Professor Anthony Turner

MA, PhD, Cambridge
Professor of Biochemistry
Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Background: Postdoctoral work at Mario Negri Pharmacology Institute, Milan, Italy, 1972-1973; Lecturer in Biochemistry at Leeds, 1973; Senior Lecturer, 1982, Reader in Neurochemistry, 1987, Professor of Biochemistry, 1990, Head of School, 1996.

Office: Garstang 6.41a
Phone: +44(0) 113 34 33131
Email: email address for Professor Anthony Turner 

Centre membership: Neuroscience Research at Leeds (NeuR@L)

Lab: Leader of the Turner_AJ group

You can read more about Professor Turner's interests here:
www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/staff/Hooper_N

Publications

List Professor Turner's Publications


Figure 1: Structure of NEP complexed with its inhibitor, phosphoramidon

Figure 2: Amyloid plaque as formed in the brain of Alzheimer patients. The major component of the plaque, beta-amyloid peptide, is neurotoxic and contributes to the neurodegeneration process.

Research Interests

Membrane metalloproteases in health and disease

Proteinases play a key role in many aspects of cell regulation - from fertilisation and embryogenesis to death. The main focus of our research is understanding the molecular and cell biology of critical metalloproteinase targets in brain, cardiovascular system and reproductive tissue. A primary focus involves the neprilysin (NEP) family, which now numbers seven in humans but is over twenty in both C. elegans and Drosophila. We are using functional genomics approaches to understand the multiple roles of these NEP homologues in terminating neuropeptide signalling events in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. In particular, we have projects in the areas of atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration and cancer. We have also recently cloned a novel human homologue (ACEH) of the blood pressure regulating peptidase, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). We are currently exploring the structure and physiological roles of ACEH and whether it might constitute a therapeutic target. A third topic area involves an understanding of the proteolytic events involved in the production and removal of the b-amyloid peptide, involved in Alzheimer's disease. Remarkably, NEP appears to play a key role in disposing of the toxic amyloid and therefore serves multiple protective roles in the body.

 

Current Projects

Work is supported by the Medical Research Council, BBSRC, British Heart Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, National Heart Research Fund, the Royal Society and by industry. Collaborations are in place with research groups in the United States, Japan, Russia, Australia and Europe.

 

Studentship information

Principal interests:

  • Membrane metalloproteases in health and disease

Undergraduate project topics:

  • A novel angiotensin converting enzyme homologue: expression and characterisation
    Keywords: Expression, mutagenesis, membrane protein, enzymology, SDS-PAGE
    (Laboratory)
  • Regulation of peptidase expression in human disease
    Keywords: Immunocytochemistry, membrane protein, HPLC, expression, PCR
    (Laboratory)
  • The molecular basis of Parkinson's disease
    Keywords: Review and construct a grant application, media article or website to examine one aspect of the biochemistry of Parkinson's disease
    (Literature)

Postgraduate studentship areas:

  • Membrane Metalloproteases in Health and Disease: neurodegeneration, heart disease and cancer

See also: