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Andy M. Lau

Structural Bioinformatician

University College London

Biography

I am a Research Fellow currently based at University College London in the group of Prof. David Jones, with interests in predicting protein structure and behaviour using machine learning methods. My PhD at King’s College London in the group of Argyris Politis, developed methods of integrating data from structural mass spectrometry techniques (such as IM-MS, HDX-MS and XL-MS) together with data from X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, with computational modelling to elucidate the conformational dynamics of heterogeneous biomolecules such as antibodies and multi-subunit complexes.

I developed Deuteros, software that performs analysis and visualisation of data from HDX-MS. My interests are in structural biology, particularly in protein structure, dynamics and understanding the interplay between their intricate conformations and functions.

Interests

  • Machine learning
  • Protein structure prediction
  • Protein dynamics

Education

  • PhD in Structural Bioinformatics, 2019

    King's College London

  • BSc in Biochemistry, 2015

    King's College London

Featured Publications

Deuteros 2.0: Peptide-level significance testing of data from hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry

Deuteros 2.0 features a repertoire of facilities for back exchange correction, data summarization, peptide-level statistical analysis …
Lau, A. M. C., Claesen, J., Hansen, K., Politis, A.
PDF Project DOI

Structural basis of Cullin 2 RING E3 ligase regulation by the COP9 signalosome

Here we present structures of the neddylated and deneddylated CSN-CRL2 complexes by combining single-particle cryo-electron microscopy …
Faull, S. V. (co-first), Lau, A. M. C. (co-first), Martens, C., Ahdash, Z., Hansen, K., Yebenes, H., Schmidt, C., Beuron, F., Cronin, N. B., Morris, E. P., Politis, A.
PDF DOI

A Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Modelling Workflow for Accurate Prediction of IgG Antibody Conformations in the Gas Phase

Not to be IgG‐nored - An integrative strategy combining ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) with molecular modelling can be used to …
Hansen, K (co-first), Lau, A. M. C. (co-first), Giles, K., McDonnell, J. M., Struwe, W. B., Sutton, B. J., Politis, A.
PDF DOI

Publications

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry captures distinct dynamics upon substrate and inhibitor binding to a transporter

[Nature Communications] Proton-coupled transporters use transmembrane proton gradients to power active transport of nutrients inside …
Jia, R. Y., Martens, C., Shekhar, M., Pant, Shashank., Pellowe, G. A., Lau, A. M., Findlay, H. E., Harris, N. J., Tajkhorshid, E., Booth, P. J., Politis, A.
PDF DOI

Perturbed structural dynamics underlie inhibition and altered efflux of the multidrug resistance pump AcrB

[Nature Communications] Resistance–nodulation–division efflux pumps play a key role in inherent and evolved multidrug resistance in …
Reading, E., Ahdash, Z., Fais, C., Ricci, V., Xuan, W. K., Grimsey, E., Stone, J., Malloci, G., Lau, A. M., Findlay, H., Konijnenberg, A., Booth, P. J., Ruggerone, P., Vargiu, A. V., Piddock, L. J. V., Politis, A.
PDF DOI

Analysis of protein-DNA interactions in chromatin by UV induced cross-linking and mass spectrometry

[Nature Communications] Protein–DNA interactions are key to the functionality and stability of the genome. Identification and mapping …
Stützer, A., Welp, L. M., Raabe, M., Sachsenberg, T., Kappert, C., Wulf, A., Lau, A. M., David, S. S., Chernev, A., Kramer, K., Politis, A., Kohlbacher, O., Fischle, W., Urlaub, H.
PDF DOI

Deuteros 2.0: Peptide-level significance testing of data from hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry

Deuteros 2.0 features a repertoire of facilities for back exchange correction, data summarization, peptide-level statistical analysis …
Lau, A. M. C., Claesen, J., Hansen, K., Politis, A.
PDF Project DOI

Structural predictions of the functions of membrane proteins from HDX-MS

We describe how the use of computational strategies can aid the interpretation of experimental data and enable visualisation of …
Lau, A. M., Jia, R., Bradshaw, R. T., Politis. A.
PDF DOI
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Accomplishments

Maths and Computational Skills for Biosciences

SysMIC Apr 2016
See certificate

Metallomics Poster Prize

Royal Society of Chemistry Dec 2015
Metallomics Poster Prize at the 12th Zinc-UK Meeting, London UK

King’s Experience Research Award

King’s College London Nov 2014 – Nov 2014

King’s Experience Research Award for Outstanding Submission

King’s College London Nov 2014 – Nov 2014

Biochemical Society Studentship

Biochemical Society Jun 2014 – Jun 2014

Projects

Deuteros

Software for rapid statistical analysis and visualisation of data from HDX-MS

Prediction of Protein Interfaces

Developing machine learning methods for predicting protein-protein interfaces

Protein modelling with mass spectrometry I

Tutorial files for integrative MS modelling from Methods in Molecular Biology

Protein modelling with mass spectrometry II

Tutorial files for protein modelling with structural mass spectrometry data for the ASMS Sanibel 2018 conference

Charge Roulette for Gas MD

Automating pdb2gmx for gas phase MD simulations

Posters & Covers

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Research Fellow in Bioinformatics

Department of Computer Science, University College London

Jan 2020 – Present London, UK
Prof. David Jones Bioinformatics Research Group Predicting protein structure using machine learning methods
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Chemistry, King’s College London

Oct 2019 – Jan 2020 London, UK
Developing software for analysis of HDX-MS data
 
 
 
 
 

Researcher in Structural Bioinformatics

Moleculomics

Feb 2018 – May 2018 Swansea, UK
Developing maching learning method for the automated prediction of protein-protein interfaces across the entire human genome for high-throughput screening of drug targets.
 
 
 
 
 

Doctoral Student

Department of Chemistry, King’s College London

Feb 2016 – Sep 2019 London, UK

Grade: Pass with no corrections Thesis title: Dynamics of macromolecular complexes using computational modelling and structural mass spectrometry

Responsibilities include:

  • Supervision of Master students
  • Management of computational resources
  • Designing, building and maintaining the group research website: www.politislab.com
 
 
 
 
 

Research Student

Institute of Structural Molecular Biology, University College London

Jun 2015 – Feb 2016 London, UK
Solved the first crystal structure of a novel adipokine in complex with a ligand (PDB ID: 6R2U).
 
 
 
 
 

Undergraduate Research Fellow

Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London

Jul 2014 – Aug 2014 London, UK
Research into the involvement of extracellular signalling through GPCRs on eukaryotic cytokinesis through RNAi screening.
 
 
 
 
 

Research Student

Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College London

Jun 2014 – Sep 2014 London, UK
Investigation into the zinc-induced oligomerisation of zinc-a2-glycoprotein, an MHC class I-type lipid mobilising factor. Using NMR, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques.

Contact

  • andy.m.lau@ucl.ac.uk
  • Darwin Building, Gower Street, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom