freewheeling

@fiona_whelan
61 Followers
95 Following
81 Posts

Structural biologist, caffiend, cyclist, loving my new belt drive Lekker. Bio/chem nerdists welcome ❤️

Ramsay Fellow at the University of Adelaide developing biosensors; investigating bacterial adhesins and Periscope Proteins with an eye on SynBio pivots. Crystallography, cryo-EM and biophysics.

ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0791-6850
University of Adelaidehttps://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/fiona.whelan#
that bird sitehttps://twitter.com/fiona_whelan
Show threadfreewheelingFeb 1, 2023
The isolated domains are sufficient for human nasal epithelial cell binding... what ligand could they be binding?? To be determined...
Show threadfreewheelingFeb 1, 2023
SasG, Aap and Pls A domain structures, and a bonus Aap A domain contiguous with B-repeats show the metal binding site is exposed at the cell distal end of the periscope. This is cool because... there's an N-terminal extension that orients away from the likely ligand binding site proximal to the metal centre. And check out the #SAXS from B21 at Diamond 💎 😀
freewheelingFeb 1, 2023

Papers in press time at jbiolchem! Periscope protein adhesin domain structures-an incredible effort by all my excellent colleagues. Structures reveal lectin homology domains, but...here's the kicker - no evidence of #glycan binding. 🤔 #Proteins #crystallography

https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(23)00068-6/fulltext

freewheelingNov 28, 2022

#Introductionpost

Now seems a good time to say hello world. I'm relatively new here.

I'm primarily an optimistic and aggressively cheerful character. A biochemist first, a structural biologist second, and now looking to SynBio to build new proteins I'm hoping will be useful.

Looking forward to engaging chats on here 😀

A miracle just happened 🙌 - I was awarded an ARC DP. Thanks assessors and cheer squad!!

#coffee #Proteins #synbio #biosensors #singlemalt #cabernet #cryoem

freewheelingNov 10, 2022

Congratulations to our brilliant #Awardwinning poster presenters Rachel Atkins and Alison Roennfeldt at today's #SBSresearchsymposium Uni of Adelaide SET faculty - a tremendous effort under aurally challenging circumstances 👏 😳 🤩🍾🥂

#Biology #Research #Biosciences

freewheelingNov 10, 2022
Congratulations to our brilliant #Awardwinning speakers Andrea Stiglingh and Jill Chmielewski at today's #SBSresearchsymposium Uni of Adelaide SET faculty Rounding out a great day of diverse research 😀 👏🤓 (sorry about the red eyes Jill!!)
freewheelingNov 9, 2022
Watch this space for an exploration of other potential substrates for SyoA, modeling, docking and 🤞 crystallography for Alix in the not too distant.
freewheelingNov 9, 2022
We know that bacteria can degrade and use sinapyl (S-type) lignin-derived aromatic compounds. Alix has characterised two Cyp450 enzymes from A. thermoflava N1165, leading to identification of the first syringol O-demethylase, SyoA.
freewheelingNov 8, 2022

Harnessing #Renewable carbon from lignin? We've got you! 🌲 ♥️ 🙌

In collaboration with Dr Stephen Bell, awesome #Science PhD candidate Alix Harlington has published the first description of a #Cyp450 syringol O-demethylase we've called SyoA. AND he's achieved hydrogen peroxide driven turnovers making this a simple, clean and cheap reaction... A thread:

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2022/CC/D2CC04698A

Efficient O-demethylation of lignin monoaromatics using the peroxygenase activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes

A crucial reaction in harnessing renewable carbon from lignin is O-demethylation. We demonstrate the selective O-demethylation of syringol and guaiacol using different cytochrome P450 enzymes. These can efficiently use hydrogen peroxide which, when compared to nicotinamide cofactor-dependent monooxygenases and synt

freewheelingOct 29, 2022
Bivalent Vax couch day - 28 days haunted is *bleep* hilarious. Using my mediumetricity I think the most paranormal activity here is that anyone is watching. There is no exscape. Help me 👻