The structure-function relationship of membrane proteins

Dr. Petrou’s research focus is to understand the structure-function relationship of membrane proteins that (1) enable clinically-important antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and 2) regulate neurotransmission in mammals. In mid-2017, Dr. Petrou was awarded a highly competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant (designated K99/R00) to investigate in more detail the structure and function of the bacterial aminoarabinose transferase protein (ArnT), which is a key bacterial membrane protein providing resistance to polymyxin-class antibiotics. This award is based, in part, on Dr. Petrou’s 2016 peer-reviewed publication as first author in the prestigious AAAS-sponsored journal Science. Specifically, this publication and his NIH grant positions Dr. Petrou to gain important insights on the way in which the apo- and substrate bound forms of ArnT function to stymie antimicrobials. In addition, this work will include follow-up, translational studies that will work to improve and redesign anti-infectives.

Selected Publications

• Petrou, V. I., Mancia, F. (2018) Structural and biochemical studies of the aminoarabinose transferase ArnT linked to polymyxin resistance. Poster presentation, 62nd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. L3799-Pos. San Francisco, CA, February 2018.

• Dufrisne, M. B., Petrou, V. I., Clarke, O. B. & Mancia, F. (2017) Structural basis for catalysis at the membrane-water interface. Biochim Biophys Acta BBA - Mol Cell Biol Lipids 1862: 1368-1385. PMCID: PMC5449265.

• Petrou, V.I., Herrera, C.M., Schultz, K.M., Clarke, O.B., Vendome, J., Tomasek, D., Banerjee, S.,Rajashankar, K.R., Belcher Dufrisne, M., Kloss, B., Kloppmann, E., Rost, B., Klug, C.S., Trent, M.S., Shapiro,L., Mancia, F. (2016). Structures of aminoarabinose transferase ArnT suggest a molecular basis for lipid Aglycosylation. Science, 351(6273): 608-612. PMCID: PMC4963604.

• Petrou, V.I., Herrera, C.M., Schultz, K.M., Clarke, O.B., Vendome, J., Tomasek, D., Banerjee, S.,Rajashankar, K.R., Kloss, B., Kloppmann, E., Rost, B., Klug, C.S., Trent, M.S., Shapiro, L., Mancia, F. (2016). ArnT: Structure and mechanism of the aminoarabinose transferase responsible for resistance to polymyxinclass antibiotics. Oral presentation, 60th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. Biophys. J. 110(3) Supplement1: p. 38a, 205-Plat. Los Angeles, CA, February 2016.

* Full list of publications on PubMed

Awards and Honors

2018 Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation (Finalist)

2017 NIH NIGMS K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award

Education

2012 Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA

2005 Ptychion (B.S. equivalent), Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Positions

07/2019-Present. Assistant Professor and Chancellor Scholar, Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics,
Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

07/2017-06/2019 Associate Research Scientist, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics,
Columbia University, New York, NY (PI: Filippo Mancia)

05/2013-06/2017 Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics,
Columbia University, New York, NY (PI: Filippo Mancia)

08/2012-04/2013 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, VA (PI: Diomedes Logothetis)