Centre for Misfolding Diseases

Professor Tuomas Knowles

Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics


1920 Professor of Physical Chemistry

Our research

We study the physical and chemical aspects of the behaviour of biopolymers and other soft systems. Much of our work has been focused on the physical aspects underlying the self-assembly of protein molecules. Self-organisation is the driving force generating complex matter in nature, and the process by which the machinery providing functionality in living systems is assembled. The goal of our research is to understand the physical and chemical factors which control the structures and dynamics of biomolecular assemblies, and the connections between the nanoscale characteristics of the component molecules and the physical properties of large-scale assemblies and their behaviour on a mesoscopic to macroscopic scale. The techniques used in our laboratory include biosensors, optical lithography, microfluidic devices and scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy. We work both with natural and synthetic polymers and our interests range from fundamental chemical physics to technological applications in material science and molecular medicine.

Watch Professor Knowles discuss his research

Take a tour of the Sir Rodney Sweetnam laboratory

Publications

Autoantibodies against the prion protein in individuals with PRNP mutations.
K Frontzek, M Carta, M Losa, M Epskamp, G Meisl, A Anane, J-P Brandel, U Camenisch, J Castilla, S Haïk, T Knowles, E Lindner, A Lutterotti, EV Minikel, I Roiter, JG Safar, R Sanchez-Valle, D Žáková, S Hornemann, A Aguzzi, THAUTAN-MC Study Group
Neurology
(2020)
95
(doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009183)
Thermodynamic and kinetic design principles for protein aggregation inhibitors
TCT Michaels, A Šarić, G Meisl, GT Heller, S Curk, P Arosio, S Linse, CM Dobson, M Vendruscolo, TPJ Knowles
(2020)
(doi: 10.1101/2020.02.22.960716)
The molecular processes underpinning prion-like spreading and seed amplification in protein aggregation
G Meisl, TP Knowles, D Klenerman
Curr Opin Neurobiol
(2020)
61
(doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.01.010)
Lipid-Stabilized Double Emulsions Generated in Planar Microfluidic Devices.
L Kong, A Levin, Z Toprakcioglu, Y Xu, H Gang, R Ye, B-Z Mu, TPJ Knowles
Langmuir
(2020)
36
(doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03622)
Biocompatible Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Microhydrogels Promote Bacterial Adherence and Eradication in Vitro and in Vivo.
L Schnaider, Z Toprakcioglu, A Ezra, X Liu, D Bychenko, A Levin, E Gazit, TPJ Knowles
Nano Lett
(2020)
20
(doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04290)
Attoliter protein nanogels from droplet nanofluidics for intracellular delivery.
Z Toprakcioglu, PK Challa, DB Morse, T Knowles
Science advances
(2020)
6
(doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay7952)
Transthyretin Inhibits Primary and Secondary Nucleations of Amyloid‑β Peptide Aggregation and Reduces the Toxicity of Its Oligomers
SA Ghadami, S Chia, FS Ruggeri, G Meisl, F Bemporad, J Habchi, R Cascella, CM Dobson, M Vendruscolo, TPJ Knowles, F Chiti
Biomacromolecules
(2020)
21
(doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01475)
Quantifying the Thermodynamic Stability of Amyloid Fibrils
KL Callaghan, Q Peter, JR Kumita, TP Knowles, CM Dobson
Biophysical Journal
(2020)
118
(doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.2725)
Microfluidic Diffusional Sizing for Studying Protein-Protein Interactions
MM Schneider, T Scheidt, CM Dobson, TPJ Knowles
Biophysical Journal
(2020)
118
(doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.2818)
Molecular Forces in the Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of Biomolecules
TJ Welsh, G Krainer, TP Knowles
Biophysical Journal
(2020)
118
(doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.2134)

Co-Director

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336344

Email address

tpjk2@cam.ac.uk

College

St John's College
Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry
Lensfield Road
Cambridge
CB2 1EW
T: +44 (0) 1223 336300
enquiries@ch.cam.ac.uk
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