Directory of Experts
Details for Professor Ian Collinson
| Personal details | |
| Name | Professor Ian Collinson |
| Job title | Professor of Biochemistry |
| Department | School of Biochemistry University of Bristol |
| Contact details | This expert can be contacted via the University of Bristol Public Relations
Office. To help us deal with your request, please mention the Directory of Experts when contacting the Public Relations Office. work+44 (0)117 331 8092 email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk |
| Qualifications | B.Sc.(Warw.), Ph.D.(Cantab.) |
| Professional details | |
| Membership of professional bodies | Biochemical Society Society of Microbiology |
| Keywords | protein protein secretion membrane protein insertion protein translocation reaction membrane proteins biophysics |
| Areas of expertise | The theme of the research group I lead, concerns the underlying mechanisms of protein secretion and membrane protein insertion. The process we study is fundamental to biology, found in every cell in every organism. The main focus is on the process that occurs in E. coli, where a channel in the plasma membrane SecYEG cooperates with specific energy transducing factors to drive proteins either across or into the membrane. We employ a variety of biophysical and biochemical methods to investigate the structure, kinetics and the dynamics of the protein translocation reaction. Ongoing projects focus on the mechanism of the core reaction driven by the ATPase SecA through SecYEG. Newer initiatives concern membrane protein insertion by YidC and protein transport in the context of the ‘holo’-translocon. |