Senior Lecturer
- About
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- Email Address
- sam.miller@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437484
- Office Address
Office 5.25, SMMSN, IMS building, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Internal Memberships
Academic Lead Postgraduate Research (IMS)
Deputy Lead IMS Health and Safety Co-ordinator
- Research
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Research Overview
I am currently a senior lecturer in the Institute of Medical Sciences. I am a biochemist and molecular biologist working with bacteria in the Microbiology Programme of SMMSN. My research focusses on bacterial ion channels and transporters. These specialised membrane proteins help bacteria survive their environment. I investigate the molecular mechanisms of these proteins and how to use this knowledge to inhibit bacterial cell growth.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Collaborations
Prof. I. R. Booth (Aberdeen), Dr T.Rasmussen (Aberdeen), Dr A. Moura (Aberdeen), Prof. J. Naismith (St. Andrews), Prof. S. Conway (Oxford), Prof. B. Poolman (Groningen), Prof. Z. Ignatova (Pottsdam), Prof. C. Grebogi (Aberdeen), Prof. J. Banga (CSIC), Dr J. Yates (AstraZeneca), Dr. A. Valleriani (MPIKG), Prof. R. Bovenberg (DSM)
Funding and Grants
Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN) Call: FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN (awarded 2011) ‘NICHE’ Network for Integrated Cellular Homeostasis. This grant brings together 8 partners from 6 academic institutions across Europe and 3 industrial partners to create a training network that will fund 11 PhD students and 2 Postdoctoral workers. My position on this proposal is Assistant Coordinator, also with responsibility for the training programme.
Medical Research Scotland Vacation Scholarship (awarded 03/2011) for Mr Vojtech Prazak (1st year undergraduate University of Aberdeen), funding for 8 weeks summer project 2011. Structure-Function studies of critical gating residues in mechanosensitive channels
Wellcome Trust Programme Grant Renewal (awarded 07/2010). Principal Applicant Prof. Ian Booth. Coapplicant (1) Prof. J.H. Naismith, (St. Andrews), Coapplicant (2) Dr S. Conway (Oxford), Coapplicant (3) Dr S. Miller, Coapplicant (4) Dr T. Rasmussen, Coapplicant (5) Dr M.D. Edwards.Molecular mechanisms of gating ion channels and transporters in bacterial homeostasis. 01.01.11-31.12.16
BBSRC Research Grant (awarded 06/10) Principal Investigator 01.07.10-30.06.15 Conformational states of membrane proteins: Technology development for bioscience
SFC (SULSA pool) Summer Studentship (with Morgiane Richard and A. Moura) for Aljosa Sarcevic from 31/05/10 for a 10 week project ‘Model of a Toxic metabolic Switch: Production of Methylglyoxal by Gram-Negative Bacteria’
BBSRC (SysMo Initiative). Awarded March 2007. Principal Investigator Professor I.R. Booth, Co-Investigators; Dr S.Miller, Professor C. Grebogi and Dr A. Moura (University of Aberdeen): 01.06.07-01.06.10 Ion and Solute Homeostasis in Enteric Bacteria (Kosmobac)
Wellcome Trust Programme Grant Renewal (awarded 2005). Principal Applicant Professor I.R. Booth, Coapplicant (1) Dr S. Miller, Coapplicant (2) Dr M.D. Edwards January 2006-December 2011. Gating of bacterial transporters and ion channels in cellular homeostasis
Royal society Conference Award 2005
MRC New Investigator Award (awarded 2004) July 2005-2008 Biogenesis and Structure-Function analysis of the MscS Mechanosensitive Channel in Escherichia coli.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Course Co-ordinator MC3504 Molecular Microbiology
- Publications
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Interaction of the Mechanosensitive Channel, MscS, with the Membrane Bilayer through Lipid Intercalation into Grooves and Pockets
Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 431, no. 17, pp. 3339-3352Contributions to Journals: ArticlesWidening access to students from remote and rural backgrounds
8th National Scottish Medical Education ConferenceContributions to Conferences: PostersAdenosine Monophosphate Binding Stabilizes the KTN Domain of the Shewanella denitrificans Kef Potassium Efflux System
Biochemistry, vol. 56, no. 32, pp. 4219-4234Contributions to Journals: ArticlesOn the mobility, membrane location and functionality of mechanosensitive channels in Escherichia coli
Scientific Reports, vol. 6, 32709Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32709
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7449/1/srep32709.pdf
The photochemical thiol-ene reaction as a versatile method for the synthesis of glutathione S-conjugates targeting the bacterial potassium efflux system Kef
Organic chemistry frontiers : an international journal of organic chemistry / Royal Society of Chemistry, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 439-446Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c5qo00436e
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/7681/1/c5qo00436e.pdf
The role of lipids in mechanosensation
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, vol. 22, pp. 991-998Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] http://www.nature.com/nsmb/journal/v22/n12/abs/nsmb.3120.html
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.3120
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/22/mscs_nsmb_revis_sub.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/11/figs_nsmb_revis_2.tiff
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/15/figs_nsmb_revis_3.tiff
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/17/figs_nsmb_revis_5.tiff
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/20/Integrated_Supp_Fig_template.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/10/Integrated_Supp_Fig_template_txt_only.doc
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/5/mscs_nsmb_revis_sub.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/14/SOI_MscS_tabs.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/12/SOI_fig1.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/13/SOI_fig3.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/6/SOI_fig5.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/3/suppl_movie_2_atomist.mpg
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/4/figs_nsmb_revis_4.tiff
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/7/Integrated_Supp_Fig_template.doc
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/1/SOI_fig6.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/19/suppl_movie_1_course_grain.mpg
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/8/SOI_fig2.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/16/SOI_fig4.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/9/Supplementary_note1.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/18/figs_nsmb_revis_1.tiff
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6049/21/Supp_Items_List.doc
Properties of the mechanosensitive channel MscS pore revealed by tryptophan scanning mutagenesis
Biochemistry, vol. 54, no. 29, pp. 4519-4530Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe evolution of bacterial mechanosensitive channels
Cell Calcium, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 140-150Contributions to Journals: Literature ReviewsUnderstanding the structural requirements for activators of the Kef bacterial potassium efflux system
Biochemistry, vol. 53, no. 12, pp. 1982-1992Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bi5001118
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3372/1/bi5001118.htm
Probing the structure of the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance in lipid bilayers with pulsed electron-electron double resonance
Biophysical Journal, vol. 106, no. 4, pp. 834-842Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMechanosensitive channels and bacterial cell wall integrity: does life end with a bang or a whimper?
Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 11, no. 91, 20130850Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2013.0850
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3427/1/Bang_or_whimper.pdf
Integrated stress response of Escherichia coli to methylglyoxal: transcriptional readthrough from the nemRA operon enhances protection through increased expression of glyoxalase I
Molecular Microbiology, vol. 88, no. 5, pp. 936-950Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.12234
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3439/1/integrated_stress_response.pdf
Characterization of three novel mechanosensitive channel activities in Escherichia coli
Channels, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 272-281Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/chan.20998
Optimality in DNA repair
Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol. 292, pp. 39-43Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.08.024
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3183/1/JTB.pdf
KefF, the regulatory subunit of the potassium efflux system KefC, shows quinone oxidoreductase activity
Journal of Bacteriology, vol. 193, no. 18, pp. 4925-4932Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.05272-11
Sensing bilayer tension: bacterial mechanosensitive channels and their gating mechanisms
Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 733-740Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390733
A matter of life or death: modeling DNA damage and repair in bacteria
Biophysical Journal, vol. 100, no. 4, pp. 814-821Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.3713
Collective response of self-organized clusters of mechanosensitive channels
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics, vol. 83, no. 2, 020901(R)Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.83.020901
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2259/1/PhysRevE.83.020901.pdf
The critical role of S-lactoylglutathione formation during methylglyoxal detoxification in Escherichia coli
Molecular Microbiology, vol. 78, no. 6, pp. 1577-1590Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07426.x
Mechanism of ligand-gated potassium efflux in bacterial pathogens
PNAS, vol. 107, no. 46, pp. 19784-19789Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1012716107
Tryptophan in the pore of the mechanosensitive channel MscS: assessment of pore conformations by fluorescence spectroscopy
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 285, no. 8, pp. 5377-5384Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.071472
KTN (RCK) Domains Regulate K+ Channels and Transporters by Controlling the Dimer-Hinge Conformation
Structure, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 893-903Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2009.03.018
The structure of an open form of an E. coli mechanosensitive channel at 3.45 Å resolution
Science, vol. 321, no. 5893, pp. 1179-1183Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159262
The role of tryptophan residues in the function and stability of the mechanosensitive channel MscS from Escherichia coli
Biochemistry, vol. 46, no. 38, pp. 10899-10908Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/BI701056K
Structure-function relations of MscS
Current Topics in Membranes: Mechanosensitive Ion Channels, Part A. Hamill, O. P. (ed.). Academic Press, pp. 269-294, 26 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1063-5823(06)58010-X
Mechanosensitive channels in bacteria: signs of closure?
Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 431-440Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1659
The C-terminus of α2-antiplasmin interacts with endothelial cells
British Journal of Haematology, vol. 136, no. 3, pp. 472-479Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2006.06452.x
Physiological analysis of bacterial mechanosensitive channels
Methods in Enzymology: Osmosensing and Osmosignaling. Häussinger, D., Sies, H. (eds.). Academic Press, pp. 47-61, 15 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0076-6879(07)28003-6
Pivotal role of the glycine-rich TM3 helix in gating the MscS mechanosensitive channel
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 113-119Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb895
Gating the bacterial mechanosensitive channels: MscS a new paradigm?
Current Opinion in Microbiology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 163-167Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2004.02.006
A role for mechanosensitive channels in survival of stationary phase: regulation of channel expression by RpoS
PNAS, vol. 100, no. 26, pp. 15959-15964Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2536607100
The closed structure of the MscS mechanosensitive channel. Cross-linking of single cysteine mutants
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 278, no. 34, pp. 32246-32250Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M303188200
Domain organization of the MscS mechanosensitive channel of Escherichia coli
EMBO Journal, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 36-46Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/emboj/cdg011
Bacterial ion channels
Biochemistry, vol. 42, no. 34, pp. 10045-10053Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bi034953w
Two families of mechanosensitive channel proteins
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 66-85, table of contentsContributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.67.1.66-85.2003
A mechanism of regulating transmembrane potassium flux through a ligand-mediated conformational switch
Cell, vol. 109, no. 6, pp. 781-791Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00768-7
Identification of an ancillary protein, YabF, required for activity of the KefC glutathione-gated potassium efflux system in Escherichia coli
Journal of Bacteriology, vol. 182, pp. 6536-6540Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMutations in the glutathione-gated KefC K+ efflux system of Escherichia coli that cause constitutive activation
Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 272, no. 40, pp. 24942-24947Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.40.24942
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Bacterial ion channels
Transport Processes in Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Organisms, pp. 693-729, 37 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-8121(96)80071-6
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus