Dr Anne Conibear
Honorary Research Fellow
School of Biomedical Sciences
Researcher biography
During my postgraduate studies and postdoctoral fellowship, I gained experience in a wide range of chemical biology techniques as well as in initiating and managing collaborations. Building on a background in chemistry and biochemistry, I developed my skills in peptide chemistry and NMR spectroscopy during my PhD in Australia, synthesizing a variety of disulfide-rich cyclic peptides and elucidating their structures and dynamics by NMR spectroscopy. I have gained further experience in protein chemistry, solid phase peptide synthesis and protein ligations during my postdoctoral fellowship in Vienna, collaborating with Syntab Therapeutics on a project involving synthesis and development of synthetic antibodies for cancer therapy. I have recently taken up a UQ Development Fellowship to establish my independent research area in synthesis and structural biology of posttranslationally modified proteins.
Journal Articles
Vogl, Dominik P., Mateos, Borja, Migotti, Mario, Felkl, Manuel, Conibear, Anne C., Konrat, Robert and Becker, Christian F.W. (2024). Semisynthesis of segmentally isotope-labeled and site-specifically palmitoylated CD44 cytoplasmic tail. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 100 117617, 117617. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117617
Conibear, Anne C. and Hartrampf, Nina (2023). Reflections on navigating a pandemic: perspectives from the chemical biology community. ChemBioChem, 24 (14) e202300258, 1-7. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202300258
Kuschert, Sarah, Stroet, Martin, Chin, Yanni Ka-Yan, Conibear, Anne Claire, Jia, Xinying, Lee, Thomas, Bartling, Christian Reinhard Otto, Strømgaard, Kristian, Güntert, Peter, Rosengren, Karl Johan, Mark, Alan Edward and Mobli, Mehdi (2023). Facilitating the structural characterisation of non-canonical amino acids in biomolecular NMR. Magnetic Resonance, 4 (1), 57-72. doi: 10.5194/mr-4-57-2023
Clark, Richard J., Phan, Thanh Huyen, Song, Angela, Ouellette, André J., Conibear, Anne C. and Rosengren, K. Johan (2021). A conserved β‐bulge glycine residue facilitates folding and increases stability of the mouse α‐defensin cryptdin‐4. Peptide Science, 114 (1) e24250. doi: 10.1002/pep2.24250
Vogl, Dominik P., Conibear, Anne C. and Becker, Christian F. W. (2021). Segmental and site-specific isotope labelling strategies for structural analysis of posttranslationally modified proteins. RSC Chemical Biology, 2 (5), 1441-1461. doi: 10.1039/d1cb00045d
Ho, Thao N. T., Lee, Han Siean, Swaminathan, Shilpa, Goodwin, Lewis, Rai, Nishant, Ushay, Brianna, Lewis, Richard J., Rosengren, K. Johan and Conibear, Anne C. (2021). Posttranslational modifications of α-conotoxins: sulfotyrosine and C-terminal amidation stabilise structures and increase acetylcholine receptor binding. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 12 (9), 1574-1584. doi: 10.1039/d1md00182e
Niederacher, Gerhard, Urwin, Debra, Dijkwel, Yasmin, Tremethick, David J., Rosengren, K. Johan, Becker, Christian F. W. and Conibear, Anne C. (2021). Site-specific modification and segmental isotope labelling of HMGN1 reveals long-range conformational perturbations caused by posttranslational modifications. RSC Chemical Biology, 2 (2), 537-550. doi: 10.1039/d0cb00175a
Conibear, Anne C. (2020). Deciphering protein post-translational modifications using chemical biology tools. Nature Reviews Chemistry, 4 (12), 674-695. doi: 10.1038/s41570-020-00223-8
Adeyemi, Christiana M., Conibear, Anne C., Mutorwa, Marius K., Nokalipa, Iviwe C., Isaacs, Michelle, Mnkandhla, Dumisani, Hoppe, Heinrich C., Lobb, Kevin A., Klein, Rosalyn and Kaye, Perry T. (2020). Synthesis and anti-parasitic activity of achiral N-benzylated phosphoramidic acid derivatives. Bioorganic Chemistry, 101 103947, 103947. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103947
Conibear, Anne C., Rosengren, K. Johan, Becker, Christian F. W. and Kaehlig, Hanspeter (2019). Random coil shifts of posttranslationally modified amino acids. Journal of Biomolecular NMR, 73 (10-11), 587-599. doi: 10.1007/s10858-019-00270-4
