Anna Peacock - Peacock Group

Inorganic Biochemistry Discussion Group - IBDG The website of the RSC Inorganic Biochemistry Discussion Group - IBDG

📢 IBDG Jubilee Meeting
🗓 3–4 Sept 2026 | 📍 University of East Anglia, Norwich

Celebrating 50 years of the Inorganic Biochemistry Discussion Group with keynotes + contributed talks & posters across UK bioinorganic chemistry.

Details & abstracts: ibdgorguk.wordpress.com

#Bioinorganic

Metallo-coiled Coil Stabilization via Chemical Cross-Linking: Implications for Gd(III)-Based MRI Contrast Agents Coiled coils are a versatile class of protein-inspired metal-binding ligands with well-defined sequence-to-structure relationships and high synthetic accessibility, making them promising tunable ligands for applications spanning biomedical imaging, catalysis, and material science. However, their practical utility is often limited by poor stability, particularly under physiological conditions. Herein, we introduce a covalent interhelical isopeptide cross-linking strategy that significantly enhances the thermal, thermodynamic, kinetic, and proteolytic stability of lanthanide-bound coiled coils designed for use as MRI contrast agents. Biophysical analysis, including CD, native MS, HPLC, and fluorescence assays, reveal that introduction of a single cross-linking layer promotes structural organization, driving the peptide from an unfolded to a well-folded state. Cross-linking leads to a remarkable 2.5 × 108-fold enhancement in metal-binding affinity, along with greater kinetic stability and resistance to proteolytic degradation compared to the non-cross-linked analogue. 1H relaxometric studies and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that this class of potential MRI contrast agents operates via a second-sphere water coordination mechanism. Optimized cross-linking improves MRI efficacy by ∼30% at clinically relevant field strengths, highlighting its potential as a design principle for next-generation MRI contrast agents. Beyond MRI, these findings underscore the broader potential of covalent cross-linking strategies for enhancing the stability and functionality of metallo-coiled coils, expanding their utility across diverse applications.

Exciting news from our group — our latest paper has just been published in JACS! 🎉
Congratulations to @ka-hadley.bsky.social on her first publication, and sincere thanks to all our collaborators for their amazing contributions.
🔗 pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Design of MRI contrast agents based on designed metallo coiled coils at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Design of MRI contrast agents based on designed metallo coiled coils at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.com

🔬 We’re recruiting 2 PhD students (one funded via BBSRC/MIBTP, deadline Nov 27) to work on MRI contrast agents based on de novo metallo-coiled coils.

Interested or know someone who might be? Please share or get in touch! 🙏

👉 findaphd.com/p189432

Truly honoured to receive this award from the RSC CBBG Interest Group! Grateful to my mentors, collaborators, and especially the lab team (past and present) - couldn’t have done it without you.

We’re looking for talented postdocs! Join our group in Birmingham in the brand-new Molecular Sciences Building @uobchemistry.bsky.social 🧪 Apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship to work with us on cutting-edge metallopeptide design.

Get in touch to discuss ideas! #MSCA #postdoc #chemistry

Coiled coils as ligands for inclusion in the inorganic chemist's toolbox – For advances in MRI contrast agent design Ligands are essential tools in synthetic inorganic chemistry, enabling the fine-tuning of metal ion properties to optimize performance. Spanning from …

We've just published a mini perspective on our work into metallo coiled coils for use in MRI - which is perfectly timed with the launch of our new EPSRC Open Fellowship project in this area!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Was a real pleasure to visit the inspiring CiQUS! Great science, great colleagues and a great environment!

Thanks to Rebeca García, Anna Peacock @peacockgroup.bsky.social and Antonio Caballero for helping Jose in his day. Congrats Jose Great Job!

Less than 2 weeks left to register for #Dalton2025. All the info on the webpage: www.rsc.org/events/detai... We look forward to seeing you there!

A painting of a clocktower drawn from different coloured molecules.

A close up of the clocktower drawing reveals the molecules that make up the artwork.

We have unveiled this amazing picture of the iconic Old Joe clocktower by School alumnus Lucy Walker, drawn using molecules, in the foyer of our new home the Molecular Sciences Building #chemsky

10 days left to submit your abstract for an oral presentation at #Dalton2025. All the info on the webpage: www.rsc.org/events/detai... We look forward to seeing you there!

Save The Date!

#Dalton2025 conference will be held at the University of Warwick on April 1-3, 2025
Registration will be online soon 👇

www.rsc.org/events/detai...

Two more days till the deadline - Please reach out if you have any questions or want to know more. Thanks

One more week till the deadline - Please reach out if you have any questions or want to know more. Thanks

Design of metallo coiled coil MRI contrast agents at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Design of metallo coiled coil MRI contrast agents at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.com

Come and join us for a PhD exploring the design of new MRI contrast agents based on metallo peptides www.findaphd.com/phds/project... Please get in touch if you have any questions

Research Fellow at University of Birmingham Looking for a new job opportunity in academia? Check out this job opening for a Research Fellow on jobs.ac.uk!

We're recruiting two PDRAs (one computational and one experimental) to join the project "Designer metallo coiled coils for use in MRI" - closing date Dec.12th. Please get in touch if you'd like to know more. @uobchemistry.bsky.social
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKS611/r...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKS605/r...