Personal profile
Career
- Professor, School of Biological Sciences, UEA (2019-)
- Reader, School of Biological Sciences, UEA (2016 - 2019)
- Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, UEA (2009 - 2016)
- Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, UEA (2001 - 2008)
- British Council Visiting Researcher, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Germany (1998)
- BBSRC Advanced Research Fellow, Dept Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge (1997-2000)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge (1990-1997)
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept Pharmacy, Brighton Polytechnic (1986-1989)
- Ph.D. University of Wales (1986)
Key Research Interests
Research in this laboratory addresses the biochemistry and cell biology of inositol phosphates and the enzmes that interconvert them, commonly in plants but also in animal digestive situations where plant materials are components of animal feed. Our research is aligned closely with the needs of, and supported by, industry. Our expertise in inositol phosphate analysis and biochemistry is applied in a number of fields ranging from germination biology, particularly malting scenarios, to human disease. Our research exploits the disciplines of enzymology and, with Dr Hemmings (CHE), structural biology. Together, we have solved structures of a number of enzymes of inositol metabolism and have developed powerful probes of enzyme function relevant to inositol phosphate signalling in disease contexts.
Current Collaborators
- Prof. Tzyy-Jen Chiou (Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan)
- Prof. Barry Potter (University of Oxford)
PhD Positions
Click here for current PhD opportunities in Biological Sciences. But feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.
Biography
Studied Biochemistry at the University of Stirling and took a PhD in plant biochemistry at UCNW, Bangor. Undertook post doctoral work in the field of cryopreservation (Brighton) and inositol phosphate biochemistry (Cambridge). Won a BBSRC Advanced Research Fellowship and spent time at the Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam, Germany.
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=WEkkWN0AAAAJ
Keywords
- Biology (general)
- Phytate
- Inositol phosphates
- Chemical biology
- Cell signalling
- Malting
- Animal feedstuffs
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Analysis of Inositol Phosphates
Brearley, C. (Principal Investigator)
Science Based Nutrition Services Ltd
1/03/26 → 31/08/27
Project: Consultancy
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Short-circuiting the terrestrial phosphorus cycle: symbiotic control of organic phosphorus mineralisation and uptake
Brearley, C. (Principal Investigator) & Whitfield, H. (Researcher)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/02/22 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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Oh I do like to grow beside the seaside: understanding how and why plants produce DMSP
Miller, B. (Principal Investigator), Brearley, C. (Co-Investigator), Davy, A. (Co-Investigator), Todd, J. (Co-Investigator), Curson, A. (Researcher) & Payne, S. (Technician)
Natural Environment Research Council
4/01/21 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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Complete Dephosphorylation of Phytic Acid: Identification of Histidine Acid Phosphatases with Novel Phytase Activity for Use in Animal Feeds
Hemmings, A. (Principal Investigator) & Brearley, C. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/19 → 31/03/24
Project: Training
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A mechanistic explanation of the benefits of Phytase to sustainable agriculture
Brearley, C. (Principal Investigator) & Todd, J. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/18 → 30/09/22
Project: Training
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A Fluorescent Probe Identifies Active Site Ligands of Inositol Pentakisphosphate 2-Kinase
Whitfield, H., Gilmartin, M., Baker, K., Riley, A. M., Godage, H. Y., Potter, B. V., Hemmings, A. M. & Brearley, C. A., 11 Oct 2018, In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 61, 19, p. 8838–8846Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Citations (Scopus)35 Downloads (Pure) -
Arabidopsis inositol phosphate kinases, IPK1 and ITPK1, constitute a metabolic pathway in maintaining phosphate homeostasis
Kuo, H.-F., Hsu, Y.-Y., Lin, W.-C., Chen, K.-Y., Munnik, T., Brearley, C. A. & Chiou, T.-J., Aug 2018, In: The Plant Journal. 95, 4, p. 613-630 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile88 Citations (Scopus)54 Downloads (Pure) -
Inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase is a distant IPK member with a singular inositide binding site for axial 2-OH recognition
Gonzalez, B., Banos-Sanz, J. I., Villate, M., Brearley, C. A. & Sanz-Aparicio, J., 25 May 2010, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107, 21, p. 9608-9613 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
48 Citations (Scopus) -
The Arabidopsis ATP-binding cassette protein ATMRP5/ATABCC5 is a high-affinity inositol hexakisphosphate transporter involved in guard cell signaling and phytate storage
Nagy, R., Grob, H., Weder, B., Green, P., Klein, M., Frelet-Barrand, A., Schjoerring, J. K., Brearley, C. & Martinoia, E., 27 Nov 2009, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 284, p. 33614-33622 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
184 Citations (Scopus) -
A bacterial homolog of a eukaryotic inositol phosphate signaling enzyme mediates cross-kingdom dialog in the mammalian gut
Stentz, R., Osborne, S., Horn, N., Li, A., Hautefort, I., Bongaerts, R., Rouyer, M., Bailey, P., Shears, S., Hemmings, A., Brearley, C. A. & Carding, S., 1 Feb 2014, In: Cell Reports. 6, 4, p. 646-656 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile105 Citations (Scopus)28 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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LC-ICP-MS Analysis of Inositol Phosphate Isomers in Soil Offers Improved Sensitivity and Fine-Scale Mapping of Inositol Phosphate Distribution
Brearley, C. (Creator), Wiley, 27 Dec 2023
Dataset
File
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Consultant to AB Vista (UK) Ltd (Marlborough, UK)
Brearley, C. (Consultant)
2013 → …Activity: Consultancy
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Consultant to AB Enzymes GmbH (Darmstadt, Germany)
Brearley, C. (Consultant)
2013 → …Activity: Consultancy
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2nd International Phytase Summit
Brearley, C. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
Dec 2012Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Biochemical Society Theme Panel V 'Signalling' (External organisation)
Brearley, C. (Member)
2010 → 2015Activity: Membership › Committee