Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Dr Becky Conners (nee Tranter )

Dr Becky Conners (nee Tranter )

Postdoctoral Research Associate (LSI)

 R.Conners@exeter.ac.uk

 7468

 Living Systems Institute 

 

Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD

Overview

I am currently using Cryo-Electron Microscopy to investigate how filamentous bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, and in particular how virus particles are assembled and then released from the cell.

My background is in protein crystallography, where I have worked on a number of different projects including:

  • Structural studies of prion proteins and their ligand interactions
  • Recognition of human epithelial cells by Moraxella pathogens
  • Structure-based drug design of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors as novel antimalarials 
  • Structural studies on the serine protease acrosin from mammalian spermatazoa

Qualifications

2001   PhD. Biochemistry, University of Bristol

1997   BSc.(Hons) Medical Biochemistry, University of Leicester

Career

2000-2014   Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biochemistry, University of Bristol

2018- date   Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biosciences, University of Exeter

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Research

Research interests

I am interested in the structure of proteins and protein complexes, and in particular where these play a role in disease pathogenesis. 

Research projects

Current

  • Structural studies of the filamentous phage assembly system

Past

  • Structural studies of prion proteins and their ligand interactions (with MRC Prion Unit)
  • Recognition of human epithelial cells by Moraxella pathogens (Wellcome Trust)
  • Structure of a novel trypsin inhibitor from Veronica plants 
  • Novel inhibitors of protein kinase B
  • Structural studies on avidin
  • Structure-based drug design of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors as novel antimalarials (Medicines for Malaria Venture)
  • Structural studies on the serine protease acrosin from mammalian spermatazoa (with Babraham Institute)

