Ewch i’r prif gynnwys
David Miller  MA (Oxon), PhD, MRSC

Dr David Miller

(e/fe)

MA (Oxon), PhD, MRSC

Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Cemeg Fiolegol a Chyfarwyddwr Rhaglenni Ôl-raddedig a Addysgir (PGT)

Trosolwyg

Mae gen i ddiddordeb yn y defnydd o gemeg organig synthetig fel y'i cymhwysir i ddatrys problemau biolegol ac i'r gwrthwyneb. Yn aml, gellir ymchwilio i'r ddealltwriaeth o sut mae macromolecwlau natur fel proteinau a DNA yn gweithio a rhyngweithio â'i gilydd trwy ddefnyddio moleciwlau organig bach. Yn aml, nid yw moleciwlau o'r fath ar gael o'r pwll naturiol ac felly mae'r cemegydd synthetig yn ganolog i ddatrys problemau o'r fath. Yn yr un modd, gall cemeg synthetig er ei bod yn gallu paratoi'r moleciwlau mwyaf cymhleth a chymhleth yn aml ond wneud hynny ar draul fawr o amser ac adnoddau. Mae systemau naturiol, os cânt eu harneisio'n gywir yn cynnig cyfle i adeiladu moleciwlau o gymhlethdod o'r fath yn llawer cyflymach ac yn fwy effeithlon.

Rwy'n cynnig prosiectau BSc mewn ymchwil addysg. 

Cyhoeddiad

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1998

Articles

Book sections

Ymchwil

I am interested in the use of synthetic organic chemistry as applied to the solution of biological problems and vice versa.  The understanding of how Nature$acirc; s macromolecules such as proteins and DNA work and interact with one another can often be probed by use of small organic molecules.  Such molecules are often not available from the natural pool and so the synthetic chemist is central to solving such problems.  Similarly, synthetic chemistry although well capable of preparing the most complex and intricate of molecules can often only do so at great expense of time and resources. Natural systems, if harnessed correctly offer the opportunity to construct molecules of such complexity much more quickly and efficiently.

Inositol monophoshphatase.

Inositol monophosphatase is an enzyme that is involved in a crucial signal transduction pathway within our cells that has been implicated as a target for drugs that treat bipolar disorders.  We are interested in the study of the mechanism of action of this enzyme and in the discovery of new inhibitors that may ultimately lead to better treatments for this debilitating condition.

Diagram showing the natural substrate inositol-1-phosphate bound at the active site of IMPase.

mu-Calpain

Calpains are cysteine proteases that are activated by calcium ions.  mu-Calpain is a member of this family of enzymes that appears to have a key role in cell-membrane expansion and hence motility of white blood cells (neutrophils).  Development of potent and selective mu-calpain inhibitors may lead to a treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Mercaptoacrylate PD150606 bound to domain VI of calpain.

Biosynthesis of terpenoids

Terpenes are the largest and most diverse group of natural products but originate from only a tiny group of prenyl diphosphate precursors.  Diversity is generated in nature by the structurally similar terpene cyclases that form many different products from each prenyl diphosphate.  By a combination of chemical synthesis, enzymology and molecular biology we seek to understand how such diversity can be created by enzymes that share a common fold.

Diagram showing the sesquiterpene precursor farnesyl diphosphate and some of the downstream sesquiterpene products.

Addysgu

CH5103 Sylfeini Cemeg Organig

CH5130 Cyflwyniad i Ddatblygu Cyffuriau

CH3317 Biosynthesis Peirianneg

Prosiect Ymchwil CHT008

CHT214 Biocatalysis I: Dulliau Modern o Fiocatalysis

Sgiliau Allweddol CHT232

CHT223 Biocatalysis II: Cymwysiadau Diwydiannol Biocatalysis

CHT550 a CHT555 Cymhwyso dulliau ymchwil.

CHT327 Biosynthesis Peirianneg

Gellir dod o hyd i fanylion am fodiwlau yma.

Bywgraffiad

MA mewn Cemeg gyda Chemeg Cwantwm Atodol, Coleg Oriel Rhydychen, 1989-1993.

PhD, Prifysgol Southampton (dan yr Athro T. D. H. Bugg) 1993-1997. 

Cynorthwy-ydd Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol St Andrews 1997-1998. 

Cynorthwy-ydd Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol Birmingham 1998-2005. 

Cymrawd Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol Caerdydd 2005-2007. 

Cynorthwy-ydd Ymchwil yn 2007.

Darlithydd 2015-2022.

Uwch Ddarlithydd 2022.

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

Aelod o'r Gymdeithas Frenhinol Cemeg

Contact Details

Arbenigeddau

  • Biosynthesis
  • cemeg fiolegol
  • Cemeg organig
  • Pheromones a Semiochemicals eraill
  • Biocatalysis a thechnoleg ensym