Dr Elizabeth Ostler
Principal Lecturer
contact:
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Moulsecoomb
Brighton
BN2 4GJ
Telephone: +44 (0)1273 642017
Email: E.Ostler@brighton.ac.uk
Research Interests
The use of synthetic and analytical chemistry for intervention in biological systems.My current research activities are divided into three main themes
Molecular Aspects of Ageing
We are examining the relationship between the rate of formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and longevity in Drosophila melanogaster by chemical analysis. Whilst AGEs have been subjected to detailed characterisation within the context of mammalian ageing, their precise role remains unclear. One major barrier to establishing (or disproving) causality is the cost and time required to manipulate lifespan in mammals. In contrast, populations of Drosophila combine low maintenance costs with a short and easily manipulated lifespan. Having redeveloped analytical techniques for use in flies, we are now undertaking interventional studies examining how AGE accumulation changes under conditions that extend lifespan. This work is currently funded by the EPSRC/BBSRC Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity network. http://www.sparc.ac.uk/
Predictive modelling and chemical biology of cellular senescence, in particular as applied to the progeroid syndrome Werner's Syndrome. This work is focused on assessing the role of cellular senescence in normal human ageing (in collaboration with Dr Richard Faragher).
Synthesis and Bioevaluation of Carboline compounds
These heterocyclic ring systems are precursors for a wide range of natural products that are currently under investigation as potential drug candidates. Current applications of compounds based on these structures include; NMDA receptor antagonism, activation of the chloride channel associated with cystic fibrosis (CFTR), bactericidal activity, and cancer therapies. Many of the drug candidates have only been isolated as natural products, and synthetic routes to these compounds are currently somewhat limited.
Current projects include;
- Extension of our novel synthetic routes to produce novel compounds and potential drug candidates
- Mechanistic investigations of unusual chemical reactions of these compounds
- Biological assessment of new drug candidates
This work is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. LS Hart
Catalytic Antibodies
I also collaborate with Dr Gerry Gallacher on the generation and evaluation of catalytic antibodies.
Professional Responsibilities:
External Research Activities
Executive Committee Member: British Society for Research on Ageing.
Section Editor: Chemistry Central Journal.
Editorial Board member: World Journal of Biological Chemistry
Referee/Reviewer/Expert Evaluator: Research into Ageing, BBSRC/EPSRC SPARC, RPSGB EU FP6 & FP7, Aging Cell and Rejuvenation Research, L’Oréal UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science 2010.
EPSRC Chemical Database Service site representative
Professional and Learned Society Memberships
Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC, CChem)
British Society for Research on Ageing
American Aging Association
Teaching responsibilities
Course Leader: BSc Analytical Chemistry with Business
Analytical Chemistry (CH115, CH108, CH117, CH217, CH250, CH327/M01/M02)
Scientific Information (CH209, CH210)
Quality Assurance
Faculty Quality Director, Science and Engineering
Chair : Faculty Academic Standards Committee
Committee memberships
University of Brighton Board of Governors
Academic Board
Honorary Academic Appointments Board
Academic Standards Committee
Faculty Academic Board
Learning and Teaching Committee
P&BS School Board
School Academic Standards Committee
School Publicity Group
P&BS Research Strategy Committee
Course, Divisional and Examination Boards
Recent Publications
FARAGHER, RICHARD and OSTLER, ELIZABETH (2012) Editorial: a systematic end to "muddling through"? [Edited Collections]
Faragher, R.G.A., Burton, D, Majecha, P., Fong, N.S., Davis, T, Sheerin, A and Ostler, E.L. (2011) Resveratrol, but not dihydroresveratrol, induces premature senescence in primary human fibroblasts AGE, 33 (4). pp. 555-564. ISSN 0161-9152
Ostler, E.L., Iqbal, A., Faragher, R.G.A., Naughton, D., Piper, M. and Partridge, L. (2011) Chemical analysis of aging: Testing predictions from green theory In: 40th American Aging Association Annual Meeting 2011, 2011.
Iqbal, Aamira, Piper, M., Faragher, R.G.A., Naughton, D.P., Partridge, L. and Ostler, E.L. (2009) Chemical changes in aging Drosophila melanogaster Age, 31 (4). pp. 343-351. ISSN 0161-9152
SHEERIN, ANGELA, OSTLER, ELIZABETH and FARAGHER, RICHARD (2009) Microarray analysis of senescent vascular smooth muscle cells: a link to atherosclerosis and vascular calcification Experimental Gerontology, 44 (10). pp. 659-665. ISSN 0531-5565
Faragher, R.G.A., Sheerin, A. and Ostler, E.L. (2009) Can we intervene in human ageing? Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine, 11 (e27). ISSN 1462-3994
Burton, D, Sheerin, A, Ostler, E.L, Smith, K, Giles, P.J, Lowe, J, Rhys-Williams, W, Kipling, D.G and Faragher, R.G.A (2007) Cyclin D1 over-expression permits the reproducible detection of senescent human vascular smooth muscle cells Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1119 . pp. 20-31. ISSN 1-57331-686-5
Boucher, G, Said, B, Ostler, E, Resmini, M, Brocklehurst, K and Gallacher, G (2007) Evidence that the mechanism of antibody-catalysed hydrolysis of arylcarbamates can be determined by the structure of the immunogen used to elicit the catalytic antibody Biochemical Journal, 401 (3). pp. 721-726. ISSN 1470-8728
Kipling, D., Davis, T., Ostler, E.L. and Faragher, R.G.A. (2004) What can progeroid syndromes tell us about human aging? Science, 305 (5689). pp. 1426-1431. ISSN 1095-9203
Sonkaria, S., Boucher, G., Florez-Alvarez, J., Said, B., Hussain, S., Ostler, E.L., Gul, S., Thomas, E.W., Resmini, M., Gallacher, G. and Brocklehurst, K. (2004) Evidence for ‘lock and key’ character in an anti-phosphonate hydrolytic antibody catalytic site augmented by non-reaction centre recognition: variation in substrate selectivity between an anti-phosphonate antibody, an anti-phosphate antibody and two hydrolytic enzymes Biochemical journal, 381 (1). pp. 125-130. ISSN 1470-8728
Lowe, J., Sheerin, A., Jennert-Burston, K., Burton, D., Ostler, E.L., Bird, J., Green, M.H.L. and Faragher, R.G.A. (2004) Camptothecin sensitivity in Werner syndrome fibroblasts as assessed by the COMET technique Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1019 . pp. 256-259. ISSN 1749-6632
Bird, J., Ostler, E.L. and Faragher, R.G.A. (2003) Can we say that senescent cells cause ageing? Experimental gerontology, 38 (11-12). pp. 1319-1326. ISSN 0531-5565
Gul, S., Sonkaria, S., Pinitglang, S., Florez-Alvarez, J., Hussain, S., Thomas, E.W., Ostler, E.L., Gallacher, G., Resmini, M. and Brocklehurst, K. (2003) Improvement in hydrolytic antibody activity by change in haptenic structure from phosphate to phosphonate with retention of a common leaving-group determinant: evidence for the ‘flexibility’ hypothesis Biochemical journal, 376 (3). pp. 813-821. ISSN 1470-8728
Ostler, E.L., Resmini, M., Brocklehurst, K. and Gallacher, G. (2002) Polyclonal catalytic antibodies Journal of immunological methods, 269 (1-2). pp. 111-124. ISSN 0022-1759
Ostler, E.L., Dean, C.J., Barber, N., Valeri, M., James, S., Resmini, M., Boucher, G., Romanov, N., Brocklehurst, K. and Gallacher, G. (2002) A rat monoclonal antibody that catalyses the hydrolysis of a nitrophenyl-β-lactam Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 299 (2). pp. 273-276. ISSN 0006-291X
OSTLER, ELIZABETH, Wallis, C.V, SHEERIN, ANGELA and FARAGHER, RICHARD (2002) A model for the phenotypic presentation of Werner's syndrome Experimental Gerontology, 37 (2-3). ISSN 0531-5565
Ostler, E.L., Resmini, M., Boucher, G., Romanov, N., Brocklehurst, K. and Gallacher, G. (2002) Polyclonal antibody-catalysed hydrolysis of a beta-lactam Chemical communications . pp. 226-227. ISSN 1359-7345
