Biotechnology

Biographical Details:

1978 - 1982 B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry, N.U.I.Galway. 1982 - 1985 Ph.D. in Neurochemistry,N.U.I. Galway. 1986 - 1989 Lecturer 1 in Biochemistry, GMIT. 1990 - 1995 Assistant Lecturer in Biochemistry, D.C.U. 1995 - 2006 Lecturer in Biochemistry, D.C.U. 1998 - 1999 Research Fellow University of Melbourne, Australia. 2005 Associate Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada. Currently Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, D.C.U.

Research Interests:

Neurochemistry/Neuropeptidases Glycoprotein analysis Cloning and mutagenesis of bioligands Purification and characterisation of enzymes/peptidases Glycoprotein purification and analysis Cloning and expression of novel lectins

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

• Dixit, C.K., O`Connell, T.M., O`Connor, B., Walls,D. and Ducree, J. 2013. Sequential Single Live Cell Glycan Profiling: Advanciing technical challenges in Glycoanalysis. Nature Methods,
• Keogh, D., Larragy, R. , McMahon, K., O`Connell, M., O`Connor, B., Thompson, R., and Clarke, P. 2013. Generating Novel Recombinant Prokaryotic Lectins with Altered Carbohydrate Binding Specificities and Affinities Through Mutagenesis of the PA-IL Protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biochemical Journal,
• Loughran, N.,O`Connell, M.J. ,O`Connor, B. and O'Fagain,C. 2013. Lessons from the past ` a resurrected ancestral peroxidase reveals industrially relevant enzymatic properties. EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS,
• Thompson, R., Larragy, R. , Keogh, D., O`Connor, B., O`Connell, M., , and Clarke, P. 2013. Exploring the specificity determinants of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA-IL lectin through site specific mutagenesis. Journal Of Biological Chemistry,
• Audouin, F., Ruth, L. , Fox,M., O`Connor, B. and Heise, A. 2012. Proteins immobilization onto poly(acrylic acid) functional macroporous PolyHIPE via surface initiated ARGET ATRP. Biomacromolecules, 13, 11, pp3787-3794.
• Audouin, F., Fox,M., Ruth, L. , Clarke, P., Huang, J., O`Connor, B. and Heise, A.. 2012. Polypeptide grafted macroporous PolyHIPE by surface initiated N-Carboxyanhydride Polymerization as a platform for bioconjugation.. Macromolecules, 45,, pp6127-6135.
• Loughran, N., McCormick-Hill, S., Hinde, S., Loughran, S., O'Connor, B. , O'Fagain, C., Nauseef, W. and O'Connell, M. 2012. Functional consequence of positive selection revealed through rational mutagenesis of human myeloperoxidase. Molecular Biology And Evolution, 29, 8, pp2039-2046.
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., Twanley, B.,O'Connor, B. and Paull, B. 2011. Pipette-tip selective extraction of glycoproteins with lectin modified gold nano-particles on a polmer monolithic phase. The Analyst, 136,, pp2619-2628.
• McCaul, M., Sutton, D., Simpson , A., Spence,A., Mcnally, D., Moran, B., Goel,A., O'Connor, B., Hart, K. and Kelleher, B. 2011. Composition of dissolved organic matter within a lacustrine environment. Environmental Chemistry, 8 , 2, pp146-154.
• Thompson, R., Creavin, A., O'Connell, M., O'Connor, B.and Clarke, P. 2011. Optimisation of the Enzyme-Linked Lectin Assay (ELLA) for enhanced glycoprotein and glycoconjugate analysis. Analytical Biochemistry, 413, 2, pp114-122.
• 0'Fagain , C.,Cummmins,C. and O'Connor, B. 2010. Gel Filtration Chromatography. Methods in Molecular Biology 681, 25-35
• Cummins , P., Dowling,O., and O'Connor, B. 2010. Ion Exchange Chromatography - basic principles and applications. Methods in Molecular Biology 681, 215-229
• O'Connor, B. and Cummins, P. 2010. Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography. Methods in Molecular Biology ; Protein Chromatography 681, 431-439
• O'Brien, P. and O'Connor , B. 2008. 'Seprase : an overview of an important matrix serine protease'. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1784, 9, pp1130-1145.
• Loughran,N.B., O'Connor,B., Ó'Fágáin, C. and O'Connell, M.J. 2008. 'The Phylogeny of the Mammalian Heme Peroxidases and the evolution of their diverse functions.'. Bmc Evolutionary Biology, 8, 101
• Mtawae,K. , O'Connor, B. and Ó'Fagain , C. 2008. 'Stability and Kinetic Studies on recombinant human Pyroglutamyl Peptidase I and a single site variant, Y147F'. In Biotechnology ; Research ,Technology & Applications, 121-142, pp121-142.
• Damian Connolly , Vincent O'Shea , Paul Clarke , Brendan O'Connor and Brett Paull. 2007. `Evaluation of Photografted Charged Sites Within Polymer Monoliths in Capillary Columns Using Contactless Conductivity Detection.. Journal Of Separation Science, 30, 17, pp3060-3068.
• Ruth,D., Buckley, S.J., O'Connor,B. and O'Fagain,C. 2007. `Stability and pH kinetics of a Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV-like activity from bovine serum'. Enzyme And Microbial Technology, 41, 3, pp307-311.
• Kilbane, Z. , Vaas,P-R., O'Cuiv, P. and O'Connor, B. 2007. `Cloning and heterologous expression of bovine pyroglutamyl peptidase type-1 in Escherichia coli : purification , biochemical and kinetic characterisation'. Molecular And Cellular Biochemistry, 297, 1-2, pp189-197.
• Buckley,S.J.,Collins , P.J. and O'Connor, B. 2005. 'The Purification and Characterisation of novel Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV-like activity from Bovine Serum'. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 36, 7, pp1281-1296.
