个人简介

B.S., cum laude in Biology, Tufts University, 1984 Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Brandeis University, 1989 American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow in X-ray Crystallography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989 and Brandeis University, 1990

研究领域

Biological Chemistry

The Allen Group investigates the structure, function, and catalytic properties of enzymes. Their insights into these essential proteins guide the design of specialized molecules and enzymes to aid in drug discovery and in the development of tools that assist in protein studies. The Allen Group researchers conduct their studies using X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy, enzymology, and bioinformatics and routinely collaborate with leading laboratories at other universities. Structure/Function/Catalytic Studies investigate the properties of specific enzymes in the haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase (HAD) Superfamily and the Hot Dog Thioesterase Superfamily. The HAD studies aim to develop an understanding of enzyme evolution. The Hot Dog thioestearse (found in eukaryotes, bacteria, and archea) studies focus on the biological functions of this pervasive domain. (With the Dunaway-Mariano Group, University of New Mexico) Drug Discovery Studies aim to develop inhibitors against the potent neurotoxin produced by the soil-dwelling bacterium Clostridium botulinum (BoNT). These inhibitors are crucial because these toxins have high potential for use in biological weapons. (With the Tzipori Group, Tufts University) Tool Discovery Studies develop multi-tasking, easy-to-use Lanthanide Binding Tags (LBTs). LBTs consist of 17 amino-acids which have minimal impact on the structures and functions of the proteins they help study. (With the Imperiali Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

近期论文

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Lanthanide-tagged proteins--an illuminating partnership. Allen KN, Imperiali B. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2010 Apr;14(2):247-54. Epub 2010 Jan 25.PMID: 20102793 [PubMed - in process] Chirality holds the key for potent inhibition of the botulinum neurotoxin serotype a protease. Stowe GN, Silhár P, Hixon MS, Silvaggi NR, Allen KN, Moe ST, Jacobson AR, Barbieri JT, Janda KD. Org Lett. 2010 Feb 19;12(4):756-9.PMID: 20092262 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Divergence of biochemical function in the HAD superfamily: D-glycero-D-manno-heptose-1,7-bisphosphate phosphatase (GmhB). Wang L, Huang H, Nguyen HH, Allen KN, Mariano PS, Dunaway-Mariano D. Biochemistry. 2010 Feb 16;49(6):1072-81.PMID: 20050615 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Structural determinants of substrate recognition in the HAD superfamily member D-glycero-D-manno-heptose-1,7-bisphosphate phosphatase (GmhB) . Nguyen HH, Wang L, Huang H, Peisach E, Dunaway-Mariano D, Allen KN. Biochemistry. 2010 Feb 16;49(6):1082-92.PMID: 20050614 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Markers of fitness in a successful enzyme superfamily. Allen KN, Dunaway-Mariano D. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2009 Dec;19(6):658-65. Epub 2009 Nov 2. Review.PMID: 19889535 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] The origin of the electrostatic perturbation in acetoacetate decarboxylase. Ho MC, Ménétret JF, Tsuruta H, Allen KN. Nature. 2009 May 21;459(7245):393-7.PMID: 19458715 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Analysis of the structural determinants underlying discrimination between substrate and solvent in beta-phosphoglucomutase catalysis. Dai J, Finci L, Zhang C, Lahiri S, Zhang G, Peisach E, Allen KN, Dunaway-Mariano D. Biochemistry. 2009 Mar 10;48(9):1984-95.PMID: 19154134 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Structure-function analysis of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactonononate-9-phosphate phosphatase defines specificity elements in type C0 haloalkanoate dehalogenase family members. Lu Z, Wang L, Dunaway-Mariano D, Allen KN. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan 9;284(2):1224-33. Epub 2008 Nov 5.PMID: 18986982 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron synthesizes 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D- galacto-nononic acid (KDN). Wang L, Lu Z, Allen KN, Mariano PS, Dunaway-Mariano D. Chem Biol. 2008 Sep 22;15(9):893-7.PMID: 18804026 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Catalytic features of the botulinum neurotoxin A light chain revealed by high resolution structure of an inhibitory peptide complex. Silvaggi NR, Wilson D, Tzipori S, Allen KN. Biochemistry. 2008 May 27;47(21):5736-45. Epub 2008 May 6.PMID: 18457419 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] The catalytic scaffold of the haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase enzyme superfamily acts as a mold for the trigonal bipyramidal transition state. Lu Z, Dunaway-Mariano D, Allen KN. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Apr 15;105(15):5687-92. Epub 2008 Apr 8.PMID: 18398008 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]