Seminars
Wednesday 17th December 2008
Derek Willoughby LT, Sir John Vane Centre
Programme:
- 5-5.20pm: "Circular Dichroism and Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism
Spectroscopy: Applications related to Medicine" Dr Bob Janes. - 5.20-5.30pm: Discussion
- 5.30-5.50pm: "Lessons from the exhumation of Sir Mark Sykes and the bird flu pandemic of 1918". By Prof John Oxford
- 5.50-6pm Discussion
- 6-7pm Refreshments
Speakers:
Dr Bob Janes, Lecturer, Biological and Chemical Sciences
I currently have a number of research projects particularly concerned with polypeptide toxins that selectively block ion channels. These include toxins against voltage-gated calcium, potassium, and sodium channels, as well as neuromuscular and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Controlled administration of these toxins has been shown to have beneficial therapeutic actions. For example peptomimetic drugs of calcium channel blocking toxins can be used as potential neuroprotectives, assisting in the treatment of stroke patients, as well as being anti-hypertensives, and having positive inotropic and anti-arrhythmic actions on the heart. We have recently solved the crystal and solution (NMR) structures of alpha-conotoxin SI a blocker of neuromuscular nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Over recent years I have developed the technique of SRCD, an exciting extension to the more traditional laboratory-based CD experiments, which will have considerable impact throughout Biological Science research, and Structural Genomics.
Further research interests include aspects of bioinformatics, for example determining the structure, through modelling, and/or function of novel proteins based on their sequence information alone.
In summary, my research into the structure/function relationships of biologically and medically important molecules is aimed towards a better understanding of their three dimensional conformations, which may provide useful information in aiding in the rational design of new drugs.
Email:r.w.janes@qmul.ac.uk
Professor John Oxford, Professor of Virology, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science
John Oxford is Professor of Virology at Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry. He has co-authored two standard texts: 'Influenza, the Viruses and the Disease with Sir Charles Stuart-Harris and G.C. Schild and most recently 'Human Virology, a Text for Students of Medicine, Dentistry and Microbiology' published by Oxford University Press. Professor Oxford has also published 250 scientific papers.
Email: j.s.oxford@retroscreen.com
