Themed collection In memory of Chris Abell

Key steps in vitamin biosynthesis: insights from mechanistic and structural studies.

A comprehensive review of recent developments in the enzymology of pantothenate biosynthesis, incorporating an historical perspective.

A method to produce core–shell microcapsules with a solid core or microdroplet core via FSAW microfluidics is demonstrated.

The integration of microfluidic spinning and colloidal crystal microdots enable the colour-encoded hydrogel microfibres with facile and flexible manipulation of the encoding.

Fabrication of cucurbit[n]uril-based catalytic microreactors through the immobilisation of metallic nanoparticles onto microchannels.

The interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis EthR and its operator DNA has been studied by native mass spectrometry, revealing an interesting stoichiometry.

Surface-immobilised micelles via CB[8]-rotaxane host–guest recognition undergoes ‘burst’ release of cargo upon exposure to organic solvents.

Supramolecular colloidosomes are self-assembled at the interface of microfluidic droplets via a cucurbit[8]uril host–guest complex, allowing for triggered release of aqueous cargo.

A fragment library was screened against the human c-MYC promoter G-quadruplex. Ten fragment hits had a significant concordance between a biophysical assay, in silico modelling and c-MYC expression inhibition.

Surface energy patterning in microfluidic channels provides a new tool for droplet fusion that does not require active elements nor accurate synchronization.

We demonstrate that single cells can be controllably compartmentalized within aqueous microdroplets. Using such an approach we perform high-throughput screening by detecting the expression of a fluorescent protein in individual cells with simultaneous measurement of droplet size, fluorescence and cell occupancy.

The first controlled fabrication of three-dimensional nanostructures with functional enzymes by templated layer-by-layer assembly of avidin and biotinylated horseradish peroxidase on micro-contact printing patterned surfaces is presented.

Direct coupling of a dye-labelled DNA (acceptor) to a quantum dot (QD) donor significantly reduces the donor–acceptor distance and improves the FRET efficiency in quantum dot bioconjugates.

New selective inhibitors of type II dehydroquinase were rationally designed to explore extra binding interactions, resulting in increased potency.

Chorismate and isochorismate analogues were designed and tested as inhibitors of Yersinia enterocolitica salicylate synthase.

3-[¹³C]Dehydroquinic acid has been prepared from commercially available D-5-[¹³C]fructose over four enzyme catalysed steps.

The binding affinity of E. coli aspartate decarboxylase has been probed using MALDI-TOF spectrometry after incubation of the enzyme with a range of potential ligands in the presence of NaCNBH₃. This has highighted key structural features which will aid design of potential inhibitors.

Nanoscale patches, created by nanografting a maleimide-terminated thiol into a self-assembled monolayer, were elaborated by sequential chemical reactions. Each state in the nanofabrication was followed by atomic force microscopy, providing a controlled approach to the fabrication of novel three-dimensional surface nanostructures.

The successful self-assembly of a stimuli-responsive aqueous supramolecular hyperbranched polymer from small molecules and the macrocyclic host cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is reported. This self-healing supramolecular network can act as a soft matter barrier at liquid–liquid interfaces.

CAM4066, a specific CK2α kinase inhibitor, is anchored in the cryptic αD pocket outside the active site and inserts a “warhead” into the active site, blocking ATP binding and thereby inhibiting the kinase.

Host–guest assembly at the interface of microfluidic droplets offers a versatile strategy to construct supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules with “smart” cargo release.

The development of a method to identify novel fragment ligands for the TPP riboswitch thiM is described.

Thermal and light dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules have been successfully prepared by combining cucurbit[8]uril-based host–guest recognition with the self-assembly of colloidal particles within microfluidic droplets.

With the ever-increasing instances of resistance to frontline TB drugs there is the need to develop novel strategies to fight the worldwide TB epidemic.

The binding of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) to the thiM riboswitch has been systematically explored by testing a range of TPP analogues in which the aminopyrimidine ring, the central thiazolium ring, and the pyrophosphate tail are each replaced in turn by similar structures.

The protein crystallization and gene expression in vivo can be controlled by transporting small molecules through PDMS membrane to manipulate the chemical environment of microdroplets.

Highly uniform Ag–agarose microbeads prepared using a flow-focusing microfluidic device can trap and concentrate analytes increasing the analytical sensitivity of SERS.

A chelating dendritic ligand capped stable, compact, water-soluble quantum dot allows for effective surface defect passivation and sensitive DNA detection.

A number of 2-amino-4-carboxypyridine, 4- and 5-carboxypyridone-based compounds were prepared. Several compounds proved to be low micromolar inhibitors when screened against three members of the chorismate-utilising enzyme family.

We developed an extremely convenient, largely automated surface modification technique for the production of long-term stable hydrophilic channel walls inside PDMS-based microfluidic devices and applied it successfully for the high-throughput generation of highly monodisperse o/w droplets and w/o/w double emulsions.

Here we present the design, fabrication and operation of a microfluidic device to trap droplets in a large array of droplet pairs in a controlled manner.

Force spectroscopy was used to investigate the rupture of interfacial vancomycin dimer complexes formed between pairs of vancomycin molecules when bound to model bacterial cell-wall surfaces.

We demonstrate the integration of on-chip dilution with droplet formation, leading to parallel streams of microdroplets which allow the simultaneous measurements of enzymatic activity at different concentrations of substrate.

A modular system of microfluidic PDMS devices was designed to incorporate the steps necessary for cell biological assays based on mammalian tissue culture ‘on-chip’. The design allows cultivation of cells for extended periods of time in combination with assessment of transfection rates and successive encapsulation of CHO-K1 cells achieved on-chip.

A library of 2,5-dihydrochorismate analogues were designed as inhibitors of the chorismate-utilising enzymes anthranilate synthase, isochorismate synthase, salicylate synthase and 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase. The compounds, synthesised from shikimic acid, showed differential enzyme inhibition.

We describe the design, fabrication and use of a single-layered poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic structure for the entrapment and release of microdroplets in an array format controlled entirely by liquid flow.

Ten analogues of pantoyl adenylate, a reaction intermediate of the reaction catalysed by pantothenate synthetase, were synthesised as potential inhibitors of the enzyme. Analogues in which the phosphodiester was replaced by a sulfamoyl group were more potent than those in which it was replaced by an ester.

Docking of aromatic chorismate analogue containing a C-4 hydroxymethyl substituent into the active site of Serratia marcescens anthranilate synthase.

Aromatic chorismate analogues were synthesised and tested against anthranilate synthase. The most potent compound exhibited a K_I of 3 µM.

The fluoro analogue of the enolate intermediate in the reaction catalyzed by type II dehydroquinases has been prepared and has been shown to be the most potent inhibitor reported to date of the type II enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A novel protecting group that incorporates functionalities to facilitate compound purification by enabling solid-phase extraction in either an irreversible, or pH dependent reversible manner is presented, and its use in parallel synthesis is exemplified.

The preparation of the antihyperglycemic agent Rosiglitazone (Avandia™) in high purity by a multi-step polymer-assisted solution phase synthesis requiring no conventional chromatography is reported.

The separate binding features of glycerol and a known inhibitor were combined in the design of a series of novel inhibitors of type II dehydroquinase.

The work establishes the methodology to encapsulate, grow, and monitor single algal cells in microdroplets of aqueous medium suspended in fluorinated oil for extended periods of time.