Newcastle University

Background

My undergraduate and postgraduate studies were at Trinity College Dublin (www.tcd.ie). I moved to Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast for postdoctoral work and ultimately stayed there for 8 years working with Prof Bengt Norden at Chalmers University of Technology (www.chalmers.se). In 2000 I moved to Newcastle and have been establishing a lab alongside starting a family. My research interests in Biophysical Chemistry and Optical Spectroscopies continue to expand.

Research Interests

Tuite Group Research Page

Current PhD Students
Samira Hribesh (PhD)
Fariba Mouradpourhafshejani (PhD)

Postgraduate Alumni
2001 Claire Kanony, PhD: DNA Photosensitization by New Drugs for Photoinactivation of Viruses and Phototherapy of Tumours
2004 Jashveer Grewel, MPhil: DNA Damage Photosensitized by Cobalt and Ruthenium Complexes
2007 Fiona Dickinson, PhD: Unusual Mechanisms of DNA Damage Induced by Cyanine Dye Photosensitization
2008 Andrew McKinley, PhD: Photophysics and DNA Binding of Ruthenium Complexes with Modified DPPZ Ligands

External Duties
EPSRC Chemistry College
- National Facilities Panel
BBSRC Pool of Experts
- Committee C Panel
- Tools and Resources Development Fund Panel
FP7 Evaluator
- Life Science Fellowships
- Chemistry Fellowships
- Energy Programme
COST Chemistry
- D35 Management Committee, UK Representative
International Evaluator
- Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation
- Serbian Ministry of Education and Science

Research Sponsors
EPSRC
BBSRC
CENAMPS
COST Chemistry
Royal Society
Nuffield Foundation

Projects

• Design of Ultrasensitive Luminescent Sensors for Mutation Detection
• Exploring Electronic Conduction in DNA
• Photosensitised DNA Damage with Therapeutic Applications
• PNA:DNA Interactions - New Binding Motifs for Gene-Targeted Therapeutics

Undergraduate Teaching

CHY1102 Fundamentals of Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
SFY0001 Basic Maths
SFY0003 Foundation Maths
CHY2003 Topics in Chemistry
CHY2201 Physical Chemistry
CHY3401 Biomimetic Problem Solving
CHY3402 Problem Solving in Chemistry
CHY3001 Physical Chemistry Labs
CHY3007 Chemical Biology
CHY8410 MChem Research Project

