Staff Profile

The Tuite Lab works at the interface of life and physical sciences, applying chemical and physical tools to biological, materials, and environmental problems.
We have particular interests in the chemistry, dynamics, and recognition of DNA in the context of nano-assembly, synthetic biology, molecular diagnostics, and photodynamic therapy. Another research line involves optical spectroscopy, photophysics, photochemistry, and photobiology.

Together with the Pike Group, we form the Bioinspired Molecular Engineering Group.
In April 2021, assisted by Innovate UK, we jointly spun out NunaBio Ltd to provide provide DNA solutions for microbial detection and biochemical research.

Background

My undergraduate and postgraduate studies were at Trinity College Dublin. In 1992, I completed my PhD in the School of Chemistry with Prof John Kelly on photosensitized damage of DNA. I then moved to Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast for postdoctoral work with Prof Bengt Norden at Chalmers University of Technology in the field of biomolecular recognition, and subsequently accepted an Assistant Professorship there. In 2000 I moved to a lectureship at Newcastle where I have continued to expand my research in Biophysical Chemistry.

Qualifications and Previous Positions

1987: BA (4 yrs) in Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Physics and Maths), Trinity College Dublin (Cocker Medal)
1992: PhD in Chemistry with John Kelly, Trinity College Dublin
1990-1991: President, Trinity College Dublin (DU) Graduate Students' Union.

1993-1995: Wenner-Gren/SI Research Fellow with Bengt Norden, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
1995-1996: EU Marie Curie Research Fellow with Bengt Norden, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
1996-2000: Assistant Professor in Biophysical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
1998:          Docent in Biophysical Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg

External Scientific Service

EPSRC Peer Review College (2002-2005, 2006-2009, 2010-2016, 2016- )
BBSRC Pool of Experts (2009-2013)
     – TRDF, Committee C, and ALERT panels (2009-2017)
EU Evaluation Expert (2010- ; FP7 & H2020)
     – Life Science and Chemistry: MSCA IF/ITN/RISE/WIDESPREAD; COST
ERC Evaluation Expert (2014-2020)
     – Life Science Starter Grants panel (LS7 - Diagnostics, Therapies, Public Health)
FCT (Portugal) Evaluation Expert (2017- )
    – Life Science Panels

Other

Taekwondo, tennis, pilates, yoga, SUP

Undergraduate Modules

CHY1200 General Chemistry: module leader, lecturer
CHY1510 General Chemistry: labs
CHY1510 Introductory Physical Chemistry: labs
CHY2201 Physical Chemistry - Kinetics: module leader, lecturer
CHY2510 Physical Chemistry: labs
CHY8428 Energy and Materials - Biophysical Chemistry: module leader and lecturer

I offer projects on topics in nanoscience, imaging, diagnostics, and biomedicine.

MChem and MSc Projects

I offer projects to masters students on biophysics, photophysics and photochemistry of DNA/probe systems, and on DNA diagnostics.

Research Grants

EU MSCA Research & Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Grant (#778001) 2018-2023
DNASURF: MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS THROUGH DNA MODIFICATION AND INTERFACIAL ENGINEERING
DNASURF Project Website
Looking forward to working with excellent colleagues in Dublin, Birmingham, Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country), Jerusalem, Singapore, Sapporo, Sydney, Melbourne, and Provo (Utah).

Research Topics

• Spectroscopic and biophysical studies of drug interactions with DNA and analogues (especially phenothiazines, cyanines, acridines, ruthenium complexes) including chiral, sequence, and structural recognition.
  
• Mechanisms of photocleavage of DNA, including metal complex and cyanine photosensitizers.
• Electron and energy transfer mediated by DNA and PNA for structural and dynamic studies of nucleic acids, especially with metal complexes, light harvesting, and conductivity investigations.
  
• Nucleic acid-based assembly of nanoscopic architectures.
• Quantum dots, SERS, and near-field microscopy.
• Enzymatic extension methods for synthesis of modified DNA.