Pötgens, André J. G., Conibear, Anne C., Altdorf, Claudia, Hilzendeger, Clarissa and Becker, Christian F. W. (2019). Tumor-targeting immune system engagers (ISErs) activate human neutrophils after binding to cancer cells. Biochemistry, 58 (22) acs.biochem.9b00169, 2642-2652. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00169
Conibear, Anne C., Thewes, Karine, Groysbeck, Nadja and Becker, Christian F.W. (2019). Multifunctional scaffolds for assembling cancer-targeting immune stimulators using chemoselective ligations. Frontiers in Chemistry, 7 (MAR) 113, 113. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00113
Conibear, Anne C., Watson, Emma E., Payne, Richard J. and Becker, Christian F. W. (2018). Native chemical ligation in protein synthesis and semi-synthesis. Chemical Society Reviews, 47 (24), 9046-9068. doi: 10.1039/c8cs00573g
Conibear, Anne C., Poetgens, Andre J. G., Thewes, Karine, Altdorf, Claudia, Hilzendeger, Clarissa and Becker, Christian F. W. (2018). Synthetic cancer-targeting innate immune stimulators give insights into avidity effects. ChemBioChem, 19 (5), 459-469. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201700522
Brehs, Manuel, Poetgens, Andre J. G., Steitz, Julia, Thewes, Karine, Schwarz, Janett, Conibear, Anne C., Bartneck, Matthias, Tacke, Frank and Becker, Christian F. W. (2017). Synthetic integrin-binding immune stimulators target cancer cells and prevent tumor formation. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 17592, 17592. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17627-0
Gell, Anna Lena, Groysbeck, Nadja, Becker, Christian F. W. and Conibear, Anne C. (2017). A comparative study of synthetic and semisynthetic approaches for ligating the epidermal growth factor to a bivalent scaffold. Journal of Peptide Science, 23 (12), 871-879. doi: 10.1002/psc.3051
Conibear, Anne C., Schmid, Alanca, Kamalov, Meder, Becker, Christian F. W. and Bello, Claudia (2017). Recent Advances in Peptide-Based Approaches for Cancer Treatment. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 27 (8), 1174-1205. doi: 10.2174/0929867325666171123204851
Conibear, Anne C., Hager, Sonja, Mayr, Josef, Klose, Matthias H. M., Keppler, Bernhard K., Kowol, Christian R., Heffeter, Petra and Becker, Christian F. W. (2017). Multifunctional alpha(v)beta(6) integrin-specific peptide-Pt(IV) conjugates for cancer cell targeting. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 28 (9), 2429-2439. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00421
Kwon, Soohyun, Bosmans, Frank, Kaas, Quentin, Cheneval, Olivier, Conibear, Anne C., Rosengren, K. Johan, Wang, Conan K., Schroeder, Christina I. and Craik, David J. (2016). Efficient enzymatic cyclization of an inhibitory cystine knot-containing peptide. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 113 (10), 2202-2212. doi: 10.1002/bit.25993
Conibear, Anne C., Farbiarz, Karine, Mayer, Rupert L., Matveenko, Maria, Kaehlig, Hanspeter and Becker, Christian F. W. (2016). Arginine side-chain modification that occurs during copper-catalysed azide-alkyne click reactions resembles an advanced glycation end product. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 14 (26), 6205-6211. doi: 10.1039/c6ob00932h
Wang, Conan K., King, Gordon J., Conibear, Anne C., Ramos, Mariana C., Chaousis, Stephanie, Henriques, Sonia Troeira and Craik, David J. (2016). Mirror images of antimicrobial peptides provide reflections on their functions and amyloidogenic properties. Journal of American Chemical Society, 138 (17), 5706-5713. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b02575
Conibear, Anne C., Chaousis, Stephanie, Durek, Thomas, Rosengren, K. Johan, Craik, David J. and Schroeder, Christina I. (2016). Approaches to the stabilization of bioactive epitopes by grafting and peptide cyclization. Biopolymers, 106 (1), 89-100. doi: 10.1002/bip.22767
