Staff profile

We are based within the Department of Chemistry and work closely with physicists, chemists, and mathematicians.

Carbon dioxide sensing.

CO₂ is essential for life. It is at the beginning of every life process as a fundamental substrate of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis and is at the end of every life process as the product of aerobic respiration and post-mortem decay. As such, it is not a surprise that this gas regulates such diverse processes as cellular chemical reactions, transport, maintenance of the cellular environment, behaviour and immunity. CO₂ is a strategically importnt research target with relevance to crop responses to environmental change, insect vector borne disease and public health. However, we know very little of the direct interactions of CO₂ with the cell, despite the importance of the gas to biology.

Our current work is directed toward understanding how CO₂ impacts on cell function in diverse model systems, particularly through the carbamate post-translational modification on the lysine epsilon-amino group. 

 

 

• Signal transduction
• Carbon dioxide
• Bicarbonate
• Inorganic carbon
• Molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Cell biology
• Hypercapnia
• Hypocapnia

• Biomolecular Interactions
• Durham Centre for Crop Improvement Technology

• 2023: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry:
• 2022: RCUK Committee Membership: Chair Panel D
• 2021: Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology:
• 2020: Institute of Physics: Rosalind Franklin Silver Medal (co-awardee)
• 2003: Fellowship: Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow 2003-2005

Authored book

• Townsend, PD, Rodgers, TL, Pohl, E, Wilson, MR, Cann, MJ & McLeish, T C B (2015). Physical Biology of Proteins and Peptides. Springer.

Chapter in book

• Holmes AP, Nunes AR, Cann MJ, & Kumar P (2015). Ecto-5'-Nucleotidase, Adenosine and Transmembrane Adenylyl Cyclase Signalling Regulate Basal Carotid Body Chemoafferent Outflow and Establish the Sensitivity to Hypercapnia. In Arterial Chemoreceptors in Physiology and Pathophysiology. 860: 279-289.

Journal Article

• Gannon, Harry G & Cann, Martin J (2023). Near atmospheric carbon dioxide activates plant ubiquitin cross-linking. BBA Advances 4: 100096.
• Guillen-Garcia, A., Gibson, S., Jordan, C., Ramaswamy, V., Linthwaite, V., Bromley, E.H.C., Brown, A.P. Hodgson, D., Blower, T., Verlet, J., Degiacomi, M., Palsson, L-O. & Cann, M.J. (2022). Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome. Nature Communications 13: 5289.
• Blake, Lynsay I. & Cann, Martin J. (2022). Carbon Dioxide and the Carbamate Post-Translational Modification. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 9: 825706.
• Linthwaite, V.L., Pawloski, W., Pegg, H.B., Townsend, P.D., Thomas, M.J., Brown, A.P., Hodgson, D.R.W., Lorimer, G.H., Fushman, D. & Cann, M.J. (2021). Ubiquitin is a carbon dioxide-binding protein. Science Advances 7(39): eabi5507.
• Smith, Poppy O., Black, Dominic J., Pal, Robert, Avó, João, Dias, Fernando B., Linthwaite, Victoria L., Cann, Martin J. & Pålsson, Lars-Olof (2021). Applying TADF Emitters in Bioimaging and Sensing—A Novel Approach Using Liposomes for Encapsulation and Cellular Uptake. Frontiers in Chemistry 9: 743928.
• Linthwaite, Victoria L. & Cann, Martin J. (2021). A methodology for carbamate post-translational modification discovery and its application in Escherichia coli. Interface Focus 11(2): 20200028.
• Nijjar, Sarbjit, Maddison, Daniel, Meigh, Louise, Wolf, Elizabeth, Rodgers, Thomas, Cann, Martin & Dale, Nicholas (2021). Opposing modulation of Cx26 gap junctions and hemichannels by CO2. The Journal of Physiology 599(1): 103-118.
• Sukarta, Octavina C.A. Townsend, Philip D, Llewelyn, Alexander, Dixon, Christopher H, Slootweg, Erik J Pålsson, Lars-Olof Takken, Frank L.W. Goverse, Aska & Cann, Martin J (2020). A DNA-binding bromodomain-containing protein interacts with and reduces Rx1-mediated immune response to Potato Virus X. Plant Communications 1(4): 100086.
• Slootweg, Erik J., Spiridon, Laurentiu N., Martin, Eliza C., Tameling, Wladimir I.L., Townsend, Philip D., Pomp, Rikus, Roosien, Jan, Drawska, Olga, Sukarta, Octavina C.A., Schots, Arjen, Borst, Jan Willem, Joosten, Matthieu H.A.J., Bakker, Jaap, Smant, Geert, Cann, Martin J., Petrescu, Andrei-Jose & Goverse, Aska (2018). Distinct Roles of Non-Overlapping Surface Regions of the Coiled-Coil Domain in the Potato Immune Receptor Rx1. Plant Physiology 178(3): 1310-1331.
• Linthwaite, V.L., Janus, J.M., Brown, A.P., Wong-Pascua, D., O’Donoghue, A.C., Porter, A., Treumann, A., Hodgson, D.R.W. & Cann, M.J. (2018). The identification of carbon dioxide mediated protein post-translational modifications. Nature Communications 9: 3092.
• Townsend, P.D., Dixon, C.H., Slootweg, E.S., Sukarta O.C.A., Yang, A.W.H., Hughes, T.R., Sharples, G.J., Palsson, L.-O., Takken, F.L.W., Goverse, A. & Cann, M.J. (2018). The intracellular immune receptor Rx1 regulates the DNA-binding activity of a Golden2-like transcription factor. Journal of Biological Chemistry 293(9): 3218-3233.
• Fenyk, S., Dixon, C.H., Kittens, W.H., Townsend, P.D., Sharpies, G.J., Pålsson, L.-O., Takken, F.L.W. & Cann, M.J. (2016). The tomato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor I-2 couples DNA-Binding to Nucleotide-Binding Domain Nucleotide Exchange. Journal of Biological Chemistry 291(3): 1137-1147.
• Turner, M.J., Saint-Crib, V., Patel, W., Ibrahim, S.H., Verdon, B., Ward, C., Garnett, J.P., Tarran, R., Cann, M.J. & Gray, M.A. (2016). Hypercapnia modulates cAMP signalling and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-dependent anion and fluid secretion in airway epithelia. The Journal of Physiology 594(6): 1643-1661.
• McLeish, T.C.B., Cann, M.J. & Rodgers, T.L. (2015). Dynamic Transmission of Protein Allostery without Structural Change: Spatial Pathways or Global Modes? Biophysical Journal 109(6): 1240-1250.
• Fenyk, Stepan, Townsend, Philip D., Dixon, Christopher H., Spies, Gerhard B., de San Eustaquio Campillo, Alba, Slootweg, Erik J., Westerhof, Lotte B., Gawehns, Fleur K.K., Knight, Marc R., Sharples, Gary J., Goverse, Aska, Pålsson, Lars-Olof, Takken, Frank L.W. & Cann, Martin J. (2015). The Potato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor Rx1 is a Pathogen Dependent DNA-Deforming Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(41): 24945-24960.
• Townsend, P.D., Rodgers, T.L., Glover, L.C., Korhonen, H.J., Richards, S.A., Colwell, L.J., Pohl, E., Wilson, M.R., Hodgson, D.R.W., McLeish, T.C.B. & Cann, M.J. (2015). The role of protein-ligand contacts in allosteric regulation of the Escherichia coli Catabolite Activator Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(36): 22225-22235.
• Townsend, P.D., Rogers, T.L., Pohl, E., Wilson, M.R., McLeish, T.C.B. & Cann, M.J. (2015). Global low-frequency motions in protein allostery: CAP as a model system. Biophysical Reviews 7(2): 175-182.
• Townsend, P., Jungwirth, B., Pojer, P., Bußmann, M., Money, V.A., Cole, S.T., Pühler, A., Tauch, A., Bott, M., Cann, M.J. & Pohl, E. (2014). The crystal structures of apo and cAMP-bound GlxR from Corynebacterium glutamicum reveal structural and dynamic changes upon cAMP binding in CRP/FNR family transcription factors. PLoS ONE 9(12): e113265.
