Dr Uli Schwarz-Linek
Director of Impact
Senior Lecturer
Research areas
Our research is directed at understanding structure, mechanism of host protein recognition and function of bacterial and viral virulence factors, with an emphasis on Gram-positive bacterial surface proteins. My group specialises in structural biology and protein biochemistry, complemented with biophysical and cell-based techniques. We have a particular interest in TIE (thioester, isopeptide, ester domain) proteins of Gram-positive pathogens including group A streptococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium difficile. Our most significant contribution to the field was the discovery of bacteria-encoded, TIE protein-mediated covalent binding as a novel molecular principle in host-microbe interactions. The lab also exploits TIE domains for protein engineering to develop molecular tools for diagnostics, therapy and nanotechnology. Another focus of the group is the structural characterization of GAS M proteins, and the analysis of molecular mechanisms of post-streptococcal rheumatic sequelae. We also investigate structure and functions of single strand RNA virus NSs proteins, key virulence factors of a large class of clinically and economically important pathogens, with a focus on Rift Valley fever phlebovirus.
PhD supervision
- Riona Datta-Savage
Selected publications
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Open access
Structural and biochemical characterisation of Co2+-binding sites on serum albumins and their interplay with fatty acids
Wu, D., Gucwa, M., Czub, M. P., Cooper, D. R., Shabalin, I. G., Fritzen, R., Arya, S., Schwarz-Linek, U., Blindauer, C. A., Minor, W. & Stewart, A. J., 21 Jun 2023, In: Chemical Science. 14, 23, p. 6244-6258 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Insights into the mechanism of the cyanobactin heterocyclase enzyme
Ge, Y., Czekster, C. M., Miller, O. K., Botting, C. H., Schwarz-Linek, U. & Naismith, J. H., 23 Apr 2019, In: Biochemistry. 58, 16, p. 2125-2132 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A new structural class of bacterial thioester domains reveals a slipknot topology
Miller, O. K., Banfield, M. & Schwarz-Linek, U., Sept 2018, In: Protein Science. 27, 9, p. 1651-1660Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Oxidation of the cyanobactin precursor peptide is independent of the leader peptide and operates in a defined order
Gao, S., Ge, Y., Bent, A. F., Schwarz-Linek, U. & Naismith, J. H., 16 Oct 2018, In: Biochemistry. 57, 41, p. 5996-6002 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A new method for post-translationally labeling proteins in live cells for fluorescence imaging and tracking
Hinrichsen, M., Lenz, M., Edwards, J. M., Miller, O. K., Mochrie, S. G. J., Swain, P. S., Schwarz-Linek, U. & Regan, L., Dec 2017, In: Protein Engineering, Design & Selection. 30, 12, p. 771-780Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Rift Valley fever phlebovirus NSs protein core domain structure suggests molecular basis for nuclear filaments
Barski, M., Brennan, B., Miller, O. K., Potter, J. A., Vijayakrishnan, S., Bhella, D., Naismith, J. H., Elliott, R. M. & Schwarz-Linek, U., 15 Sept 2017, In: eLife. 6, 20 p., e29236.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
An internal thioester in a pathogen surface protein mediates covalent host binding
Walden, M., Edwards, J. M., Dziewulska, A. M., Bergmann, R., Saalbach, G., Kan, S.-Y., Miller, O. K., Weckener, M., Jackson, R. J., Shirran, S. L., Botting, C. H., Florence, G. J., Rohde, M., Banfield, M. J. & Schwarz-Linek, U., 2 Jun 2015, In: eLife. 4, 24 p., e06638.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Plasma free fatty acid levels influence Zn2+-dependent histidine-rich glycoprotein-heparin interactions via an allosteric switch on serum albumin
Kassaar, O., Schwarz-Linek, U., Blindauer, C. A. & Stewart, A. J., Jan 2015, In: Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 13, 1, p. 101-110 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
An efficient method for the in vitro production of Azol(in)e-based cyclic peptides
Houssen, W. E., Bent, A. F., McEwan, A. R., Pieiller, N., Tabudravu, J., Koehnke, J., Mann, G., Adaba, R. I., Thomas, L., Hawas, U. W., Liu, H., Schwarz-Linek, U., Smith, M. C. M., Naismith, J. H. & Jaspars, M., 15 Dec 2014, In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 53, 51, p. 14171-14174 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Covalent host-targeting by thioester domains of Gram-positive pathogens
Walden, M., Edwards, J., Dziewulska, A., Schwarz-Linek, U. & Banfield, M., 1 Aug 2014, In: Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances. 70, a1, p. C848Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review