email address

tpjk2@cam.ac.uk