Chemical Nanoscience Labs Research

Publications (Scopus)

47 : Peer-Reviewed Papers and Reviews
27 : h-index
3 : patent applications

• Mårtensson AKF, Abrahamsson M, Tuite EM, Lincoln P. Diastereomeric Crowding Effects in the Competitive DNA Intercalation of Ru(phenanthroline)₂dipyridophenazine²⁺ Enantiomers. Inorganic Chemistry 2019, 58(14), 9452-9459.
• Lunn S, Hribesh S, Whitfield C, Hall M, Houlton A, Brownowska A, Tuite EM, Pike AR. Duplex Healing of Selectively Thiolated Guanosine Mismatches through a Cd2+ Chemical Stimulus. ChemBioChem 2018, 19(11), 1115-1118.
• Tuite EM, Norden B. Linear and Circular Dichroism Characterization of Thionine Binding Mode with DNA Polynucleotides. Spectrochimica Acta A 2018, 189, 86-92.
• Whitfield CJ, Little RC, Khan K, Ijiro K, Connolly BA, Tuite EM, Pike AR. Self-Priming Enzymatic Fabrication of Multiply Modified DNA. Chemistry - A European Journal 2018, 24(57), 15267-15274.
• Tuite EM, Nordén B. Structural Heterogeneity in Polynucleotide-Facilitated Assembly of Phenothiazine Dyes. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2018, 122(11), 2891-2899.
• Little RC, Whitfield CJ, Tuite EM, Pike AR. The synthesis of designer DNA. In: DNA Nanotechnology. New York, NY, USA: Humana Press Inc, 2018, pp.11-21.
• Higgs PL, McKinley AW, Tuite EM. [Ru(phen)₂dppz]²⁺ luminescence reveals nanoscale variation of polarity in the cyclodextrin cavity. Chemical Communications 2016, 52(9), 1883-1886.
• Tuite EM, Puntoriero F. Highlights from Faraday Discussion 185: Supramolecular Photochemistry, Cambridge, 2015. Chemical Communications 2016, 52(24), 4410-4417.
• Moradpour Hafshejani S, Watson SMD, Tuite EM, Pike AR. Click Modification of Diazido Acridine Intercalators: A Versatile Route Towards Decorated DNA Nanostructures. Chemistry - A European Journal 2015, 21(36), 12611-12615.
• Whitfield CJ, Turley AT, Tuite EM, Connolly BA, Pike AR. Enzymatic Method for the Synthesis of Long DNA Sequences with Multiple Repeat Units. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2015, 54(31), 8971-8974.
• Andersson J, Fornander LH, Abrahamsson M, Tuite E, Nordell P, Lincoln P. Lifetime Heterogeneity of DNA-Bound dppz Complexes Originates from Distinct Intercalation Geometries Determined by Complex-Complex Interactions. Inorganic Chemistry 2013, 52(2), 1151-1159.
• McKinley AW, Lincoln P, Tuite EM. Sensitivity of [Ru(phen)₂dppz]²⁺ light switch emission to ionic strength, temperature, and DNA sequence and conformation. Dalton Transactions 2013, 42(11), 4081-4090.
• Moradpour Hafshejani S, Hedley JH, Haigh AO, Pike AR, Tuite EM. Synthesis and binding of proflavine diazides as functional intercalators for directed assembly on DNA. RSC Advances 2013, 3(39), 18164-18172.
• McKinley AW, Andersson J, Lincoln P, Tuite EM. DNA Sequence and Ancillary Ligand Modulate the Biexponential Emission Decay of Intercalated [Ru(L)₂dppz]²⁺ Enantiomers. Chemistry: A European Journal 2012, 18(47), 15142 – 15150.
• Tuite EM, Rose DB, Ennis PM, Kelly JM. Influence of polystyrenesulfonate on electron transfer quenching of ruthenium trisbipyridine luminescence by viologens: non-covalent assembly and covalent tethering of the ruthenium complex . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2012, 14(10), 3681-3692.
• McKinley AW, Lincoln P, Tuite EM. Environmental Effects on the Photophysics of Transition Metal Complexes with Dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine (dppz) and Related Ligands. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2011, 225(21-22), 2676-2692.
• Dickinson FM, Alsop TA, Al-Sharif N, Berger CEM, Datta HK, Siller L, Chao Y, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Dispersions of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in aqueous media: photoluminescence and ageing. Analyst 2008, 133(11), 1573-1580.
• Erts D, Malinovskis U, Muiznieks I, Tuite E. Mechanical and electroconductive properties of spatially distributed double stranded DNA arrays on Au (111). Thin Solid Films 2008, 516(24), 8969-8974.
