The Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation

Staff

Jump to About Navigation

Organisational Chart

Prof. Anna Nicolaou
Professor of Biological Chemistry
  • Telephone: +44 (0)1274 234717
  • Email: a.nicolaou@bradford.ac.uk

Membership:
• Associate Editor: Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty acids (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/623065/description#description)

• Royal Society of Chemistry

• Biochemical Society

• British Mass Spectrometry Society (BMMS)

• International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL)

• British Association for Cancer Research (BACR)
—————————————————————————
Research interests

The main emphasis of my research effort has been on the biochemical pathways and molecular mechanism of action of bioactive lipids (http://www.pjbarnes.co.uk/op/bl.htm) such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosanoids, resolvins and other novel bioactive lipid mediators.

Lipidomics is a research field dedicated to the understanding of lipid function through the complete qualitative and quantitative analysis and profiling of lipid species, elucidation of lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions, and lipid mediated signalling networks in biological systems. Lipidomics may be further extended to include the genomics and biosynthetic pathways of lipid metabolism, normal and abnormal functions of lipids, biological membranes, lipoproteins and proteins that interact and metabolise lipids, contributing thus significantly to biomedical research and drug development. Within this context we have developed mass spectrometry-based assays for membrane phospholipids (structural lipidomics) and a range of bioactive lipid mediators (mediator lipidomics).

This multidisciplinary approach is supported by metabolite analysis and profiling by high-field NMR, HPLC, MS/MS and LC/MS, GC, protein chemistry and enzymology.
—————————————————————————
Current research projects

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids and related mediators in brain function and neuroinflammation.

• The production of eicosanoids by human skin cells; significance and contribution in the sunburn response.

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids in skin photoprotection.

• Functional role of eicosanoids in the reproductive system.

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosanoids and other bioactive lipids in platelet biochemistry and the cardiovascular system.

• Bioactive lipids and carcinogenesis.

• Surfactant deposits, lipids and skin microflora.

• Glutathione kinetics in pancreatic and liver disease.

• Methionine dependence of cancer cells.
—————————————————————————
List of Publications:

BIOACTIVE LIPIDS. A Nicolaou, G Kokotos (Editors) Oily Press (2004) Bridgewater, England (2004) ISBN 0-9531949-7-3
(http:// www.pjbarnes.co.uk)

(Publications – selected, recent)

1.SH Rahman, AR Srinivasan, A Nicolaou. Defects in the transulfuration pathway and increased glutathione degradation contribute to oxidative stress associated with severe acute pancreatitis (2008) Dig Dis Sci, in press

2. RM Clarke, A Lyons, F O’Connell, BF Deighan, CE Barry, NG Anyakoha, A Nicolaou, MA Lynch. A pivotal role for interleuking-4 in atorvastatin-associated neuroprotection in rat brain. (2008) J Biol Chem 283, 1808-1817

3.M Masoodi, AA Mir, NA Petasis, SN Serhan, A Nicolaou. Simultaneous lipidomic analysis of three families of bioactive lipid mediators leukotrienes, resolvins, protectins and related hydroxy-fatty acids by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (2008) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 22, 75-83

4.SJ Little, MA Lynch, MS Manku, A. Nicolaou. Lipidomic analysis reveals docosahexaenoic acid-induced alterations in the phospholipid profiles of young and aged cortical tissue (2007) Prost Leuk Essen Fatty Acids 77, 155-162

5.E Banks, S Doughty, RT Wheelhouse, A Nicolaou. Inhibition of the cobalamine-dependent methionine synthase by substituted benzo-heterocycles (2007) FEBS J 274; 287-299

6.M Masoodi and A Nicolaou. Lipidomic analysis of twenty seven prostanoids and isoprostanes by electrospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (2006) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 20; 3023-3029

7.A Nicolaou and M. Masoodi. ESI-LC-MS/MS lipidomic analysis of prostanoids and isoprostanes, in “Prostaglandins: New Research”. pp 107-137 Chuck S. Bronson (Editor) Nova Science Publishers Inc., NY, USA (2006) (ISBN 1-60021-007-4).

8.D Pletsas, RT Wheelhouse, V Pletsa, A Nicolaou, MC Bibby, TC Jenkins, SA Kyrtopoulos. Polar, functionalised guanine-O6 derivatives resistant to repair by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (2006) Eur J Med Chem 41; 330-339

9.V Pavillard, A Nicolaou, JA Double, RM Phillips. Methionine dependence of tumours: A biochemical strategy for optimising paclitaxel chemosensitivity in vitro (2006) Biochem Pharmacol 71; 772-778

10.A Nicolaou and YH Peng. Lipidomics: current developments, challenges and opportunities. (2006) Lipid Technology 18(3); 53-57

11.DC Rees, A Iolascon, M Carella, AS O’Marcaigh, JR Kendra, SN Jowitt, JK Wales, A Vora, M Makris, N Manning, A Nicolaou, J Fisher, A Mann, SJ Machin, PT Clayton, P Gasparini, GW Stewart. Stomatocytic haemolysis and macrothrombocytopenia (Mediterranean stomatocytosis/macrothrombocytopenia) is the haematological presentation of phytosterolaemia. (2005) Br J Haematol 130; 297-309

12.A Nicolaou. Prostanoids; in “Bioactive Lipids”, A.Nicolaou, G.Kokotos (Editors), The Oily Press, Bridgewater, England (2004) pp. 197-222.

