Welcome to my page! My name is Alvin and I am from Malaysia. I am currently in the Roper Group, based primarily at the C010 Lab at the School of Life Sciences, focussing on membrane proteins involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis.

Project Abstract

This project focuses on the aspect of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and its inherent connection to cell division. Before a bacterial cell is ready to divide, new cell wall materials have to be formed. This is a complex but well-coordinated process, with a plethora of proteins interacting in a corporative and transient manner. The emphasis of the project is being placed on the membrane-associated stage for the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, which is the major structural component of the bacterial cell wall. It is a polymer mesh consisting of alternating units of N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, being cross-linked via stem peptide bridges. This project will address the challenges in terms of overexpressing the integral membrane proteins involved, and also their subsequent extraction and solubilisation in active form.

Traditional approaches using detergent solubilisation of membrane proteins are often denaturing due to the sequestration of membrane lipids stabilising the proteins. Furthermore, the membrane proteins solubilised in detergent micelles are not presented in their native lipidic environment for subsequent biophysical and biochemical analysis. This project will exploit a novel non-detergent technique to encapsulate the integral membrane proteins together with their native lipidic components into “nanodiscs” stabilised by a copolymer of styrene maleic acid (SMA). A range of bioanalytical studies facilitated by the “nanodisc” system can provide the vital information on the structure and function of many of these membrane proteins to underpin the development of next generation antimicrobial drugs.

Academic History

2013 (Sep) - Present:

• PhD (Ongoing), Analytical Sciences, University of Warwick
  'Methodologies for cell division membrane protein production, purification and characterisation'
  Supervisors: Dr. David Roper, Prof. Tim Dafforn, Prof. Tanneke den Blaauwen

2006 - 2008:

• BSc (Hons), Biotechnology, Northumbria University
  'The cloning of amidase gene (>gi|39934541) from Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 into pCR®-Blunt vector with subsequent transformation of recombinant Escherichia coli cells'
  Supervisors: Prof. Gary Black, Dr. Simon Charnock
  

Working History

2011 (Nov) - 2013 (Jul):

• Wipro Skin Research & Innovation Centre, Research & Development Department, Malaysia
  Product Development Chemist
• Commercialised products include: Aiken Antibacterial Shower Crème, Dashing Face & Body Wash, Eversoft Beauty Body Wash, Safi Toothpaste
  

2010 (May) - 2011 (Oct):

• Synthomer - Technical Service Department, Malaysia
  Technologist
  

2008 (Nov) - 2010 (Sep):

• Procter & Gamble Newcastle Technical Centre, Front End of Innovation Group, United Kingdom
  Researcher