Karen N. Allen, PhD
Professor
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
Chemistry

PhD, Brandeis University
BS, Tufts University



Karen Allen investigates protein structure and function through X-ray diffraction and enzyme kinetic studies. Prior to joining the Department of Chemistry in 2008, she was Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. A leader in the American Chemical Society, she is currently an Associate Editor of the ACS journal, Biochemistry.

The Allen Research Group investigates the structure, function, and catalytic properties of enzymes. Their insights into these essential proteins guide the design of specialized molecules and enzymes to aid in drug discovery and in the development of tools that assist in protein studies. The Allen Group researchers conduct their studies using X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy, enzymology, and bioinformatics and routinely collaborate with leading laboratories at other universities.

Structure/Function/Catalytic Studies investigate the properties of specific enzymes in the haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase (HAD) Superfamily and the Hot Dog Thioesterase Superfamily. The HAD studies aim to develop an understanding of enzyme evolution. The Hot Dog thioestearse (found in eukaryotes, bacteria, and archea) studies focus on the biological functions of this pervasive domain (With the Dunaway-Mariano Group, University of New Mexico).

Drug Discovery Studies aim to develop inhibitors against the potent neurotoxin produced by the soil-dwelling bacterium Clostridium botulinum (BoNT). These inhibitors are crucial because these toxins have high potential for use in biological weapons (With the Tzipori Group, Tufts University).

Tool Discovery Studies develop multi-tasking, easy-to-use Lanthanide Binding Tags (LBTs). LBTs consist of 17 amino-acids which have minimal impact on the structures and functions of the proteins they help study (With the Imperiali Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Techniques & Resources include:

X-Ray Crystallography – the University runs a state-of-the-art X-ray crystallographic suite, including a rotating anode generator, with a CCD detector, capable of collecting data on both macro and small molecules. A dedicated X-Ray technician assists with data collection, processing, and troubleshooting.

The Crystal Farm - stores and visualizes 96-well trays of crystal, allowing automated tracking of crystal growth, remote viewing of crystals, optimized formulation of new crystal conditions, and enhanced temperature control.

Bioinformatics – lab utilizes the Scientific Computing and Visualization (SCV) supercomputers to create an approximation of the potential energy of molecules. These calculations are entered into CHARMM force fields in order to characterize the conformational changes of various members of the HAD superfamily.

Spectroscopy – lab performs Mass Spectrometry and CD Spectroscopy using CIC instrumentation.

Chair
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
Chemistry


Associate Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Deciphering the Principles of Membrane-Associated Glycan Assembly for Glycoconjugate Biosynthesis
04/01/2022 - 02/28/2026 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karen N. Allen, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH NIGMS
5R01GM039334-35

Structural and functional characterization of glycosyltransferases in the Campylobacter concisus N-linked glycoconjugate biosynthetic pathway
02/01/2023 - 01/31/2025 (Key Person / Mentor)
PI: Nemanja Vuksanovic
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5F32GM146421-02

Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates
08/01/2021 - 07/31/2024 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karen N. Allen, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH NIGMS
2R01GM131627-03A1

Covalent Inhibition as a Method to Counteract Botulinum Intoxication
06/02/2020 - 05/31/2024 (Subcontract PI)
The Scripps Research Institute NIH NIAID
5R01AI153298-03

Acquisition of a Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction System for Macromolecular and Small Molecule Crystallography
06/01/2021 - 05/31/2022 (PI)
NIH/Office of the Director
1S10OD028585-01A1

Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates
02/01/2019 - 07/31/2021 (Multi-PI)
PI: Karen N. Allen, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH NIGMS
5R01GM131627-02

Molecular Mechanism of the NFkappaB Essential Modulator (NEMO) Scaffold Protein Mutated in Human Immunodeficiencies
08/15/2016 - 06/30/2021 (Co-Investigator)
PI: Adrian Whitty, PhD
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5R01GM117350-04

A Multidisciplinary Approach for the Treatment of Botulinum Intoxication
08/26/2016 - 06/30/2020 (Subcontract PI)
The Scripps Research Institute NIH NIAID
5R01AI19564-04

Trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase inhibitors as anti-helminthics
09/12/2016 - 11/30/2018 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
5R21AI127623-02

Collaborative research: Development of a platform enabling analysis of membrane protein interactions
08/01/2016 - 07/31/2018 (PI)
National Science Foundation
MCB-1614608