13.DC Rees, B Portman, C Ball, G Mieli-Vergani, A Nicolaou, MC Chetty, GW Stewart. Dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis is associated with neonatal hepatitis (2004) British J Heamatol 126 272-276

14.A Blackburn, M Bibby, M Lucock, A Nicolaou. Temporal evaluation of methionine synthase and related metabolites in the MAC15A mouse adenocarcinoma animal model (2004) Inter J Cancer 112; 577-584

15.A Nicolaou, SE Estdale, M Tsatmali, DP Herrero, AJ Thody. Prostaglandin production by melanocytic cells and the effect of -melanocyte stimulating hormone (2004) FEBS Letts 570 223-226

16.R Riba, A Nicolaou, S Homer-Vanniasinkam, KM Naseem. Altered platelet reactivity in peripheral vascular disease complicated with elevated plasma homocysteine levels (2004) Atherosclerosis 175 69-75

17.DM Gore, M Layton, AK Sinha, PJ Williamson, B Vaidya, V Connolly, P Mannix, MC Chetty, A Nicolaou, GW Stewart. Four pedigrees of the cation-leaky hereditary stomatocytosis class presenting with pseudohyperkalaemia. Novel profile of temperature dependence of Na+-K+ leak in a xerocytic form (2004) Br J Heamatol 125 521-527

18.V Pavillard, AAA Drbal, DJ Swaine, RM Phillips, J Double, A Nicolaou. Analysis of cell cycle kinetics and sulfur amino acid metabolism in methionine dependent tumour cell lines; the effect of homocysteine supplementation. (2004) Biochem Pharmacol 67 1587-1599

19.S Dalal, S Homer-Vanniasinkam, SM Parkin, A Nicolaou. The effect of homocysteine on cytokine production by human endothelial cells and monocytes (2003) Ann Clin Biochem 40 534-541

20.P Urquhart, SM Parkin, JS Rogers, JA Bosley, A Nicolaou. The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on arachidonic acid metabolism and eicosanoid production in human saphenous vein endothelial cells (2002) Biochim Biophys Acta, Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids 1580 150-160.

21.DM Gore, MC Chetty, J Fisher, A Nicolaou, GW Stewart. Familial pseudohyperkalaemia Cardiff: a mild version of cryohydrocytosis (2002) Br J Hematol 117 212-214

22.SH Kenyon, CJ Waterfield, JA Timbrell, A Nicolaou. Methionine synthase activity and sulphur amino acid levels in the rat liver tumour cells HTC and Phi-1 cells (2002) Biochem Pharmacol 63 381-391

23.P Urquhart, SM Parkin, A Nicolaou. Profile of eicosanoids produced by Human Saphenous Vein Endothelial Cells and the effect of dietary fatty acids (2001) Prost Leuk Essen Fatty Acids 65 15-22

24.HG Jarvis, MC Chetty, A Nicolaou, J Fisher, A Miller, GW Stewart. A novel stomatocytosis variant showing marked abnormalities in intracellular [Na] and [K] with minimal haemolysis (2001) Eur J Haematol 66 412-414

25.PG Haines, HG Jarvis, S King, FH Noormohamed, MC Chetty, J Fisher, P Hill, A Nicolaou, GW Stewart. Two further British families with the ‘cryohydrocytosis’ form of hereditary stomatocytosis (2001) Br J Haematol 113 932-937

26.PG Haines, C Crawley, MC Chetty, H Jarvis, SE Coles, J Fisher, A Nicolaou, GW Stewart. Familial psedohyperkalaemia Chiswick: a novel congenital thermotropic variant of K and Na transport across the human red cell membrane (2001) Br J Haematol 112 469-474

27.C Noula, P Bonzom, A Brown, WA Gibbons, J Martin, A Nicolaou. 1H-NMR lipid profiles of human blood platelets; links with coronary artery disease (2000) Biochim Biophys Acta 1487 15-23

28.C Noula, P Bonzom, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. Analysis of human blood platelet lipids by 1H-NMR spectroscopy: exploration of a possible link with coronary artery disease. In “Lipases and Lipids: Structure, Function and Biotechnological Applications” pp 289-300 G. Kokotos and V. Constantinou-Kokotou (Editors), Crete University Press (2000).

