Tomas Malinauskas

Post Doctoral Research Associate

I am a structural biologist in Prof. Christian Siebold's group at the University of Oxford, UK. I use biochemical (mammalian cell-based protein expression, chromatography, cellular assays), biophysical (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, SPR, BLI, MALS) and computational (homology modelling, small molecule docking, evolutionary conservation analysis) tools to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication. I aim to understand the way these mechanisms create and maintain living organisms.

If you need a structural perspective on your project, please email me. I am happy to help with anything from advice on protein constructs and expression to analysis of the target protein structure-function (e.g. the effect of mutations) to structural figures and movies for your papers.

Selected publications:

1. Robinson, R.A.*, Griffiths, S.C.*, van de Haar, L.L.*, Malinauskas, T.*, et al. Simultaneous binding of Guidance Cues NET1 and RGM blocks extracellular NEO1 signaling. Cell, 184, 1–18 (2021).

2. Malinauskas, T.**, et al. Repulsive Guidance Molecules lock Growth Differentiation Factor 5 in an inhibitory complex. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 117 (27), 15620–15631 (2020).

3. Zhao, Y.*, Malinauskas, T.*, et al. Structural insights into the inhibition of Wnt signaling by cancer antigen 5T4/Wnt-Activated Inhibitory Factor 1. Structure, 22 (4), 612–620 (2014).

4. Janssen, B.J.C.*, Malinauskas, T.*, et al. Neuropilins lock secreted semaphorins onto plexins in a ternary signalling complex. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol., 19 (12), 1293–1299 (2012).

5. Malinauskas, T., et al. Modular mechanism of Wnt signaling inhibition by Wnt inhibitory factor 1. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol., 18 (8), 886–893 (2011).

*Equal contribution.

**Co-corresponding author.

Websites

Recent publications

A COVID-19 vaccine candidate using SpyCatcher multimerization of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain induces potent neutralising antibody responses
Journal article

Tan TK. et al, (2021), Nature Communications, 12
Author Correction: Neutralizing nanobodies bind SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and block interaction with ACE2.
Journal article

Huo J. et al, (2020), Nature structural & molecular biology
Structural basis for the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by an antibody from a convalescent patient
Journal article

Zhou D. et al, (2020), Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 27, 950 - 958
Glypicans shield the Wnt lipid moiety to enable signalling at a distance.
Journal article

McGough IJ. et al, (2020), Nature, 585, 85 - 90
Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by Destruction of the Prefusion Spike.
Journal article

Huo J. et al, (2020), Cell host & microbe, 28
Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by Destruction of the Prefusion Spike
Journal article

Huo J. et al, (2020), Cell Host & Microbe, 28, 445 - 454.e6
Neutralizing nanobodies bind SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and block interaction with ACE2
Journal article

Huo J. et al, (2020), Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 27, 846 - 854
Repulsive guidance molecules lock growth differentiation factor 5 in an inhibitory complex.
Journal article

Malinauskas T. et al, (2020), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117, 15620 - 15631
R-spondins engage heparan sulfate proteoglycans to potentiate WNT signaling.
Journal article

Dubey R. et al, (2020), eLife, 9
Diversity of oligomerization in Drosophila semaphorins suggests a mechanism of functional fine-tuning
Journal article

Rozbesky D. et al, (2019), Nature Communications, 10
The morphogen Sonic hedgehog inhibits its receptor Patched by a pincer grasp mechanism.
Journal article

Rudolf AF. et al, (2019), Nature chemical biology, 15, 975 - 982
Author Correction: GABAA receptor signalling mechanisms revealed by structural pharmacology.
Journal article

Masiulis S. et al, (2019), Nature, 566
Cryo-EM structure of the human α1β3γ2 GABAA receptor in a lipid bilayer.
Journal article

Laverty D. et al, (2019), Nature, 565, 516 - 520
GABAA receptor signalling mechanisms revealed by structural pharmacology.
Journal article

Masiulis S. et al, (2019), Nature, 565, 454 - 459
Calcium-sensing receptor residues with loss- and gain-of-function mutations are located in regions of conformational change and cause signalling bias
Journal article

Gorvin CM. et al, (2018), Human Molecular Genetics, 27, 3720 - 3733
A calcium-sensing receptor mutation causing hypocalcemia disrupts a transmembrane salt bridge to activate β-arrestin–biased signaling
Journal article

Gorvin CM. et al, (2018), Science Signaling, 11, eaan3714 - eaan3714
Structural Basis for Growth Differentiation Factor 5 (GDF5) Signaling Inhibition by Repulsive Guidance Molecules (RGMs)
Conference paper

