Susan K. Buchanan, Ph.D.


LMB
STRCTRL BIOL MBRNE PROTNS SECTION
NIDDK, National Institutes of Health
Building 50 , Room 4503
50 South Dr.
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-594-9222
Fax: 301-480-0597
Email: skbuchan@helix.nih.gov

Susan K. Buchanan, Ph.D.

Research Website:
http://www-mslmb.niddk.nih.gov/buchanan/index.html


Education / Previous Training and Experience:
B.S., Furman University, 1983
M.S., Princeton University, 1986
Ph.D., Frankfurt University, Germany, 1990


Research Statement:

Our research focuses on the structure determination of integral membrane proteins, with emphasis on ligand recognition, transmembrane signalling, and transport of small and large molecules. We study bacterial outer membrane proteins as possible vaccine targets and bacterial inner membrane proteins as model systems for cellular processes such as nutrient transport. Methods used include heterologous overexpression of membrane proteins, biochemical characterisation, crystallisation, and structure determination by X-ray crystallography.



Selected Publications:
  1. Noinaj, N., Easley, N.C., Oke, M., Mizuno, N., Gumbart, J., Boura, E., Steere, A.N., Zak, O., Aisen, P., Tajkhorshid, E., Evans, R.W., Gorringe, A.R., Mason, A.B., Steven, A.C., & Buchanan S.K. (2012). Structural basis for iron piracy by pathogenic Neisseria. Nature (Research Article), in press.

  2. Barnard TJ, Gumbart J, Peterson JH, Noinaj N, Easley NC, Dautin N, Kuszak AJ, Tajkhorshid E, Bernstein HD, & Buchanan S.K. (2012). Molecular basis for the activation of a catalytic asparagine residue in a self-cleaving bacterial autotransporter. JMB, Jan 6;415(1):128-42. [Full Text/Abstract]

  3. Noinaj N, Wattanasak R, Lee DY, Wally JL, Piszczek G, Chock PB, Stadtman TC, & Buchanan S.K. (2012). Structural Insights into the Catalytic Mechanism of Escherichia coli Selenophosphate Synthetase. J. Bacteriology, Jan; 194(2):499-508. [Full Text/Abstract]

  4. Hinnebusch, B.J., Jarrett, C., Callison, J., Gardner, D., Buchanan S.K. & Plano, G. (2011). Role of the Yersinia pestis Ail Protein in Preventing a Protective Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Response During Bubonic Plague. Infect. Immun., Dec;79(12):4984-9. [Full Text/Abstract]

  5. Yamashita, S., Lukacik, P., Barnard, T.J., Noinaj, N. Felek, S., Tsang, T.M., Krukonis, E.S., Hinnebusch, B.J. & Buchanan S.K. (2011). Structural insights into Ail-mediated adhesion in Yersinia pestis. Structure, Nov 9;19(11):1672-82. [Full Text/Abstract]

  6. Fairman, J.W., Noinaj, N. & Buchanan S.K. (2011). The structural biology of ß-barrel membrane proteins: a summary of recent reports. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 21, 523-531. [Full Text/Abstract]

  7. Noinaj N., Bosserman M.A., Schickli M.A., Piszczek G., Kharel M.K., Pahari P., Buchanan S.K., Rohr J. (2011). The Crystal Structure and Mechanism of an Unusual Oxidoreductase, GilR, Involved in Gilvocarcin V Biosynthesis. J Biol Chem., 286(26), 23533-43. [Full Text/Abstract]

  8. Noinaj, N., Fairman, J.W. & Buchanan S.K. (2011). The crystal structure of BamB suggests interactions with BamA and its role within the BAM complex. J. Mol. Biol., 407, 248-260. [Full Text/Abstract]

  9. Tong, J., Dolezal, P., Selkrig, J., Crawford, S., Simpson, A.G.B., Nicholas Noinaj, N., Buchanan S.K., Gabriel, K. & Lithgow, T. (2010). Ancestral and derived protein import pathways in the mitochondrion of Reclinomonas americana. Mol Biol Evol. 2010 Nov 15. [Full Text/Abstract]

