Alan Cooper

B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Chem., FRSC, C.Phys., F.Inst.P.

Professor of Biophysical Chemistry

Department of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building
University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Telephone (+44)-141 330 527 ; Fax (+44)-141 330 2910

e-mail: alanc@chem.gla.ac.uk

Head of Section: Biological Chemistry

Principal Editor: Biophysical Chemistry

Biophysical Chemistry Group
Home of the UK Biological Microcalorimeter Service - Research activities in this multidisciplinary group (seen here at a recent group meeting) concentrate on the energetics and mechanism of fundamental processes in biological macromolecules and living systems, utilising sensitive biophysical instrumentation coupled with advanced molecular biology techniques.

Examples from a wide range of current projects include:

Protein Folding, Misfolding, and Aggregation: Studies on the energetics and mechanism of protein folding, misfolding and aggregation using sensitive differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and related biophysical techniques.

Molecular Recognition in Peptide Antibiotics: Measurement of the interaction forces responsible for receptor binding and ligand-induced intermolecular associations in vancomycin and related peptide antibiotics, using isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) and spectroscopic methods.

Protein-Protein and Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions: Determination of the thermodynamics of important interactions between biological macromolecules, including microcalorimetry of DNA-repressor, RNA-viral capsid, multi-enzyme subunit and cell surface protein complexes.

Parasitic Nematode Proteins: Structure and function investigations of a major family of allergenic proteins from parasitic worms with important fatty acid and retinoid binding properties, using fluorescence probes and other biophysical methods (in collaboration with Malcolm Kennedy , IBLS). Molecular models of some of these proteins have been produced in collaboration with Jeremy Beauchamp.

Froth, Foam and Bubble: The biophysical chemistry and potential applications of foamy biological secretions. A Sir Henry Wellcome Commemorative project (in collaboration with Malcolm Kennedy, IBLS) to examine the macromolecular structure and properties of foam nests of tropical tree frogs. Click here for more details - or view the Trinidad 1997/8 foam collection expeditions.

Fundamentals of Biomolecular Forces: Investigation of the physical basis of non-covalent forces in biomolecules, using H₂O/D₂O substitution and other methods.

Protein-Cyclodextrin Interactions: The effects of cyclodextrins on the stability of folded proteins and protein-protein interactions, including possible roles as "chaperone mimics" in the control of protein folding.

This laboratory is established as the BBSRC/EPSRC Biological Microcalorimetry Facility for the UK, and is supported by grants from BBSRC, EPSRC, Wellcome Trust, SKB, Pfizer, GlaxoWellcome, and others.

Click here for examples of recent publications.

Current research group:-

Where are they now ? (Some past members of the group):-

Return to Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Staff home page.