Lewandowski Group
Lewandowski group focuses on development and applications of solid-state and solution NMR to study structure, dynamics and interactions of biological systems in the context of integrated structural biology. We are associated with the and
Research Themes | NMR Facilities | Available Positions
We develop methods to probe structure and dynamics of molecules.
We apply both solid- and solution-state NMR to various biomolecular systems.
Structural biology and engineering of natural products biosynthetic machinery.
Experimental determination and simulation of molecular motion.
Understanding modes of action and facilitating designing new antibiotics.
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- May 2023: Spin diffusion at fast spinning ( (Editor's Pick))
- Oct 2022: Slice & Dice longitudinal relaxation measurements ()
- It's cover time: we got three covers on three different consecutive papers in three different journals
- Aug 2021: on simultaneous measurements of 15N and 13C' relaxation. Featured on the cover.
- Jul 27 2021: Our opus on COM domains accepted in ACS Catalysis
- Jun 16 2021: Koorosh Fatemian defends his PhD thesis
- Feb 12 2020: JMR Award for an outstanding paper for Angelo's and Trent's to be presented at 61st ENC
- Dec 30 2019: First paper from Sarah PhD in
- Sept 23 2019: Paper in . Press release.
- Jul 31 2019: Paper in
- Jul 6th 2019: Paper in
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Solid-State NMR Methodology Development
We develop solid-state NMR methods for studying structures and dynamics of proteins.
Highlights:
- NMR relaxation and methodology at 60-111 kHz magic angle spinning ().
- Characterisation of structure and dynamics of large protein complexes (,
- Solvent PREs for characterisation of protein-protein interfaces in large complexes ()
- Accelerated R1蚁 relaxation dispersion for application in large complexes ()
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Protein structure determination and molecular interactions
We employ a combination of different structural biology and biophysical methods led by solid-state and solution-state NMR to investigate structure, dynamics and interactions of various biological systems. We work on systems that are natural targets for solid-state NMR, e.g. nanocrystalline proteins, protein complexes (e.g. protein-antibody complexes and complexes from polyketide synthases), fibrils and membrane proteins and systems that benefit from combined solution/solid state NMR approaches. We are also interested in characterization of molecular interactions, in particular protein interactions with other proteins, ligands and nucleic acids.
Main areas:
- natural products biosynthesis (polyketide synthases) (, )
- lipid II binding antibiotics, e.g. teixobactin ()
- peptidoglycan biosynthesis
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Protein dynamics
We apply a variety of methods centered around NMR to characterize protein motions at atomic resolution.
Highlights:
- dynamics of GB1 in a >300 kDa complex with full length immunoglobulin ()
- protein "dynamic transitions" through the lens of variable temperature relaxation measurements in a crystalline protein ()
- peptide plane fluctuations from joint 15N and 13C' relaxation measurements ()
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Structural biology and engineering of systems involved in natural products biosynthesis
We employ NMR-led integrated structural biology approach to study mechanistic details of various PKS/NRPS biosythetic pathways.
Highlights:
- Structural basis for chain release from the enacyloxin polyketide synthase. Integrated structural biology approach ()
- Mechanism of intersubunit ketosynthase–dehydratase interaction in polyketide synthases ()
- Review on the protein-protein interactions in trans-AT PKSs ()
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NMR facilities
(NMR hall in Millburn House)
The group uses mostly 2 x 500 MHz (various MAS probes from 4 mm to 1.3 mm), 600 MHz (various MAS probes from 4 mm to 1.3 mm, a unique 0.8 mm 100 kHz probe from Ago Samoson; upgraded to a new Avance Neo console in 2021 funded by BBSRC ALERT19 ). We are also frequent users of the the UK High-Field Solid-State NMR Facility (850 MHz, 1 GHz and soon 1.2 GHz spectrometers).
(NMR hall in MAS building - left to right: solid-state NMR: 700 MHz WB spectrometer with 0.7, 1.3 and 3.2 mm MAS probes, solution NMR: 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 700 MHz with cryoprobe - upgrade to new console and TCI and TXO cryoprobes in 2023 funded by BBSRC ALERT21 ).
The group is the main user of the ERC & UW funded 700 MHz solid-state NMR spectrometer and frequent users of 700 MHz and 600 MHz solution NMR spectrometers. More details on the facilities in the Department of Chemistry.
