Staff profile

We are based within the Department of Chemistry and work closely with physicists, chemists, and mathematicians.

Carbon dioxide sensing.

CO₂ is essential for life. It begins every life process as a fundamental substrate of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis and ends every life process as a product of aerobic respiration and post-mortem decay. As such, it is not surprising that this gas regulates diverse processes such as cellular chemical reactions, transport, maintenance of the cellular environment, behaviour, and immunity. CO₂ is a strategically important research target with relevance to crop responses to environmental change, insect vector-borne disease and public health. However, we know very little about CO₂'s direct interactions with the cell, despite the gas's importance to biology.

Our current work focuses on how CO₂ affects cell function in diverse model systems, particularly through carbamate post-translational modification of the lysine epsilon-amino group. 

The biology of death.

Across ecosystems, nutrients locked within dead organisms are recycled and reused to support the growth of new life. Yet not all nutrients are equally valuable. Some biomolecule​s can be used immediately, whereas others require substantial processing before they can be assimilated.

We ask whether organisms have evolved mechanisms that continue to function after death, transforming cellular material into forms that other organisms can more readily reuse.

Our recent work identified the bacterial Lon protease as one such mechanism, showing that cellular proteins can continue to be degraded after death into fragments that neighbouring cells can readily take up. We now hypothesise that this phenomenon is widespread and that many bacterial enzymes possess dual functions: roles in the physiology of living cells and previously unrecognised post-mortem activities that promote nutrient recycling.

To test this hypothesis, we combine transcriptomics, metabolomics, genetics and large-scale Escherichia coli mutant collections to identify gene products that function after death and determine how they contribute to nutrient acquisition by living bacteria. Thus, we provide fundamental insights into how bacterial communities recycle nutrients and how post-mortem biochemical processes can shape ecosystem function.

• Bicarbonate
• Biochemistry
• Carbon dioxide
• Cell biology
• Hypercapnia
• Hypocapnia
• Inorganic carbon
• Molecular biology
• Signal transduction

• 2023: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry:
• 2022: RCUK Committee Membership: Chair Panel D
• 2021: Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology:
• 2020: Institute of Physics: Rosalind Franklin Silver Medal (co-awardee)
• 2003: Fellowship: Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow 2003-2005

Chapter in book

• Ecto-5'-Nucleotidase, Adenosine and Transmembrane Adenylyl Cyclase Signalling Regulate Basal Carotid Body Chemoafferent Outflow and Establish the Sensitivity to Hypercapnia.
  
  Holmes, A., Nunes, A., Cann, M., & Kumar, P. (2015). Ecto-5’-Nucleotidase, Adenosine and Transmembrane Adenylyl Cyclase Signalling Regulate Basal Carotid Body Chemoafferent Outflow and Establish the Sensitivity to Hypercapnia. In C. Peers, P. Kumar, C. Wyatt, E. Gauda, C. A. Nurse, & N. Prabhakar (Eds.), Arterial Chemoreceptors in Physiology and Pathophysiology (pp. 279-289). Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18440-1_32

Conference Paper

• Multi-scale Approaches to Dynamical Transmission of Protein Allostery
  
  Townsend, P., Rodgers, T., Pohl, E., Wilson, M., Cann, M., & McLeish, T. (2015). Multi-scale Approaches to Dynamical Transmission of Protein Allostery. In L. Olivares-Quiroz, O. Guzmán-López, & H. E. Jardón-Valadez (Eds.), Physical Biology of Proteins and Peptides: Theory, Experiment, and Simulation (pp. 141-152). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21687-4_8

Journal Article

• Sensing molecular carbon dioxide - a translational focus for respiratory disease.
  
  Vadász, I., Cummins, E. P., Brotherton, D. H., Casalino Matsuda, S. M., Dada, L. A., Green, O., King, D. T., Kryvenko, V., Shigemura, M., Sporn, P. H. S., Strowitzki, M. J., Cann, M. J., & Sznajder, J. I. (2025). Sensing molecular carbon dioxide - a translational focus for respiratory disease. Physiological Reviews, 105(4), 2657-2691. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00022.2024
• Multiple carbamylation events are required for differential modulation of Cx26 hemichannels and gap junctions by CO 2
  
  Nijjar, S., Brotherton, D., Butler, J., Dospinescu, V., Gannon, H. G., Linthwaite, V., Cann, M., Cameron, A., & Dale, N. (2025). Multiple carbamylation events are required for differential modulation of Cx26 hemichannels and gap junctions by CO 2. The Journal of Physiology, 603(5), 1071-1089. https://doi.org/10.1113/jp285885
• Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling
  
  Gibson, S. E. R., Frost, I., Hierons, S. J., Moses, T., Poon, W. C. K., West, S. A., & Cann, M. J. (2025). Bacteria encode post-mortem protein catabolism that enables altruistic nutrient recycling. Nature Communications, 16, Article 1400. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56761-6
• A Non-Functional Carbon Dioxide-Mediated Post-Translational Modification on Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase of Arabidopsis thaliana
  
  Gannon, H. G., Riaz-Bradley, A., & Cann, M. J. (2024). A Non-Functional Carbon Dioxide-Mediated Post-Translational Modification on Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase of Arabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(2), Article 898. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020898
• Near atmospheric carbon dioxide activates plant ubiquitin cross-linking
  
  Gannon, H. G., & Cann, M. J. (2023). Near atmospheric carbon dioxide activates plant ubiquitin cross-linking. BBA Advances, 4, Article 100096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100096
• Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome
  
  Guillen-Garcia, A., Gibson, S., Jordan, C., Ramaswamy, V., Linthwaite, V., Bromley, E., Brown, A., Hodgson, D., Blower, T., Verlet, J., Degiacomi, M., Palsson, L., & Cann, M. (2022). Allophycocyanin A is a carbon dioxide receptor in the cyanobacterial phycobilisome. Nature Communications, 13, Article 5289. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32925-6
• Carbon Dioxide and the Carbamate Post-Translational Modification
  
  Blake, L. I., & Cann, M. J. (2022). Carbon Dioxide and the Carbamate Post-Translational Modification. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9, Article 825706. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2022.825706
• Ubiquitin is a carbon dioxide-binding protein
  
  Linthwaite, V., Pawloski, W., Pegg, H., Townsend, P., Thomas, M., Brown, A., Hodgson, D., Lorimer, G., Fushman, D., & Cann, M. (2021). Ubiquitin is a carbon dioxide-binding protein. Science Advances, 7(39), Article eabi5507. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abi5507
• A methodology for carbamate post-translational modification discovery and its application in Escherichia coli
  
  Linthwaite, V. L., & Cann, M. J. (2021). A methodology for carbamate post-translational modification discovery and its application in Escherichia coli. Interface Focus, 11(2), Article 20200028. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2020.0028
• Applying TADF Emitters in Bioimaging and Sensing—A Novel Approach Using Liposomes for Encapsulation and Cellular Uptake
  
  Smith, P. O., Black, D. J., Pal, R., Avó, J., Dias, F. B., Linthwaite, V. L., Cann, M. J., & Pålsson, L. (2021). Applying TADF Emitters in Bioimaging and Sensing—A Novel Approach Using Liposomes for Encapsulation and Cellular Uptake. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9, Article 743928. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.743928
• Opposing modulation of Cx26 gap junctions and hemichannels by CO2
  
  Nijjar, S., Maddison, D., Meigh, L., Wolf, E., Rodgers, T., Cann, M., & Dale, N. (2021). Opposing modulation of Cx26 gap junctions and hemichannels by CO2. Journal of Physiology, 599(1), 103-118. https://doi.org/10.1113/jp280747
• A DNA-binding bromodomain-containing protein interacts with and reduces Rx1-mediated immune response to Potato Virus X
  
  Sukarta, O. C., Townsend, P. D., Llewelyn, A., Dixon, C. H., Slootweg, E. J., Pålsson, L., Takken, F. L., Goverse, A., & Cann, M. J. (2020). A DNA-binding bromodomain-containing protein interacts with and reduces Rx1-mediated immune response to Potato Virus X. Plant Communications., 1(4), Article 100086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100086
• Distinct Roles of Non-Overlapping Surface Regions of the Coiled-Coil Domain in the Potato Immune Receptor Rx1
  
  Slootweg, E. J., Spiridon, L. N., Martin, E. C., Tameling, W. I., Townsend, P. D., Pomp, R., Roosien, J., Drawska, O., Sukarta, O. C., Schots, A., Borst, J. W., Joosten, M. H., Bakker, J., Smant, G., Cann, M. J., Petrescu, A., & Goverse, A. (2018). Distinct Roles of Non-Overlapping Surface Regions of the Coiled-Coil Domain in the Potato Immune Receptor Rx1. Plant Physiology, 178(3), 1310-1331. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.18.00603
• The identification of carbon dioxide mediated protein post-translational modifications
  
  Linthwaite, V., Janus, J., Brown, A., Wong-Pascua, D., O’Donoghue, A., Porter, A., Treumann, A., Hodgson, D., & Cann, M. (2018). The identification of carbon dioxide mediated protein post-translational modifications. Nature Communications, 9, Article 3092. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05475-z
• The intracellular immune receptor Rx1 regulates the DNA-binding activity of a Golden2-like transcription factor
  
  Townsend, P., Dixon, C., Slootweg, E., Sukarta, O., Yang, A., Hughes, T., Sharples, G., Palsson, L., Takken, F., Goverse, A., & Cann, M. (2018). The intracellular immune receptor Rx1 regulates the DNA-binding activity of a Golden2-like transcription factor. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 293(9), 3218-3233. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ra117.000485
• Hypercapnia modulates cAMP signalling and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-dependent anion and fluid secretion in airway epithelia
  
  Turner, M., Saint-Crib, V., Patel, W., Ibrahim, S., Verdon, B., Ward, C., Garnett, J., Tarran, R., Cann, M., & Gray, M. (2016). Hypercapnia modulates cAMP signalling and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-dependent anion and fluid secretion in airway epithelia. Journal of Physiology, 594(6), 1643-1661. https://doi.org/10.1113/jp271309
• The tomato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor I-2 couples DNA-Binding to Nucleotide-Binding Domain Nucleotide Exchange
  
  Fenyk, S., Dixon, C. H., Kittens, W. H., Townsend, P. D., Sharples, G. .J., Pålsson, L. O., Takken, F. L. W., & Cann, M. J. (2016). The tomato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor I-2 couples DNA-Binding to Nucleotide-Binding Domain Nucleotide Exchange. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291(3), 1137-1147. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.698589
• The Potato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor Rx1 is a Pathogen Dependent DNA-Deforming Protein
  
  Fenyk, S., Townsend, P. D., Dixon, C. H., Spies, G. B., de San Eustaquio Campillo, A., Slootweg, E. J., Westerhof, L. B., Gawehns, F. K., Knight, M. R., Sharples, G. J., Goverse, A., Pålsson, L., Takken, F. L., & Cann, M. J. (2015). The Potato Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat (NLR) Immune Receptor Rx1 is a Pathogen Dependent DNA-Deforming Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(41), 24945-24960. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.672121
• Dynamic Transmission of Protein Allostery without Structural Change: Spatial Pathways or Global Modes?
  
  McLeish, T., Cann, M., & Rodgers, T. (2015). Dynamic Transmission of Protein Allostery without Structural Change: Spatial Pathways or Global Modes? Biophysical Journal, 109(6), 1240-1250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.08.009
• The role of protein-ligand contacts in allosteric regulation of the Escherichia coli Catabolite Activator Protein
  
  Townsend, P., Rodgers, T., Glover, L., Korhonen, H., Richards, S., Colwell, L., Pohl, E., Wilson, M., Hodgson, D., McLeish, T., & Cann, M. (2015). The role of protein-ligand contacts in allosteric regulation of the Escherichia coli Catabolite Activator Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(36), 22225-22235. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m115.669267
• Global low-frequency motions in protein allostery: CAP as a model system
  
  Townsend, P., Rogers, T., Pohl, E., Wilson, M., McLeish, T., & Cann, M. (2015). Global low-frequency motions in protein allostery: CAP as a model system. Biophysical Reviews, 7(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-015-0163-9
• The crystal structures of apo and cAMP-bound GlxR from Corynebacterium glutamicum reveal structural and dynamic changes upon cAMP binding in CRP/FNR family transcription factors
  
  Townsend, P., Jungwirth, B., Pojer, P., Bußmann, M., Money, V., Cole, S., Pühler, A., Tauch, A., Bott, M., Cann, M., & Pohl, E. (2014). The crystal structures of apo and cAMP-bound GlxR from Corynebacterium glutamicum reveal structural and dynamic changes upon cAMP binding in CRP/FNR family transcription factors. PLoS ONE, 9(12), Article e113265. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113265
• CO2 directly modulates connexin 26 by formation of carbamate bridges between subunits
  
  Meigh, L., Greenhalgh, S., Rodgers, T., Cann, M., Roper, D., & Dale, N. (2013). CO2 directly modulates connexin 26 by formation of carbamate bridges between subunits. ELife, 2. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.01213
• Modulation of Global Low-Frequency Motions Underlies Allosteric Regulation: Demonstration in CRP/FNR Family Transcription Factors
  
  Rodgers, T., Townsend, P., Burnell, D., Jones, M., Richards, S., McLeish, T., Pohl, E., Wilson, M., & Cann, M. (2013). Modulation of Global Low-Frequency Motions Underlies Allosteric Regulation: Demonstration in CRP/FNR Family Transcription Factors. PLoS Biology, 11(9), Article e1001651. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001651
• Elevated Carbon Dioxide Blunts Mammalian cAMP Signaling Dependent on Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor-mediated Ca2+ Release
  
  Cook, Z., Gray, M., & Cann, M. (2012). Elevated Carbon Dioxide Blunts Mammalian cAMP Signaling Dependent on Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor-mediated Ca2+ Release. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(31), 26291-26301. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m112.349191
• A Nucleotide Phosphatase Activity in the Nucleotide Binding Domain of an Orphan Resistance Protein from Rice
  
  Fenyk, S., de San Eustaquio Campillo, A., Pohl, E., Hussey, P., & Cann, M. (2012). A Nucleotide Phosphatase Activity in the Nucleotide Binding Domain of an Orphan Resistance Protein from Rice. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(6), 4023-4032. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m111.314450
• Crystal Structure and Regulation Mechanisms of the CyaB Adenylyl Cyclase from the Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  
  Topal, H., Fulcher, N., Bitterman, J., Salazar, E., Buck, J., Levin, L., Cann, M., Wolfgang, M., & Steegborn, C. (2012). Crystal Structure and Regulation Mechanisms of the CyaB Adenylyl Cyclase from the Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Molecular Biology, 416(2), 271-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2011.12.045
• The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates intracellular cAMP levels by modulating adenylate cyclase activity
  
  Fulcher, N., Holliday, P., Klem, E., Cann, M., & Wolfgang, M. (2010). The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chp chemosensory system regulates intracellular cAMP levels by modulating adenylate cyclase activity. Molecular Microbiology, 76(4), 889-904. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07135.x
• Stimulation of Mammalian G-protein-responsive Adenylyl Cyclases by Carbon Dioxide
  
  Townsend, P., Holliday, P., Fenyk, S., Hess, K., Gray, M., Hodgson, D., & Cann, M. (2009). Stimulation of Mammalian G-protein-responsive Adenylyl Cyclases by Carbon Dioxide. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284(2), 784-791. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m807239200
• Sodium regulation of GAF domain function
  
  Cann, M. (2007). Sodium regulation of GAF domain function. Biochemical Society Transactions, 35(5), 1032-1034. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0351032
• Synthesis of 5'-Amino-5'-deoxyguanosine-5'-N-phosphoramidate and its Enzymatic Incorporation at the 5'-Termini of RNA Molecules
  
  Williamson, D., Cann, M., & Hodgson, D. (2007). Synthesis of 5’-Amino-5’-deoxyguanosine-5’-N-phosphoramidate and its Enzymatic Incorporation at the 5’-Termini of RNA Molecules. Chemical Communications, 2007(47), 5096-5098. https://doi.org/10.1039/b712066d
• A subset of GAF domains are evolutionarily conserved sodium sensors
  
  Cann, M. (2007). A subset of GAF domains are evolutionarily conserved sodium sensors. Molecular Microbiology, 64(2), 461-472. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05669.x
• A europium complex that selectively stains nucleoli of cells
  
  Yu, J., Parker, D., Pal, R., Poole, R., & Cann, M. (2006). A europium complex that selectively stains nucleoli of cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128(7), 2294-2299. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja056303g
• Regulation of prokaryotic adenylyl cyclases by CO₂
  
  Hammer, A., Hodgson, D., & Cann, M. (2006). Regulation of prokaryotic adenylyl cyclases by CO₂. Biochemical Journal, 396(2), 215-218. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj20060372
• Synthesis and characterisation of highly emissive and kinetically stable lanthanide complexes suitable for usage 'in cellulo'
  
  Poole, R., Bobba, G., Cann, M., Frias, J., Parker, D., & Peacock, R. (2005). Synthesis and characterisation of highly emissive and kinetically stable lanthanide complexes suitable for usage ’in cellulo’. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 3(6), 1013-1024. https://doi.org/10.1039/b418964g
• Bicarbonate stimulated adenylyl cyclases
  
  Cann, M. (2004). Bicarbonate stimulated adenylyl cyclases. IUBMB Life, 56(9), 529-534. https://doi.org/10.1080/15216540400013861
• Design, synthesis and evaluation of ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate based on europium emission
  
  Bretonniere, Y., Cann, M., Parker, D., & Slater, R. (2004). Design, synthesis and evaluation of ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate based on europium emission. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2(11), 1624-1632. https://doi.org/10.1039/b400734b
• Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria
  
  Cann, M. (2004). Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria. New Phytologist, 161(23-34).
• A defined subset of adenylyl cyclases is regulated by bicarbonate ion
  
  Cann, M., Hammer, A., Zhou, J., & Kanacher, T. (2003). A defined subset of adenylyl cyclases is regulated by bicarbonate ion. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(37), 35033-35038. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m303025200
• Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria
  
  Cann, M. (2003). Signalling through cyclic nucleotide monophosphates in cyanobacteria. New Phytologist, 161, 23-34.
• Luminescent nonacoordinate cationic lanthanide complexes as potential cellular imaging and reactive probes
  
  Frias, J., Bobba, G., Cann, M., Hutchison, C., & Parker, D. (2003). Luminescent nonacoordinate cationic lanthanide complexes as potential cellular imaging and reactive probes. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 1(6), 905-907.
• Ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate analysis in intracellular or extracellular environments using europium luminescence
  
  Bretonnière, Y., Cann, M., Parker, D., & Slater, R. (2002). Ratiometric probes for hydrogencarbonate analysis in intracellular or extracellular environments using europium luminescence. Chemical Communications, 2002(17), 1930-1931. https://doi.org/10.1039/b206286k
• Identification of transmembrane adenylyl cyclase isoforms
  
  Cann, M., & Levin, L. (2002). Identification of transmembrane adenylyl cyclase isoforms. Methods Enzymol, 345, 150-9.
• Soluble adenylyl cyclase as an evolutionarily conserved bicarbonate sensor.
  
  Chen, Y., Cann, M., Litvin, T., Iourgenko, V., Sinclair, M., Levin, L., & Buck, J. (2000). Soluble adenylyl cyclase as an evolutionarily conserved bicarbonate sensor. Science, 289(5479), 625-628. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5479.625
• A new family of adenylyl cyclase genes in the male germline of Drosophila melanogaster.
  
  Cann, M., Chung, E., & Levin, L. (2000). A new family of adenylyl cyclase genes in the male germline of Drosophila melanogaster. Development Genes and Evolution, 210(4), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004270050304
• Restricted expression of a truncated adenylyl cyclase in the cephalic furrow of Drosophila melanogaster
  
  Cann, M., & Levin, L. (2000). Restricted expression of a truncated adenylyl cyclase in the cephalic furrow of Drosophila melanogaster. Development Genes and Evolution, 210(1), 34-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/pl00008186
• Cytosolic adenylyl cyclase defines a unique signaling molecule in mammals.
  
  Buck, J., Sinclair, M., Schapal, L., Cann, M., & Levin, L. (1999). Cytosolic adenylyl cyclase defines a unique signaling molecule in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 96(1), 79-84. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.1.79
• Genetic characterization of adenylyl cyclase function
  
  Cann, M., & Levin, L. (1998). Genetic characterization of adenylyl cyclase function. Advances in Second Messenger and Phosphoprotein Research., 32, 121-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1040-7952%2898%2980008-6
• Cloning and characterization of a Drosophila adenylyl cyclase homologous to mammalian type IX.
  
  Iourgenko, V., Kliot, B., Cann, M., & Levin, L. (1997). Cloning and characterization of a Drosophila adenylyl cyclase homologous to mammalian type IX. FEBS Letters, 413(11), 104-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0014-5793%2897%2900891-0