Professor Mehdi Mobli
Professor

Mehdi Mobli

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 60352

Background

Professor Mobli is a structural biologist and a group leader at the University of Queensland's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN). He is well known internationally for his contributions to the basic theory of multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and its applications to resolving the molecular structure of peptides and proteins, as well as studying their physiochemical properties and function. Mehdi's contributions to the field has been recognised by being appointed an Executive Editor of the AMPERE society's journal "Magnetic Resonance", and to the advisory board of the international Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank (BMRB) as well as serving on the board of directors of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance (ANZMAG). He is a former ARC Future Fellow and recipient of the ASBMB MERCK medal, the Australia Peptide Society's Tregear Award, the ANZMAG Sir Paul Callaghan medal and the Lorne Proteins Young Investigator Award (now Robin Anders Award).

Prof. Mobli's research group focuses on characterising the structure and function of receptors involved in neuronal signalling, with a particular focus on developing new approaches for the discovery and characterisation of modulators of these receptors through innovations in bioinformatics, biochemistry and and biophysics. This work has led to publication of more than 100 research articles attracting over 6,000 citations.

Availability

Professor Mehdi Mobli is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Analytical biochemistry Analytical chemistry Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biomaterials Biomedical engineering Biomolecular modelling and design Characterisation of biological macromolecules Chemical Sciences Cheminformatics and quantitative structure-activity relationships Engineering Enzymes Information and Computing Sciences Macromolecular and materials chemistry Mathematical Sciences Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Molecular medicine Numerical analysis Numerical and computational mathematics Optical properties of materials Organic chemistry Physical chemistry Physical organic chemistry Proteins and peptides Receptors and membrane biology Solution chemistry Structural biology (incl. macromolecular modelling) Theory of computation

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Liverpool

Research interests

  • Structure, function and dynamics of biomolecules studied in solution by NMR spectroscopy

    Nuclear magnetic resonance is one of the most powerful atomic resolution techniques for probing the physicochemical properties of molecules. In biophysics and particularly in protein research NMR can uniquely be used to determine both high-resolution structures and conformational dynamics of proteins in their natural solution state environment. NMR can further be used to provide functional data and is routinely used as a screening tool to provide input to structure based drug design studies. The properties that make NMR such a versatile technique also require technical expertise in data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Dr Mobli's research is focused on the application of NMR spectroscopy in molecular biology, with the aim of increasing the utility of the technique itself through automation and also to expand its current applications. His group are working on diverse biological problems including understanding the structure of disulfide stabilised peptides, how voltage-gated ion channels are modulated by natural and synthetic ligands and the mechanism of bacterial transcription pausing. All of these projects are being pursued with the ultimate goal of developing novel drugs and diagnostic tools.

Research impacts

Bioactive peptides have long been recognised as important messengers in cellular communication and are integral to our understanding of basic physiological processes. Their potential as natural substrates for biological receptors has been leveraged successfully in some of the most important therapeutics of our time, such as insulin and oxytocin. In recent years, increased attention has been given to this molecular class due to the ease of generating large libraries of these peptides under selection pressure. This can yield potent drug leads through mRNA and phage display technologies. The potency and selectivity of these molecules come from their well-defined three-dimensional structures, which are often constrained by side-chain and/or backbone linkages that stabilise their 3D shape. Prof. Mobli's research group has contributed significantly to the understanding of the structure, dynamics, and function of constrained peptides. Our basic understanding of the physicochemical properties of bioactive peptides comes from studies of their structural and chemical properties. His group has directly contributed over 40 high-resolution structures of constrained peptides to the PDB, including arguably the highest resolution solution structure of a disulfide-constrained peptide to date (6URP). Detailed dynamic and functional studies have offered novel insights ranging from the basic chemistry of peptide side chains to the structural basis of peptide-receptor interactions and the evolution of neofunctionalisation of stable structural scaffolds.