• Collins,P.J., McMahon, G., O'Brien, P. and O'Connor, B. 2004. 'Purification, identification and characterisation of the active site of a Seprase-like activity from bovine serum'. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 36, 11, pp2320-2333.
• McMahon,G. , Collins, P.J. and O'Connor,B. 2003. 'Characterisation of the active site of a newly-discovered and potentially significant post-proline cleaving endopeptidase called ZIP using LC-MS'. The Analyst, 128, , pp670-675.
• Birney Y.A. and O'Connor B. 2001. 'Purification and Characterisation of a z-pro-prolinal-Insensitive Z-Gly-Pro-7-amino-4-methyl Coumarin Hydrolysing peptidase from bovine serum - a new proline specific peptidase'. Protein Expression And Purification, 22, , pp286-298.
• Cummins P.M. O'Connor B. 1998. Pyroglutamyl Aminopeptidase : An overview of the three knpwn enzymic forms. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1429,, pp1-17.
• Cunningham D.F. O'Connor B. 1998. Purification and characterisation of a Prolyl Endopeptidase from bovine serum. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 30,, pp99-114.
• Gallagher S.P. O'Connor B. 1998. A study of a highly specific Pyroglutamyl Aminopeptidase type II from the membrane fraction of bovine brain. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 30,, pp115-133.
• Gallagher SP OLeary RM OConnor B. 1997. The development of two fluorimetric assays for the determination of pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase type-II activity. Analytical Biochemistry, 250,, pp1-9.
• Cunningham D.F. and O'Connor B. 1997. Proline Specific Peptidases. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1343,, pp160-186.
• Cunningham DF OConnor B. 1997. Identification and initial characterisation of a N- benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-prolinal (Z-Pro-prolinal)-insensitive 7-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-glycyl-prolyl-amido)-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Gly-Pro-NH-Mec)-hydrolysing peptidase in bovine serum. European Journal Of Biochemistry, 244,, pp900-903.
• Cummins PM OConnor B. 1996. Bovine brain pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase (type-1): Purification and characterisation of a neuropeptide-inactivating peptidase. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 28,, pp883-893.
• OLeary RM Gallagher SP OConnor B. 1996. Purification and characterization of a novel membrane-bound form of prolyl endopeptidase from bovine brain. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 28,, pp441-449.
• OLeary RM OConnor B. 1995. A study of a synaptosomal Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone-inactivating pyroglutamate aminopeptidase from bovine brain. International Journal Of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 27, , pp881-890.
• OLeary RM OConnor B. 1995. Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone. Journal Of Neurochemistry, 65, , pp953-963.
• O'Leary R.M. O'Connor B. 1995. Pyroglutamyl Aminopeptidase from the cytosol of bovine brain : a neuropeptide processing enzyme. Journal Of Cellular Biochemistry, 19,, pp249-250.
• OLeary RM OConnor B. 1995. Identification and localisation of a synaptosomal membrane prolyl endopeptidase from bovine brain. European Journal Of Biochemistry, 227, , pp277-283.
• Cummins P. O'Connor B. 1992. Purification and characterisation of a diaminopeptidase type IV from the cytosolic fraction of bovine brain. Biochemical Society Transactions, 20,, pp45-46.
• O'Leary R.M. O'Connor B. 1992. Purification and characterisation of a membrane-bound pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase from bovine brain. Biochemical Society Transactions, 20,, pp121-122.
• OLeary RM Gregory B Carey B McGlinchey E OToole A Clynes M OConnor B. 1991. Factors influencing proteases levels in animal cells in vitro. Biochemical Society Transactions, 19, , ppS26-S26.
• Smyth M OConor B OCuinn G. 1991. Subcellular distribution of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activity against Lys-Ala-NH-MEC in guinea-pig brian. Biochemical Society Transactions, 19, , ppS37-S37.
• O'Cuinn G. O'Connor B. Elmore M. 1990. Degradation of TRH and LHRH by enzymes of brain tissue. Journal Of Neurochemistry, 54,, pp1-13.
• OConnor B Smith M OCuinn G. 1990. Two neutral dipeptidyl aminopeptidase activities of guinea-pig brain. Biochemical Society Transactions, 18, , pp276-276.
• O'Connor B O'Cuinn G. 1987. Active site studies on a narrow specificity thyroliberin hydrolysing pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase purified from synaptosomal membranes of guinea-pig brain. Journal Of Neurochemistry, 48,, pp676-680.
• O'Connor B O'Cuinn G. 1986. Post-proline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase from synaptosomal membranes of guinea-pig brain. European Journal Of Biochemistry, 154,, pp329-335.
• O'Connor B. O'Cuinn G. 1985. Purification of and kinetic studies on a narrow-specificity synaptosomal membrane pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase from guinea-pig brain. European Journal Of Biochemistry, 150,, pp47-52.
• O'Connor B O'Cuinn G. 1984. Localisation of a narrow specifity thyroliberin hydrolysing pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase in synaptosomal membranes of guinea-pig brain. European Journal Of Biochemistry, 144,, pp271-278.

Selected Chapters

• Brendan O'Connor and Philip Cummins. 2011. Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography. Methods in Molecular Biology ; Protein Chromatography, pp431-439.
• Ciaran Fagan , Philip Cummins and Brendan O'Connor. 2011. Gel Filtration Chromatography. Methods in Molecular Biology ; Protein Chromatography, pp25-35.
• Philip Cummins , Oonagh Doswling and Brendan O'Connor. 2011. Ion Exchange Chromatography ¿ basic principles and application to the partial purification of soluble mammalian Prolyl Oligopeptidase. Methods in Molecular Biology ; Protein Chromatography, pp215-229.
• McKeon U. O'Connor B and O'Fagain C. 1998. Stability properties of calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase. Stability and Stabilisation of Biocatalysts, pp47-52.
• McKeon U. O'Connor B. 1998. Mammalian pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase type I. Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, pp269-270.
• O'Cuinn G. O'Connor B. Gilmartin L. Smyth M. 1995. Neuropeptide inactivation by peptidases. Metabolism of brain peptides, pp99-157.
• Elmore M. O'Connor B O Cuinn G. 1990. Characterisation of the substrate specififty of TRH-hydrolysing pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase from guinea-pig brain. Neuropeptides, pp31-36.

Selected Non-peer Reviewed Journals

• Birney Y.A. O'Connor B. 1999. A potentially significant proline specific peptidase from human and bovine serum. Brain Research, 848, pp34-35.
• Buckley S.J. O'Connor B. 1999. The study of a therapeutically important proline specific peptidase from human saliva. Brain Research, 848, pp35-36.

• O`Connor, B., Lectin Bioaffinity Chromatography in Separation Science, The Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, Congress 2012, Chromatography in Ireland, 25-NOV-12 - 26-NOV-12, University College Cork
• Cassidy, N., Thompson, R., Clarke, P. , Keogh, D., O`Connell, M. and O`Connor, B., Regions of the Cry1Ac toxin predicted to be under positive selection are shown to be the carbohydrate binding sites and may be altered in their glycoprotein target specificity, Glycosciences Ireland, 18-OCT-12 - 19-OCT-12, National University Of Ireland , Galway
• Harrington, A. , Thompson, R., Clarke, P. , and O`Connor, B., Protein Engineering of a glycolytic enzyme, GlycoSciences Ireland, 18-OCT-12 - 19-OCT-12, National University Of Ireland , Galway
• Thompson, R., O`Connell, M. ,O`Connor, B. and Clarke, P., Recombinant Prokaryotic Lectins : Enhanced tools for glycoprotein analysis and purification, GlycoSciences Ireland, 18-OCT-12 - 19-OCT-12, National University Of Ireland , Galway
• Cooke, C., Keogh, D., O`Connor, B. and O`Connell, M., Siderophores for the speciation of iron, 8th International Biometals Symposium (Biometals 2012), 10-JUL-12 - 14-JUL-12, Brussels, Belgium,
• Audouin,F., Fox, M. Larragy, R. , O`Connor, B. and Heise , A., Design of new highly functional polymer grafted PolyHipes for protein immobilisation., EUPOC2012 : Porous Polymer based Systems : from design to applications., 08-JUN-12 - 12-JUN-12, Gargnano , Italy.
• Cooke, C., Keogh, D., O`Connor, B. and O`Connell, M., Expression analysis of a xenosiderophore acquisition system in Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011, Young Microbiologists Symposium,, 03-JUN-12 - 05-JUN-12, U.C.C. , Cork, Ireland
• O`Connor, B., Purification and Analysis of Biopharmaceuticals New developments., 1st Colloquium of the Development of Sensor Technology between Ireland and Brazil., 21-MAY-12 - 24-MAY-12, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• Connolly, D. , Alwy, A., Clarke, S., Brougham, D., Thokala, P., Fox, M. Larragy, R. and O`Connor, B.,, Nano-agglomerated stationary phases for solid-phase extraction., European Lab Automation 2012, 09-MAY-12 - 11-MAY-12, Hamburg, Germany.
• Cooke, C., Keogh, D. , O'Connor, B. and O'Connell, M., Exploitation of siderophores for the speciation of iron, SGM Spring Conference, 05-MAR-12 - 06-MAR-12, Convention Centre, Dublin
• Loughran,NB., O`Connor, B., O`Fagain, C, Nauseef, WM and O`Connell, M., Positive selection and protein functional shift using MPO as a model., SMBE satellite meeting on Mechanism of Protein Evolution, 09-DEC-11 - 11-DEC-11, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado , USA
• Cassidy, N., Thompson, R., Clarke, P., Keogh, D., O`Connell, M. and O`Connor, B., GalNAc binding proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis as a tool for glycan analysis and detection., The EMBO Meeting 2011, 10-SEP-11 - 15-SEP-11, Vienna, Austria
• Cooke, C., Keogh, D., Clarke, P., O`Connor, B.,and O`Connell, M., Exploitation of siderophores for the speciation of iron., The EMBO Meeting 2011, 10-SEP-11 - 15-SEP-11, Vienna, Austria
• Danilevics, U., Nesterenko, E., Thompson, R., Clarke, P., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B., Gold nano-particle modified monolithic silica micro-columns for selected chromatographic and biological applications.¿, Instrumental Methods of Analysis (IMA), 12-AUG-11 - 15-AUG-11, Chania, Crete, Greece
• Thompson, R., Creavin, A., O`Connell, M., O`Connor, B. and Clarke, P., Optimization of the enzyme linked lectin assay for enhanced glycoprotein and glycoconjugate analysis., Eurocarb 16, 12-JUL-11 - 15-JUL-11, Sorrento , Italy
• Vázquez, M., Nesterenko, E., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., O`Connor, B., Brabazon, D. and Paull, B., Parallel analysis of glycoproteins using lectin functionalised monolithic columns integrated in hybrid silicon/glass microfludic chips, Eurocarb 16, 12-JUL-11 - 15-JUL-11, Sorrento , Italy
• Nesterenko, E., Yavorskyy, A., Thompson, R., Clarke, P., Vasquez, M., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B., MonoPLOT columns functionalised with lectin modified gold nano-particles for affinity extraction of selected glycoproteins, HPLC 2011, 19-JUN-11 - 23-JUN-11, Budapest , Hungary
