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I received my PhD degree in Biological and Biophysical Chemistry from Saga University (Saga, Japan) in 1995.
After graduation, I worked as a lecturer in biochemistry in Saga University, pursued my research as a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Alberta, and taught organic chemistry and biochemistry at Brandon University as an assistant professor.
I joined Laurier in 2001 as an assistant professor.
- Conformation and ion transport properties of the mitochondrial uncoupling proteins to elucidate their physiological roles.
- Mechanism of interaction of natural and synthetic cationic antimicrobial peptides, neuropeptides and antioxidant peptides with biological membranes as a crucial step in their biological activity.
- A combination of chemical, biochemical and biophysical techniques such as peptide synthesis, recombinant protein expression, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and patch clamp are used for these studies.
- Ardalan, A., M.D. Smith, and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Uncoupling proteins and regulated proton leak in mitochondria, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23:1528 (2022).
- Ardalan, A., S. Sowlati-Hashjin, H. Oduwoye, S. Uwumarenogie, M. Karttunen, M.D. Smith and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Biphasic proton transport mechanism for uncoupling proteins, J. Phys. Chem. B 125: 9130–9144 (2021).
- Shigedomi, K., S. Osada, M. Jelokhani-Niaraki and H. Kodama, Systematic design and validation of ion channel stabilization of amphipathic α-helical peptides. ACS Omega 6: 723-732 (2021).
- Ardalan, A., S. Sowlati-Hashjin, S. Uwumarenogie, M. Fish, J. Mitchell, M. Karttunen, M.D. Smith and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Functional oligomeric forms of uncoupling protein 2: Strong evidence for asymmetry in protein and lipid bilayer systems. J. Phys. Chem. B 125: 169-183 (2021).
- Apadu, A., M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, and L. DeBruin, Conformational changes and association of membrane-interacting peptides in myelin membrane models: A case of the C‑terminal peptide of proteolipid protein and the antimicrobial peptide melittin. J. Phys. Chem. B 119, 14821−14830 (2015).
- Hoang, T., T. Matovic, J. Parker, M.D. Smith, and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Role of Positively Charged Residues of the Second Transmembrane Domain in the Ion Transport Activity and Conformation of Human Uncoupling Protein-2. Biochemistry 54: 2303-2313 (2015).
- Hoang, T., M. Kuljanin, M.D. Smith, and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, A biophysical study on molecular physiology of the uncoupling proteins of the central nervous system. Biosci. Rep. 35: 1-15 (article e00226, doi 10.1042/BSR20150130) (2015).
- Nichols, M., M. Kuljanin, M. Nategholeslam, T. Hoang, S. Vafaei, B. Tomberli, C. G. Gray, L. DeBruin and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Dynamic turn conformation of a short tryptophan-rich cationic antimicrobial peptide and its interaction with phospholipid membranes. J. Phys. Chem. B 117:14697−14708 (2013)
- Hoang, T., M.D. Smith and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki , Expression, folding and proton transport activity of human uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in lipid membranes: evidence for associated functional forms. J. Biol. Chem. 288 (51):36244–36258 (2013).
- Hoang, T., M.D. Smith and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, Toward understanding the mechanism of ion transport of neuronal uncoupling proteins UCP2, UCP4 and UCP5. Biochemistry 51:4004-4014 (2012).
- Nunuková, V., E. Urbánková, M. Jelokhani-Niaraki and R. Chaloupka, Ion channel activity of transmembrane segment 6 of Escherichia coli proton-dependent manganese transporter. Biopolymers 93:718-726 (2010).
- Ivanova, M.V., T. Hoang, F.R. McSorley, G. Krnac, M.D. Smith and M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, A comparative study on conformation and ligand binding of the neuronal uncoupling proteins. Biochemistry 49:512-521(2010).
- Richardson, L.G.-L., M. Jelokhani-Niaraki and M.D. Smith, The acidic domains of the Toc159 chloroplast preprotein receptor family are intrinsically disordered protein domains. BMC Biochemistry 10:35 (1-8) (2009).
- Jelokhani-Niaraki, M., L.H. Kondejewski, L.C. Wheaton and R.S. Hodges, Effect of ring size on conformation and biological activity of cyclic cationic antimicrobial peptides. J. Med. Chem. 52: 2090-2097 (2009).
- Jelokhani-Niaraki, M., R.S. Hodges, J.E. Meissner, U.E. Hassenstein and L. Wheaton, Interaction of gramicidin S and its aromatic amino acid analogs with phospholipid membranes. Biophys. J. 95: 3306-3321 (2008).
- Jelokhani-Niaraki, M., M.V. Ivanova, B.L. McIntyre, C.L. Newman, F.R. McSorley, E.K. Young and M.D. Smith, A CD study of uncoupling protein-1 and its transmembrane and matrix-loop domains. Biochem. J. 411: 593-603 (2008).
- Taira, J., M. Jelokhani-Niaraki, S. Osada, F. Kato and H. Kodama, Ion-Channel formation assisted by electrostatic interhelical interactions in covalently dimerized amphiphilic helical peptides. Biochemistry 47: 3705-3714 (2008).
Selected List of Courses Taught:
CH250 Bio-organic Chemistry (Introductory Biochemistry)
CH327 Bioinorganic Chemistry
CH332 Biophysical Chemistry
CH350 Biochemistry I: Bioenergetics and Catabolic Pathways
CH354 Biochemistry II: Structure and interaction of Proteins and Nucleic Acids
CH432 Dynamic Chemistry of Life
CH456 Medicinal Chemistry
CH459 Biochemistry III: Membrane Transport, Signal Transduction and Anabolic Pathways
CH651 Advanced Biophysical Chemistry
CH652 Membrane Transport and Cellular Communication