Dr Paul Pace, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch

Senior Research Fellow

BSc(Hons) (London, UK), PhD (Cambridge, UK)

Email paul.pace@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0898

Research interests

Dr Paul Pace previously worked at Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, before moving to the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, where he obtained his PhD studying DNA repair mechanisms.

His expertise is in molecular biology (cloning, mutagenesis, CRISPR applications), protein biochemistry (protein expression and purification, antibody generation and purification, immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, analytical methods) and cell biology (cell culture, transfection, lentiviral expression). He teaches part of the BBiomedSc(Hons) programme, has supervised two summer students, and currently co-supervises two PhD students.

His current projects include studying the biochemistry of peroxiredoxins, including their roles in cell signalling, including the redox regulation of phosphorylation-dependent cell migration and transformation in cancer.

Affiliations

Publications

Shearer, H. L., Currie, M. J., Agnew, H. N., Trappetti, C., Stull, F., Pace, P. E., … Dobson, R. C. J., & Dickerhof, N. (2024). Hypothiocyanous acid reductase is critical for host colonization and infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 107282. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107282 Journal - Research Article

Faville, S., Hampton, M. B., Pace, P., Goebl, C., & Helem, S. (2023). Chemoproteomic analyses of the anti-cancer effects of portimines. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Helem, S., Pace, P., Seddon, A., Selwood, A., & Hampton, M. (2023). The anti-proliferative properties of the marine derived bioactive compound portimine. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Austad, S., Pace, P., Goebl, C., & Hampton, M. (2023). Unravelling the functional role of peroxiredoxin oligomeric conformations. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Shearer, H., Currie, M., Agnew, H., Trappetti, C., Stull, F., Pace, P., … Hampton, M., … Dickerhof, N. (2023). Sensitising Streptococcus pneumoniae to the immune-derived oxidant hypothiocyanous acid. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Shearer, H. L., Pace, P. E., Smith, L. M., Fineran, P. C., Matthews, A. J., Camilli, A., Dickerhof, N., & Hampton, M. B. (2023). Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae genes associated with hypothiocyanous acid tolerance through genome-wide screening. Journal of Bacteriology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1128/jb.00208-23

Winterbourn, C. C., Peskin, A., Kleffmann, T., Radi, R., & Pace, P. E. (2023). Carbon dioxide/bicarbonate is required for sensitive inactivation of mammalian glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by hydrogen peroxide. PNAS, 120(18), e2221047120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2221047120

Journal - Research Other

Pace, P., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2023). A cautionary note on using phosphatase inhibitors with hydrogen peroxide. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 38(4-6), 316-317. doi: 10.1089/ars.2022.0092

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Shearer, H., Currie, M., Agnew, H., Trappetti, C., Stull, F., Pace, P., … Hampton, M., … Dickerhof, N. (2023). Sensitising Streptococcus pneumoniae to the immune-derived oxidant hypothiocyanous acid. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 208(Suppl. 1), 96. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.10.110

Meotti, F., de Souza, L. F., Dempsey, B., Silva, R., Pinz, M., Cruz, L., Pace, P., Hampton, M., & Winterbourn, C. (2023). Peroxiredoxin 2 interacts with granule stress proteins in proliferative leukemic myeloid cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 208(Suppl. 1), 38. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.10.053

2022

Journal - Research Article

Shearer, H. L., Pace, P. E., Paton, J. C., Hampton, M. B., & Dickerhof, N. (2022). A newly identified flavoprotein disulfide reductase Har protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against hypothiocyanous acid. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298(9), 102359. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102359

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Shearer, H. L., Parker, H. A., Pace, P. E., Hampton, M. B., & Dickerhof, N. (2022, August). Sensitising Streptococcus pneumoniae to oxidative stress. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Winterbourn, C. C., & Hampton, M. B. (2022, August). Disrupting the oligomeric structure of peroxiredoxins in cancer cells using CRISPR. Poster session presented at the CRISPR Technologies Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Seddon, A. R., Liau, Y., Pace, P. E., Miller, A. L., Das, A. B., Kennedy, M. A., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2021). Genome-wide impact of hydrogen peroxide on maintenance DNA methylation in replicating cells. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 14(1), 17. doi: 10.1186/s13072-021-00388-6

Peskin, A. V., Meotti, F. C., Kean, K. M., Göbl, C., Peixoto, A. S., Pace, P. E., … Winterbourn, C. C. (2021). Modifying the resolving cysteine affects the structure and hydrogen peroxide reactivity of peroxiredoxin 2. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 296, 100494. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100494