Showing 10 of 29 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 2R01GM131627-06
2024 Deciphering the Principles of Membrane-Associated Glycan Assembly for Glycoconjugate Biosynthesis 5R01GM039334-35
2023 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 5R01GM131627-05
2023 Deciphering the Principles of Membrane-Associated Glycan Assembly for Glycoconjugate Biosynthesis 5R01GM039334-34
2022 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 3R01GM131627-03A1S1
2022 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 5R01GM131627-04
2022 Deciphering the Principles of Membrane-Associated Glycan Assembly for Glycoconjugate Biosynthesis 2R01GM039334-33
2021 Acquisition of a Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction System for Macromolecular and Small Molecule Crytsallography 1S10OD028585-01A1
2021 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 2R01GM131627-03A1 1
2020 Structure and function of the monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase superfamily: Initiators of biosynthesis of complex bacterial glycoconjugates 5R01GM131627-02 1
Showing 10 of 44 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Tararina MA, Dam KK, Dhingra M, Janda KD, Palfey BA, Allen KN. Fast Kinetics Reveals Rate-Limiting Oxidation and the Role of the Aromatic Cage in the Mechanism of the Nicotine-Degrading Enzyme NicA2. Biochemistry. 2021 02 02; 60(4):259-273. PMID: 33464876
     
  2. Tararina MA, Allen KN. Bioinformatic Analysis of the Flavin-Dependent Amine Oxidase Superfamily: Adaptations for Substrate Specificity and Catalytic Diversity. J Mol Biol. 2020 05 01; 432(10):3269-3288. PMID: 32198115; PMCID: PMC7321841; DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.03.007;
     
  3. Tazhigulov RN, Gurunathan PK, Kim Y, Slipchenko LV, Bravaya KB. Polarizable embedding for simulating redox potentials of biomolecules. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2019 Jun 05; 21(22):11642-11650.View Related Profiles. PMID: 31116217; PMCID: PMC6611676; DOI: 10.1039/c9cp01533g;
     
  4. Allen KN, Imperiali B. Structural and mechanistic themes in glycoconjugate biosynthesis at membrane interfaces. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2019 12; 59:81-90. PMID: 31003021; PMCID: PMC6885101; DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.03.013;
     
  5. Allen KN, Entova S, Ray LC, Imperiali B. Monotopic Membrane Proteins Join the Fold. Trends Biochem Sci. 2019 01; 44(1):7-20. PMID: 30337134; PMCID: PMC6309722; DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2018.09.013;
     
  6. Zhang C, Allen KN, Dunaway-Mariano D. Mechanism of Substrate Recognition and Catalysis of the Haloalkanoic Acid Dehalogenase Family Member a-Phosphoglucomutase. Biochemistry. 2018 07 31; 57(30):4504-4517. PMID: 29952545
     
  7. Tararina MA, Xue S, Smith LC, Muellers SN, Miranda PO, Janda KD, Allen KN. Crystallography Coupled with Kinetic Analysis Provides Mechanistic Underpinnings of a Nicotine-Degrading Enzyme. Biochemistry. 2018 07 03; 57(26):3741-3751. PMID: 29812904; PMCID: PMC6295333; DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00384;
     
  8. Ray LC, Das D, Entova S, Lukose V, Lynch AJ, Imperiali B, Allen KN. Membrane association of monotopic phosphoglycosyl transferase underpins function. Nat Chem Biol. 2018 06; 14(6):538-541. PMID: 29769739; PMCID: PMC6202225; DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0054-z;
     
  9. Ji T, Zhang C, Zheng L, Dunaway-Mariano D, Allen KN. Structural Basis of the Molecular Switch between Phosphatase and Mutase Functions of Human Phosphomannomutase 1 under Ischemic Conditions. Biochemistry. 2018 06 26; 57(25):3480-3492. PMID: 29695157
     
  10. Beglov D, Hall DR, Wakefield AE, Luo L, Allen KN, Kozakov D, Whitty A, Vajda S. Exploring the structural origins of cryptic sites on proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 04 10; 115(15):E3416-E3425.View Related Profiles. PMID: 29581267; PMCID: PMC5899430; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711490115;
     
Showing 10 of 46 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 46 publications over 11 distinct years, with a maximum of 8 publications in 2014

YearPublications
20114
20124
20135
20148
20157
20163
20175
20186
20192
20201
20211

In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

x-ray crystallographical studies of enzymes
Botulinum Neurotoxins
Haloalkanoic Acid Dehalogenase Superfamily
Hotdog Fold Thioesterases
Contact for Mentoring:

590 Commonwealth Ave
Boston MA 02215
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