Search Professor Mehdi Mobli’s works on UQ eSpace

146 works between 2003 and 2024
All (146) Journal Article (123) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (8) Book (3) Other Outputs (1)

101 - 120 of 146 works

2012

Journal Article

Cyclization of peptides by using selenolanthionine bridges

Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Mobli, Mehdi, King, Glenn F. and Alewood, Paul F. (2012). Cyclization of peptides by using selenolanthionine bridges. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 51 (41), 10298-10302. doi: 10.1002/anie.201204229

Cyclization of peptides by using selenolanthionine bridges

2012

Journal Article

Sparse sampling methods in multidimensional NMR

Mobli, Mehdi, Maciejewski, Mark W., Schuyler, Adam D., Stern, Alan S. and Hoch, Jeffrey C. (2012). Sparse sampling methods in multidimensional NMR. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 14 (31), 10835-10843. doi: 10.1039/c2cp40174f

Sparse sampling methods in multidimensional NMR

2012

Journal Article

Functional expression in Escherichia coli of the disulfide-rich sea anemone peptide APETx2, a potent blocker of acid-sensing ion channel 3

Anangi, Raveendra, Rash, Lachlan D., Mobli, Mehdi and King, Glenn F. (2012). Functional expression in Escherichia coli of the disulfide-rich sea anemone peptide APETx2, a potent blocker of acid-sensing ion channel 3. Marine Drugs, 10 (7), 1605-1618. doi: 10.3390/md10071605

Functional expression in Escherichia coli of the disulfide-rich sea anemone peptide APETx2, a potent blocker of acid-sensing ion channel 3

2012

Journal Article

Cyclisation increases the stability of the sea anemone peptide APETx2 but decreases its activity at acid-sensing ion channel 3

Jensen, Jonas E., Mobli, Mehdi, Brust, Andreas, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F. and Rash, Lachlan D. (2012). Cyclisation increases the stability of the sea anemone peptide APETx2 but decreases its activity at acid-sensing ion channel 3. Marine Drugs, 10 (7), 1511-1527. doi: 10.3390/md10071511

Cyclisation increases the stability of the sea anemone peptide APETx2 but decreases its activity at acid-sensing ion channel 3

2012

Journal Article

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2: NMR analysis and structural characterization of the N-terminal domain

Galea, Charles A., Mobli, Mehdi, McNeil, Kerrie A., Mulhern, Terrence D., Wallace, John C., King, Glenn F., Forbes, Briony E. and Norton, Raymond S. (2012). Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2: NMR analysis and structural characterization of the N-terminal domain. Biochimie, 94 (3), 608-616. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.09.012

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2: NMR analysis and structural characterization of the N-terminal domain

2012

Book Chapter

Data sampling in multidimensional NMR: fundamentals and strategies

Maciejewski, Mark W., Mobli, Mehdi, Schuyler, Adam D., Stern, Alan S. and Hoch, Jeffrey C. (2012). Data sampling in multidimensional NMR: fundamentals and strategies. Novel sampling approaches in higher dimensional NMR. (pp. 49-77) edited by Martin Billeter and Vladislav Orekhov. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/128_2011_185

Data sampling in multidimensional NMR: fundamentals and strategies

2012

Conference Publication

Spider-venom peptides that target the human NaV1.7 channel: Potential analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain

Klint, Julie, Anangi, Raveendra, Mobli, Mehdi, Knapp, Oliver, Adams, David J. and King, Glenn F. (2012). Spider-venom peptides that target the human NaV1.7 channel: Potential analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain. 7th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology & Venom Week 2012, 4th International Scientific Symposium on All Things Venomous, Honolulu, Hawaii, 8 - 13 July 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.04.032

Spider-venom peptides that target the human NaV1.7 channel: Potential analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain

2012

Conference Publication

PX family proteins at the interface between intracellular trafficking and signalling

Ghai, R., Mobli, M., Norwood, S. J., Bugarcic, A., Teasdale, R. D., King, G. F. and Collins, B. M. (2012). PX family proteins at the interface between intracellular trafficking and signalling. 22nd IUBMB Congress/37th FEBS Congress, Seville, Spain, 4-9 September 2012. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.08705.x

PX family proteins at the interface between intracellular trafficking and signalling

2012

Book Chapter

Nonuniform sampling in multidimensional NMR

Hoch, Jeffrey C., Maciejewski, Mark W., Mobli, Mehdi, Schyler, Adam D. and Stern, Alan S. (2012). Nonuniform sampling in multidimensional NMR. EMagRes. (pp. 1-2) London, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9780470034590.emrstm1239

Nonuniform sampling in multidimensional NMR

2011

Journal Article

Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR

Mobli, Mehdi, Morgenstern, David, King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2011). Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 50 (50), 11952-11955. doi: 10.1002/anie.201104169

Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR

2011

Journal Article

A dynamic pharmacophore drives the interaction between psalmotoxin-1 and the putative drug target acid-sensing ion channel 1a

Saez, Natalie J., Mobli, Mehdi, Bieri, Michael, Chassagnon, Irene R., Malde, Alpeshkumar K., Gamsjaeger, Roland, Mark, Alan E., Gooley, Paul R., Rash. Lachlan D. and King, Glenn F. (2011). A dynamic pharmacophore drives the interaction between psalmotoxin-1 and the putative drug target acid-sensing ion channel 1a. Molecular Pharmacology, 80 (5), 796-808. doi: 10.1124/mol.111.072207

A dynamic pharmacophore drives the interaction between psalmotoxin-1 and the putative drug target acid-sensing ion channel 1a

2011

Journal Article

Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases

Ghai, Rajesh, Mobli, Mehdi, Norwood, Suzanne J., Bugarcic, Andrea, Teasdale, Rohan D., King, Glenn F. and Collins, Brett M. (2011). Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108 (19), 7763-7768. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1017110108

Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases

2011

Journal Article

Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist: Beyond macromolecular structure determination

Bieri, Michael, Kwan, Ann H., Mobli, Mehdi, King, Glenn F., Mackay, Joel P. and Gooley, Paul R. (2011). Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist: Beyond macromolecular structure determination. Febs Journal, 278 (5), 704-715. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08005.x

Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist: Beyond macromolecular structure determination

2011

Journal Article

Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist

Kwan, Ann H., Mobli, Mehdi, Gooley, Paul R., King, Glenn F. and Mackay, Joel P. (2011). Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist. Febs Journal, 278 (5), 687-703. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08004.x

Macromolecular NMR spectroscopy for the non-spectroscopist

2011

Journal Article

The N-terminal tail of hERG contains an amphipathic alpha-helix that regulates channel deactivation

Ng, Chai Ann, Hunter, Mark J., Perry, Matthew D., Mobli, Mehdi, Ke, Ying, Kuchel, Philip W., King, Glenn F., Stock, Daniela and Vandenberg, Jamie I. (2011). The N-terminal tail of hERG contains an amphipathic alpha-helix that regulates channel deactivation. PLoS One, 6 (1) e16191, e16191.1-e16191.9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016191

The N-terminal tail of hERG contains an amphipathic alpha-helix that regulates channel deactivation

2011

Book Chapter

Fast acquisition methods in multidimensional NMR

Mobli, Mehdi, Hoch, Jeffrey C. and King, Glenn F. (2011). Fast acquisition methods in multidimensional NMR. Biomolecular NMR spectroscopy. (pp. 305-337) edited by Andrew J. Dingley and Steven M. Pascal. Amsterdam , Netherlands: IOS Press. doi: 10.3233/978-1-60750-695-9-305

Fast acquisition methods in multidimensional NMR

2011

Journal Article

Venomics: A new paradigm for natural products-based drug discovery

Vetter, Irina, Davis, Jasmine L., Rash, Lachlan D., Anangi, Raveendra, Mobli, Mehdi, Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and King, Glenn F. (2011). Venomics: A new paradigm for natural products-based drug discovery. Amino Acids, 40 (1), 15-28. doi: 10.1007/s00726-010-0516-4

