![Professor Megan O'Mara](/sites/default/files/profiles/2137.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Megan O’Mara is a Professor and Group Leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), UQ. Her group uses multiscale modelling techniques to understand how changes in the biochemical environment of the cell membranes alters membrane properties and modulates the function of membrane proteins. She has research interests in multidrug resistance, computational drug design and delivery, biopolymers, and personalized medicine. Megan completed her PhD in biophysics at the Australian National University in 2005 before moving to the University of Calgary, Canada, to take up a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2009, she returned to Australia to join University of Queensland’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences as a UQ Postdoctoral Fellow, before commencing an ARC DECRA in 2012 where she continued her computational work on membrane protein dynamics. In 2015, Megan joined the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University in 2015 as Rita Cornforth Fellow and Senior Lecturer. In 2019 she was promoted to Associate Professor and was Associate Director (Education) of the Research School of Chemistry ANU in 2019-2021. In April 2022 she relocated to AIBN.
Availability
- Professor Megan O'Mara is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, University of Canberra
- Bachelor of Physical Sciences, Australian National University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Physical Sciences, Australian National University
- Associate Fellow, Australian National University, Australian National University
Research interests
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computational drug design
computational drug design, structure based drug design, structure activity relationships, computational fragment based drug design
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membrane biophysics
computational cell membrane biophysics, computational lipidomics, cell membrane properties in health, disease and senescence
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multudrug resistance
antimicrobial resistance, cancer chemotherapy resistance
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polymer simulations
biopolymers, self assembly, polymer properties
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lipid delivery systems
targeted lipid delivery systems, computational analysis, lipid formulations, LNP loading, computational simulations
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computational structural biology
membrane protein structure-function, computational biology, protein structure prediction
Research impacts
My research uses computational techniques and simulations to understand how the chemistry of biological and bioinspired systems influence their physical properties. My goal is to understand how biomolecules self-assemble and self-regulate in living cells. My work allows the rational design of new pharmaceuticals, drug and vaccine delivery systems and biocompatable materials, as well as understanding fundamental problems such as antibiotic resistance. My students gain skills in data science, computational chemistry, computational biology, high performance computing, rational drug design and research data management that are directly transferable to industry, government and policy development, as well as research. I collaborate broadly across UQ, Australia and internationally with researchers and industry.
Works
Search Professor Megan O'Mara’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2014
Journal Article
The ryanodine receptor store-sensing gate controls Ca2+ waves and Ca2+-triggered arrhythmias
Chen, Wenqian, Wang, Ruiwu, Chen, Biyi, Zhong, Xiaowei, Kong, Huihui, Bai, Yunlong, Zhou, Qiang, Xie, Cuihong, Zhang, Jingqun, Guo, Ang, Tian, Xixi, Jones, Peter P., O'Mara, Megan L., Liu, Yingjie, Mi, Tao, Zhang, Lin, Bolstad, Jeff, Semeniuk, Lisa, Cheng, Hongqiang, Zhang, Jianlin, Chen, Ju, Tieleman, D. Peter, Gillis, Anne M., Duff, Henry J., Fill, Michael, Song, Long-Sheng and Chen, S. R. Wayne (2014). The ryanodine receptor store-sensing gate controls Ca2+ waves and Ca2+-triggered arrhythmias. Nature Medicine, 20 (2), 184-192. doi: 10.1038/nm.3440
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Imperfect coordination chemistry facilitates metal ion release in the Psa permease
Couñago, Rafael M., Ween, Miranda P., Begg, Stephanie L., Bajaj, Megha, Zuegg, Johannes, O'Mara, Megan L., Cooper, Matthew A., McEwan, Alastair G., Paton, James C., Kobe, Bostjan and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2014). Imperfect coordination chemistry facilitates metal ion release in the Psa permease. Nature Chemical Biology, 10 (1), 35-41. doi: 10.1038/nCHeMBIO.1382
Featured
2012
Journal Article
The effect of environment on the structure of a membrane protein: P-glycoprotein under physiological conditions
O’Mara, Megan L. and Mark, Alan E. (2012). The effect of environment on the structure of a membrane protein: P-glycoprotein under physiological conditions. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 8 (10), 3964-3976. doi: 10.1021/ct300254y
2024
Journal Article
How molecular architecture defines quantum yields
Pashley-Johnson, Fred, Munaweera, Rangika, Hossain, Sheikh I., Gauci, Steven C., Delafresnaye, Laura, Frisch, Hendrik, O’Mara, Megan L., Du Prez, Filip E. and Barner-Kowollik, Christopher (2024). How molecular architecture defines quantum yields. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 6033, 6033. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50366-1
2024
Journal Article
Lipidome modifications in A. baumannii alter membrane properties and antimicrobial peptide interactions
O'Mara, Megan L., MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo and Wilson, Katie A. (2024). Lipidome modifications in A. baumannii alter membrane properties and antimicrobial peptide interactions. Biophysical Journal, 123 (3), 455a. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.2771
2024
Journal Article
Main-chain macromolecular hydrazone photoswitches
Thai, Linh Duy, Fanelli, Julian, Munaweera, Rangika, O'Mara, Megan L., Barner-Kowollik, Christopher and Mutlu, Hatice (2024). Main-chain macromolecular hydrazone photoswitches. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 63 (4) e202315887, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/anie.202315887
2024
Journal Article
Introduction to the <i>RSC Advances</i> themed collection on <i>New insights into biomolecular systems from large-scale simulations</i>
O’Mara, Megan L., Rauscher, Sarah and Wetmore, Stacey D. (2024). Introduction to the RSC Advances themed collection on New insights into biomolecular systems from large-scale simulations. RSC Advances, 14 (10), 6985-6986. doi: 10.1039/d4ra90012j
2023
Journal Article
The efficacy of the analgesic GlyT2 inhibitor, ORG25543, is determined by two connected allosteric sites
Chater, Ryan Cantwell, Quinn, Ada S., Wilson, Katie, Frangos, Zachary J., Sutton, Patrick, Jayakumar, Srinivasan, Cioffi, Christopher L., O'Mara, Megan L. and Vandenberg, Robert J. (2023). The efficacy of the analgesic GlyT2 inhibitor, ORG25543, is determined by two connected allosteric sites. Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.16028
2023
Journal Article
The net electrostatic potential and hydration of ABCG2 affect substrate transport
Gose, Tomoka, Aitken, Heather M., Wang, Yao, Lynch, John, Rampersaud, Evadnie, Fukuda, Yu, Wills, Medb, Baril, Stefanie A., Ford, Robert C., Shelat, Anang, O'Mara, Megan L. and Schuetz, John D. (2023). The net electrostatic potential and hydration of ABCG2 affect substrate transport. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 5035, 5035. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40610-5
2023
Journal Article
Structural basis of promiscuous substrate transport by Organic Cation Transporter 1
Zeng, Yi C., Sobti, Meghna, Quinn, Ada, Smith, Nicola J., Brown, Simon H.J., Vandenberg, Jamie I., Ryan, Renae M., O'Mara, Megan L. and Stewart, Alastair G. (2023). Structural basis of promiscuous substrate transport by Organic Cation Transporter 1. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 6374, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42086-9
2023
Journal Article
Extracellular vesicle lipids in cancer immunoevasion
Chen, Siyu, Iannotta, Dalila, O'Mara, Megan L., Goncalves, Jenifer Pendiuk and Wolfram, Joy (2023). Extracellular vesicle lipids in cancer immunoevasion. Trends in Cancer, 9 (11), 883-886. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.08.006
2023
Journal Article
Visible-Light-Reactive Single-Chain Nanoparticles
Mundsinger, Kai, Tuten, Bryan T., Wang, Lily, Neubauer, Kira, Kropf, Christian, O'Mara, Megan L. and Barner-Kowollik, Christopher (2023). Visible-Light-Reactive Single-Chain Nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 62 (23) e202302995, e202302995. doi: 10.1002/anie.202302995
2023
Journal Article
Visible light reactive single‐chain nanoparticles
Mundsinger, Kai, Tuten, Bryan T., Wang, Lily, Neubauer, Kira, Kropf, Christian, O'Mara, Megan L. and Barner-Kowollik, Christopher (2023). Visible light reactive single‐chain nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie, 135 (23) e202302995. doi: 10.1002/ange.202302995
2023
Journal Article
The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane is modulated by lipid polyunsaturation
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo I., Wilson, Katie A. and O’Mara, Megan L. (2023). The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the Acinetobacter baumannii inner membrane is modulated by lipid polyunsaturation. ACS Infectious Diseases, 9 (4), 815-826. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00530
2023
Conference Publication
Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors
Gallagher, Casey I., Lin, Yie Chang, Kumar, Arvind, Ha, Damian, Cioffi, Christopher L., Chakrapani, Sudha, O'Mara, Megan L. and Vandenberg, Robert J. (2023). Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors. 66th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical-Society, San Francisco Ca, Feb 19-23, 2022. CAMBRIDGE: CELL PRESS.
2023
Conference Publication
Polyunsaturated lipids promote membrane phase separation and antimicrobial sensitivity
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Wilson, Katie A., Eijkelkamp, Bart and O'Mara, Megan L. (2023). Polyunsaturated lipids promote membrane phase separation and antimicrobial sensitivity. Biophysical Society 67th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 18-22 February 2023. St. Louis, MO United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.1805
2023
Conference Publication
Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors
Gallagher, Casey I., Chang Lin, Yie, Kumar, Arvind, Ha, Damian, Cioffi, Christopher L., Chakrapani, Sudha, O'Mara, Megan L. and Vandenberg, Robert J. (2023). Identification and characterisation of lipids that are positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors. 67th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting 2023, San Diego, CA United States, 18-22 February 2023. St Louis, MO United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.2138
2023
Journal Article
Membrane cholesterol regulates inhibition and substrate transport by the glycine transporter, GlyT2
Frangos, Zachary J., Wilson, Katie A., Aitken, Heather M., Cantwell Chater, Ryan, Vandenberg, Robert J. and O’Mara, Megan L. (2023). Membrane cholesterol regulates inhibition and substrate transport by the glycine transporter, GlyT2. Life Science Alliance, 6 (4) e202201708, 1-17. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202201708
2022
Journal Article
Protonophoric and mitochondrial uncoupling activity of aryl-carbamate substituted fatty acids
MacDermott-Opeskin, Hugo, Clarke, Callum, Wu, Xin, Roseblade, Ariane, York, Edward, Pacchini, Ethan, Roy, Ritik, Cranfield, Charles, Gale, Philip A., O'Mara, Megan L., Murray, Michael and Rawling, Tristan (2022). Protonophoric and mitochondrial uncoupling activity of aryl-carbamate substituted fatty acids. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 21 (1), 132-139. doi: 10.1039/d2ob02049a
2022
Journal Article
Conserved FimH mutations in the global Escherichia coli ST131 multi-drug resistant lineage weaken interdomain interactions and alter adhesin function
Qin, Jilong, Wilson, Katie A., Sarkar, Sohinee, Heras, Begoña, O'Mara, Megan L. and Totsika, Makrina (2022). Conserved FimH mutations in the global Escherichia coli ST131 multi-drug resistant lineage weaken interdomain interactions and alter adhesin function. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 20, 4532-4541. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.040
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Megan O'Mara is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Computational design of biocompatable delivery systems
Biocompatible delivery systems allow enhanced delivery of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other biological payload molecules, with varied effects including extending the pharmaceutical half-life of drugs, increasing adsorption and decreasing immunogenicity. While these agents have increased the efficacy of many biological therapies, very little work has been done on improving the targeting of these agents to the specific cell or receptor of interest. This project will examine strategies to increase the selectivity of biopolymer delivery systems to enhance the ability to target specific cell types or receptors, thereby reducing off target effects. This project will identify the chemical composition and biophysical characteristics of different cell membranes, and how this impacts their interaction with biopolymer delivery systems. The project requires good collaboration skills, an broad understanding of chemistry and biochemistry, and strong skills in multiscale modelling techniques, from QMMM to coarse grained molecular dynamics.
