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The way in which a protein functions is dependent on its dynamics and its three-dimensional structure, both of which are affected by the amino acid residues of which it is composed, the different interactions which hold them together, and the environment surrounding the protein.
Broadly, I am interested in gaining further insights into how protein structure, function and dynamics are linked, through a range of experimental and theoretical techniques. In particular, the ways in which proteins from organisms which can survive in extreme environments differ from those found in moderate environments.
I completed my Ph.D. at the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, in 2011, on the topic of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of biological macromolecules. This work provided a new technique for measuring the functionally-relevant picosecond dynamics of proteins in single crystal form.
My work in the Dougan group involves the use of AFM single molecule force spectroscopy to characterise the unfolding kinetics of bio-macromolecules under different conditions.
Recent publications
K. M. Tych, A. D. Burnett, C. D. Wood, J. E. Cunningham, A. R. Pearson, A. G. Davies and E. H. Linfield. Applying broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to the analysis of crystalline proteins: a dehydration study. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 44:129 – 133, 2011.
K. M. Tych, A. D. Burnett, C. D. Wood, J. E. Cunningham, A. R. Pearson,
A. G. Davies and E. H. Linfield. Using terahertz spectroscopy to measure dynamical transitions in hen egg white lysozyme. 6th International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy, 2011.
P. Dean, A. D. Burnett, K. Tych, S. P. Khanna, M. Lachab, J. E. Cunningham, E. H. Linfield, and A. G. Davies. Measurement and analysis of the diffuse reflectance of powdered samples at terahertz frequencies using a quantum cascade laser. Journal of Chemical Physics, 134:134304, 2011
K. M. Tych, A. D. Burnett, C. D. Wood, J. E. Cunningham, A. R. Pearson, A. G. Davies and E. H. Linfield. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of protein single crystals. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and
Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), 2010. |