• Paull, B., Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Nesterenko, E., Thompson, R., Clarke, P. and O`Connor, B., Nano/micro-structured monolithic phases for in-capillary extraction, derivitisation and separations, 35th Int. Symp. on Capillary Chromatography (ISCC), 10-MAY-11 - 15-MAY-11, San Diego, California, USA
• Paull, B., Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Nesterenko, E., Thompson, R., Clarke, P. and O`Connor, B, Modification of polymer monoliths with nano-particles for bio-analytical micro-extraction, separation and flow through reactors , Pittcon Conference, 11-MAR-11 - 15-MAR-11, Atlanta, USA
• Currivan, S., Connolly, S., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B, Fabrication of novel monolithic stationary phases incorporating a gradient of bonded iminodiacetic acid for potential IMAC or bio-affinity applications, Conference on Analytical Sciences Ireland (CASi), 04-FEB-11 - 04-FEB-11, Helix, DCU
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., Twamley, B., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B., Lectin affinity extraction of glycoproteins with terminal galactose residues on a gold nanoparticle-modified polymer monolith in pipette-tip format, Conference on Analytical Sciences Ireland (CASi), 04-FEB-11 - 04-FEB-11, Helix, DCU
• Smejkal, P., Nuchtavorn, N., Ryvolová, M., Roisin Thompson, R., Szekrényes, A., Clarke, P., O`Connor, B., Bek, F. and Macka, M., Chip based capillary electrophoresis analyzer: taking a comercial application-oriented instrumental platform back to research, 18th Annual RACI Environmental and Analytical Division: R&D Topics Conference, 05-DEC-10 - 07-DEC-10, University of Tasmania, Australia
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., Twamley, B., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B., Fabrication of a gold modified polymer monolith in a pipette tip for lectin affinity extraction of selected glycoproteins, 22nd International Ion Chromatography Symposium (IICS), 10-SEP-10 - 15-SEP-10, Cincinnati, USA.
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B, Fabrication of a gold modified polymer monolith in a pipette tip for lectin affinity extraction of selected glycoproteins, 3rd Annual Meeting of GlycoScience Ireland, 15-AUG-10 - 16-AUG-10, University College Dublin
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., O`Connor, B. and Paull, B., Fabrication of a gold modified polymer monolith in a pipette tip for lectin affinity extraction of selected glycoproteins., RSC Analytical Research Forum, 12-JUL-10 - 14-JUL-10, Loughborough University, England
• Alwael, H., Connolly, D., Clarke, P., Thompson, R., O`Connor, B.and Paull, B., Fabrication of a gold modified polymer monolith in a pipette tip for lectin affinity extraction of selected glycoproteins, HPLC, 10-JUN-10 - 12-JUN-10, Boston USA
• O'Connell M, O'Cuiv P , Clarke P and Keogh D, 'Novel iron transport systems in Sinorhizobium meliloti', Biometals, 11-JUL-08 - 17-JUL-08, Santiago de Compustela, Spain
• McMahon K, Creavin A, Thompson R, O'Connell M, O'Connor B and Clarke P, 'Identification and characterization of an extended family of PA-IL bacterial lectins from genus Photorhabdus', 23rd International Lectin Meeting, 11-JUL-08 - 16-JUL-08, Edinburgh, UK
• Creavin A, McMahon K, Thompson R, O`Connell M, O`Connor B and Clarke P, 'Tapping the microbial lectin reservoir - enhanced tools for Glycoprotein analysis and purification', 23rd International Lectin Meeting, 11-JUL-08 - 16-JUL-08, Edinburgh, UK
• O`Shea V, Clarke P, Connolly D, O`Connor B and Paull B, 'The in-vivo tagging of proteins to study optimum approaches for their efficient immobilization onto polymer methacrylate monoliths', 3rd Monolith Summer School & Symposium, 30-MAY-08 - 04-JUN-08, Portoroz, Slovenia
• O`Connor B, O`Connell M, Thompson R and Clarke P, 'Potential of bacterial lectins as biorecognition molecules for bioanalytical platforms', Glycoscience Ireland, 10-DEC-07 - 11-DEC-07, N.U.I. Galway