• Lie LH, Patole SN, Pike AR, Ryder LC, Connolly BA, Ward AD, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Immobilisation and synthesis of DNA on Si(111), nanocrystalline porous silicon and silicon nanoparticles. Faraday Discussions 2004, 125, 235-249.
• Erts D, Polyakov B, Olin H, Tuite E. Spatial and mechanical properties of dilute DNA monolayers on gold imaged by AFM. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2003, 107(15), 3591-3597.
• Polyakov B, Erts D, Malinovskis U, Muiznieks I, Tuite E. SPM studies of DNA architectures on Au(111) and mica surfaces. Physics of Low-Dimensional Structures 2003, 3-4, 269-276.
• Tuite E, Dickinson F, Clark IP. Photosensitization of Singlet Oxygen by Oxazole Yellow. In: Annual Report Central Laser Facility. Oxfordshire: Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, 2002, pp.110.
• Olofsson J, Onfelt B, Lincoln P, Norden B, Matousek P, Parker AW, Tuite E. Picosecond Kerr-gated time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of the [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+) interaction with DNA. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry: 10th International Conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry 2002, 91(1), 286-297.
• Lie LH, Duerdin M, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Preparation and characterisation of luminescent alkylated-silicon quantum dots. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 2002, 538, 183-190.
• Kim H-K, Tuite E, Norden B, Ninham BW. Co-ion dependence of DNA nuclease activity suggests Hydrophobic cavitation as a potential source of activation energy. European Physical Journal E. Soft Matter 2001, 4(4), 411-417.
• Kanony C, Akerman B, Tuite E. Photobleaching of asymmetric cyanines used for fluorescence imaging of single DNA molecules. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2001, 123(33), 7985-7995.
• Coates CG, Olofsson J, Coletti M, McGarvey JJ, Onfelt B, Lincoln P, Norden B, Tuite E, Matousek P, Parker AW. Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman probing of the light-switch states of [Ru(Phen)(2)dppz](2+). Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2001, 105(50), 12653-12664.
• Erts D, Polyakov B, Olin H, Tuite E. Spatially Distributed 2-Dimensional DNA Arrays on Au (111): AFM Characterisation. Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences 2001, 4, 63-71.
• Reid GD, Whittaker DJ, Day MA, Creely CM, Tuite EM, Kelly JM, Beddard GS. Ultrafast Electron Transfer Reactions between Thionine and Guanosine Bases. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2001, 123(28), 6953-6954.
• Tuite E, Ardhammar M, Liebermann T, Neumann T, Knoll W, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Detection of PNA:DNA Hybridisation by Surface Plasmon Resonance-Induced Fluorescence. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, 17(6), 1160.
• Tuite E, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Double Duplex Invasion of DNA by PNA. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, 17(6), Part 2.
• Tuite E, Lincoln P, Olafsson J, Becker H-C, Önfelt B, Erts D, Nordén B. Probing DNA Conductivity with Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, Conversation 11(2), 277-284.
• Ratilainen T, Holmén A, Tuite E, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Thermodynamics of Sequence-Specific Binding of PNA to DNA. Biochemistry 2000, 39(26), 7781-7791.
• Ellouze C, Selmane T, Kim H-K, Tuite E, Nordén B, Mortensen K, Takahashi M. Difference Between Active and Inactive Nucleotide Cofactors in the Effect on the DNA Binding and the Helical Structure of RecA Filament. European Journal of Biochemistry 1999, 262(1), 88-94.
• E. Tuite. Coordination Complexes and Nucleic Acids. Perspectives on Electron Transfer, Binding Mode and Cooperativity. In: V. Ramamurthy & K. Schanze, ed. Molecular and Supramolecular Photochemistry. Volume 2: Organic and Inorganic Photochemistry. Marcel Dekker, NY, 1998, pp.55-74.
