Dr Gary Parkinson

The School of Pharmacy
University of London
29/39 Brunswick Square
London WC1N 1AX
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7753 5800
Fax: +44 (0)20 7753 5829

e-mail: gary.parkinson@pharmacy.ac.uk

Area of expertise

Structural and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery, Cancer Therapeutics

Laboratory techniques include: X-ray crystallography - macromolecular and small molecule, assay development, cloning, protein expression, protein purification, and synthesis.

Biography

First degree in Geology, from the University of London. Completed an MSc in crystallography from Birkbeck College, University of London. Joined Prof. Craven's group in Pittsburgh University, USA to conduct charge density studies using high resolution x-ray crystallography. Graduated form Pittsburgh University with a PhD in crystallography. Joined Rutgers University as a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Helen Berman in the investigation of DNA and protein/DNA complexes. Returned to the UK and joined Prof S. Neidle's group in 1999. Moved to the School of Pharmacy in 2002. Currently senior research fellow and assistant director of the biomolecular structure group.

Research Interests

To use structural techniques to investigate and elucidate, at high resolution, the topology and surface structural features of quadruplex DNA in order to define the modes of interaction of small molecule ligands. To use this information to design and develop new anticancer agents that specifically target quadruplex forming DNA motifs. In addition to elucidate both the protein and nucleic acid structural components of the telomere with a view to finding new molecular targets for anti-cancer therapeutic agents.

Selected Publications

• Structural Basis for Binding of Porphyrin to Human Telomeres(,). Parkinson GN, Ghosh R, Neidle S. Biochemistry. 2007 Feb 3; [Epub ahead of print]
• Topology variation and loop structural homology in crystal and simulated structures of a bimolecular DNA quadruplex. Hazel P, Parkinson GN, Neidle S. J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Apr 26;128(16):5480-7.
• Studies on the nitroreductase prodrug-activating system. Crystal structures of complexes with the inhibitor dicoumarol and dinitrobenzamide prodrugs and of the enzyme active form. Johansson E, Parkinson GN, Denny WA, Neidle S. J Med Chem. 2003 Sep 11;46(19):4009-20.
• Telomere maintenance as a target for anticancer drug discovery. Neidle S, Parkinson G. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2002 May;1(5):383-93. Review.
• Crystal structure of parallel quadruplexes from human telomeric DNA. Parkinson GN, Lee MP, Neidle S. Nature. 2002 Jun 20;417(6891):876-80.