New Nature Chemical Biology paper

  It’s out! Our Nature Chemical Biology paper “Evolution of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase from an ancestral solute-binding protein” is now online.  How do new enzymes evolve from proteins that were initially specialised for binding? In this work, we use ancestral protein reconstruction to calculate and characterise the evolutionary intermediate states linking an ancestral solute-binding protein toContinue reading “New Nature Chemical Biology paper”

2018 Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function

The group had a great time down at the Lorne Protein Conference last week. So much great science, and an absolutely beautiful location! Matt S, Vanessa, Galen and Joe presented posters on their work. Congratulations to Galen and Joe for picking up poster prizes! Top work guys. The week was topped off with a fabulous dayContinue reading “2018 Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function”

Welcome Dr Matthew Wilding!

We are very happy to welcome Dr Matthew Wilding to our group. Matt obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester (UK) in 2012 and moved to Australia to take up a postdoctoral research position at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). He was subsequently appointed as a Research Scientist at CSIRO, working inContinue reading “Welcome Dr Matthew Wilding!”

“Laboratory evolution of protein conformational dynamics” – new review paper

Check out our latest review on the laboratory evolution of protein conformational dynamics, published in Current Opinion in Structural Biology. This review focuses on recent work that has begun to establish specific functional roles for protein conformational dynamics, specifically how the conformational landscapes that proteins can sample can evolve under laboratory-based evolutionary selection. We discuss recent technicalContinue reading ““Laboratory evolution of protein conformational dynamics” – new review paper”

What makes an enzyme a good insecticide sponge?

A molecular understanding of pesticide sequestration by insect carboxylesterases could guide the design of inhibitors to help circumvent carboxylesterase-mediated metabolic resistance to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in insect disease vectors, such as the mosquito. In a recently accepted paper from our group, entitled “The structure of an insecticide sequestering carboxylesterase from the disease vector CulexContinue reading “What makes an enzyme a good insecticide sponge?”

Hafna awarded the Vince Massey Award!

Hafna recently attended the 19th International Symposium on Flavins and Flavoproteins held in Groningen in the Netherlands. This is the largest and most specialised conference held in the field of flavin research and has been held triennially for the last 60 years. Hafna presented the work she did during her PhD on F420 binding proteins among theContinue reading “Hafna awarded the Vince Massey Award!”