Malinauskas T. et al, (2018), BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 114, 464A - 464A
A Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CASR) Mutation Causes Hypocalcemia by Disrupting a Transmembrane Salt Bridge that Modulates beta-arrestin Signaling.
Conference paper

Gorvin C. et al, (2017), JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, 32, S133 - S133
Structural Basis for Plexin Activation and Regulation
Journal article

Kong Y. et al, (2016), Neuron, 91, 548 - 560
Next generation sequencing reveals a novel mutation in the XY-linker region of phospholipase C zeta (PLC zeta), resulting in truncated protein and oocyte activation deficiency
Conference paper

Amdani SN. et al, (2016), HUMAN REPRODUCTION, 31, 170 - 170
Production of Heteromeric Transmembrane Receptors with Defined Subunit Stoichiometry
Journal article

Malinauskas T. and Furukawa H., (2016), Structure, 24, 1008 - 1009
Production of Heteromeric Transmembrane Receptors with Defined Subunit Stoichiometry
Journal article

Malinauskas T. and Furukawa H., (2016), Structure, 24, 653 - 655
Tailoring a Combination Preerythrocytic Malaria Vaccine
Journal article

Bauza K. et al, (2016), Infection and Immunity, 84, 622 - 634
Genetic Control over mtDNA and Its Relationship to Major Depressive Disorder
Journal article

Cai N. et al, (2015), Current Biology, 25, 3170 - 3177
Application of whole genome and RNA sequencing to investigate the genomic landscape of common variable immunodeficiency disorders
Journal article

van Schouwenburg PA. et al, (2015), Clinical Immunology, 160, 301 - 314
Extracellular modulators of Wnt signalling
Journal article

Malinauskas T. and Jones EY., (2014), Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 29, 77 - 84
Genomes and phenomes of a population of outbred rats and its progenitors
Journal article

Baud A. et al, (2014), Scientific Data, 1
Structural insights into the inhibition of Wnt signaling by cancer antigen 5T4/Wnt-activated inhibitory factor 1
Journal article

Zhao Y. et al, (2014), Structure, 22, 612 - 620
Structural Insights into the Inhibition of Wnt Signaling by Cancer Antigen 5T4/Wnt-Activated Inhibitory Factor 1
Journal article

Zhao Y. et al, (2014), Structure, 22, 612 - 620
Efficacy of a Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Using ChAd63 and Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Thrombospondin-Related Anonymous Protein as Assessed with Transgenic Plasmodium berghei Parasites
Journal article

Bauza K. et al, (2014), Infection and Immunity, 82, 1277 - 1286
Abstract
Journal article

(2013)
Structure and function of the Smoothened extracellular domain in vertebrate Hedgehog signaling
Journal article

Nachtergaele S. et al, (2013), eLife, 2
Structural insights into proteoglycan-shaped Hedgehog signaling
Journal article

Whalen DM. et al, (2013), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110, 16420 - 16425
Combined sequence-based and genetic mapping analysis of complex traits in outbred rats
Journal article

(2013), Nature Genetics, 45, 767 - 775
Neuropilins Lock Secreted Semaphorins onto Plexins in a Ternary Signalling Complex
Conference paper

Malinauskas T. et al, (2013), Biophysical Journal, 104, 613a - 613a
Neuropilins lock secreted semaphorins onto plexins in a ternary signaling complex
Journal article

Janssen BJC. et al, (2012), Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 19, 1293 - 1299
Correction
Journal article

(2012), Biophysical Journal, 102, 1468 - 1468
High-throughput Molecular Docking Now in Reach for a Wider Biochemical Community
Conference paper

Balan DM. et al, (2012), 2012 20th Euromicro International Conference on Parallel, Distributed and Network-based Processing
Modular Mechanism of Wnt Signalling Inhibition by Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1
Journal article

Malinauskas T. et al, (2012), Biophysical Journal, 102, 518a - 518a
Structural and Functional Studies of LRP6 Ectodomain Reveal a Platform for Wnt Signaling
Journal article

Chen S. et al, (2011), Developmental Cell, 21, 848 - 861
Modular mechanism of Wnt signaling inhibition by Wnt inhibitory factor 1
Journal article

Malinauskas T. et al, (2011), Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 18, 886 - 893
Modular mechanism of Wnt signaling inhibition by Wnt inhibitory factor 1
Journal article

Malinauskas T. et al, (2011), Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 18, 886 - 893
Docking of Fatty Acids into the WIF Domain of the Human Wnt Inhibitory Factor-1
Journal article

Malinauskas T., (2008), Lipids, 43, 227 - 230
Prussian blue-based amperometric sensor as a tool for the study of Pichia pastoris alcohol oxidase-catalyzed reactions
Journal article

Malinauskas T. and Malinauskas A., (2005), BULLETIN OF ELECTROCHEMISTRY, 21, 289 - 295

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