Dr Alfons Lawen - Researcher Profile

Biography

Alfons did a diploma in chemistry and a PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in biochemistry, both at the University of Würzburg, West-Germany. After postdoctoral studies at the Technical University in Berlin he there established his own research group. Alfons was appointed a Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at Monash University) in March 1993, where his current position is that of a Senior Lecturer.

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Keywords

Iron, apoptosis, ascorbate (vitamin C), cyclosporin synthetase, ferricyanide reductases, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, transplasma membrane electron transport, voltage-dependen anion-selective channel (VDAC)

Qualifications

DIPLOM-BIOCHEMIE

Institution: University of Wurzburg, West Germany

Year awarded: 1987

DIPLOM-CHEMIKER

Institution: University of Wurzburg

Year awarded: 1981

Publications

Book Chapters

Singaretnam, L.G., Bennett, P.C., Zhao, W., Ng, K.T., Lawen, A., 2000, Peptidyl-Prolyl cis/trans-Isomerase Activity May Be Necessary for Memory Formation..., in Immunophilins in the Brain, Prous Science, Barcelona Spain, pp. 75-89.

Journal Articles

Lawen, A., Lane, D.J., 2013, Mammalian iron homeostasis in health and disease: Uptake, storage, transport and molecular mechanisms of action, Antioxidants and Redox Signaling [P], vol E-pub, Mary Ann Liebert Inc Publishers, USA, pp. 1-35.

Lane, D.J., Lawen, A., 2013, The Glutamate Aspartate Transporter (GLAST) Mediates L-Glutamate-Stimulated Ascorbate-Release Via Swelling-Activated Anion Channels in Cultured Neonatal Rodent Astrocytes, Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics [P], vol 65, issue 2, Humana Press Inc, USA, pp. 107-119.

Velkov, T., Horne, J., Scanlon, M., Capuano, B., Yuriev, E., Lawen, A., 2011, Characterization of the N-methyltransferase activities of the multifunctional polypeptide cyclosporin synthetase, Chemistry and Biology [P], vol 18, issue 4, Cell Press, USA, pp. 464-475.

Fernandes, S., Dringen, R., Lawen, A., Robinson, S., 2011, Inactivation of astrocytic glutamine synthetase by hydrogen peroxide requires iron, Neuroscience Letters [P], vol 490, issue 1, Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Ireland, pp. 27-30.

Lane, D.J.R., Robinson, S.R., Czerwinska, H.B., Lawen, A., 2010, A role for Na+/H+ exchangers and intracellular pH in regulating vitamin C-driven electron transport across the plasma membrane, Biochemical Journal [P], vol 428, issue 2, Portland Press Ltd, UK, pp. 191-200.

Kerr, M.L., Gasperini, R., Gibbs, M.E., Hou, X., Shepherd, C.E., Strickland, D.K., Foa, L., Lawen, A., Small, D.H., 2010, Inhibition of Abeta aggregation and neurotoxicity by the 39-kDa receptor-associated protein, Journal Of Neurochemistry [P], vol 112, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK & USA, pp. 1199-1209.

Fernandes, S., Dringen, R., Lawen, A., Robinson, S., 2010, Neurones express glutamine synthetase when deprived of glutamine or interaction with astrocytes, Journal Of Neurochemistry [P], vol 114, issue 5, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, USA, pp. 1527-1536.

Lane, D., Robinson, S., Czerwinska, H., Bishop, G., Lawen, A., 2010, Two routes of iron accumulation in astrocytes: Ascorbate-dependent ferrous iron uptake via the divalent metal transporter (DMT1) plus an independent route for ferric iron, Biochemical Journal [P], vol 432, issue 1, Portland Press Ltd, UK, pp. 123-132.

De Pinto, V., Messina, A., Lane, D.J.R., Lawen, A., 2010, Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) in the plasma membrane, FEBS Letters [P], vol 584, issue 9, Elsevier BV, The Netherlands, pp. 1793-1799.