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Publications

Journal articles

Conners R, León-Quezada RI, McLaren M, Bennett NJ, Daum B, Rakonjac J, Gold VAM (2023). Cryo-electron microscopy of the f1 filamentous phage reveals insights into viral infection and assembly. Nature Communications, 14(1). Abstract.
McLaren M, Conners R, Isupov MN, Gil-Díez P, Gambelli L, Gold VAM, Walter A, Connell SR, Williams B, Daum B, et al (2023). CryoEM reveals that ribosomes in microsporidian spores are locked in a dimeric hibernating state. Nature Microbiology, 8(10), 1834-1845. Abstract.
Gambelli L, Isupov MN, Conners R, McLaren M, Bellack A, Gold V, Rachel R, Daum B (2022). An archaellum filament composed of two alternating subunits. Nature Communications, 13(1). Abstract.
Conners R, McLaren M, Łapińska U, Sanders K, Stone MRL, Blaskovich MAT, Pagliara S, Daum B, Rakonjac J, Gold VAM, et al (2021). CryoEM structure of the outer membrane secretin channel pIV from the f1 filamentous bacteriophage. Abstract.
Conners R, McLaren M, Łapińska U, Sanders K, Stone MRL, Blaskovich MAT, Pagliara S, Daum B, Rakonjac J, Gold VAM, et al (2021). CryoEM structure of the outer membrane secretin channel pIV from the f1 filamentous bacteriophage. Nature Communications, 12(1). Abstract.
Gambelli L, Isupov MN, Conners R, McLaren M, Bellack A, Gold V, Rachel R, Daum B (2021). New insights into the architecture and dynamics of archaella. Abstract.
Hosszu LLP, Conners R, Sangar D, Batchelor M, Sawyer EB, Fisher S, Cliff MJ, Hounslow AM, McAuley K, Leo Brady R, et al (2020). Structural effects of the highly protective V127 polymorphism on human prion protein. Communications Biology, 3(1). Abstract.
Agnew C, Borodina E, Zaccai NR, Conners R, Burton NM, Vicary JA, Cole DK, Antognozzi M, Virji M, Brady RL, et al (2011). Correlation of in situ mechanosensitive responses of the Moraxella catarrhalis adhesin UspA1 with fibronectin and receptor CEACAM1 binding. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(37), 15174-15178. Abstract.  Author URL.
Spencer J, Murphy LM, Conners R, Sessions RB, Gamblin SJ (2010). Crystal structure of the LasA virulence factor from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: substrate specificity and mechanism of M23 metallopeptidases. J Mol Biol, 396(4), 908-923. Abstract.  Author URL.
Conners R, Hill DJ, Borodina E, Agnew C, Daniell SJ, Burton NM, Sessions RB, Clarke AR, Catto LE, Lammie D, et al (2008). The Moraxella adhesin UspA1 binds to its human CEACAM1 receptor by a deformable trimeric coiled-coil. EMBO J, 27(12), 1779-1789. Abstract.  Author URL.
Conners R, Konarev AV, Forsyth J, Lovegrove A, Marsh J, Joseph-Horne T, Shewry P, Brady RL (2007). An unusual helix-turn-helix protease inhibitory motif in a novel trypsin inhibitor from seeds of Veronica (Veronica hederifolia L.). J Biol Chem, 282(38), 27760-27768. Abstract.  Author URL.
Crisp J, Conners R, Garrity JD, Carenbauer AL, Crowder MW, Spencer J (2007). Structural basis for the role of Asp-120 in metallo-beta-lactamases. Biochemistry, 46(37), 10664-10674. Abstract.  Author URL.
Conners R, Hooley E, Clarke AR, Thomas S, Brady RL (2006). Recognition of oxidatively modified bases within the biotin-binding site of avidin. J Mol Biol, 357(1), 263-274. Abstract.  Author URL.
Booth MPS, Conners R, Rumsby G, Brady RL (2006). Structural basis of substrate specificity in human glyoxylate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase. J Mol Biol, 360(1), 178-189. Abstract.  Author URL.
Conners R, Schambach F, Read J, Cameron A, Sessions RB, Vivas L, Easton A, Croft SL, Brady RL (2005). Mapping the binding site for gossypol-like inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 142(2), 137-148. Abstract.  Author URL.
Chaikuad A, Fairweather V, Conners R, Joseph-Horne T, Turgut-Balik D, Brady RL (2005). Structure of lactate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium vivax: complexes with NADH and APADH. Biochemistry, 44(49), 16221-16228. Abstract.  Author URL.
Cameron A, Read J, Tranter R, Winter VJ, Sessions RB, Brady RL, Vivas L, Easton A, Kendrick H, Croft SL, et al (2004). Identification and activity of a series of azole-based compounds with lactate dehydrogenase-directed anti-malarial activity. J Biol Chem, 279(30), 31429-31439. Abstract.  Author URL.
Dell G, Wilkinson KW, Tranter R, Parish J, Leo Brady R, Gaston K (2003). Comparison of the structure and DNA-binding properties of the E2 proteins from an oncogenic and a non-oncogenic human papillomavirus. J Mol Biol, 334(5), 979-991. Abstract.  Author URL.
Winter VJ, Cameron A, Tranter R, Sessions RB, Brady RL (2003). Crystal structure of Plasmodium berghei lactate dehydrogenase indicates the unique structural differences of these enzymes are shared across the Plasmodium genus. Mol Biochem Parasitol, 131(1), 1-10. Abstract.  Author URL.
Tranter R, Read JA, Jones R, Brady RL (2000). Effector sites in the three-dimensional structure of mammalian sperm beta-acrosin. Structure, 8(11), 1179-1188. Abstract.  Author URL.
Read JA, Wilkinson KW, Tranter R, Sessions RB, Brady RL (1999). Chloroquine binds in the cofactor binding site of Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem, 274(15), 10213-10218. Abstract.  Author URL.
Kampranis SC, Gormley NA, Tranter R, Orphanides G, Maxwell A (1999). Probing the Binding of Coumarins and Cyclothialidines to DNA Gyrase. Biochemistry, 38(7), 1967-1976.

Conferences

Hosszu LLP, Conners R, Sangar D, Batchelor M, McAuley KE, Fisher SJ, Brady RL, Clarke AR, Collinge J (2016). Structural and folding studies of the protective V127 variant of human prion protein.  Author URL.
Zaccai NR, Agnew C, Borodina E, Conners R, Burton N, Cole DK, Antognozzi M, Vriji M, Brady RL (2011). Multi-Functional Receptor Binding Activity of the <i>Moraxella Catarrhalis</i> Adhesin UspA1.  Author URL.
Hooley E, Conners R, Brady L (2005). Detection of 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyadenosine and 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine by Avidin.  Author URL.
Hadfield A, Limpkin C, Read J, Shammas C, Shoemark D, Tranter R, Brady L (2004). Catalytic Cycle of Plasmodium Falciparum Lactate Dehydrogenase.  Author URL.
Read JA, Wilkinson KW, Tranter R, Sessions RB, Brady RL (1999). CHLOROQUINE BINDS TO L-LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE IN THE MALARIAL PARASITE (<i>PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM</i>.  Author URL.
Tranter R, Jones R, Brady L (1999). STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON ACROSIN, a SERINE PROTEASE FOUND IN MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA.  Author URL.

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