Flesh-eating bacteria, spontaneous amide bond formation, and polymers to fish for cancer cells Seminar

Amide bond formation in water between an amine and a carboxylic acid is usually thermodynamically unfavourable. A special feature of the chemistry of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes enables efficient spontaneous amide bond formation within particular proteins. We have harnessed this chemistry to generate an irreversible peptide-protein interaction (SpyTag/SpyCatcher). This reaction is rapid, high-yielding, genetically encodable and specific on cells. Complementation of this split protein has been analyzed by NMR and crystallography and advanced by rational and library-based engineering. Applications of this protein padlock will be presented for resisting forces and for construction of protein tentacles, to enhance the capture of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from blood, one of the most promising ways to enhance early diagnosis of cancer.

If you would like to talk to Dr Howarth before or after the seminar, please email Dr Seung Lee at s.s.lee@soton.ac.uk