Dr. Maria Tuohy
IPFN Tasks
Dr. Tuohy and her research team are responsible for developing enzyme cocktails for the efficient recovery of the phytochemical compounds (WP2). Dr. Tuohy will also use cell based biological activity assays for evaluating the bio-activity of phytochemicals (WP2).
Qualifications
B.Sc., Ph.D
Contact Details
+353 (0) 91 49 24 39
maria.tuohy@nuigalway.ie
http://www.nuigalway.ie/biochemistry/staff/tuohy/index.html
Expertise
Production, characterization, molecular genetics and biotechnological application of eukaryotic glycoproteins and novel biocatalysts, with emphasis on glycosyl hydrolases, oxidoreductases and proteases.
Novel thermostable enzymes/enzyme systems from 'Generally regarded as safe' (GRAS) fungal sources (Enzyme biodiscovery), especially lignocellulose-modifying hydrolases, esterases and oxidases.
Protein production, engineering and molecular genetics of thermophilic fungal species (especially Talaromyces emersonii).
Regulation of gene expression and glycoprotein secretion in filamentous fungi and exploitation and optimization T. emersonii as a fungal 'cell factory' for biotechnological applications
Structure-Function analysis, enzymatic modification and mechanism of action of bioactive carbohydrates from marine and terrestrial sources ('Glycobioengineering')
Proteomics, structure-function analysis and cell biology of important cell-surface lectins/glycoproteins and enzymes.
Enzymes as key tools in biorefinery, food and biopharma technologies and applications
Recent Publications
O'Donoghue AJ, Mahon CS, Goetz DH, O'Malley JM, Gallagher DM, Zhou M, Murray PG, Craik CS, Tuohy MG. (2008) Inhibition of a secreted glutamic peptidase prevents growth of the fungus Talaromyces emersonii. J Biol Chem. 283:29186-29195.
S. Fernandes, P.G Murray and M. G. Tuohy (2008) Enzyme systems from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii for sugar beet bioconversion. BioResources, 3 (3): 898-909.
E. O'Connell, P. Murray, C. Piggott, F. Hennequart & M. Tuohy (2007) Purification and characterization of a N-acetylglucosaminidase produced by Talaromyces emersonii during growth on algal fucoidan. J. Appl. Phycol. (Accepted November 2007; E.pub ahead of print; DOI 10.1007/s10811-007-9291-3).
C.M. Collins, P.G. Murray, S. Denman, J.P. Morrissey, L. Byrnes, T.T. Teeri & M.G. Tuohy (2007) Molecular cloning and expression analysis of two distinct β-glucosidase genes, bg1 and aven1, with very different biological roles from the thermophilic, saprophytic fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Mycol. Res. 111:840-849.
M.N. Heneghan, L. McLoughlin, P.G. Murray & M.G. Tuohy (2007) Cloning, characterisation and expression analysis of α-glucuronidase from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Enzyme Microbial. Technol. 41: 677-682.
McCarthy, T., Hanniffy, O., Lalor, E., Savage, A.V. & Tuohy, M.G. (2005) Evaluation of three thermostable fungal endo--glucanases from Talaromyces emersonii for brewing and food applications. Proc. Biochem. 40: 1741-1748.
Hennequart, F., O'Connell, E., Spence, J. & Tuohy, M.G. (2004) Brown Macro-algae. Aqua Feeds: Formulation & Beyond, Vol. 1, Issue 4: 14-18.
Murray, P.G., Aro, N., Collins, C., Grassick, A., Penttila, M., Saloheimo, M. & Tuohy, M. (2004) Expression in Trichoderma reesei and characterisation of a thermostable family 3 glucosidase from the moderately thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Prot. Exp. Purif. 38: 248-257.
Maloney, A.P., Callan, S.M., Murray, P.G. & Tuohy, M.G. (2004). Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase from the thermophilic, filamentous fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Purification of the native enzyme, cloning and overexpression of the corresponding gene. Eur. J. Biochem.271: 3115-3126.
A. Grassick, P.G. Murray, R. Thompson, C.M. Collins, L. Byrnes, G. Birrane, T.M. Higgins & M.G. Tuohy. (2004) Three-dimensional structure of a thermostable native cellobiohydrolase, CBH IB, and molecular characterization of the cel7 gene from the filamentous fungus, Talaromyces emersonii. Eur. J. Biochem. 271: 4495-4506
Reen, F.J., Murray, P.G. & Tuohy, M.G. (2003) Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of the first hemicellulase gene (bxl1) encoding -xylosidase form the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 305: 579-585.
Murray, P.G., Collins, C.M., Grassick, A. & Tuohy, M.G. (2003) Molecular cloning, transcriptional and expression analysis of the first cellulase gene (cbh2), encoding cellobiohydrolase II, from the moderately thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii and structure prediction of the gene product. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 301: 280-286.
McCarthy, T., Hanniffy, O., Savage, A.V. & Tuohy, M.G. (2003) Catalytic properties and mode of action of three endo--glucanases from Talaromyces emersonii on soluble -1,4- and -1,3;1,4-linked glucans. Int. J. Biol. Macrmol. 33: 141-148.
Ryan, S.E., Nolan, K., Thompson, R., Gubitz, G.M., Savage, A.V. & Tuohy, M.G. (2003) Purification and characterization of a new low molecular weight endoxylanase from Penicillium capsulatum. Enzyme Microbial Technol.33: 775-785.
Grassick, A., Birrane, G., Tuohy, M.G. Murray, P.G. & Higgins, T.M. (2003). Crystallisation and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the catalytic domain of cellobiohydrolase I from Talaromyces emersonii. Acta Crystallog. Section D - Biological Crystallography, 59: 1283-1284.
Tuohy, M.G., Walsh, D.J., Murray, P.G., Claeyssens, M., Cuffe, M.M., Savage, A.V. & Coughlan, M.P. (2002). Kinetic parameters and mode of action of the cellobiohydrolases produced by Talaromyces emersonii. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1596, 336-380.
Murray, P.G., Grassick, A., Laffey, C.D., Cuffe, M., Higgins, T., Savage, A.V. & Tuohy, M.G. (2001). Isolation and characterization of a thermostable endo--glucanase active on 1,3-1,4--D-glucans from the aerobic fungus Talaromyces emersonii CBS 814.70 Enzyme Microbial Technol, Vol. 29, pp. 90-98.
