Dr. Jussi Aittoniemi

Integrated experimental and computational studies of membrane proteins

My research combines structural studies with structure prediction and dynamics simulations of medically relevant membrane proteins. Current interests include viral and human ion channels as well as ABC transporters, especially the sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) subunit of the human ATP sensitive K+ channel. My work is jointly mentored by Dr. Jason Schnell, Prof. Mark Sansom and Prof. Frances Ashcroft (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics).

I completed my PhD research in late 2010 as part of the Wellcome Trust Graduate Programme in Structural Biology.

Publications

J. Aittoniemi, H. de Wet, F. M. Ashcroft and M. S. Sansom (2010) Asymmetric Switching in a Homodimeric ABC Transporter: A Simulation Study; PLoS Comput. Biol. 6(4): e1000762. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000762

P. Luik, C. Chew, J. Aittoniemi, J. Chang, P. Wentworth Jr, R. A. Dwek, P. C. Biggin, C. Venien-Bryan and N. Zitzmann (2009) The 3-dimensional structure of a hepatitis C virus p7 ion channel by electron microscopy; PNAS vol. 106 (31) pp. 12712-12716.

J. Aittoniemi, C. Fotinou, T. J. Craig, H. de Wet, P. Proks and F. M. Ashcroft (2008) SUR1: a unique ATP-binding cassette protein that functions as an ion channel regulator; Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 364(1514):257-67.

H. de Wet, P. Proks, M. Lafond, J. Aittoniemi, M. S. Sansom, S. E. Flanagan, E. R. Pearson, A. T. Hattersley and F. M. Ashcroft (2008) A mutation (R826W) in nucleotide-binding domain 1 of ABCC8 reduces ATPase activity and causes transient neonatal diabetes; EMBO Rep., vol. 9 (7) pp. 648-654 PMID: 18497752.

H. de Wet, M. G. Rees, K. Shimomura, J. Aittoniemi, A.-M. Patch, S. E. Flanagan, S. Ellard, A. T. Hattersley, M. S. P. Sansom, and F. M. Ashcroft (2007) Increased ATPase activity produced by mutations at arginine-1380 in nucleotide-binding domain 2 of ABCC8 causes neonatal diabetes; PNAS, vol. 104 (48) pp. 18988-18992.

J. Aittoniemi, T. Róg, P. Niemelä, M. Pasenkiewicz-Gierula, M. Karttunen, and I. Vattulainen (2006) Tilt: Major Factor in Sterols' Ordering Capability in Membranes; J. Phys. Chem. B., vol. 110 (51) pp. 25562-25564

J. Aittoniemi, P.S. Niemelä, M.T. Hyvönen, M. Karttunen, and I. Vattulainen (2006) Insight into the putative specific interaction between Cholesterol, Sphingomyelin and Palmitoyl-Oleoyl-Phosphatidylcholine; Biophys. J., vol. 92 pp. 1125-1137

J. Aittoniemi, P.S. Niemelä, M. T. Hyvönen, M. Karttunen, and I. Vattulainen (2006) Specific interactions between cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and POPC; Biophys. J. vol. 90, 371A (refereed conference proceeding).

M. Huhtala, A.V. Krasheninnikov, J. Aittoniemi, S. J. Stuart, K. Nordlund, and K. Kaski (2004) Improved mechanical load transfer between shells of multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Phys. Rev. B, vol. 70 pp. 045404.