DoctorJodie Johnston

Jodie’s research at the intersection of chemistry and biology focuses on understanding how protein structure shapes biological function, with particular emphasis on proteins from microbial pathogens and food-safe bacteria, menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis proteins and thiamine-diphosphate dependent enzymes, protein communication networks and regulatory mechanisms, and protein–ligand interactions.

Protein Structure & Function

• Structure–function relationships in microbial proteins
• Structure-function and enzyme mechanism studies in thiamine-diphosphate dependent enzymes
• Protein regulation, allostery and cooperativity molecular mechanisms
• Protein–ligand interactions and binding mechanisms

Bacterial Physiology

• Bacterial menaquinone biosynthesis and energy generation
• Structural mechanisms underlying microbial pathogenesis; including virulence, antimicrobial resistance and persistence
• Bacterial environmental adaptation and redox homeostasis mechanisms

Structural Biology Methods

• Macromolecular X‑ray crystallography
• Synchrotron‑based structure determination
• Biophysical and biochemical characterisation of proteins
• 3D structural analysis
• Molecular biology

Applications in Health & Biotechnology

• Structural targets for antibiotic development
• Protein engineering to create improved, diversified or tuneable biocatalysts
• Protein engineering for optimising fermentative vitamin K2 supplement production

• Structure‑guided inhibitor design
• Microbial growth inhibition testing

• Human kinase – inhibitor interaction structural analysis