  10. Noinaj, N., Guillier, M., Barnard, T.J. & Buchanan S.K. (2010). TonB-dependent transporters: regulation, structure, and function. Annu Rev Microbiol. Oct 13;64:43-60. [Full Text/Abstract]

  11. Udho, E. Jakes, K.S., Buchanan S.K., James, K., Jiang, X., Klebba, P.E. & Finkelstein, A. (2009). Reconstitution of bacterial outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters in planar lipid bilayer membranes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106, 21990-21995. PMCID: PMC2799797. [Full Text/Abstract]

  12. Anwari, K., Poggio, S., Perry, A., Gatsos, X., Ramarathinam, S.H., Williamson, N.A., Noinaj, N., Buchanan S.K., Gabriel, K., Purcell, A.W., Jacobs-Wagner, C. & Lithgow, T. (2009). A modular BAM complex in the outer membrane of the model a-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus. PLoS One, 5(1), e8619. PMCID: PMC2797634. [Full Text/Abstract]

  13. Dagley, M.J., Dolezal, P., Likic, V.A., Smid, O., Purcell, A.W., Buchanan S.K., Tachezy, J. & Lithgow, T. (2009). The protein import channel in the outer mitosomal membrane of Giardia intestinalis. Mol. Biol. Evol., 5(1), e8619. PMCID: PMC2797634. [Full Text/Abstract]

  14. Gatsos, X., Perry, A.J., Anwari, K., Dolezal, P., Wolynec, P.P., Likic, V.A., Purcell, A,W., Buchanan S.K. & Lithgow, T. (2008). Protein secretion and outer membrane assembly in a-proteobacteria. FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 26, 1941-1947. PMCID: PMC2734158. [Full Text/Abstract]

  15. Brooks, B.E. & Buchanan S.K. (2008). Signals for activation of extra cytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors. Biochim. Biophys. Acta: Biomembranes, 1778, 1930-1945. PMCID: PMC2562455. Full Text/Abstract]

  16. Barnard, T.J., Dautin, N., Lukacik, P., Bernstein, H.D. & Buchanan S.K. (2007). Autotransporter structure reveals intra-barrel cleavage followed by conformational changes. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol 14, 1214-1220. PMCID: PMC2551741. Full Text/Abstract]

  17. Cascales, E., Buchanan S.K., Duché, D., Kleanthous, C., Lloubès, R., Postle, K., Riley, M.A., Slatin, S. & Cavard, D. (2007). Colicin biology. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 71, 158-229. PMCID: PMC1847374 Full Text/Abstract]

  18. Buchanan S.K., Lukacik, P., Grizot, S., Ghirlando, R., Ali, M.M.U., Barnard, T.J., Jakes, K.S., Kienker, P.K. & Esser, L. (2007). Structure of colicin I receptor bound to the R-domain of colicin Ia: implications for protein import. EMBO J. 26, 2594-2604. PMCID: PMC1868905. Full Text/Abstract]

  19. Wally, J.L., Halbrooks, P.J., Vonrhein, C., Rould, M.A., Everse, S.J., Mason, A.B. & Buchanan S.K. (2006). The crystal structure of apo human serum transferrin provides insight into inter-lobe communication and receptor binding. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 24934-24944. PMCID: PMC1895924. Full Text/Abstract]

  20. Buchanan S.K. (2005). Bacterial metal detectors. Mol. Microbiol., 58, 1205-1209. PMCID: PMC1343523. Full Text/Abstract]

  21. Wally J, Buchanan S. K. A structural comparison of human serum transferrin and human lactoferrin. Biometals(20): 249-62, 2007. [Full Text/Abstract]

  22. Barnard TJ, Dautin N, Lukacik P, Bernstein HD, Buchanan S.K. Autotransporter structure reveals intra-barrel cleavage followed by conformational changes. Nat Struct Mol Biol(14): 1214-1220, 2007. [Full Text/Abstract]