Akcan, Muharrem, Clark, Richard J., Daly, Norelle L., Conibear, Anne C., de Faoite, Andrew, Heghinian, Mari D., Sahil, Talwar, Adams, David J., Mari, Frank and Craik, David J. (2015). Transforming conotoxins into cyclotides: backbone cyclization of P-superfamily conotoxins. Peptide Science, 104 (6), 682-692. doi: 10.1002/bip.22699
Conibear, Anne C., Wang, Conan K., Bi, Tao, Rosengren, K. Johan, Camarero, Julio A. and Craik, David J. (2014). Insights into the molecular flexibility of theta-defensins by NMR relaxation analysis. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118 (49), 14257-14266. doi: 10.1021/jp507754c
Conibear, Anne C. and Craik, David J. (2014). The chemistry and biology of theta defensins. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53 (40), 10612-10623. doi: 10.1002/anie.201402167
Conibear, Anne C. and Craik, David J. (2014). Chemie und Biologie von Theta-Defensinen. Angewandte Chemie, 126 (40), 10786-10798. doi: 10.1002/ange.201402167
Conibear, Anne C., Bochen, Alexander, Rosengren, K. Johan, Stupar, Petar, Wang, Conan, Kessler, Horst and Craik, David J. (2014). The cyclic cystine ladder of theta-defensins as a stable, bifunctional scaffold: a proof-of-concept study using the integrin-binding RGD motif. ChemBioChem, 15 (3), 451-459. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201300568
Bodill, Taryn, Conibear, Anne C., Mutorwa, Marius K. M., Goble, Jessica L., Blatch, Gregory L., Lobb, Kevin A., Klein, Rosalyn and Kaye, Perry T. (2013). Exploring DOXP-reductoisomerase binding limits using phosphonated N-aryl and N-heteroarylcarboxamides as DXR inhibitors. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 21 (14), 4332-4341. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.04.076
Conibear, Anne C., Rosengren, K. Johan, Daly, Norelle L., Henriques, Sonia Troeira and Craik, David J. (2013). The cyclic cystine ladder in theta-defensins is important for structure and stability, but not antibacterial activity. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288 (15), 10830-10840. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.451047
Conibear, Anne C., Rosengren, K. Johan, Harvey, Peta J. and Craik, David J. (2012). Structural characterization of the cyclic cystine ladder motif of θ-defensins. Biochemistry, 51 (48), 9718-9726. doi: 10.1021/bi301363a
Conibear, Anne, Daly, Norelle L. and Craik, David J. (2012). Quantification of small cyclic disulfide-rich peptides. Biopolymers, 98 (6), 518-524. doi: 10.1002/bip.22121
Conibear, Anne C. and Craik, David J. (2011). Chemical Synthesis of Naturally-Occurring Cyclic Mini-Proteins from Plants and Animals. Israel Journal of Chemistry, 51 (8-9), 908-916. doi: 10.1002/ijch.201100067
Craik, David J. and Conibear, Anne C. (2011). The chemistry of cyclotides. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 76 (12), 4805-4817. doi: 10.1021/jo200520v
Bodin, Taryn, Conibear, Anne C., Blatch, Gregory L., Lobb, Kevin A. and Kaye, Perry T. (2011). Synthesis and evaluation of phosphonated N-heteroarylcarboxamides as DOXP-reductoisomerase (DXR) inhibitors. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 19 (3), 1321-1327. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2010.11.062
Conibear, Anne C., Lobb, Kevin A. and Kaye, Perry T. (2010). P-31 NMR kinetic study of the tandem cleavage of phosphonate esters by bromotrimethylsilane. Tetrahedron, 66 (43), 8446-8449. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2010.08.058
Conference Papers
Bello, Claudia, Hartrampf, Nina, Walport, Louise J. and Conibear, Anne C. (2019). Protein Chemistry Looking Ahead: 8th Chemical Protein Synthesis Meeting 16-19 June 2019, Berlin, Germany. 8th Chemical Protein Synthesis, Berlin, Germany, 16-19 June 2019. Cambridge, MA, United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.09.011
Conibear, Anne C. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2018). Advancing the frontiers of chemical protein synthesis - the 7CPS meeting, Haifa, Israel. Cambridge, MA, United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.03.001
Thesis
Conibear, Anne (2014). Characterisation and applications of theta-defensins. PhD Thesis, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.251