Research groups
Stephen Mills
BSc (Hons), MPhil, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Chemist
- Laboratory Manager
First, I prepare new water soluble phosphorylated compounds such as inositol phosphates, benzene phosphates and biphenyl phosphates that mimic or antagonise the action of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) or adenophostin and interact with a protein called the Inositol trisphosphate InsP3 receptor (types 1, 2 and 3) that releases Ca2+ ions from its stores. Dysfunction of type 1 Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor is associated with human diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer's.
Second, I am the laboratory manager for our group and I make sure the lab is supplied with the necessary equipment and chemicals.
I am also interested in the family of enzymes called 5-phosphatases of which there are 10 that degrade InsP3 and higher phosphorylated derivatives such as inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) and 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) or their phosphorylated lipid derivatives. A number of these enzymes are involved in diabetes, cancer and obesity.
Key publications
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Crystal Structures of Type-II Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase INPP5B with Synthetic Inositol Polyphosphate Surrogates Reveal New Mechanistic Insights for the Inositol 5-Phosphatase Family.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2016), Biochemistry, 55, 1384 - 1397
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The "Other" Inositols and Their Phosphates: Synthesis, Biology, and Medicine (with Recent Advances in myo-Inositol Chemistry).
Journal article
Thomas MP. et al, (2016), Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 55, 1614 - 1650
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Multivalent benzene polyphosphate derivatives are non-Ca2+-mobilizing Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor antagonists.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2012), Messenger (Los Angel), 1, 167 - 181
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A synthetic polyphosphoinositide headgroup surrogate in complex with SHIP2 provides a rationale for drug discovery.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2012), ACS Chem Biol, 7, 822 - 828
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Novel inositol phospholipid headgroup surrogate crystallized in the pleckstrin homology domain of protein kinase Balpha.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2007), ACS Chem Biol, 2, 242 - 246
Recent publications
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Crystal Structures of Type-II Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase INPP5B with Synthetic Inositol Polyphosphate Surrogates Reveal New Mechanistic Insights for the Inositol 5-Phosphatase Family.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2016), Biochemistry, 55, 1384 - 1397
-
The "Other" Inositols and Their Phosphates: Synthesis, Biology, and Medicine (with Recent Advances in myo-Inositol Chemistry).
Journal article
Thomas MP. et al, (2016), Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 55, 1614 - 1650
-
Designer small molecules to target calcium signalling.
Journal article
Swarbrick JM. et al, (2015), Biochem Soc Trans, 43, 417 - 425
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Fibrinogen - a possible extracellular target for inositol phosphates.
Journal article
Grint T. et al, (2012), Messenger (Los Angel), 1, 160 - 166
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Multivalent benzene polyphosphate derivatives are non-Ca2+-mobilizing Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor antagonists.
Journal article
Mills SJ. et al, (2012), Messenger (Los Angel), 1, 167 - 181