  23. Brooks BE, Buchanan S.K. Signaling mechanisms for activation of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors. Biochim Biophys Acta, 2007. [Full Text/Abstract]

  24. Buchanan S.K., Lukacik P, Grizot S, Ghirlando R, Ali MM, Barnard TJ, Jakes KS, Kienker PK, Esser L Structure of colicin I receptor bound to the R-domain of colicin Ia: implications for protein import. EMBO J(26): 2594-604, 2007. [Full Text/Abstract]

  25. Wally J, Halbrooks PJ, Vonrhein C, Rould MA, Everse SJ, Mason AB, Buchanan S.K. The crystal structure of iron-free human serum transferrin provides insight into inter-lobe communication and receptor binding. J Biol Chem (281): 24934-44, 2006. [Full Text/Abstract]

  26. Buchanan S.K. Bacterial metal detectors. Mol Microbiol (58): 1205-9, 2005. [Full Text/Abstract]

  27. Schalk IJ, Yue WW, Buchanan S.K. Recognition of iron-free siderophores by TonB-dependent iron transporters. Mol Microbiol (54): 14-22, 2004. [Full Text/Abstract]

  28. Grizot S Buchanan S.K. Structure of the OmpA-like domain of RmpM from Neisseria meningitidis. Mol Microbiol (51): 1027-37, 2004. [Full Text/Abstract]

  29. Oke M Sarra R Ghirlando R Farnaud S Gorringe AR Evans RW Buchanan S.K. The plug domain of a neisserial TonB-dependent transporter retains structural integrity in the absence of its transmembrane beta-barrel. FEBS Lett (564): 294-300, 2004. [Full Text/Abstract]

  30. Yue WW Grizot S Buchanan S.K. Structural evidence for iron-free citrate and ferric citrate binding to the TonB-dependent outer membrane transporter FecA. J Mol Biol (332): 353-68, 2003. [Full Text/Abstract]

  31. Oakhill JS Joannou CL Buchanan S.K. Gorringe AR Evans RW Expression and purification of functional recombinant meningococcal transferrin-binding protein A. Biochem J (364): 613-6, 2002. [Full Text/Abstract]

  32. Gabriel K Buchanan S.K. Lithgow T The alpha and the beta: protein translocation across mitochondrial and plastid outer membranes. Trends Biochem Sci (26): 36-40, 2001. [Full Text/Abstract]

  33. Buchanan S.K. Type I secretion and multidrug efflux: transport through the TolC channel-tunnel. Trends Biochem Sci (26): 3-6, 2001. [Full Text/Abstract]

  34. Buchanan S.K. Beta-barrel proteins from bacterial outer membranes: structure, function and refolding. Curr Opin Struct Biol (9): 455-61, 1999. [Full Text/Abstract]

  35. Buchanan S.K. Smith BS Venkatramani L Xia D Esser L Palnitkar M Chakraborty R van der Helm D Deisenhofer J Crystal structure of the outer membrane active transporter FepA from Escherichia coli. Nat Struct Biol (6): 56-63, 1999. [Full Text/Abstract]

  36. Buchanan S.K. Walker JE Large-scale chromatographic purification of F1F0-ATPase and complex I from bovine heart mitochondria. Biochem J 318 ( Pt 1): 343-9, 1996. [Full Text/Abstract]

  37. Buchanan S.K. Fritzsch G Ermler U Michel H New crystal form of the photosynthetic reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides of improved diffraction quality. J Mol Biol (230): 1311-4, 1993. [Full Text/Abstract]



Update My page

Page last updated: January 27, 2012

General inquiries may be addressed to:
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
NIDDK, NIH
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
31 Center Drive, MSC 2560
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
USA
301.496.3583

The National Institutes of Health   Department of Health and Human Services   USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state, and local government web resources and services.  This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.