• T. Ratilainen, A. Holmén, E. Tuite, L. Christensen, G. Haaima, P. Nielsen, and B. Nordén. Hybridization of Peptide Nucleic Acid. Biochemistry 1998, 37(35), 12331-12342.
• H.-K. Kim, P. Lincoln, B. Nordén, and E. Tuite. Absence of Chiral Discrimination in the Interaction of Tris(diphenylphenanthroline)ruthenium(II) with DNA. Chemical Communications 1997, 2375-2376.
• S.-D. Choi, M.-S. Kim, S. K. Kim, P. Lincoln, E. Tuite, and B. Nordén. Binding Mode of [Ru(1,10-Phenanthroline)2L]2+with Poly(dT*dA-dT) Triplex. Ligand Size Effect on Third Strand Stabilization. Biochemistry 1997, 36(1), 214-223.
• E. Tuite, U. Sehlstedt, P. Hagmar, B. Nordén, and M. Takahashi. Effects of Minor and Major Groove Binding Drugs and Intercalators on the DNA Association of Minor Groove Binding Proteins RecA and Deoxyribonuclease I Detected by Flow Linear Dichroism. European Journal of Biochemistry 1997, 243(1-2), 482-492.
• C. Ellouze, H.-K. Kim, K. Maeshima, E. Tuite, K. Morimatsu, T. Horii, K. Mortensen, B. Nordén, and M. Takahashi. Nucleotide Cofactor-Dependent Structural Change of Xenopus laevis Rad51 Protein Filament Detected by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Measurements in Solution. Biochemistry 1997, 36(44), 13524-13529.
• E. Tuite, P. Lincoln, and B. Nordén. Photophysical Evidence that D- and L-[Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ Intercalate DNA from the Minor Groove. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1997, 119(1), 239-240.
• P. Lincoln, E. Tuite, and B. Nordén. Short-Circuiting the Molecular Wire: Cooperative Binding of D-[Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ and D-[Rh(phi)2bipy]3+. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1997, 119(6), 1454-1455.
• B. Nordén, P. Lincoln, B. Åkerman, and E. Tuite. DNA Interactions with Substitution-Inert Metal Ion Complexes. In: H. Sigel & A. Sigel, ed. Metal Ions in Biological Systems. Vol 33: Probing of Nucleic Acids by Metal Ion Complexes of Small Molecules. Marcel Dekker, NY, 1996, pp.177-252.
• B. Åkerman and E. Tuite. Single- and Double-Strand Photocleavage of DNA by YO, YOYO and TOTO. Nucleic Acids Research 1996, 243(6), 1080-1090.
• E. Tuite, S. K. Kim, M. Takahashi, and B. Nordén. Effects of Intercalators on Complexation of RecA with Duplex DNA. Biochemistry 1995, 34(50), 16365-16374.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Intercalative Interactions of Ethidium Dyes with Triplex Structures. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 1995, 3(6), 701-711.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Methylene Blue Intercalates with Triplex Poly(dT)*Poly(dA).Poly(dT) but not Duplex Poly(dA).Poly(dT). Chemical Communications 1995, 53-54.
• E. Tuite and J. M. Kelly. The Interaction of Methylene Blue, Azure B, and Thionine with DNA: Formation of Complexes with Polynucleotides and Mononucleotides as Model Systems. Biopolymers 1995, 35(5), 419-433.
• E. Tuite, J. M. Kelly, G. S. Beddard, and G. D. Reid. Femtosecond Deactivation of Thionine Singlet State by Mononucleotides and Polynucleotides. Chemical Physics Letters 1994, 226(5-6), 517-524.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Sequence-Specific Interactions of Methylene Blue with Polynucleotides and DNA: A Spectroscopic Study. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1994, 116(17), 7548-7556.
• E. M. Tuite and J. M. Kelly. Photochemical Interactions of Phenothiazine Dyes with DNA and Other Biological Substrates. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 1993, 21(2-3), 103-124.
• Kelly JM, Tuite EM, van der Putten WJM, Beddard GS, Reid GD. Photophysical Properties of Thionine and Methylene Blue when Bound to DNA, Polynucleotides and Nucleotides. In: V. Balzani & L. De Cola, ed. Supramolecular Chemistry. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, 1992, pp.375-381.