• Meigh, L., Greenhalgh, S.A., Rodgers, T.L., Cann, M.J., Roper, D.I. & Dale, N. (2013). CO2 directly modulates connexin 26 by formation of carbamate bridges between subunits. eLife 2: e01213.
• Rodgers, TL, Townsend, PD, Burnell, D, Jones, ML, Richards, SA, McLeish, TCB, Pohl, E, Wilson, MR & Cann, MJ (2013). Modulation of Global Low-Frequency Motions Underlies Allosteric Regulation: Demonstration in CRP/FNR Family Transcription Factors. PLoS Biology 11(9): e1001651.
• Topal, H, Fulcher, NB, Bitterman, J, Salazar, E, Buck, J, Levin, LR, Cann, MJ, Wolfgang, MC & Steegborn, C (2012). Crystal Structure and Regulation Mechanisms of the CyaB Adenylyl Cyclase from the Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Molecular Biology 416(2): 271-286.
• Fenyk, S, de San Eustaquio Campillo, A, Pohl, E, Hussey, PJ & Cann, MJ (2012). A Nucleotide Phosphatase Activity in the Nucleotide Binding Domain of an Orphan Resistance Protein from Rice. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 287(6): 4023-4032.
• Cook, Z.C., Gray, M.A. & Cann, M.J. (2012). Elevated Carbon Dioxide Blunts Mammalian cAMP Signaling Dependent on Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor-mediated Ca2+ Release. Journal of Biological Chemistry 287(31): 26291-26301.
• Fulcher, NB, Holliday, PM, Klem, E, Cann, MJ & Wolfgang, MC (2010). The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates intracellular cAMP levels by modulating adenylate cyclase activity. Molecular Microbiology 76(4): 889-904.
• Townsend, PD, Holliday, PM, Fenyk, S, Hess, KC, Gray, MA, Hodgson, DRW & Cann, MJ (2009). Stimulation of Mammalian G-protein-responsive Adenylyl Cyclases by Carbon Dioxide. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 284(2): 784-791.
• Williamson, D., Cann, M.J. & Hodgson, D.R.W. (2007). Synthesis of 5'-Amino-5'-deoxyguanosine-5'-N-phosphoramidate and its Enzymatic Incorporation at the 5'-Termini of RNA Molecules. Chemical Communications 2007(47): 5096-5098.
• Cann, M.J. (2007). Sodium regulation of GAF domain function. Biochemical Society Transactions 35(5): 1032-1034.
• Cann, M (2007). A subset of GAF domains are evolutionarily conserved sodium sensors. Molecular Microbiology 64(2): 461-472.
• J.H. Yu, D. Parker, R. Pal, R.A. Poole & M.J. Cann (2006). A europium complex that selectively stains nucleoli of cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society 128(7): 2294-2299.
• Hammer, A., Hodgson, D.R.W. & Cann, M.J. (2006). Regulation of prokaryotic adenylyl cyclases by CO₂. Biochemical Journal 396(2): 215-218.
• R. A. Poole, G. Bobba, M. J. Cann, J. C. Frias, D. Parker & R. D. Peacock (2005). Synthesis and characterisation of highly emissive and kinetically stable lanthanide complexes suitable for usage 'in cellulo'. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 3(6): 1013-1024.
• Cann, M.J. (2004). Bicarbonate stimulated adenylyl cyclases. IUBMB Life 56(9): 529-534.
• Cann, M.J. (2004). Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria. New Phytologist 161(23-34).
• Y. Bretonniere, M. J. Cann, D. Parker & R. Slater (2004). Design, synthesis and evaluation of ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate based on europium emission. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 2(11): 1624-1632.
• Cann, M.J., Hammer, A., Zhou, J. & Kanacher, T. (2003). A defined subset of adenylyl cyclases is regulated by bicarbonate ion. Journal of Biological Chemistry 278(37): 35033-35038.
• M.J. Cann (2003). Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria. New Phytologist 161: 23-34.
• J. C. Frias, G. Bobba, M. J. Cann, C. J. Hutchison & D. Parker (2003). Luminescent nonacoordinate cationic lanthanide complexes as potential cellular imaging and reactive probes. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 1(6): 905-907.
• M.J. Cann & L.R. Levin (2002). Identification of transmembrane adenylyl cyclase isoforms. Methods Enzymol 345: 150-9.
• Bretonnière, Y., Cann, M.J., Parker, D. & Slater, R. (2002). Ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate analysis in intracellular or extracellular environments using europium luminescence. Chemical Communications 2002(17): 1930-1931.
• Cann, M.J., Chung, E. & Levin, L.R. (2000). A new family of adenylyl cyclase genes in the male germline of Drosophila melanogaster. Development Genes and Evolution 210(4): 200-206.
• Cann, M.J. & Levin, L.R. (2000). Restricted expression of a truncated adenylyl cyclase in the cephalic furrow of Drosophila melanogaster. Development Genes and Evolution 210(1): 34-40.
• Chen, Y., Cann, M.J., Litvin, T.N., Iourgenko, V., Sinclair, M.L., Levin, L.R. & Buck, J. (2000). Soluble adenylyl cyclase as an evolutionarily conserved bicarbonate sensor. Science 289(5479): 625-628.
• Buck, J., Sinclair, M.L., Schapal, L., Cann, M.J. & Levin, L.R. (1999). Cytosolic adenylyl cyclase defines a unique signaling molecule in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 96(1): 79-84.
• Cann, M.J. & Levin, L.R. (1998). Genetic characterization of adenylyl cyclase function. Advances in Second Messenger and Phosphoprotein Research 32: 121-135.
• Iourgenko, V., Kliot, B., Cann, M.J. & Levin, L.R. (1997). Cloning and characterization of a Drosophila adenylyl cyclase homologous to mammalian type IX. FEBS Letters 413(11): 104-108.