• Tuite EM, Rose DB, Ennis PM, Kelly JM. Influence of polystyrenesulfonate on electron transfer quenching of ruthenium trisbipyridine luminescence by viologens: non-covalent assembly and covalent tethering of the ruthenium complex . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2012, 14(10), 3681-3692.
• McKinley AW, Lincoln P, Tuite EM. Environmental Effects on the Photophysics of Transition Metal Complexes with Dipyrido[2,3-a:3',2'-c]phenazine (dppz) and Related Ligands. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2011, 225(21-22), 2676-2692.
• Dickinson FM, Alsop TA, Al-Sharif N, Berger CEM, Datta HK, Siller L, Chao Y, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Dispersions of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in aqueous media: photoluminescence and ageing. Analyst 2008, 133(11), 1573-1580.
• Lie LH, Duerdin M, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Preparation and characterisation of luminescent alkylated-silicon quantum dots. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 2002, 538, 183-190.
• Olofsson J, Onfelt B, Lincoln P, Norden B, Matousek P, Parker AW, Tuite E. Picosecond Kerr-gated time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of the [Ru(phen)(2)dppz](2+) interaction with DNA. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry: 10th International Conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry 2002, 91(1), 286-297.
• Coates CG, Olafsson J, Coletti M, McGarvey JJBÖnfelt, Lincoln P, Nordén B, Tuite E, Matousek P, Parker AW. Picosecond Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Probing of the Light-Switch States of [Ru(Phen)₂dppz]²⁺. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2001, 105(50), 12653-12664.
• Kim H-K, Tuite E, Norden B, Ninham BW. Co-ion dependence of DNA nuclease activity suggests Hydrophobic cavitation as a potential source of activation energy. European Physical Journal E. Soft Matter 2001, 4(4), 411-417.
• Ratilainen T, Holmén A, Tuite E, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Thermodynamics of Sequence-Specific Binding of PNA to DNA. Biochemistry 2000, 39(26), 7781-7791.
• Reid GD, Whittaker DJ, Day MA, Creely CM, Tuite EM, Kelly JM, Beddard GS. Ultrafast Electron Transfer Reactions between Thionine and Guanosine Bases. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2001, 123(28), 6953-6954.
• Tuite E, Lincoln P, Olafsson J, Becker H-C, Önfelt B, Erts D, Nordén B. Probing DNA Conductivity with Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, Conversation 11(2), 277-284.
• Erts D, Malinovskis U, Muiznieks I, Tuite E. Mechanical and electroconductive properties of spatially distributed double stranded DNA arrays on Au (111). Thin Solid Films 2008, 516(24), 8969-8974.
• Lie LH, Patole SN, Pike AR, Ryder LC, Connolly BA, Ward AD, Tuite EM, Houlton A, Horrocks BR. Immobilisation and synthesis of DNA on Si(111), nanocrystalline porous silicon and silicon nanoparticles. Faraday Discussions 2004, 125, 235-249.
• Polyakov B, Erts D, Malinovskis U, Muiznieks I, Tuite E. SPM studies of DNA architectures on Au(111) and mica surfaces. Physics of Low-Dimensional Structures 2003,3-4 269-276.
• Tuite E, Dickinson F, Clark IP. Photosensitization of Singlet Oxygen by Oxazole Yellow. In: Annual Report Central Laser Facility. Oxfordshire: Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, 2002, pp.110.
• Erts D, Polyakov B, Olin H, Tuite E. Spatially Distributed 2-Dimensional DNA Arrays on Au (111): AFM Characterisation. Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences 2001, 4, 63-71.
• Tuite E, Ardhammar M, Liebermann T, Neumann T, Knoll W, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Detection of PNA:DNA Hybridisation by Surface Plasmon Resonance-Induced Fluorescence. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, 17(6), 1160.
• Tuite E, Nielsen P, Nordén B. Double Duplex Invasion of DNA by PNA. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 2000, 17(6), Part 2.
• Olofsson J, Önfelt B, Lincoln P, Nordén B, Tuite E, Parker AW, Matousek P. ps-TR3 of [Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ in Aqueous and Organic Media, and Bound to DNA. Central Laser Facility, Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory: Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils 2000, 2000. RAL-TR-2000-034.
• C. Ellouze, T. Selmane, H.-K. Kim, E. Tuite, B. Nordén, K. Mortensen, and M. Takahashi. Difference Between Active and Inactive Nucleotide Cofactors in the Effect on the DNA Binding and the Helical Structure of RecA Filament. European Journal of Biochemistry 1999, 262(1), 88-94.
• E. Tuite. Coordination Complexes and Nucleic Acids. Perspectives on Electron Transfer, Binding Mode and Cooperativity. In: V. Ramamurthy & K. Schanze, ed. Molecular and Supramolecular Photochemistry. Volume 2: Organic and Inorganic Photochemistry. Marcel Dekker, NY, 1998, pp. 55-74.
• T. Ratilainen, A. Holmén, E. Tuite, L. Christensen, G. Haaima, P. Nielsen, and B. Nordén. Hybridization of Peptide Nucleic Acid. Biochemistry 1998, 37(35), 12331-12342.
• H.-K. Kim, P. Lincoln, B. Nordén, and E. Tuite. Absence of Chiral Discrimination in the Interaction of Tris(diphenylphenanthroline)ruthenium(II) with DNA. Chemical Communications 1997, 2375-2376.