29.SE Coles, MC Chetty, MM Ho, A Nicolaou, JW Kearney, SD Wright, GW Stewart. Two British families with variants of ‘cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis (1999) Br J Haematol 105 1055 – 1065

30.SH Kenyon, CJ Waterfield, DS Asker, M Kudo, DW Moss, TE Bates, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons, JA Timbrell. The effect of hydrazine upon vitamin B12-dependent methionine synthase activity and the sulphur amino acid pathway in isolated rat hepatocytes (1999) Biochem Pharmacol 57 1311-1319

31.P Bonzom, A Nicolaou, M Zloh, W Baldeo, WA Gibbons. NMR lipid profile of Agaricus bisporus (1999) Phytochemistry 50 1311-1321

32.SE Coles, MM Ho, MC Chetty, A Nicolaou, GW Stewart. A variant of hereditary stomatocytosis with marked pseudohyperkalaemia (1999) Br J Haematol 104 275-283

33.SH Kenyon, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. The effect of ethanol and its metabolites upon methionine synthase activity in vivo (1998) Alcohol 15 1-5

34.A Nicolaou, G Kokotos, V Constantinou – Kokotou, S Ransac, R Verger, WA Gibbons. The inhibition of pancreatic lipase and phospholipase A2 by lipid mimetics and lipopeptides. In “ Peptides 1996”, pp 679-680, R Ramage & R Epton (Editors), Kingswinford (1998).

35.A Nicolaou, G Kokotos, V Konstantinou-Kokotou, C Charitos, C Noula, R Verger, WA Gibbons. Synthesis and properties of novel lipopeptides and lipidic mimetics (1997) J. Pept. Science 3 291-298

36.A Nicolaou, CJ Waterfield, SH Kenyon, WA Gibbons. The inactivation of methionine synthase in isolated rat hepatocytes by sodium nitroprusside (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 244 876-882

37.G Kokotos, V Constantinou-Kokotou, C Noula, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. Synthesis of lipidic amino acid and dipeptide inhibitors of human platelet phospholipase A2 (1996) Intern. J. Pept.Prot. Res. 48 160-166

38.SH Kenyon, A Nicolaou, T Ast, WA Gibbons. In Vitro Stimulation of B12 Methionine Synthase by Polyamines (1996) Biochem J. 316 661-665

39.A Nicolaou, SH Kenyon, JM Gibbons, T Ast, WA Gibbons. A. In vitro inactivation of mammalian methionine synthase by nitric oxide (1996) Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 26 167-170

40.RK Adosraku, JD Smith, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. Tetrahymena thermophilaa: analysis of phospholipids and phosphonolipids by high-field 1H NMR (1996) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1299,167- 174

41.J Jiracek, A Yiotakis, B Vincent, A Lecoq, A Nicolaou, F Checler, V Dive. Development of highly potent and selective phosphinic peptide inhibitors of zinc endopeptidase 24-15 using combinatorial chemistry (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 207, 21701-21706

42.V Tsvetnisky, L Auchi, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. Characterization of phospholipid methylation in rat brain myelin (1995) Biochem. J. 307, 239-244

43.FA Yeboah, RK Adosraku, A Nicolaou, WA Gibbons. Proton n.m.r. lipid profiling of intact platelet membranes (1995) Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 32, 392-398

44.A Yiotakis, A Lecoq, A Nicolaou, J Labadie, V Dive. Phosphinic peptide analogues as potent inhibitors of Corynebacterium rathayii bacterial collagenase (1994) Biochem. J. 303, 323-327.

45.V Theodorou, A Nicolaou, N Hadjiliadis. Interaction of [(dien)PtBr]Br with 6-oxopurine nucleosides Inorganica Chimica Acta (1993) 208 91-94.

46.V Dive, A Nicolaou, A Yiotakis, L Labadie, F Toma. Inhibition of bacterial collagenase by phosphonamide peptides. In “Matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors”, pp 136-137, Birkedal-Hansen Eds, G. Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart (1992).

47.V Dive, A Yiotakis, A Nicolaou, F Toma. Inhibition of Clostridium histolyticum collagenases by phosphonamide peptide inhibitors (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 685-693.

48.Y Maniatis, V Mandi, A Nicolaou. Identification of ancient marble fragments by ESR spectroscopy (1989) Bulletin de correspondence hellenique, CXII 403-416.

49.Y Maniatis, V Mandi, A Nicolaou. Study of ancient marble properties by ESR spectroscopy. In “Marble in Ancient Greece and Rome. Geology, Sources-Commerce Artifacts”, pp 443-452, NATO, Il Ciocco, Italy (1988).
—————————————————————————
Invited Presentations

• 12th International Congress on Molecular Medicine, Crete October 2007; Effect of UVR on skin eicosanoids. Invited Lecture.

• The effect of DHA supplementation on age-related changes in the brain; Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, 2005. Invited seminar

• Membrane lipid profiling by high-field NMR and tandem mass spectrometry, Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, London Metropolitan University, 2003. Invited seminar

• The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on eicosanoids produced by human saphenous vein endothelial cells; comparison with dietary fatty acids 1st International Conference on Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Alesund, 2001. Invited Lecture.

• Methionine dependence: a target for cancer chemotherapy. University of Sunderland, 2001. School of Pharmacy, School Seminar Programme.

• Inhibition of B12-dependent methionine synthase by sodium nitroprusside in isolated rat hepatocytes. 4th European Symposium on Vitamin B12 and B12-Proteins, Innsbruck,1996. Invited Lecture.

• Vitamin B12 methionine synthase and its dependent pathways in cell signalling, growth and drug design. Forum for Applied Biotechnology, Gent, 1995. Invited Lecture.