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Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

 

Professor Tuomas Knowles

Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics

1920 Professor of Physical Chemistry

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

Sequential Release of Proteins from Structured Multishell Microcapsules.
U Shimanovich, TCT Michaels, E De Genst, D Matak-Vinkovic, CM Dobson, TPJ Knowles
– Biomacromolecules
(2017)
18,
3052
(doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00351)
Scaling behaviour and rate-determining steps in filamentous self-assembly
G Meisl, L Rajah, SAI Cohen, M Pfammatter, A Šarić, E Hellstrand, AK Buell, A Aguzzi, S Linse, M Vendruscolo, CM Dobson, TPJ Knowles
– Chemical Science
(2017)
8,
7087
(doi: 10.1039/c7sc01965c)
Monomeric and fibrillar α-synuclein exert opposite effects on the catalytic cycle that promotes the proliferation of Aβ42 aggregates.
S Chia, P Flagmeier, J Habchi, V Lattanzi, S Linse, CM Dobson, TPJ Knowles, M Vendruscolo
– Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
(2017)
114,
8005
(doi: 10.1073/pnas.1700239114)
Silk micrococoons for protein stabilisation and molecular encapsulation
U Shimanovich, FS Ruggeri, E De Genst, J Adamcik, TP Barros, D Porter, T Müller, R Mezzenga, CM Dobson, F Vollrath, C Holland, TPJ Knowles
– Nature communications
(2017)
8,
15902
(doi: 10.1038/ncomms15902)
Nanobodies raised against monomeric α-synuclein inhibit fibril formation and destabilize toxic oligomeric species
D Klenerman, M Iljina, L Hong, MH Horrocks, MH Ludtmann, ML Choi, CD Hughes, FS Ruggeri, T Guilliams, AK Buell, J-E Lee, S Gandhi, SF Lee, CE Bryant, M Vendruscolo, TPJ Knowles, CM Dobson, E De Genst, D Klenerman
– BMC Biology
(2017)
15,
57
(doi: 10.1186/s12915-017-0390-6)
Ultrasensitive Measurement of Ca2+ Influx into Lipid Vesicles Induced by Protein Aggregates
P Flagmeier, S De, DC Wirthensohn, SF Lee, C Vincke, S Muyldermans, TPJ Knowles, S Gandhi, CM Dobson, D Klenerman
– Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2017)
56,
7750
(doi: 10.1002/anie.201700966)
Selective targeting of primary and secondary nucleation pathways in Ab42 aggregation using a rational antibody scanning method
FA Aprile, P Sormanni, M Perni, P Arosio, S Linse, TPJ Knowles, CM Dobson, M Vendruscolo
– Science advances
(2017)
3,
e1700488
(doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1700488)
Phage display and kinetic selection of antibodies that specifically inhibit amyloid self-replication.
A Munke, J Persson, T Weiffert, E De Genst, G Meisl, P Arosio, A Carnerup, CM Dobson, M Vendruscolo, TPJ Knowles, S Linse
– Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
(2017)
114,
6444
(doi: 10.1073/pnas.1700407114)
Self‐assembled Protein Fibril‐metal Oxide Nanocomposites
A Levin, TO Mason, TPJ Knowles, U Shimanovich
– Israel Journal of Chemistry
(2017)
57,
724
(doi: 10.1002/ijch.201600118)
Ultrasensitive Measurement of Ca2+ Influx into Lipid Vesicles Induced by Protein Aggregates
P Flagmeier, S De, DC Wirthensohn, SF Lee, C Vincke, S Muyldermans, TPJ Knowles, S Gandhi, CM Dobson, D Klenerman
– Angewandte Chemie
(2017)
129,
7858
(doi: 10.1002/ange.201700966)
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Research Groups

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336344

Email address

tpjk2@cam.ac.uk

College

St John's College

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    About the University

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