T. P. J. Knowles

Temperature-induced changes in protein interactions control RNA recruitment to G3BP1 condensates

The paper investigates how temperature affects G3BP1-RNA phase separation, revealing that while the phase boundary remains stable, stoichiometry and energetics shift, driven by entropic processes.

Nanoscale profiling of evolving intermolecular interactions in ageing FUS condensates

This study characterizes the aging behavior of FUS condensates using microfluidic technology and surface-based techniques, revealing phase transitions and structural changes associated with material properties.

Microfluidic antibody profiling after repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination links antibody affinity and concentration to impaired immunity and variant escape in patients on anti-CD-20 therapy

Thermodynamic profiles for co-translational trigger factor function

This study identifies the thermodynamic mechanisms underlying trigger factor binding to ribosomes and nascent chains during co-translational protein synthesis.

Glutamate helps unmask the differences in driving forces for phase separation versus clustering of FET family proteins in sub-saturated solutions

The paper shows that glutamate reveals distinct energy and length scales for phase separation and clustering of FET family proteins in sub-saturated solutions.

Single-molecule digital sizing of proteins in solution

This paper introduces smMDS, a method for digital sizing of proteins in solution, enabling sensitive and accurate measurement of protein sizes and interactions.

Self-replication of Abeta42 aggregates occurs on small and isolated fibril sites

The paper investigates A{beta}42 fibril self-replication using statistical mechanics and modeling, finding replication occurs on isolated small catalytic sites on the fibril surface.

Quantifying collective interactions in biomolecular phase separation

This study quantifies collective interactions in biomolecular phase separation by analyzing dilute phase concentrations and free energy, revealing how salts and small molecules modulate condensate formation.

Modulating Nucleic Acid Phase Transitions as a Mechanism of Action for Cell-Penetrating Antimicrobial Peptides

This study identifies that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) induce nucleic acid phase separation, which may be a novel mechanism for their antibacterial activity.

Non-specificity fingerprints for clinical stage antibodies in solution

This study characterizes non-specific interactions of clinical-stage monoclonal antibodies using solution-based microfluidic technologies to generate quantitative non-specificity fingerprints.

A Kinetic Map of the Influence of Biomimetic Lipid Membrane Models on Aβ42 Aggregation

This study investigates how different lipid membrane models affect Aβ42 aggregation kinetics in vitro, showing inhibition by ER and Golgi membranes.

Structure-based discovery of small molecule inhibitors of the autocatalytic proliferation of alpha-synuclein aggregates

This study identifies small molecules that inhibit alpha-synuclein aggregate proliferation using structure-based and kinetic assays.

Enhanced surface nano-analytics of transient biomolecular processes

This paper develops a lab-on-a-chip method for analyzing biomolecular processes with high sensitivity and single molecule resolution in physiological conditions.

Bioprinting microporous functional living materials from protein-based core-shell microgels

This paper introduces a core-shell microgel bioprinting method to create functional living materials with controlled microporosity and enhanced bioprocessing capabilities.

Surface interaction patches link non-specific binding and phase separation of antibodies

This study links antibody non-specific binding to surface interaction patches and shows how they drive liquid-liquid phase separation under certain conditions.

Multiphase condensates from a kinetically arrested phase transition

This paper shows that multiphase biomolecular condensates form due to kinetic trapping during phase transitions, not thermodynamic stability, and explains how this leads to internal sub-compartments.

Serological fingerprints link antiviral activity of therapeutic antibodies to affinity and concentration

The paper links antiviral activity of therapeutic antibodies to their affinity and concentration by comparing them to serological fingerprints in convalescent sera.

Single-molecule sizing through nano-cavity confinement

This paper introduces a method called nano-cavity diffusional sizing (NDS) to measure the size of nanoscale particles and single biomolecules using residence times in nano-cavities.

2-photon-fabricated nano-fluidic traps for extended detection of single macromolecules and colloids in solution

This paper introduces nano-fluidic traps that increase detection times for single macromolecules and colloids in solution by providing local steric confinement.

Discovery of Potent Inhibitors of α-Synuclein Aggregation Using Structure-Based Iterative Learning

This paper uses structure-based machine learning to identify potent small molecule inhibitors of α-synuclein aggregation, achieving compounds two orders of magnitude more potent than previous reports.

Can single-component protein condensates form multiphase architectures?

This study investigates how single-component protein condensates can transform into multiphase architectures during ageing through non-conservative inter-molecular interactions.

Understanding the role of memory re-activation and cross-reactivity in the defense against SARS-CoV-2

This study uses microfluidic antibody-affinity profiling to assess cross-reactive antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent patients and pre-pandemic sera, finding low affinity and concentration against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Mutations in two SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern reflect two distinct strategies of antibody escape

This study compares antibody escape mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 alpha and beta variants, finding they use distinct strategies: alpha increases ACE2 binding affinity, while beta alters epitopes to reduce antibody access.

In vitro measurements of protein-protein interactions show that antibody affinity governs the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike/ACE2 binding in convalescent serum

The paper measures how antibody affinity affects the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike/ACE2 binding in convalescent serum using in vitro assays.

Machine learning aided top-down protein identification on a microfluidic platform

This paper demonstrates a microfluidic platform that generates multidimensional protein fingerprints, enabling high-accuracy classification using machine learning, even when single-dimensional classification fails.

Microfluidic Antibody Affinity Profiling for In-Solution Characterisation of Alloantibody - HLA Interactions in Human Serum

This paper develops a microfluidic assay to directly measure antibody affinity and concentration in solution, applied to characterise alloantibody-HLA interactions in transplant patient sera.

Kinetic analysis reveals the rates and mechanisms of protein aggregation in a multicellular organism

This study quantitatively models protein aggregation in C. elegans using a molecular framework, showing that nucleation rates and stochasticity drive aggregation in vivo, consistent with in vitro findings.

Direct digital sensing of protein biomarkers in solution

This paper introduces a single-molecule microfluidic platform for digital protein biomarker detection, demonstrating its ability to quantify protein concentrations and provide insights beyond traditional immunoassays.

Surface electrostatics govern the emulsion stability of biomolecular condensates

The paper investigates how surface electrostatics influence the stability of biomolecular condensates by comparing their fusion propensity using zeta potential measurements and molecular modeling.

Physical mechanisms of amyloid nucleation on fluid membranes

This study identifies two distinct nucleation pathways for amyloid fibril formation on fluid membranes and quantifies how membrane properties influence these pathways.