Heddle Initiative Research Unit

Initiative Research Scientist

Jonathan G. Heddle

  • Ph.D.
  • Jonathan G. Heddle
  • Brief resume
    1996
    Ph.D., University of Leicester, UK
    2000
    Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, UK
    2001
    JSPS Royal Society Special Postdoctoral Fellow, Protein Design Laboratory, Yokohama City University
    2003
    CREST Postdoctoral Fellow, Bionanoprocess Laboratory, Nara Institute of Science and Technology
    2007
    Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Global Edge Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
    2010
    Initiative Research Scientist, Heddle Initiative Research Unit, RIKEN (-current)

Outline

Heddle Initiative Research Unit

We are carrying out basic bionanoscience research, and engineering proteins and DNA to build a toolbox of increasingly complex and functional structures. We are also interested in stem cells and the application of bionanotechnology to stem-cell related problems.

Currently, specific research topics include: (a) building two- and three-dimensional protein arrays, (b) Programmable protein-DNA arrays, (c) building and programming precisely the dimensions of protein nanostructures such as nanotubes, (d) using proteins as scaffolds to biomineralize metallic and semiconductor nanostructures such as nanowires and (e) protein-templated transistors and complex multi-component protein structures.

Recent Research Topic

Soft Nano: Building Artificial Complex Devices using Nature's Building Blocks

In one example of recent research in which I was involved, we were able to modify a ring-shaped protein (called TRAP) so that it self-assembled into a nanotube. This is an example of the way in which naturally-occurring protein structures can be modified so that they assemble into new structures. We are continuing this work and expanding it to include DNA/RNA structures. The protein nanotube work, for example, will be extended so that the tube length can be programmed and that the tube can be used as a scaffold for templating of inorganic materials, for example to make a quantum wire.

Crystal structure of a TRAP protein ring (top) and 8 rings stacked side-by-side to form a protein nanotube
Fig. 1: Crystal structure of a TRAP protein ring (top) and 8 rings stacked side-by-side to form a protein nanotube
Self-assembled protein nanotube
Fig. 2: Self-assembled protein nanotube
[ Image courtesy of Dr. Kenji Iwasaki ]

Selected Publications

  1. A. D. Malay, M. Watanabe, J. G. Heddle, J. R. Tame, Crystal structure of unliganded TRAP: implications for dynamic allostery, Biochem. J. 2011, 434, 427.
  2. F. F. Miranda, K. Iwasaki, I. Yamashita, J. R. H. Tame, J. G. Heddle, A self-assembled protein nanotube with a high aspect ratio, Small 2009, 5, 2077.
  3. M. Watanabe, et al. Nature of the TRAP:Anti-TRAP complex revealed by symmetry remodeling. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 2009, 106, 2176.
  4. S. Akashi, et al. RNA and Protein Complexes of trp RNA-Binding Attenuation Protein Characterized by Mass Spectrometry, Anal. Chem. 2009, 81, 2218.
  5. J. G. Heddle, Protein Cages, Rings and Tubes: Useful Components of Future Nanodevices?, Nanotech. Sci. Appl. 2008, 1, 67.
  6. J. G. Heddle, et al. Using the Ring-Shaped Protein TRAP to Capture and Confine Gold Nanodots on a Surface, Small 2007, 3, 1950.

Core Members

Principal Investigator add delete
Jonathan Gardiner Heddle Initiative Research Scientist    
Staff Scientist add delete
Postdoctoral Fellow add delete
Eleanor Frances Banwell Postdoctoral Researcher    
Joanne Yu Postdoctoral Researcher    
Sachin Navanitlal Shah Postdoctoral Researcher    
Lucas Siqueira Trindade Postdoctoral Researcher    
Student Trainee add delete
Technical Assistant add delete
Kazuko Matsubara Technical Staff II    
Administrative Assistant add delete
Visiting Research Staff add delete
Other Staff add delete
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