Polypeptides tend to become organized independently into a variety of functional scaffolds and to socialize with other partner molecules, forming small biomolecular complexes or large assemblies, in various intersections of biological pathways. Proteins’ architecture, plasticity and interaction determine the fate of a variety of biological events. Understanding the functional role of peptides and proteins is strongly coupled to the atomic-level insights of their structure and flexibility.
The research activities of the group encompass the study of the structure and dynamics of peptides and proteins involved in signalling pathways, proteolysis and ion/metal transfer, both in silico and in vitro.
Research Highlights
MARISURF: Novel, Sustainable marine Bio-surfactant / Bio-emulsifiers for commercial exploitation (H2020-BG-2014-2, 635340) to analyze and characterize new eco-friendly end-products, effectively procuced in biological systems, contributing to the implementation of the objectives of the EU Blue Growth (I Anestopoulos et al. Marine-Derived Surface Active Agents: Health-Promoting Properties and Blue Biotechnology-Based Applications. Biomolecules 10, Ε885, 2020; L. Tripathi, M. Twigg, A. Zompra, K. Salek, et al. Biosynthesis of rhamnolipid by a Marinobacter species expands the paradigm of biosurfactant synthesis to a new genus of the marine microflora. Microbial Cell Factories 18, 164, 2019; M.S. Twigg, L. Tripathi, A. Zompra, K. Salek, et al. Identification and Characterisation of Short Chain Rhamnolipid Production in a Previously Uninvestigated, Non-Pathogenic Marine Pseudomonad. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 102, 8537–8549, 2018).
Conformational dynamics of protein and protein complexes: M. Birkou et al. A residue-specific insight into the Arkadia E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and conformational plasticity.J. Mol. Biol. 429, 2373 2017; A.C. Tsika, S. Melekis, S.-A. Tsatsouli, et al. Deciphering the nucleotide and RNA binding selectivity of the Mayaro virus macro domain. J. Mol. Biol. 431, 2282, 2019; K.D. Marousis, A.C. Tsika, M. Birkou, M.-T. Matsoukas, G.A. Spyroulias. Lead Identification through the synergistic action of Biomolecular NMR and in silico methodologies. Methods in Molecular Biology 1824, 299, 2018; G. Makrynitsa, A. Argyriou, A. Zompra, G.A.Spyroulias, S. Topouzis. Therapeutic Targeting of the Soluble Guanylate Cyclase. Curr. Med. Chem. 26, 2730, 2019.
NMR Metabolomics: M. Suarez-Diez, J. Adam, J. Adamski, S.A. Chasapi, C. Luchinat, A. Peters, C. Prehn, C. Santucci, A. Spyridonidis, et al. Plasma and serum metabolite association networks: comparability within and between studies using NMR and MS profiling. Journal of Proteome Research 16, 2547, 2017; E. Zvintzou, M. Lhomme, S.A. Chasapi, et al. Pleiotropic Effects of Apolipoprotein C3 on HDL Functionality and Adipose Tissue Metabolic Activity. Journal of Lipid Research 58, 1869, 2017; I. Georgakopoulou, S.A. Chasapi, S.E. Bariamis, A. Varvarigou, M. Spraul, G.A. Spyroulias. Metabolic changes in early neonatal life: NMR analysis of the neonatal metabolic profile to monitor postnatal metabolic adaptations. Metabolomics 16, 58 2020.
Research Training Opportunities
The group offer research training opportunities to Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology or Medicine under- and post-graduate students who want to get involved in research training activities in the frame of their Diploma Thesis or to acquire a Master or a Ph.D. degree. Read more…
Students will receive training in the fields of protein expression and characterization, analysis of NMR spectra of peptides and proteins, structure determination of polypeptides using NMR structural information and Biomolecular Simulations and they will work on one of the research projects of the group.
No previous experience is required. All you need is talent and enthusiasm!
Hot & Fresh Papers
K.D. Marousis, A.C. Tsika, M. Birkou, M.-T. Matsoukas, G.A. Spyroulias. Lead Identification through the synergistic action of Biomolecular NMR and in silico methodologies. Methods in Molecular Biology 1824, 299, 2018.
G.I. Makrynitsa, D. Ntonti, K.D. Marousis, M. Birkou, M.-T. Matsoukas, S. Asami, D. Bentrop, N. Papageorgiou, B. Canard, B. Coutard, G.A. Spyroulias. Conformational plasticity of the VEEV macro domain is important for binding of ADP-ribose. J. Struct. Biol. 206, 119, 2019.
K. Marousis, M. Birkou, A. Asimakopoulou, G.A. Spyroulias. 1H, 13C and 15N Backbone and side-chain resonance assignment of UbcH7 E2 Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme. Biomol. NMR Assign. 14, 73, 2020.
NMR model
The NMR 3D model of the Arkadia E3 Ubiquitin ligase, a RING-H2 Finger domain determined recently and deposited to PDB {Chasapis C. et al. 2010}.
NMR Dynamics
NMR characterization of the ECD of a prokaryotic LGIC elucidates the regions of the protein that may affect oligomerization{Chasapis C.T. et al. 2011}.
In silico complex
In silico biomolecular complex of a1 nAChR bound to two toxins (a-bungarotoxin & a-cobratoxin) {Dimitropoulos N. et al. PROTEINS 2011, 79, 142-52}.
NMR meeting in GREECE
EAST-NMR Event & GREEK NMR Users meeting organized at 19th September 2011, Athens. New NMR hardware, techniques and methodologies were presented
EUROMAR 2013 in GREECE
EUROMAR 2013 will be held at Greece (Hersonissos, Crete) and will provide a unique opportunity for Greek NMR community to meet NMR experts from all over the world, (1st week of July, 2013)
Editorial
Bentham Sci. “Current Pharmaceutical Design” has published a Special Issue with 9 articles on the Latest Achievements on Zn-enzymes (2009; Vol 15, Issue 31).
