PI: Research description | MacMillan

Target

The Henry Wellcome Unit for Biological EPR at UEA employs advanced magnetic resonance approaches to identify and characterise molecular interactions. We currently focus on how bio-macromolecular assemblies function both in terms of the catalysis they perform as well as their role in transmembrane transport processes. Typically, we employ Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and/or in combination with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques to study such interactions. Modern EPR spectroscopy is quickly developing from a rather niche biophysical technique to becoming a key tool in the structural biologists’ arsenal.

Method

Our group’s core expertise is the application and continued development of advanced magnetic resonance methods, but we also have expertise in a range of other biophysical spectroscopies and biochemistry. We also have some expertise in molecular biology.

Our EPR spectroscopic facility comprises:-

• S-, X-, Q- and W-band cw-EPR,
• X- and Q-band cw-ENDOR (TRIPLE),
• X- and W-band pulsed EPR (ESEEM, HYSCORE, REFINE),
• X- and W-band PELDOR/DEER (iDEER),
• X-band pulsed ENDOR (TRIPLE).

Main areas of research

• Application of advanced EPR spectroscopy to dynamic molecular machines
• Site-directed spin labelling
• Characterisation of new spin labels for dipolar spectroscopy
• Development of dipolar spectroscopic methods in combination with novel and multiply labelled systems. 
• Related spectroscopic techniques available at UEA (MCD, STD-NMR, SS-NMR)