• S.-D. Choi, M.-S. Kim, S. K. Kim, P. Lincoln, E. Tuite, and B. Nordén. Binding Mode of [Ru(1,10-Phenanthroline)2L]2+with Poly(dT*dA-dT) Triplex. Ligand Size Effect on Third Strand Stabilization.. Biochemistry 1997, 36(1), 214-223.
• E. Tuite, U. Sehlstedt, P. Hagmar, B. Nordén, and M. Takahashi. Effects of Minor and Major Groove Binding Drugs and Intercalators on the DNA Association of Minor Groove Binding Proteins RecA and Deoxyribonuclease I Detected by Flow Linear Dichroism. European Journal of Biochemistry 1997, 243(1-2), 482-492.
• C. Ellouze, H.-K. Kim, K. Maeshima, E. Tuite, K. Morimatsu, T. Horii, K. Mortensen, B. Nordén, and M. Takahashi. Nucleotide Cofactor-Dependent Structural Change of Xenopus laevis Rad51 Protein Filament Detected by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Measurements in Solution. Biochemistry 1997, 36(44), 13524-13529.
• E. Tuite, P. Lincoln, and B. Nordén. Photophysical Evidence that D- and L-[Ru(phen)2(dppz)]2+ Intercalate DNA from the Minor Groove. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1997, 119(1), 239-240.
• P. Lincoln, E. Tuite, and B. Nordén. Short-Circuiting the Molecular Wire: Cooperative Binding of D-[Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ and D-[Rh(phi)2bipy]3+. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1997, 119(6), 1454-1455.
• B. Nordén, P. Lincoln, B. Åkerman, and E. Tuite. DNA Interactions with Substitution-Inert Metal Ion Complexes.. In: H. Sigel & A. Sigel, ed. Metal Ions in Biological Systems. Vol 33: Probing of Nucleic Acids by Metal Ion Complexes of Small Molecules. Marcel Dekker, NY, 1996, pp. 177-252.
• B. Åkerman and E. Tuite. Single- and Double-Strand Photocleavage of DNA by YO, YOYO and TOTO. Nucleic Acids Research 1996, 243(6), 1080-1090.
• E. Tuite, S. K. Kim, M. Takahashi, and B. Nordén. Effects of Intercalators on Complexation of RecA with Duplex DNA. Biochemistry 1995, 34(50), 16365-16374.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Intercalative Interactions of Ethidium Dyes with Triplex Structures.. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 1995, 3(6), 701-711.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Methylene Blue Intercalates with Triplex Poly(dT)*Poly(dA).Poly(dT) but not Duplex Poly(dA).Poly(dT). Chemical Communications 1995, 53-54.
• E. Tuite and J. M. Kelly. The Interaction of Methylene Blue, Azure B, and Thionine with DNA: Formation of Complexes with Polynucleotides and Mononucleotides as Model Systems.. Biopolymers 1995, 35(5), 419-433.
• E. Tuite, J. M. Kelly, G. S. Beddard, and G. D. Reid. Femtosecond Deactivation of Thionine Singlet State by Mononucleotides and Polynucleotides.. Chemical Physics Letters 1994, 226(5-6), 517-524.
• E. Tuite and B. Nordén. Sequence-Specific Interactions of Methylene Blue with Polynucleotides and DNA: A Spectroscopic Study. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1994, 116(17), 7548-7556.
• E. M. Tuite and J. M. Kelly. Photochemical Interactions of Phenothiazine Dyes with DNA and Other Biological Substrates. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 1993, 21(2-3), 103-124.
• E. Tuite. Photochemistry and Photophysics of Phenothiazine Dyes in Complexes with Nucleic Acids. Ph.D. thesis, University of Dublin, Trinity College, 1992.
• Kelly JM, Tuite EM, van der Putten WJM, Beddard GS, Reid GD. Photophysical Properties of Thionine and Methylene Blue when Bound to DNA, Polynucleotides and Nucleotides. In: V. Balzani & L. De Cola, ed. Supramolecular Chemistry. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, 1992, pp.375-381.
• E. Tuite. The Effect of Poly(styrenesulphonate) on the Photophysics and Photochemistry of Ruthenium(II) Complexes. MSc Transfer Dissertation 1989. University of Dublin, Trinity College.
• E. Tuite. A Photochemical and Electrochemical Study of Electron-Transfer Reactions in Nafion. BA Project Dissertation 1987. University of Dublin, Trinity College.
• Moradpourhafshejani S, Pike AR, Tuite E. Intercalator-Assisted Assembly of Functional Molecules on DNA via Click Chemistry. DNA Binding of Proflavine Diazide. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2012. In Preparation.
• Erts D, Polyakov B, Olin H, Tuite E. Spatial and mechanical properties of dilute DNA monolayers on gold imaged by AFM. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2003, 107(15), 3591-3597.
• Tuite E, Lincoln P, Onfelt B, Olofsson J, Norden B. Influence of DNA on charge separation processes of ruthenium complexes. In: 10th International Conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry. 2001, Florence, Italy: Elsevier Inc.
• Kanony C, Akerman B, Tuite E. Photobleaching of asymmetric cyanines used for fluorescence imaging of single DNA molecules. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2001, 123(33), 7985-7995.
• Coates CG, Olofsson J, Coletti M, McGarvey JJ, Onfelt B, Lincoln P, Norden B, Tuite E, Matousek P, Parker AW. Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman probing of the light-switch states of [Ru(Phen)(2)dppz](2+). Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2001, 105(50), 12653-12664.