Research


Chemical Biology

Dr. Julian A Tanner Essentials of Chemical Biology

Dr Tanner, Julian Alexander

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry

BSc (University of Bristol); PhD (Imperial College, London)

Contact
Email: jatanner@hku.hk
Tel: +852 2819 9472
Office: L3-70, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong
Awards and Distinctions
Faculty Teaching Medal (2011);
UC Berkeley CSHE Visiting Scholar (2012)

Profile:

Dr. Julian A. Tanner is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Hong Kong and co-author of "Essentials of Chemical Biology – Structure and Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules" (Wiley, 2008).

Research Description:

Julian’s research field is chemical biology, with three specific topics:

Nucleic Acid Aptamers: We are developing new approaches in aptamer-mediated therapeutics and diagnostics. In particular we are using aptamers as a foundation for new point-of-care diagnostic approaches for malaria, and collaborative projects are ongoing against tuberculosis and osteoporosis targets.

Protein Biochemistry of Disease: We work on the protein biochemistry of disease with a strong track record in enzymology of the SARS coronavirus helicase. Presently, we are investigating how mutations in sedlin cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda, how sclerostin might be targeted for osteoporosis therapy, and use cellular models to facilitate proteomic approaches to understanding skeletal disease.

Functions of Inorganic Polyphosphates: Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is present in every cell in nature and consists of chains of tens or hundreds of orthophosphate residues linked by high-energy phospoanhydride bonds. We are presently working on inorganic polyphosphates to understand and target its metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and are developing new approaches to understand its higher eukaryotic functions.

Lab Photo

Top row (from left to right): Dr. Cecilia Chan, Yuanyuan Yu, Roderick Dirkzwager, Carl Ao; Bottom row (from left to right): Dr. Yee-Wai Cheung, Dr. Lina Li, Dr. Julian Tanner, Andrew Kinghorn, Wesley Tucker

Co-workers*:

  • Dr. Cecilia Chan – Post-doctoral Fellow
  • Dr. Yee-Wai Cheung – Post-doctoral Research Associate
  • Dr. Lina Li – Post-doctoral Research Associate
  • Andrew Kinghorn – PhD Student
  • Wesley Tucker – PhD Student
  • Yuanyuan Yu – PhD Student
  • Roderick Dirkzwager – PhD Student
  • Carl Ao – MPhil Student

* I am open to enquiries from prospective PhD students, please contact me. Financially supported positions may be available for excellent applicants, either local or international. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme applicants are particularly welcome.

Laboratory Alumni:

  • Dr. Yee-Wai Cheung – PhD (graduated 2012)
  • Mari Kimura – MPhil (graduated 2012)
  • Dr. Eric Lui – PhD (graduated 2011)
  • Dr. Kato Shum – PhD (graduated 2010)
  • Dr. Celine Chan – PhD (graduated 2009)
  • Dr. Cecilia Chan – PhD (graduated 2009)
  • Dr. Mei Choi – PhD (graduated 2008)
  • Bob Lee – MPhil (graduated 2008)

Major Grants:

  • Defining the Roles of the Fundamental Macromolecule Inorganic Polyphosphate in Osteoblasts (CERG GRF 2012)
  • New approaches in the nuclear delivery and targeting of aptamers to augment osteoblast activity for osteoporosis (CERG 2009)
  • Development of an aptamer-nanoparticle based rapid diagnostic test for malaria (CERG 2008)
  • Identification, validation and characterization of the eukaryotic enzymes and regulators of inorganic polyphosphate metabolism (CERG 2007)
  • Targeting sclerostin with aptamer-based inhibitors as an approach to osteoporosis therapy (CERG 2006)
  • Evolution, Validation and Delivery of Aptamer-Based Inhibitors that Target the SARS Coronavirus Helicase (CERG 2005)

Protein Analysis Facility:

Publications, Achievements, and Grants:

Representative Publications:

  • Tucker, W.O., Shum, K.T. & Tanner, J.A. G-quadruplex DNA aptamers and their ligands: structure, function and application. Curr Pharm Des, 18, 2014-2026 (2012).
  • Choi, M.Y., Wang, Y., Wong, L.L.Y., Lu, B.T., Chen, W.Y., Huang, J.D., Tanner, J.A. & Watt, R.M. The two PPX-GppA homologues from Mycobacterium tuberculosis have distinct biochemical activities. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e42561 (2012).
  • Shum, K. T., Lui, E.L., Wong, S.C., Yeung, P., Sam, L., Wang, Y., Watt, R.M. & Tanner, J.A. Aptamer-mediated inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyphosphate kinase 2. Biochemistry, 50, 3261–3271 (2011).
  • Shum K.T., Chan C., Leung C.M. & Tanner J.A. Identification of a DNA aptamer that inhibits sclerostin's antagonistic effect on Wnt signaling. Biochem J, 434, 501-510 (2011).
  • Wu, X.G., Zong, M., Chan, C.W.L., Choi, M.Y., Chan, H.C., Tanner, J.A. & Yu, S. The adaptor function of TRAPPC2 in mammalian TRAPPs explains TRAPPC2-associated SEDT and TRAPPC9-associated congenital intellectual disability. PLoS ONE, 6 (8), e23350 (2011).
  • Choi, M.Y., Chan, C.Y., Chan, D., Luk, K.D., Cheah, K.S., & Tanner, J.A. Biochemical consequences of sedlin mutations that cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. Biochem J , 433, 243-242 (2009).
  • Shum, K.T. & Tanner, J.A. Differential inhibitory activities and stabilisation of DNA aptamers against the SARS coronavirus helicase. Chembiochem, 9, 3037-3045 (2008).
  • Yang, N.*, Tanner, J.A.*, Zheng, B.J., Watt, R.M., He, M.L., Lu, L.Y., Jiang, J.Q., Shum, K.T., Lin, Y.P., Wong, K.L., Lin, M.C. M., Kung, H.F., Sun, H., & Huang, J.D. Bismuth complexes inhibit the SARS coronavirus. Angew Chem, 64, 6464-6468 (2007).
  • Wright, M., Boonyalai, N., Tanner, J.A., Hindley, A.D. & Miller, A.D. The duality of LysU, a catalyst for both Ap(4)A and Ap(3)A formation. FEBS J, 273, 3534-3544 (2006).
  • Tanner, J.A., Wright, M., Christie, M., Preuss, M.K., & Miller, A.D. Investigation into the Interactions between Diadenosine 5′,5′′′-P1,P4-Tetraphosphate and Two Proteins: Molecular Chaperone GroEL and cAMP Receptor Protein. Biochemistry, 45, 3095-3106 (2006).
  • Ge, R., Watt, R.M., Sun, X., Tanner, J.A., He, Q.Y., Huang, J.D. & Sun, H. Expression and characterization of a histidine-rich protein, Hpn: potential for Ni2+ storage in Helicobacter pylori. Biochem J 393, 285-293 (2006).
  • Tanner, J.A., Zheng, B.J., Zhou, J., Watt, R.M., Jiang, J.Q., Wong, K.L., Lin, Y.P., Lu, L.Y., He, M.L., Kung, H.F., Kesel, A.J. & Huang, J.D. The Adamantane-Derived Bananins Are Potent Inhibitors of the Helicase Activities and Replication of SARS Coronavirus. Chem Biol 12, 303-311 (2005).
  • Kao, R.Y., Tsui, W.H., Lee, T.S., Tanner, J.A., Watt, R.M., Huang, J.D., Hu, L., Chen, G., Chen, Z., Zhang, L., He, T., Chan, K.H., Tse, H., To, A.P., Ng, L.W., Wong, B.C., Tsoi, H.W., Yang, D., Ho, D.D. & Yuen, K.Y. Identification of novel small-molecule inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus by chemical genetics. Chem Biol 11, 1293-1299 (2004).
  • Tanner, J.A., Watt, R.M., Chai, Y.B., Lu, L.Y., Lin, M.C., Peiris, J.S., Poon, L.L., Kung, H.F. & Huang, J.D. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus NTPase/helicase belongs to a distinct class of 5′ to 3′ viral helicases. J Biol Chem 278, 39578-39582 (2003).
  • Tanner, J.A., Abowath, A. & Miller, A.D. Isothermal titration calorimetry reveals a zinc ion as an atomic switch in the diadenosine polyphosphates. J Biol Chem 277, 3073-3078 (2002).
  • More exhaustive list of publications and grants available at http://hub.hku.hk/rp/rp00495.