WRI Seminar Series: Professor Tara Pukala – Advancing structural mass spectrometry for complex biomolecules

Professor Tara Pukala, School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Title: Advancing structural mass spectrometry for complex biomolecules

 Abstract: Complex biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and specialised metabolites underpin all biological processes through precise and often dynamic molecular associations. Gaining a physical understanding of these components and their interactions is essential for elucidating biological mechanisms and enabling targeted intervention. Mass spectrometry has emerged as a uniquely versatile tool for structural analysis, capable of determining the identity, stoichiometry, size, structural arrangement, and subunit interactions of biomolecular assemblies within a single experiment.

Research in the Pukala group focuses on developing and applying mass spectrometry–based strategies to resolve the structures and interactions of challenging biomolecular systems. We combine advanced ion mobility and native mass spectrometry with targeted chemical modification to enhance detection sensitivity and reveal structural details of complex biomacromolecular assemblies.

This presentation will describe some of our recent applications of this methodology to investigate assemblies of interest in human health and agriculture, for example, characterising the protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions mediating misfolding and toxicity in amyloid diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease, and charactering complex bioactive natural products for valorisation of agricultural waste products.

Bio: Tara Pukala obtained a PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2006, under the supervision of Prof John Bowie. This was followed by a postdoctoral position at the University of Cambridge, UK, working with Prof Dame Carol Robinson in the field of native mass spectrometry.

Tara returned to Australia to her current role as lecturer in the Discipline of Chemistry at the University of Adelaide in 2008. Here she leads a multidisciplinary research group focused on developing new approaches, primarily utilising mass spectrometry, to investigate the structure, function and interactions of macromolecules important in biology.

Since 2017 Tara has served as the Scientific director of the Adelaide Proteomics Centre, a core facility enabling the provision of proteomics services to academia and industry. She is Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry (ANZSMS), the leading national society of her field, and is the recipient of the ANZSMS 2017 Bowie Medal. Tara contributes to organisational leadership through her role as Deputy Dean of Research for the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. Most recently she has been recognised as a 2023 Superstar of STEM by Science and Technology Australia.