Assoc Prof Helen Irving - Researcher Profile

Biography

Position

 

Associate Professor

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

 

Drug Discovery Biology
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research & Supervision Interests

• Receptosomes as potential drug targets
• Distribution and function of 5-HT receptors in the gut and other tissues
• Moonlighting enzymes: can receptor kinases also contain guanylate cyclase activity
• Natriuretic peptide analogues in plants and animals

Keywords

biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, moonlighting proteins, guanylate cyclases, receptor kinases, serotonin receptors, gastrointestinal pharmacology

Qualifications

HIGHER EDUCATION

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2001

PHD

Institution: The University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1985

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Institution: The University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1980

Publications

Books

Elliott, K., Boin, A., Irving, H.R., Johnson, E., Galea, V., 2010, Teaching scientific inquiry skills. A handbook for bioscience educators in Australian Universities, Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Australia.

Book Chapters

Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2012, Peptides and the regulation of plant homeostasis, in Plant signaling peptides, eds Helen Irving and Chris Gehring, Springer, Heidelberg Germany, pp. 1-284.

Wheeler, J., Irving, H.R., 2012, Plant peptide signaling: an evolutionary adaptation, in Plant signaling peptides, eds Helen Irving and Chris Gehring, Springer, Heidelberg Germany, pp. 1-284.

Lemtiri-Chlieh, F., Thomas, L., Marondedze, C., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2011, Cyclic nucleotides and nucleotide cyclases in plant stress responses, in Abiotic stress response in plants - physiological, biochemical and genetic perspectives, eds Arun Kumar Shanker and B. Venkateswarlu, InTech, Rijeka Croatia, pp. 1-358.

Elliott, K., Sweeney, K., Irving, H.R., 2008, A Learning Design to Teach Scientific Inquiry, in Handbook of Research on Learning Design and Learning Objects: Issues, Applications, and Technologies, Volume II, eds Lori Lockyer, Sue Bennett, Shirley Agostinho, Barry Harper, Information Science Publishing, USA, pp. 652-675.

Meier, S., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2008, Plant natriuretic peptides - emerging roles in fluid and salt balance, in Cardiac Hormones, eds David L. Vesely, Transworld Research Network, India, pp. 1-17.

Irving, H.R., Boukli, N.M., Kelly, M.N., Broughton, W.J., 2000, Nod-Factors in symbiotic development of root hairs, in Root Hairs: Cell and Molecular Biology, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo Japan, pp. 241-265.

Journal Articles

Coupar, I.M., Irving, H.R., Manallack, D.T., Tan, Y.Y., Ayad, F., Di Iulio, J.L., Tochon-Danguy, N., Iskander, M.N., 2012, Assessment of the pharmacological properties of 5-methoxyindole derivatives at 5-HT4 receptors, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology [P], vol 64, issue 8, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK, pp. 1099-1106.

Irving, H.R., Kwezi, L., Wheeler, J., Gehring, C.A., 2012, Moonlighting kinases with guanylate cyclase activity can tune regulatory signal networks, Plant Signalling & Behavior [E], vol 7, issue 2, Landes Bioscience, USA, pp. 201-204.

Wang, Y., Irving, H., 2011, Developing a model of plant hormone interactions, Plant Signalling & Behavior [E], vol 6, issue 4, Plant signaling & behavior, Published Electronically USA, pp. 494-500.

Yaakob, N., Malone, D., Exintaris, B., Irving, H., 2011, Heterogeneity amongst 5-HT3 receptor subunits: is this significant?, Current Molecular Medicine [P], vol 11, issue 1, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., Netherlands, pp. 57-88.

Wang, Y., Gehring, C., Irving, H., 2011, Plant natriuretic peptides are apoplastic and paracrine stress response molecules, Plant And Cell Physiology [P], vol 52, issue 5 (SI), OXFORD UNIV PRESS, ENGLAND, pp. 837-850.

Berkowitz, G., Gehring, C., Irving, H., Kwezi, L., 2011, Reply to Ashton: The putative guanylyl cyclase domain of AtPepR1 and similar plant receptors, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America [P], vol 108, issue 19, NATL ACAD SCIENCES, USA, pp. E97-E98.

Kwezi, L., Ruzvidzo, O., Wheeler, J., Grovender, K., Iacuone, S., Thompson, P., Gehring, C., Irving, H., 2011, The phytosulfokine (PSK) receptor is capable of guanylate cyclase activity and enabling cyclic GMP-dependent signaling in plants, Journal Of Biological Chemistry [P], vol 286, issue 25, AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC, Saudi Arabia, pp. 22580-22588.

Megersa, T., White, P., Coupar, I., Irving, H., 2011, Tissue dependent differences in G-protein coupled receptor kinases associated with 5-HT4 receptor desensitization in the rat gastro-intestinal tract, Biochemical Pharmacology [P], vol 81, issue 1, Elsevier Inc., United States, pp. 123-133.

Wheeler, J., Irving, H.R., 2010, Evolutionary advantages of secreted peptide signalling molecules in plants, Functional Plant Biology [P], vol 37, CSIRO Publishing, Australia, pp. 382-394.

Wang, Y.H., Ahmar, H., Irving, H.R., 2010, Induction of apoptosis by plant natriuretic peptides in rat cardiomyoblasts, Peptides [P], vol 31, Elsevier Inc, United States, pp. 1213-1218.

Irving, H.R., Tochon-Danguy, N., Chinkwo, K.A., Li, J.G., Grabbe, C., Shapiro, M., Pouton, C.W., Coupar, I.M., 2010, Investigations into the binding affinities of different human 5-HT 4 receptor splice variants, Pharmacology [P], vol 85, issue 4, S. Karger AG, Switzerland, pp. 224-233.

Hanna-Elias, A., Manallack, D., Berque-Bestel, I., Irving, H., Coupar, I., Iskander, M., 2010, Synthesis and preliminary screening of novel tryptamines as 5-HT4 receptor ligands, Current Medicinal Chemistry [P], vol 17, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd, Chicago Illinois USA, pp. 2775-2787.

Hanna-Elias, A., Manallack, D.T., Levit, A., Nguyen, W., Ayad, F., Perera, G., Shapiro, M., Coupar, I.M., Iskander, M.N., Irving, H.R., 2010, Synthesis, testing and structure-activity studies on a library of 5-HT 4 ligands, Medicinal Chemistry [P], vol 6, issue 6, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd, Oak Park Illinois USA, pp. 344-354.

Chetty, N., Coupar, I.M., Tan, Y.Y., Desmond, P.V., Irving, H.R., 2009, Distribution of serotonin receptors and interacting proteins in the human sigmoid colon, Neurogastroenterology and Motility, vol 21, issue 5, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 551-e15.

Hanna-Elias, A., Manallack, D.T., Berque-Bestel, I., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., Iskander, M.N., 2009, Synthesis and preliminary screening of novel indole-3-methanamines as 5-HT4 receptor ligands, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry [P], vol 44, issue 7, Elsevier Masson, France, pp. 2952-2959.

Hanna-Elias, A., Manallack, D.T., Berque-Bestel, I., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., Iskander, M.N., 2009, Synthesis of quinoline derivatives as 5-HT4 receptor ligands, Australian Journal of Chemistry [E], vol 62, issue 2, CSIRO Publishing, Australia, pp. 150-156.

Hanna-Elias, A., Thompson, P., Manallack, D.T., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., Berque-Bestel, I., Iskander, M.N., 2009, The Use of Tripeptides for Lead Discovery of 5-HT4 Receptor Ligands, Protein and Peptide Letters [P], vol 16, issue 7, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., Netherlands, pp. 805-809.

Chetty, N., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., 2008, Effects of the novel 5-HT3 agonist MKC-733 on the rat, mouse and guinea pig digestive tract, Pharmacology, vol 81, S Karger AG, Switzerland, pp. 104-109.

Irving, H.R., Tan, Y.Y., Tochon-Danguy, N., Liu, H., Chetty, N., Desmond, P.V., Pouton, C.W., Coupar, I.M., 2007, Comparison of 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 receptor expression and function in the circular muscle of the human colon, Life Sciences, vol 80, issue 13, Elsevier Inc, USA, pp. 1198-1205.

Coupar, I.M., Desmond, P.V., Irving, H.R., 2007, Human 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 splice variants: are they important?, Current Neuropharmacology, vol 5, issue 4, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd, United Arab Emirates, pp. 224-231.

Wang, Y.H., Gehring, C.A., Cahill, D.M., Irving, H.R., 2007, Plant natriuretic peptide active site determination and effects on cGMP and cell volume regulation, Functional Plant Biology, vol 34, issue 7, CSIRO Publishing, Australia, pp. 645-653.

Meier, S., Seoighe, C., Kwezi, L., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2007, Plant nucleotide cyclases: an increasingly complex and growing family, Plant Signaling & Behavior, vol 2, issue 6, Landes Bioscience, US, pp. 536-539.

Kwezi, L., Meier, S., Mungur, L., Ruzvidzo, O., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2007, The Arabidopsis thaliana brassinosteroid receptor (AtBRI1) contains a domain that functions as a guanylyl cyclase in vitro, PLoS one, vol 2, issue 5, Public Library of Science, USA, p. e449.

Chetty, N., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., 2006, Activation of 5-HT3 receptors in the rat and mouse intestinal tract: a comparative study, British Journal of Pharmacology, vol 148, issue 7, Nature Publishing Group, UK, pp. 1012-1021.

Trevaskis, N.L., Lo, C., Ma, L., Tso, P., Irving, H.R., Porter, C.J.H., Charman, W.N., 2006, An acute and coincident increase in FABP expression and lymphatic lipid and drug transport occurs during intestinal infusion of lipid-based drug formulations to rats, Pharmaceutical Research, vol 23, issue 8, Springer New York LLC, USA, pp. 1786-1796.

Poole, D.P., Xu, B., Koh, S.L., Hunne, B., Coupar, I.M., Irving, H.R., Shinjo, K., Furness, J.B., 2006, Identification of neurons that express 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptors in intestine, Cell and Tissue Research, vol 325, issue 3, Springer, New York USA, pp. 413-422.

Kelly-Skupek, M.N., Irving, H.R., 2006, Pharmacological evidence for activation of phospholipid and small GTP binding protein signalling cascades by Nod factors, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, vol 44, issue 2-3, Elsevier France, France, pp. 132-142.

Liu, H., Irving, H.R., Tan, Y.Y., Meng, L., Chetty, N., Coupar, I.M., 2004, Influences of gender and region on reponses to 5-HT in the rat small intestine, Pharmacology, vol 72, issue 4, S. Karger AG, Switzerland, pp. 220-224.

Rafudeen, S., Gxaba, G., Makgoke, G., Bradley, G., Pironcheva, G., Raitt, L., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2003, A role for plant natriuretic peptide immuno-analogues in NaCl- and drought -stress responses, Physiologia Plantarum, vol 119, Blackwell Munksgaard, Denmark, pp. 554-562.

Liu, H., Coupar, I.M., Irving, H.R., 2003, Effects of some antidepressant drugs on tryptaminergic responses of the rat jejunum, Pharmacology, vol 69, issue 2, S.Karger AG, Switzerland, pp. 88-92.

Maryani, M.M., Morse, M.V., Bradley, G., Irving, H.R., Cahill, D.M., Gehring, C.A., 2003, In situ localization associates biologically active plant natriuretic peptide immuno-analogues with conductive tissue and stomata, Journal of Experimental Botany, vol 54, issue 387, Oxford University Press, UK, pp. 1553-1564.

Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2003, Natriuretic peptides - a class of heterologous molecules in plants, The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, vol 35, issue 9, Pergamon, UK, pp. 1318-1322.

Kelly, M.N., Irving, H.R., 2003, Nod factors activate both heterotrimeric and monomeric G-proteins in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, Planta, vol 216, issue 4, Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp. 674-685.

Ludidi, N.N., Heazlewood, J.L., Seoighe, C., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2002, Expansin-like molecules: novel functions derived from common domains, Journal of Molecular Evolution, vol 54, issue 5, Springer-Verlag, Journals, USA, pp. 587-594.

Pharmawati, M., Maryani, M.M., Nikolakopoulos, T., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2001, Cyclic GMP modulates stomatal opening Induced by natriuretic peptides and immunoreactive analogues, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, vol 39, Editions Scientifiques Medicales Elsevier, France, pp. 385-394.

Liu, H., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., 2001, Expression patterns of 5-HT7 receptor isoforms in the rat digestive tract, Life Sciences, vol 69, Elsevier, USA, pp. 2467-2475.

Kelly, M.N., Irving, H.R., 2001, Nod factors stimulate plasma membrane delimited phospholipase C activity in vitro, Physiologia Plantarum, vol 113, Blackwell Munksgaard, Denmark, pp. 461-468.

Darroch, S., Irving, H.R., Mitchelson, F.J., 2000, Characterisation of muscarinic receptor subtypes in avian smooth muscle, European Journal of Pharmacology, vol 402 issues 1-2, Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam Netherlands, pp. 161-169.

Suwastika, I.N., Toop, T., Irving, H.R., Gehring, C.A., 2000, In Situ and In Vitro binding of natriuretic peptide hormones in Tradescantia multiflora, Plant Biology, vol 2 issue 1, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart Germany, pp. 1-3.

Irving, H.R., Dyson, G., McConchie, R., Parish, R.W., Gehring, C.A., 1999, Effects of exogenoulsy applied jasmonates on growth and intracellular pH in maize coleoptile segments, Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, vol 18 issue 2, Springer Verlag, New York NY USA, pp. 93-100.

Irving, H.R., 1998, Abscisic acid induction of GTP hydrolysis in maize coleoptile plasma membranes, Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, vol 25, CSIRO Publishing, Australia, pp. 539-546.

Pharmawati, M., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 1998, An immunoaffinity purified plant natriuretic peptide analogue modulates cGMP levels in the Zea mays root stele, Plant Science, vol 137, Elsevier Science, Ireland, pp. 107-115.

Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., McConchie, R., Parish, R.W., 1997, Jasmonates induce intracellular alkalinization and closure of Paphiopedilum guard cells, Annals of Botany, vol 80, Academic Press, UK, pp. 485-489.

Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., Kabbara, A.A., Parish, R.W., Boukli, N.M., 1997, Rapid, plateau-like increases in intracellular free calcium are associated with Nod-factor-induced root-hair deformation, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, vol 10, American Phytopathological Society, USA, pp. 791-802.

Conference Proceedings

Johnson, E., Elliott, K., Boin, A., Irving, H.R., Galea, V., 2009, Can you really teach scientific inquiry online?, Proceedings of The Science Learning and Teaching Conference 2009, 16-17 June 2009, The Higher Education Academy Subject Centres for Bioscience, Materials and Physical Sciences, Edinburgh, Scotland, pp. 1-6.

Elliott, K., Boin, A., Irving, H.R., johnson, e., Galea, V., 2009, Educating the next generation of bioscientists: the challenge for higher education in Australia, 2009 UniServe Science Proceedings, 1/10/2009-02/10/2009, UniServe Science, Australia, pp. 37-43.

Boin, A., Elliott, K., Irving, H.R., Galea, V., Johnson, E., 2009, Where are the learning spaces on the scientific inquiry landscape?, Same places, different spaces. Proceedings ascilite Auckland 2009. 26th Annual ascilite International Conference, 6-9 December 2009, The University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, and ascilite, New Zealand, pp. 81-90.

Irving, H.R., Chetty, N., Desmond, P.V., Tan, Y.Y., Tochon-Danguy, N., Liu, H., Pouton, C.W., Coupar, I.M., 2006, Comparison of 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 receptor expression and function in the circular muscle of the human colon, Proceedings of the Australian Health & Medical Research Congress, 26 Nov - 1 Dec 2006, pp. 404-405.

Irving, H.R., Tan, Y.Y., Tochon-Danguy, N., Liu, H., Chetty, N., Desmond, P.V., Pouton, C.W., Coupar, I.M., 2006, Comparison of 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 receptor expression and function in the circular muscle of the human colon, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 25-28 September 06, p. 109.

Chetty, N., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., 2006, Effect of 5-HT3 mediated responses in two different preparations of the rat intestine, Proceedings of the Australian Health & Medical Research Congress 2006, 26th Nov 06 - 1st Dec 06, Australian Health & Medical Research Congress 2006, Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 404.

Malone, D.T., Kearn, C.S., Chongue, L., Irving, H.R., Mackie, K., Taylor, D., 2006, Effect of social isolation on CB1, D2 and FAAH expression in Sprague-Dawley rats, 16th annual symposium on the cannabinoids (ICRS), 24-28 June 2006, p. 135.

Mungur, L., Ludidi, N.N., Meier, S., Seioghe, C., Denby, K., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2006, Plant guanyl cyclases - an increasingly complex and growing family, 8th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, 20-25 August 2006, p. 205.

Wang, Y.H., Cahill, D.M., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2006, Plant natriuretic peptide signalling processes, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, September 25-28, 2006, p. 185.

Wang, Y.H., Cahill, D.M., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 2006, Plant natriuretic peptide signalling processes, 8th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, 20-25 August 2006, p. 204.

Chetty, N., Irving, H.R., Coupar, I.M., 2006, Regional effects of MKC-733, a novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, in the rat digestive tract, VCPPA Symposium, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Irving, H.R., Dyson, G., McConchie, R., Parish, R.W., Gehring, C.A., 1999, Exogenously applied jasmonates affect growth and intracellular pH in maize coleoptile segments, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gold Coast QLD 27-30 September 1999, Aust. Society for Biochem & Molecular Biology Inc, Kent Town SA, p. Pos-W-15.

Kelly, M.N., Irving, H.R., 1999, Nod factors induced phospholipase C activity in Vigna unguiculata roots, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gold Coast Qld 27-30 September 1999, Aust. Society for Biochem. & Molecular Biology Inc, Kent Town SA, p. Pos-T-29.

Irving, H.R., 1998, Abscisic acid enhances GTP hydrolysis in maize coleoptile plasma membranes, Experimental Biology Online, Cambridge UK, 9-14 August 1998, Springer-Verlag, http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/.

Irving, H.R., 1998, Abscisic acid induction of heterotrimeric G protein activity in maize coleoptile plasma membranes, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Adelaide SA, 28 September-1 October 1998, Aust Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Kent Town SA, pp. Pos-56-Pos056.

Pharmawati, M., Gehring, C.A., Irving, H.R., 1998, Immunoaffinity purified plant naturietic peptides modulate cGMP levels in Zea Mays root stele, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Adelaide SA, 28 September-1 October 1998, Aust Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Kent Town SA, p. Pos-161.

Irving, H.R., 1997, Does abscisic acid signal transduction involve a GTPase switch?, Proceedings 41st Annual ASBMB and 37th Annual ASPP Conference, Melbourne Australia, 29 September-2 October, Aust Soc for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Australia, p. B2-65.

Irving, H.R., Boukli, N.M., Toomre, D., Krause, A., Gehring, C.C., Jabbouri, S., Kabbara, A.A., Seidel, K., Parish, R.W., Kader, J., Varki, A.A., Broughton, W.J., 1997, Nod-factor attachment, calcium-fluxes, and lipid-transfer proteins in symbiotic signal transduction, Biological fixation of nitrogen for ecology and sustainable agriculture NATO ASI Series. Series G, Ecological sciences v39, Poznan Poland, 10-14 September 1996, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 37-42.

Darroch, S., Irving, H.R., Mitchelson, F.J., 1997, Studies on the muscarinic receptor subtype in chick ileum, Life Sciences, Virginia USA, 12-15 November 1996, Elsevier Science, USA, p. 1191.

Activities

Affiliations with institutes

Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Grants

Title:

Guanylate cyclases - an expanding family critical in plant growth and development.

Investigators:

Irving, H, Gehring, C

Funding:

(2008 - 2011). Monash University.

(2008 - 2012). Australian Research Council (ARC).

Title:

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of novel plant guanylyl cyclase enzymes - a new class of overlapping dual-domain molecules.

Investigators:

Irving, H, Manallack, D, Gehring, C

Funding:

(2011 - 2014). Australian Research Council (ARC).

(2011 - 2014). Monash University.

(2011 - 2015). Australian Research Council (ARC).

Title:

High Resolution Cellular and Molecular Imaging System.

Investigators:

Furness, J, Donald, J, Coupar, I, Lithgow, T, Hime, G, Young, H, Anderson, C, Irving, H, Whitington, P, Fletcher, E

Funding:

(2006 - 2010). Australian Research Council (ARC).

(2006 - 2010). Monash University.

Title:

Plant Protein Signalling Networks.

Investigators:

Irving, H, Cahill, D, Gehring, C

Funding:

(2005 - 2009). Australian Research Council (ARC).

(2005 - 2009). Deakin University.

(2005 - 2009). Monash University.