Venomics: A new paradigm for natural products-based drug discovery

2011

Book Chapter

Maximum Entropy Reconstruction

Hoch, Jeffrey C., Stern, Alan S. and Mobli, Mehdi (2011). Maximum Entropy Reconstruction. eMagRes. (pp. 1-6) United Kingdom: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1002/9780470034590.emrstm0299.pub2

Maximum Entropy Reconstruction

2010

Journal Article

NMR methods for determining disulfide-bond connectivities

Mobli, Mehdi and King, Glenn F. (2010). NMR methods for determining disulfide-bond connectivities. Toxicon, 56 (6), 849-854. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.06.018

NMR methods for determining disulfide-bond connectivities

2010

Journal Article

Chemical synthesis and structure of the prokineticin Bv8

Morales, Rodrigo A. V., Daly, Norelle L., Vetter, Irina, Mobli, Mehdi, Napier, Ian A., Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J., Christie, MacDonald J., King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Durek, Thomas (2010). Chemical synthesis and structure of the prokineticin Bv8. ChemBioChem, 11 (13), 1882-1888. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201000330

Chemical synthesis and structure of the prokineticin Bv8

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    A national network for magnetic resonance spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Defining a new family of sodium channel accessory proteins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Autocyclases: A new class of self-cyclising proteins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Bivalent analgesics: rational design of selective ion channel inhibitors with optimised mechanism of action
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    A new source of bivalent molecules from nature
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Accessing structurally elusive states of sodium channels as novel analgesic targets
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Chemical Purification Network
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Imaging Mass Spectrometry at Higher Mass Resolution
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Molecular basis and inhibition of TIR-domain function in Toll-like receptor and neuronal cell-death pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018
    High-throughput ion channel pharmacology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    In vivo optical imaging into the next generation
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Targeting voltage sensing for drug development
    UQ Development Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    A nuclear magnetic resonance facility for modern molecular analysis
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    A pharmacological approach to define the contribution of Nav1.7 to pain pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Characterization and inhibition of higher-order assembly signalling in Toll-like receptor pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Patch-clamp electrophysiology platform for drug and insecticide discovery
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Protein Analysis Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Understanding how toxins interact with lipid membranes and ion channels
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Unravelling the structural complexity of ancient Australian arthropod venoms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    ASAP-NMR: A leap forward in structural studies of proteins using NMR spectroscopy
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Rational development of novel analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    High-throughput identification and structural characterization of selective Nav1.7 channel ligands; a prime target in the treatment of pain
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Mehdi Mobli is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The ASIC thumb domain as a channel proxy for identification of drug leads for the treatment of ischemic conditions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Lachlan Rash

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Fast Acquisition Methods in Multidimensional NMR

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterisation of the lipid dependent gating of voltage gated ion channels

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Accessing structurally elusive states of sodium channels as novel analgesic targets

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter, Dr Thomas Durek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Fast Acquisition Methods in Multidimensional NMR

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modulation of opioid catabolism by endogenous neuropeptides

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Studies of complex biomolecular systems using advanced biochemical and biophysical techniques

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Jeffrey Harmer

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structural and functional characterisation of an orphan family of opioid peptides

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Jody Peters

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Discovery and characterisation of multi-valent peptides

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Analysis of Complex Metabolomic Data

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the function of sodium channel accessory proteins to develop new treatments for chronic pain

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jennifer Deuis, Professor Irina Vetter

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Complex Data Analysis Problems in NMR-based Metabolomics

    Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structural and biochemical characterization of dual enzymatic activity of TIR domains from plant innate immune receptors

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta, Professor Bostjan Kobe

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterization of bivalency in disulfide-rich peptides

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Mehdi Mobli directly for media enquiries about:

  • Mechanism of voltage gating by voltage-gated ion channels
  • Structure guided drug design
  • Structure guided evolution of venom peptides

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