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Research

The main research focus of the group is the development of chemical tools to assist the study of biological systems.

Tools to study redox regulation in biological systems (funded by an ARC Discovery Early Career Award, 2012-2014)
Many diseases are associated with perturbations in redox state, so developing ways to measure biological redox state will help us to better understand these diseases and suggest ways to cure or treat them. We are developing probes that allow the monitoring of cellular redox state by MRI or fluorescence microscopy.

Studying the role of oxidative stress on obesity (funded by a Ramaciotti Establishment Grant, 2013-2014)
There is emerging evidence for the importance of oxidative stress in the onset and progression of obesity. We are interested in studying this at the level of the single cell, to understand the mechanisms by which oxidative stress perturbs the differentiation and function of adipocytes.
See this interview to find out more.

Tools to study labile pools of metal ions
The pool of labile, or bioavailable, metal ions in a cell is crucial to the function of metalloproteins and the maintenance of metal homeostasis. We are developing probes for biologically-relevant metal ions, that can be used to provide information about how labile metal pools change in conditions of health and disease.

Recent Publications (from 2009)

Shen, C and New, EJ. Promising strategies for Gd-based responsive magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, in press.

New, EJ. Tools to study distinct metal pools in biology. Dalton Transactions, in press. DOI: 10.1039/C2DT31933K

Que, EL; New, EJ and Chang, CJ. A cell-permeable gadolinium contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of copper in a Menkes disease model. Chemical Science, 3, 1829-1834, 2012. DOI: 10.1039/C2SC20273E

Au-Yeung, H-Y; New, EJ and Chang, CJ. A selective reaction-based fluorescent probe for detecting cobalt in living cells. Chemical Communications, 48, 5268-5270, 2012. DOI: 10.1039/C2CC31681A

Lippert, AR; New, EJ and Chang, CJ. Reaction-based fluorescent probes for selective imaging of hydrogen sulfide in living cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133 (26), 10078-10080, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/ja203661j

Dias, DM; Teixeira, JMC; Kuprov, I; New, EJ; Parker, D and Geraldes, C. Enantioselective binding of a lanthanide(III) complex to human serum albumin studied by (1)H STD NMR techniques. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 9, 5047-5050, 2011. DOI: 10.1039/C1OB05524K

New, EJ; Parker, D; Smith, DG and Walton, JW. Development of responsive lanthanide probes for cellular applications. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 14 (2), 238-246, 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.10.003

New, EJ; Congreve, A and Parker, D. Definition of the uptake mechanism and sub-cellular localisation profile of emissive lanthanide complexes as cellular optical probes. Chemical Science, 1, 111-118, 2010. DOI: 10.1039/C0SC00105H

Miller, EW; Taulet, N; Onak, CS; New, EJ; Lanselle, JK; Smelick, GS and Chang, CJ. Light-activated regulation of cofilin dynamics using a photocaged hydrogen peroxide generator. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132 (48), 17071-17073, 2010. DOI: 10.1021/ja107783j

New, EJ; Roche, C; Madawala, R; Zhang, JZ and Hambley, TW. Fluorescent analogues of quinoline reveal amine ligand loss from cis and trans platinum(II) complexes in cancer cells. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 103 (8), 1120-1125, 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2009.05.005

New, EJ; Parker, D and Peacock, RD. Comparative study of the constitution and chiroptical properties of emissive terbium and europium complexes with a common tetraazatriphenylene sensitiser; the nature of the sensitiser determines quenching sensitivity and cellular uptake. Dalton Transactions, 672-679, 2009. DOI: 10.1039/B816173A

New, EJ and Parker, D. The mechanism of cell uptake for luminescent lanthanide optical probes: the role of macropinocytosis and the effect of enhanced membrane permeability on compartmentalisation. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 7, 851-855, 2009. DOI: 10.1039/B822145F

New, EJ; Duan, R; Zhang, JZ and Hambley, TW. Investigations using fluorescent ligands to monitor platinum(IV) reduction and platinum(II) reactions in cancer cells. Dalton Transactions, 3092-3101, 2009. DOI: 10.1039/B821603G

Montgomery, CP; New, EJ; Palsson, LO; Parker, D; Batsanov, AS and Lamarque, L. Emissive and cell-permeable 3-pyridyl- and 3-pyrazolyl-4-azaxanthone lanthanide complexes and their behaviour in cellulo. Helvetica Chimica Acta, 92, 2186-2213, 2009. DOI: 10.1002/hlca.200900122

Montgomery, CP; Murray, BS; New, EJ; Pal, R and Parker, D. Cell-penetrating metal complex optical probes: Targeted and responsive systems based on lanthanide luminescence. Accounts of Chemical Research, 42, 925-937, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/ar800174z