Heddle Initiative Research Unit
Initiative Research Scientist
Jonathan HEDDLE (Ph.D.)
In Nature, proteins have evolved to carry out a vast array of roles from DNA replication to muscle contraction. Imagine if we could build our own proteins to carry out specific tasks. Because of their small size, such proteins could find uses in many areas from electronics to smart drugs. However, designing protein structures de novo is not feasible and our approach involves modifying existing proteins so that they form new structures. With this goal in mind, we are carrying out basic nanoscience research into engineering proteins (and DNA) to build a toolbox of increasingly complex and functional structures. We will use these structures to build prototype self-assembled devices. Secondly we are interested in developing new therapeutics for use in treating bacterial infections and cancer. Our main target is DNA gyrase and other topoisomerases and we are currently investigating two potential inhibitor molecules. Finally we are interested in aging. We are interested both in the theory of aging, for which we are currently developing some hypothesis, and also the mechanisms of aging which we are investigating through calorie restriction
experiments in Drosophila.
- Precise Programming of the Size of a Self-Assembled Protein Structure
- Modified Proteins as Templates for Mineralization of Quantum Dots and Wires
- Structural Studies of Natural and Artificial Self-Assembled Proteins
- Theory and Mechanism of Aging
- Topoisomerases as Therapeutic Targets
- Heddle, J.G., Yokoyama, T., Yamashita, I., Park, S.Y., and Tame, J.R.H.:
"Rounding Up: Engineering 12-membered rings from the cyclic 11-mer TRAP. "
Structure 14, 925-33(2006). - Heddle, J. G., Fujiwara, I., Yamadaki, H., Yoshii, S., Nishio, K., Addy, C., Yamashita, I. and Tame, J. R. H.:
"Using the Ring-Shaped Protein TRAP to Capture and Confine Gold Nanodots on a Surface. "
Small 3, 1950-1956(2007). - Heddle, J.G:
"Protein Cages, Rings and Tubes: Useful Components of Future Nanodevices?"
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications 1, 67-78(2008). - Watanabe, M., Heddle, J.G, Unzai, S., Akashi, S., Park, S.Y., and Jeremy R.H. Tame.:
"Nature of the TRAP:Anti-TRAP complex revealed by symmetry remodeling. "
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 2176-81(2009) - Frederico F., Miranda, Iwasaki, K., Yamashita, I., Jeremy, R. H., Tame, and Heddle, J.G.:
"A self-assembled protein nanotube with a high aspect ratio. "
Small. 5, 2077-2084(2009). - Malay, A. D., Watanabe, M., Heddle, J. G. & Tame, J. R. H.:
"Crystal structure of unliganded TRAP: implications for dynamic allostery"
Biochem. J. 434, 429-434.
Principal Investigator
- Jonathan Gardiner HEDDLE
- Initiative Research Scientist
Staff Scientist
- Ali Andres Defrance MALAY
- ASI Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Fellow
- Eleanor Frances BANWELL
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Joanne YU
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Sachin Navanitlal SHAH
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Lucas Siqueira TRINDADE
- Postdoctoral Researcher
Student Trainee
- Motonori IMAMURA
- Junior Research Associate
- Maia GODONOGA
- Junior Research Associate
Technical Assistant
- Kazuko MATSUBARA
- Technical Staff II