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The impact of lipid modifications on cell membrane function
Membrane lipid composition influences the localisation of membrane proteins and regulates their activity. The hundreds of chemically distinct lipids within cell membranes phase-separate to form microdomains that impact the localisation and interactions of membrane proteins. The composition of the cell membrane is tightly controlled in normal cellular function. There is now considerable evidence that altered cell homeostasis, ranging from inflammatory processes to cancer, cause alterations in metabolic pathways which impact membrane lipid distributions, cell biophysical properties and membrane protein function. This may have downstream impacts on the uptake and efficacy of a range of pharmaceuticals used to treat dysfunction. Using data derived from mass spectrometry and other experimental approaches, this project will use multiscale simulation techniques to examine how changes in lipid membrane composition in cancer and other disease states impacts drug uptake. This knowledge will provide a means to specifically target a given cell type through the drug delivery systems and targeted therapeutics.
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Membrane mediated antimicrobial resistance
Bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are the bacteria’s first line of defence against the action of antimicrobials. However, very little is currently known about the function and substrate range of these efflux pumps. This project will examine different multidrug efflux pumps to uncover the structural basis of substrate specificity and transport. It will examine the impact of bacterial membrane modifications on bacterial multidrug efflux pump function, and how peptide- and/or polymer-based antimicrobials inhibit multidrug efflux pumps and disrupt membrane integrity. Other avenues of investigation include characterising the effect of lipid modifications in antimicrobial resistance, and computational drug design of lead new candidates for antimicrobial design. This project uses a range of computational techniques, primarily multiscale molecular dynamics simulations.
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Allosteric modulation of synaptic transmission by neurosteroids and oxysterols
The development of effective therapeutics that target chronic pain in neurological diseases would significantly improve the quality of life for millions of people living with chronic pain. The glycinergic neuronal transport proteins are a promising target for the treatment of chronic pain. In neurons and other cells, the membrane lipid composition influences the localisation of membrane proteins and regulates their activity. The hundreds of chemically distinct lipids within cell membranes phase-separate to form microdomains that impact the localisation and interactions of membrane proteins. Oxidative stress is an early hallmark of inflammation and disease that causes chemical modifications to membrane lipids, proteins, and other biomolecules. This impacts their function and influences their biophysical properties. This project will examine the effect of oxysterols and neurosteroids on the inhibition of glycernergic synaptic membrane proteins for the development of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of chronic pain in specific disease states. This is a computational project. The direction of the project can be tailored to the interests of the student.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Allosteric modulation of synaptic proteins by endogenous and modified sterols
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Dr Evelyne Deplazes
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Doctor Philosophy
Computational design of targeted lipid technologies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting alterations in cell membrane biophysics for disease intervention
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Evelyne Deplazes
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Doctor Philosophy
The effect of membrane composition on protein-ligand interactions in drug design and delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and design of novel antimicrobials
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Evelyne Deplazes
Completed supervision
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting the membrane: molecular dynamics studies of protein-membrane interactions.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding multidrug resistance: Molecular Dynamics studies of ligand recognition by P-glycoprotein
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Megan O'Mara directly for media enquiries about:
- biophysics
- computational chemistry
- drug design
- supercomputers - applications
- women in STEM
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