Directory of Experts
Details for Professor Paula Booth
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| Name | Professor Paula Booth | ||||||
| Job title | Professor of Physical Biochemistry |
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| Department | School of Biochemistry University of Bristol |
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| Qualifications | BA Hons, MA(Oxon), PhD(Lond) | ||||||
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| Membership of professional bodies | Biochemical Society |
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| Keywords | biochemistry biophysics biological membranes membrane proteins multidrug resistance receptor proteins protein folding molecular basis of disease |
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| Areas of expertise | Proteins are the worker molecules in all life forms. An understanding of how proteins work is essential in the fight against disease. Membranes surround cells and subdivide the cells into compartments, with membrane-embedded proteins allowing information and matter to pass across the membranes and between cells. These membrane proteins account for about a third of the proteins in our bodies and over half of the current targets in the development of new medicines. Unfortunately, however, there is very little understanding of how membrane proteins work. I aim to learn how the proteins work and how genetic information is translated to make proteins. Genes are first decoded to give a string of amino acids which then has to fold to the protein's correct, and unique, three-dimensional shape. I study transport proteins that make bacteria and humans resistant to antibiotics, and receptor proteins that are responsible for the senses in our bodies. |
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| Media experience | Little direct contact. Was a member of the Royal Society Press Briefings Committee. Attended Royal Society course on media training. Experience in communcating science at Royal Society Soirees, to MPs (special reception), school children (SET events, talks to encourage women into phyiscal science), mature students for the Open University to attract people to Chemistry. Exposure during PhD with Lord Porter to media/TV. |
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