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Shearer, H. L., Parker, H. A., Paton, J., Camilli, A., Pace, P. E., Dickerhof, N., & Hampton, M. B. (2021). Sensitising Streptococcus pneumoniae to oxidative stress. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 145). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org

van Leeuwen, E., Smyth, L., Pace, P., & Hampton, M. (2021). Hypothiocyanous acid oxidizes collapsin response mediator protein 2 in brain pericytes. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 277). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org

2020

Journal - Research Article

Kouakou Ahuie, G., Gagnon, H., Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Wagner, P. R. J., Naylor, S., & Klarskov, K. (2020). Investigating protein thiol chemistry associated with dehydroascorbate, homocysteine and glutathione using mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 34, e8774. doi: 10.1002/rcm.8774

2019

Journal - Research Article

Peskin, A. V., Pace, P. E., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2019). Enhanced hyperoxidation of peroxiredoxin 2 and peroxiredoxin 3 in the presence of bicarbonate/CO₂. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 145, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.09.010

Dagnell, M., Cheng, Q., Rizvi, S. H. M., Pace, P. E., Boivin, B., Winterbourn, C. C., & Arnér, E. S. J. (2019). Bicarbonate is essential for protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) oxidation and cellular signaling through EGF-triggered phosphorylation cascades. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(33), 12330-12338. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.009001

de Souza, L. F., Pearson, A. G., Pace, P. E., Dafre, A. L., Hampton, M. B., Meotti, F. C., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2019). Peroxiredoxin expression and redox status in neutrophils and HL-60 cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 135, 227-234. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.03.007

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Fischer, J., Eglinton, T., Frizelle, F., Pace, P., Pearson, A., & Hampton, M. (2019). Marker of oxidative stress as a novel predictor of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 89(Suppl. 1), (pp. 25). doi: 10.1111/ans.15180

2018

Journal - Research Article

Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Konigstorfer, A., Jasoni, C. L., Winterbourn, C. C., & Hampton, M. B. (2018). Peroxiredoxin interaction with the cytoskeletal-regulatory protein CRMP2: Investigation of a putative redox relay. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 129, 383-393. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.10.407

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Dagnell, M., Cheng, Q., Pace, P. E., Hampton, M. B., Winterbourn, C. C., & Arnér, E. S. J. (2018). Bicarbonate is required for hydrogen peroxide-dependent inactivation of PTP1B in presence of the Trx system and peroxiredoxin. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 120(Suppl. 1), (pp. S36). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.04.123

2017

Journal - Research Article

Dagnell, M., Pace, P. E., Cheng, Q., Frijhoff, J., Östman, A., Arnér, E. S. J., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2017). Thioredoxin reductase 1 and NADPH directly protect protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B from inactivation during H₂O₂ exposure. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292(35), 14371-14380. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M117.793745

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Hampton, M. B., Dickerhof, N., Pace, P. E., & Bozonet, S. M. (2017, July). Redox signalling and the regulation of immune cell life and death. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Society for Immunology (NZ ASI) Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2016

Journal - Research Article

Peskin, A. V., Pace, P. E., Behring, J. B., Paton, L. N., Soethoudt, M., Bachschmid, M. M., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2016). Glutathionylation of the active site cysteines of peroxiredoxin 2 and recycling by glutaredoxin. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291(6), 3053-3062. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.692798

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Pace, P., Peskin, A. V., Jasoni, C. L., Winterbourn, C., & Hampton, M. (2016). Interaction of peroxiredoxin 2 with collapsin response mediator protein 2. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 100(Suppl.), (pp. S47). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.126

Dagnell, M., Pace, P., Cheng, Q., Frijhoff, J., Östman, A., Arnér, E., Hampton, M., & Winterbourn, C. (2016). Thioredoxin reductase 1 directly protects protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B from inactivation by H₂O₂. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 100(Suppl.), (pp. S47). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.125

2015

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Peskin, A., Pace, P., Behring, J., Paton, L., Soethoudt, M., Bachschmid, M., & Winterbourn, C. (2015). Glutathionylation at the Active Sites of Peroxiredoxin 2 and Recycling by Glutaredoxin. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 87(Suppl. 1), (pp. 105). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.10.276

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Pace, P. (2015, December). Interaction of peroxiredoxin 2 with collapsing response mediator protein 2. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research Australasia & Japan Seventh Joint Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Soethoudt, M., Peskin, A. V., Dickerhof, N., Paton, L. N., Pace, P. E., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2014). Interaction of adenanthin with glutathione and thiol enzymes: Selectivity for thioredoxin reductase and inhibition of peroxiredoxin recycling. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 77, 331-339. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.09.025

2013

Journal - Research Article

Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Han, M.-H., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2013). Hyperoxidized peroxiredoxin 2 interacts with the protein disulphide isomerase ERp46. Biochemical Journal, 453, 475-485. doi: 10.1042/BJ20130030

Peskin, A. V., Dickerhof, N., Poynton, R. A., Paton, L. N., Pace, P. E., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2013). Hyperoxidation of peroxiredoxins 2 and 3: Rate constants for the reactions of the sulfenic acid of the peroxidatic cysteine. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288, 14170-14177. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.460881

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Peskin, A. V., Dickerhof, N., Paton, L. N., Poynton, R. A., Pace, P., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2013, August). Hyperoxidation of human peroxiredoxin 2 and 3. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Han, M.-H., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2013, August). Hyperoxidized peroxiredoxin 2 interacts with the protein disulphide isomerase ERp46. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2012

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Pace, P., Peskin, A., Hampton, M., & Winterbourn, C. (2012). Hydrogen peroxide-dependent interaction of peroxiredoxin 2 with ERp46. Proceedings of the Oxygen Theme Meeting. (pp. 32). Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/research/otago051864.pdf

Pace, P. E., Peskin, A. V., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2012). Hydrogen peroxide dependent interaction of peroxiredoxin 2 with ERp46. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 53(Suppl. 1), (pp. S210). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.440

Peskin, A. V., Dickerhof, N., Poynton, R. A., Pace, P., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2012). Kinetics of hyperoxidation of human peroxiredoxin 2. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 53(Suppl. 1), (pp. S210-S211). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.441

2011

Journal - Research Article

Karton, A., Nagy, P., Betz, A., Peskin, A. V., Pace, P., O'Reilly, R. J., Hampton, M. B., … Winterbourn, C. C. (2011). Model for the exceptional reactivity of peroxiredoxins 2 and 3 with hydrogen peroxide; a kinetic and computational study. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(20), 18048-18055. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.232355

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Pace, P. (2011, September). Hydrogen peroxide-dependent interaction of Peroxiredoxin 2 with ERp46. Poster session presented at the European Science Federation and European Molecular Biology Organization (ESF-EMBO) Symposium: Glutathione and Related Thiols in Living Cells, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain.

2010

Journal - Research Article

Pace, P., Mosedale, G., Hodskinson, M. R., Rosado, I. V., Sivasubramaniam, M., & Patel, K. J. (2010). Ku70 corrupts DNA repair in the absence of the Fanconi anemia pathway. Science, 329, 219-223. doi: 10.1126/science.1192277

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Pace, P. E., Hampton, M. B., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2010, November-December). Cellular interactions of peroxiredoxin 2. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR) Australasia 19th Annual Conference, Akaroa, New Zealand.

Pace, P. (2010, August-September). Fanconi anaemia protein activities disrupt Ku70 activity during the repair of crosslinked DNA. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Pace, P. (2010, April). Fanconi anaemia protein activities disrupt Ku70 activity during the repair of crosslinked DNA. Invited seminar at the Agriculture and Life Sciences Seminar, Lincoln University, New Zealand. [Invited Presentation].

2009

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Pace, P., Hampton, M., & Winterbourn, C. (2009, December). Cellular interactions of peroxiredoxins. Poster session presented at the 5th Joint Meeting of the Societies for Free Radical Research Australasia and Japan & Mutagenesis and Experimental Pathology Society of Australia, Sydney, Australia.

2008

Journal - Research Article

Alpi, A. F., Pace, P. E., Babu, M. M., & Patel, K. J. (2008). Mechanistic insight into site-restricted monoubiquitination of FANCD2 by Ube2t, FANCL, and FANCI. Molecular Cell, 32(6), 767-777. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.12.003

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Pace, P. (2008). Biochemical characterisation of the FANCD2 protein (PhD). The Open University, United Kingdom. 221p.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Oestergaard, V. H., Langevin, F., Kuiken, H. J., Pace, P., Niedzweidz, W., Simpson, L. J., … Patel, K. J. (2007). Deubiquitination of FANCD2 is required for DNA crosslink repair. Molecular Cell, 28(5), 798-809. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2007.09.020