Lane, D.J.R., Lawen, A., 2009, Ascorbate and plasma membrane electron transport-Enzymes vs efflux, Free Radical Biology and Medicine [P], vol 47, issue 5, Elsevier Inc., USA, pp. 485-495.

Berridge, M.V., Herst, P.M., Lawen, A., 2009, Targeting mitochondrial permeability in cancer drug development, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, vol 53, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Germany, pp. 76-86.

Lane, D.J.R., Lawen, A., 2009, Transplasma membrane electron transport comes in two flavors, BioFactors [P], vol 34, issue 3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United States, Switzerland, pp. 191-200.

Lane, D.J.R., Lawen, A., 2008, A highly sensitive colorimetric microplate ferrocyanide assay applied to ascorbate-stimulated transplasma membrane ferricyanide reduction and mitochondrial succinate oxidation, Analytical Biochemistry, vol 373, Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, San Diego CA USA, pp. 287-295.

Lane, D.J.R., Lawen, A., 2008, Non-transferrin iron reduction and uptake are regulated by transmembrane ascorbate cycling in K562 cells, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 283, issue 19, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc., United States, pp. 12701-12708.

Lawen, A., 2007, Another piece of the puzzle of apoptotic cytochrome c release, Molecular Microbiology, vol 66, issue 3, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford England UK, pp. 553-556.

Velkov, T., Singaretnam, L.G., Lawen, A., 2006, An improved purification procedure for cyclosporin synthetase, Protein Expression and Purification, vol 45, issue 2, Elsevier Science, San Diego USA, pp. 275-287.

Velkov, T., Singaretnam, L.G., Lawen, A., 2006, An improved purification procedure for cyclosporin synthetase, Protein Expression and Purification, vol 45, issue 2, Academic Press, USA, pp. 275-287.

Ralph, S.J., Low, P., Dong, L., Lawen, A., Neuzil, J., 2006, Mitocans: mitochondrial targeted anti-cancer drugs as improved therapies and related patent documents., Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery, vol 1, issue 3, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd, Sharjah United Arab Emirites, pp. 327-346.

Lawen, A., Ly, J.D., Lane, D.J.R., Zarschler, K., Messina, A., De Pinto, V., 2005, Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 1 (VDAC1) - A mitochondrial protein, rediscovered as a novel enzyme in the plasma membrane, International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, vol 37, issue 2, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Kidlington England, pp. 277-282.

Lawen, A., 2004, BOOK REVIEW: When Cells Die II. A Comprehensive Evaluation of Apoptosis and Programmed Cell Death. Edited by Richard A. Lockshin and Zahra Zakeri, Chembiochem [P], vol 5, issue 8, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Germany, p. 1156.

Baker, M.A., Ly, J.D., Lawen, A., 2004, Characterization of VDAC1 as a plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase, BioFactors, vol 21, issue 1-4, IOS Press, Amsterdam The Netherlands, pp. 215-221.

Malik, S.G., Vaillant, F., Lawen, A., 2004, Plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase in cells carrying mitochondrial DNA G11778A mutation and in cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA (0), BioFactors, vol 20, issue 4, IOS Press, Amsterdam The Netherlands, pp. 189-198.

Baker, M.A., Lane, D.J.R., Ly, J.D., De Pinto, V., Lawen, A., 2004, VDAC1 is a transplasma membrane NADH: ferricyanide reductase, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 279, issue 6, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc., Bethesda USA, pp. 4811-4819.

Lawen, A., 2003, Apoptosisan introduction, BioEssays, vol 25, issue 9, Company of Biologists Ltd, Cambridge England, pp. 888-896.

Lawen, A., 2003, Bioethics needs a distinct voice if it is to aid science, Nature [P], vol 425, issue 6960, Nature Publishing Group, UK, p. 763.

Macho, A., Sancho, R., Minassi, A., Appendino, G., Lawen, A., Munoz, E., 2003, Involvement of reactive oxygen species in capsaicinoid-induced apoptosis in transformed cells, Free Radical Research, vol 37, issue 6, Taylor & Francis Ltd, Abingdon England, pp. 611-619.

Velkov, T., Lawen, A., 2003, Mapping and molecular modeling of S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding site in N-methyltransferase domains of the multifunctional polypeptide cyclosporin synthetase, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 278, issue 2, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc, USA, pp. 1137-1148.

De Pinto, V., Messina, A., Accardi, R., Aiello, R., Guarino, F., Tomasello, M.F., Tommasino, M., Tasco, G., Casadio, R., Benz, R., De Giorgi, F., Ichas, F., Baker, M., Lawen, A., 2003, New functions of an old protein: the eukaryotic porin or voltage dependent anion selective channel (VDAC), Italian Journal of Biochemistry, vol 52, issue 1, Biomedia srl, Italy, pp. 17-24.

Velkov, T., Lawen, A., 2003, Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases as technological platforms for the synthesis of highly modified peptide bioeffectors - cyclosporin synthetase as a complex example, Biotechnology Annual Review, vol 9, Elsevier BV, The Netherlands, pp. 151-197.

Bennett, P.C., Moutsoulas, P., Lawen, A., Perini, E., Ng, K.T., 2003, Novel effects on memory observed following unilateral intracranial administration of okadaic acid, cyclosporin A, FK506 and [MeVal4]CyA, Brain Research, vol 988, Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam The Netherlands, pp. 56-68.

Velkov, T., Lawen, A., 2003, Photoaffinity labeling of the N-methyltransferase domains of cyclosporin synthetase, Photochemistry and Photobiology, vol 77, issue 2, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge England, pp. 129-137.

Ly, J.D., Grubb, D.R., Lawen, A., 2003, The mitochondrial membrane potential (m) in apoptosis; an update, Apoptosis, vol 8, issue 2, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht The Netherlands, pp. 115-128.

Ly, J.D., Lawen, A., 2003, Transplasma membrane electron transport: enzymes involved and biological function, Redox Report, vol 8, issue 1, Maney Publishing, Leeds England, pp. 3-21.

Bennett, P.C., Schmidt, L., Lawen, A., Moutsoulas, P., Ng, K.T., 2002, Cyclosporin A, FK506 and rapamycin produce multiple, temporally distinct, effects on memory following single-trial, passive avoidance training in the chick, Brain Research, vol 927, issue 2, Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam Netherlands, pp. 180-194.

Baker, M., Grubb, D.R., Lawen, A., 2002, Didemnin B induces apoptosis in proliferating but not resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Apoptosis, vol 7, issue 5, Kluwer Academic Publishing, Dordrecht Netherland, pp. 407-412.

Velkov, T., Lawen, A., 2002, Mapping and molecular modeling of S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding sites in N-methyltransferase domains of the multifunctional polypeptide cyclosporin synthetase, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 278, issue 2, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc., Bethesda MD USA, pp. 1137-1148.

Grubb, D.R., Ly, J., Vaillant, F., Johnson, K.L., Lawen, A., 2001, Mitochondrial cytochrome c release is caspase-dependent and does not involve mitochondrila permeability transition in didemnin B-induced apoptosis, Oncogene, vol 20, issue 30, Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke England, pp. 4085-4094.

Baker, M., Lawen, A., 2000, Plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase system: A critical review of the structural and functional data, Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, vol 2 issue 2, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, Larchmont USA, pp. 197-212.

Zhao, W., Lawen, A., Ng, K.T., 1999, Changes in phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in processing of short-term and long-term memories after passive avoidance learning, Journal of Neuroscience Research, vol 55, Wiley-Liss Inc, New York NY USA, pp. 557-568.

Zhao, W., Lawen, A., Ng, K.T., 1999, Changes in phosphorylation of Ca^2+/Caldmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in processing of short-term and long-term memories after passive avoidance learning, Journal of Neuroscience Research, vol 55 issue 2, Wiley-Liss, Div John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York NY USA, pp. 557-568.

Johnson, K.L., Lawen, A., 1999, Rapamycin inhibits didemnin B-induced apoptosis in human HL-60 cells: Evidence for the possible involvement of FK506-binding protein 25, Immunology and Cell Biology, vol 77 issue 3, Blackwell Science Asia, Carlton Vic Australia, pp. 242-248.

Johnson, K.L., Grubb, D.R., Lawen, A., 1999, Unspecific activation of caspases during the induction of apoptosis by dideminin B in human cell lines, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, vol 72 issue 2, Wiley-Liss, Div. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York NY USA, pp. 269-278.

Lawen, A., Baker, M., Malik, S., 1998, Apoptosis and redox homostasis: on a possible mechanism of action of Bcl-2, Protoplasma, vol 205, Springer-Verlag, Austria, pp. 10-20.

Bennett, P.C., Singaretnam, L.G., Zhao, W., Lawen, A., Ng, K.T., 1998, Peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerase activity may be necessary for memory formation, FEBS Letters, vol 431 issue 3, Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam Netherlands, pp. 386-390.

Bennett, P.C., Singaretnam, L.G., Zhao, W., Lawen, A., Ng, K.T., 1998, Peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerase activity may be necessary for memory formation, Federation of European Biochemical Societies, vol 431, Elsevier Science Ltd, Amsterdam Netherlands, pp. 386-390.

Wolvetang, E.J., Larm, J.A., Moutsoulas, P., Lawen, A., 1996, Apoptosis induced by inhibitors of the plasma membrane NADH-oxidase involves Bcl-2 and calcineurin, Cell Growth and Differentiation [P], vol 7, issue 10, American Association for Cancer Research, USA, pp. 1315-1325.

Vaillant, F., Larm, J.A., McMullen, G.L., Wolvetang, E.J., Lawen, A., 1996, Effectors of the mammalian plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase system. Short-chain ubiquinone analogues as potent stimulators, Journal Of Bioenergetics And Biomembranes [P], vol 28, issue 6, Springer New York LLC, USA, pp. 531-540.

Johnson, K.L., Vaillant, F., Lawen, A., 1996, Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors prevent didemnin B-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells, FEBS Letters [P], vol 383, issue 1-2, Elsevier BV, The Netherlands, pp. 1-5.

Conference Proceedings

Tan, A.S., Malik, S., Lawen, A., Berridge, M.V., 1999, Adaptive responses of the plasma membrane oxidoreductase system of cells defective in oxidative phosphorylation (rho>0), Proceedings, 5th International Conference on Plasma Membrane Redox Systems and their Role in Biological Stress and Disease, Hamburg 26-29th March, 1999, http://www.uni-hamburg.de/biologie/ialb/redox/2000, Hamburg Germany, p. P14.

Baker, M., Lawen, A., 1999, Partial purification and characterisation of a plasma membrane NADH: Ferricyanide reductase from human lymphoblastoid namalwa cells, Proceedings, 5th International Conference on Plasma Membrane Redox Systems and their Role in Biological Stress and Disease, Hamburg 26-29th March, 1999, http://www.uni-hamburg.de/biologie/ialb/redox2000, Hamburg Germany, p. P7.

Baker, M., Lawen, A., 1999, Partial purification and characterisation of the mammalian plasma membrane NADH oxidase, Proceedings, Twenty-Fourth Annual Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, Lorne, 7-11 February, 1999, Lorne Protein Workshop, Melbourne Vic Australia, p. A-20.

Lawen, A., Baker, M., Larm, J.A., Malik, S., Miglic, A., Vaillant, F., Wolvetang, E.J., 1998, Apoptosis and redox homeostasis, Proceedings Plasma Membrane Redox Systems, Antwerp 26-29 March 1998, Hamburg University, www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/ialb/redox2000, p. 1.

Grubb, D.R., Vaillant, F., Johnson, K.L., Lawen, A., 1998, Permeability transition and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential are not required for didemnin B-induced apoptosis, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Adelaide 28 September - 1 October 1998, Australian Soc for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol, Kent Town SA, p. P-Wed-146.

Naegler, K., Ng, K.T., Lawen, A., 1998, Protein kinase C g- translocates to the nucleus following passive avoidance training in chicks, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Adelaide 28 Sept - 1 October 1998, Australian Soc for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol, Kent Town SA, p. P-Tue-158.

Lawen, A., Vaillant, F., Wolvetang, E., 1997, Apoptosis and redox homeostasis, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B7-2.

Lawen, A., Baker, M., Grubb, D.R., Johnson, K.L., Vaillant, F., 1997, Apoptosis induced by didemnin B, Proceedings, 22nd Annual Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, Lorne, Australia, Feb. 9-13, 1997, Lorne Protein Workshop Inc., Melbourne Vic Australia, p. C81.

Grubb, D.R., Vaillant, F., Lawen, A., 1997, Apoptosis induced by didemnin B does not involve the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, or the electron transport chain, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B1-36.

Johnson, K.L., Lawen, A., 1997, Caspase requirement in didemnin B-induced apoptosis, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B1-9.

Grubb, D.R., Vaillant, F., Lawen, A., 1997, Didemnin B induces rapid apoptosis which is only partially prevented by Bcl-2 expression, 9th Lorne Cancer Conference, Lorne, Vic. Australia, Feb. 13-16, 1997, Lorne Cancer Conference, Inc., Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 904.

Baker, M., Johnson, K.L., Grubb, D.R., Lawen, A., 1997, Didemnin B-induced apoptosis in concanavalin A-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B1-38.

Malik, S., Vaillant, F., Marzuki, S., Lawen, A., 1997, Interrelationship between plasma membrane NADH-oxidoreductase and mitochondrial DNA, Proceedings, 22nd Annual Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, Lorne, Australia, Feb. 9-13, 1997, Lorne Protein Workshop Inc., Melbourne Vic Australia, p. A30.

Singaretnam, L.G., Bennett, P.C., Zhao, W., Ng, K.T., Lawen, A., 1997, Involvement of peptidyl prolyl cis /trans isomerase(PPlase) in long - term memory formation, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B1-37.

Johnson, K.L., Vaillant, F., Lawen, A., 1997, Involvement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation but not of interleukin - 1b-converting enzyme - like proteases in didemnin B - induced apoptosis in HL - 60 cells, 9th Lorne Cancer Conference, Lorne, Vic. Australia, Feb. 13-16, 1997, Lorne Cancer Conference, Inc., Melbourne Vic Australia, p. 908.

Naegler, K., Ng, K.T., Lawen, A., 1997, Nuclear translocation of protein kinase C after an association learning task in chicks, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B3-2.

Miglic, A., Lawen, A., 1997, Stimulation of plasma membrane reductase can rescue cells from apoptosis induced by plasma membrane NADH-oxidase inhibition, Proceedings of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1997, Australian Soc. for Biochemistry & Molecular Biol., Kent Town SA, p. B2-90.

Other

Del Principe, D., Avigliano, L., Savini, I., Catani, M., Lawen, A., 2011, Trans-plasma membrane electron transport in mammals: Functional significance in health and disease, Antioxidants and Redox Signaling [P], Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, USA.

Teaching Commitment

Co-ordinator of the study area Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Co-ordinator of year 2 level Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences teaching

Convenor BCH3042

Convenor BMS2021

Deputy Convenor BCH2022

Major teaching commitments: BMS2021, BCH2022, BCH3042

Minor teaching commitments: BCH3021, BMS3021, BCH4200

Occasional BCH3990

Consulting

I acted as Academic Consultant for GBS (Melbourne) in 2012.