Greece: Dissecting the physiological role of MscS-like mechanosensitive channels in a model filamentous fungus
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Astbury Centre
Abstract
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Publications
Lane BJ
(2023)
Approaches for the modulation of mechanosensitive MscL channel pores.
in Frontiers in chemistry
Dionysopoulou M
(2022)
Genetic and cellular characterization of MscS-like putative channels in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans.
in Channels (Austin, Tex.)
Hardman K
(2023)
Membrane force reception: mechanosensation in G protein-coupled receptors and tools to address it
in Current Opinion in Physiology
Lane BJ
(2024)
Monitoring the conformational ensemble and lipid environment of a mechanosensitive channel under cyclodextrin-induced membrane tension.
in Structure (London, England : 1993)
Lane B
(2025)
The mechanosensitive channel YbiO has a conductance equivalent to the largest gated-pore
in Structure
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/W018411/1 | 31/05/2022 | 30/05/2023 | £30,366 | ||
| BB/W018411/2 | Transfer | BB/W018411/1 | 04/03/2024 | 02/03/2026 | £18,978 |
| Description | We discovered and characterised two new mechanosensitive ion channels we named MscA and MscB in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans and first characterised them. Data were published here in collaboration with the EU partnering lab (Diallinas, Athens): Dionysopoulou, M., Yan, N., Wang, B., Pliotas*, C., Diallinas*, G. (2022) Genetic and cellular characterization of MscS-like putative channels in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Channels 16: 148-158 (https://doi.org/10.1080/19336950.2022.2098661) |
| Exploitation Route | We discovered two new MscS-like ion channels in filamentous fungi, which could both constitute drug targets for antifungals and fungal treatments. Aspergillus is one of major pathogen threats worldwide, thus any additional information of targeting new systems and proposing novel antifungal treatments is of large biomedical importance. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336950.2022.2098661 |
| Description | High resolution cyclic ion mobility HDX mass spectrometry of protein dynamics and function |
| Amount | £590,770 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/X013030/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Role of ion channel KCNJ2 in leukaemia pathogenesis: Investigation into functional mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy |
| Amount | £262,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Blood Cancer UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | BBSRC funded Satellite event on EMBO workshop |
| Organisation | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens |
| Country | Greece |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I organised a day's BBSRC symposium on "Mechanical Sensing and Ion channels" on the 27th of August 2022, as part of the BBSRC EU partnering award linked to the EMBO workshop on membrane transporters in Chania, Crete, on the 23rd-27th of August 2022. For this event, I have invited Prof Nektarios Tavernarakis, Prof Ute Hellmich, Prof Gary Lewin, Prof Stefan Lechner and Dr George Heath. Prof George Diallinas, who is the EU partner and collaborator was the organiser of the EMBO workshop. The BBSRC symposium was a great success, with high attendance (~150 EMBO delegates) and received very positive feedback. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Invited high profile speakers, such as Prof Nektarios Tavernarakis, Prof Ute Hellmich, Prof Gary Lewin, Prof Stefan Lechner and Dr George Heath presented world leading science. More details can be found on this link (https://www.pliotasgroup.org/symposium-on-mechanical-sensing/) and associated links within that link. As part of this event I established a collaboration with Dr George Heath on employing atomic force microscopy methods (i.e. Heath is a world leading expert in AFM of ion channels) on the newly identified mechanosensitive channels and have currently one manuscript in preparation for imminent submission (Waheed et al.,). |
| Impact | As part of this event I established a collaboration with Dr George Heath on employing atomic force microscopy methods (i.e. Heath is a world leading expert in AFM of ion channels) on the newly identified mechanosensitive channels and have currently one manuscript in preparation for imminent submission (Waheed et al.,). |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC funded Satellite event on EMBO workshop |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I organised a day's BBSRC symposium on "Mechanical Sensing and Ion channels" on the 27th of August 2022, as part of the BBSRC EU partnering award linked to the EMBO workshop on membrane transporters in Chania, Crete, on the 23rd-27th of August 2022. For this event, I have invited Prof Nektarios Tavernarakis, Prof Ute Hellmich, Prof Gary Lewin, Prof Stefan Lechner and Dr George Heath. Prof George Diallinas, who is the EU partner and collaborator was the organiser of the EMBO workshop. The BBSRC symposium was a great success, with high attendance (~150 EMBO delegates) and received very positive feedback. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Invited high profile speakers, such as Prof Nektarios Tavernarakis, Prof Ute Hellmich, Prof Gary Lewin, Prof Stefan Lechner and Dr George Heath presented world leading science. More details can be found on this link (https://www.pliotasgroup.org/symposium-on-mechanical-sensing/) and associated links within that link. As part of this event I established a collaboration with Dr George Heath on employing atomic force microscopy methods (i.e. Heath is a world leading expert in AFM of ion channels) on the newly identified mechanosensitive channels and have currently one manuscript in preparation for imminent submission (Waheed et al.,). |
| Impact | As part of this event I established a collaboration with Dr George Heath on employing atomic force microscopy methods (i.e. Heath is a world leading expert in AFM of ion channels) on the newly identified mechanosensitive channels and have currently one manuscript in preparation for imminent submission (Waheed et al.,). |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BBSRC-sponsored Symposium on Mechanical Sensing and Ion Channels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A BBSRC-funded symposium on "Mechanical Sensing and Ion channels" as part of the EMBO workshop on membrane transporters in Chania, Crete, on the 23rd-27th of August 2022. There I have invited Prof Nektarios Tavernarakis (ERC Council Vice President), Prof Ute Hellmich, Prof Gary Lewin, Prof Stefan Lechner, Prof Jian Shi and Prof George Heath. More details here (https://www.pliotasgroup.org/symposium-on-mechanical-sensing/) and the main EMBO workshop page where the BBSRC-sponsored event is also highlighted (https://meetings.embo.org/event/21-membrane-transporters). Both the EMBO workshop and BBSRC satellite symposium attended over 150 delegates, including postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, industry representatives and leading academics from around the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://meetings.embo.org/event/21-membrane-transporters |
| Description | Invited seminar at Imperial College London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited Seminar at the Annual Structural Biology Symposium at Imperial College London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/175719/centre-for-structural-biology-csb-open-day-2024/ |
| Description | Invited seminar at the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Christos Pliotas delivered an external seminar hosted by the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow, presenting recent research activities of his group on bacterial mechanosensitive channels and pulsed EPR spectroscopy applications on membrane proteins. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.pliotasgroup.org/invited-talk-in-glasgow/ |
| Description | Manchester Institute of Biotechnology Invited Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Christos Pliotas was invited to give a seminar at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester as part of institute's regular bi-weekly/monthly seminar series. His talk attended postgraduates, postdocs and academics mainly from the University of Manchester but also elsewhere and involved his current research on mechanosensitive channels and PELDOR spectroscopy on membrane proteins. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |