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Contact Details

Phone
64 3 479 7322
Email
gregory.giles@otago.ac.nz
Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) PhD
Research summary
Biological reduction and oxidation

Research

Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Design, Free Radical Biology, Nitric Oxide, Antioxidants, Cancer, Stroke, Heart Disease, Mental Dementia.

Research: The Giles Group is investigating biological reduction and oxidation (REDOX) reactions, a wide-ranging field that encompasses energy metabolism, signal transduction pathways, enzyme function and the chemical defence mechanism of the body's immune system. Each cell in the body has to sustain a reducing environment for normal physiological function. This is achieved by maintaining an antioxidant defence network which utilises enzymes, vitamins and cellular reductants. If this defence is breached then oxidative damage can occur throughout the cell, resulting in impaired function and ultimately cell death. This event, termed oxidative stress, is implicated in the pathologies of many diseases including cancer, aging, diabetes, cardiovascular dysfunction and dementia. We are actively involved in drug discovery projects which look at new ways to protect cells from oxidative damage and so provide urgently needed therapies for clinical use.

Publications

Giles, G. I., Erickson, J. R., & Bussey, C. T. (2022). Photoactivation of tDodSNO induces localized vasodilation in rats: Metabolically stable S-nitrosothiols can act as targeted nitric oxide donors in vivo. Nitric Oxide, 129, 53-62. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2022.10.001

Alimoradi, H., Thomas, A., Lyth, D. D. B., Barzegar-Fallah, A., Matikonda, S. S., Gamble, A. B., & Giles, G. I. (2022). SMA-BmobaSNO: An intelligent photoresponsive nitric oxide releasing polymer for drug nanoencapsulation and targeted delivery. Nanotechnology, 33, 195101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac4eb0

McNeill, S., Giles, N. M., Preston, D., Jones, P. P., Crowley, J. D., & Giles, G. I. (2020). The quadruply stranded metallo-supramolecular helicate [Pd2 (hextrz)4]4+ acts as a molecular mimic of cytolytic peptides. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33, 1822-1834. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00061

Alimoradi, H., Greish, K., Gamble, A. B., & Giles, G. I. (2019). Controlled delivery of nitric oxide for cancer therapy. Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, 7(4), 279-303. doi: 10.2174/2211738507666190429111306

van Hilst, Q. V. C., Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Findlay, J. A., Scottwell, S. Ø., Giles, G. I., Brooks, H. J. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Synthesis, characterisation and antimicrobial studies of some 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine ruthenium(II) “click” complexes. Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry, 8, 496-505. doi: 10.1002/ajoc.201900088

Alimoradi, H., Matikonda, S. S., Gamble, A. B., Giles, G. I., & Greish, K. (2017). Redox activated polymeric nanoparticles in tumor therapy. In E. Andronescu & A. M. Grumezescu (Eds.), Nanostructures for drug delivery. (pp. 327-354). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-46143-6.00010-5

Chapter in Book - Research

Giles, G. I. (2009). Redox-controlled transcription factors and gene expression. In C. Jacob & P. G. Winyard (Eds.), Redox signaling and regulation in biology and medicine. (pp. 245-270). Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH.

Chapter in Book - Research

Teng, X., Isbell, T. S., Crawford, J. H., Bosworth, C. A., Giles, G. I., Koenitzer, J. R., … Patel, R. P. (2008). Novel method for measuring S-nitrosothiols using hydrogen sulfide. In Methods in enzymology (Volo. 441: Nitric oxide, part G oxidative and nitrasative stress in redox regulation of cell signaling). (pp. 161-172). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/s0076-6879(08)01209-3

Chapter in Book - Research

Alimoradi, H., Thomas, A., Lyth, D. D. B., Barzegar-Fallah, A., Matikonda, S. S., Gamble, A. B., & Giles, G. I. (2022). SMA-BmobaSNO: An intelligent photoresponsive nitric oxide releasing polymer for drug nanoencapsulation and targeted delivery. Nanotechnology, 33, 195101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac4eb0

Journal - Research Article

Giles, G. I., Erickson, J. R., & Bussey, C. T. (2022). Photoactivation of tDodSNO induces localized vasodilation in rats: Metabolically stable S-nitrosothiols can act as targeted nitric oxide donors in vivo. Nitric Oxide, 129, 53-62. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2022.10.001

Journal - Research Article

McNeill, S., Giles, N. M., Preston, D., Jones, P. P., Crowley, J. D., & Giles, G. I. (2020). The quadruply stranded metallo-supramolecular helicate [Pd2 (hextrz)4]4+ acts as a molecular mimic of cytolytic peptides. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33, 1822-1834. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00061

Journal - Research Article

Alimoradi, H., Barzegar-Fallah, A., Sammut, I. A., Griesh, K., & Giles, G. I. (2019). Encapsulation of tDodSNO generates a photoactivated nitric oxide releasing nanoparticle for localized control of vasodilation and vascular hyperpermeability. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 130, 297-305. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.10.433

Journal - Research Article

van Hilst, Q. V. C., Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Findlay, J. A., Scottwell, S. Ø., Giles, G. I., Brooks, H. J. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Synthesis, characterisation and antimicrobial studies of some 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine ruthenium(II) “click” complexes. Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry, 8, 496-505. doi: 10.1002/ajoc.201900088

Journal - Research Article

Vasdev, R. A. S., Gaudin, L. F., Preston, D., Jogy, J. P., Giles, G. I., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). Anticancer activity and cisplatin binding ability of bis-quinoline and bis-isoquinoline derived Pd2L44+ metallosupramolecular cages. Frontiers in Chemistry, 6, 563. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00563

Journal - Research Article

Giles, G. I., Nasim, M. J., Ali, W., & Jacob, C. (2017). The Reactive Sulfur Species concept: 15 Years On. Antioxidants, 6(2), 38. doi: 10.3390/antiox6020038

Journal - Research Article

Alimoradi, H., Matikonda, S. S., Gamble, A. B., Giles, G. I., & Greish, K. (2016). Hypoxia responsive drug delivery systems in tumor therapy. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 22(19), 2808-2820.

Journal - Research Article

McKay, A. P., Lo, W. K. C., Preston, D., Giles, G. I., Crowley, J. D., Barnsley, J. E., Gordon, K. C., & McMorran, D. A. (2016). Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of ((2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)benzoic acids: Synthesis, solid state characterisation and biological cytotoxicity. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 446, 41-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ica.2016.02.038

Journal - Research Article

Preston, D., McNeill, S. M., Lewis, J. E. M., Giles, G. I., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Enhanced kinetic stability of [Pd2L4] 4+ cages through ligand substitution. Dalton Transactions, 45, 8050-8060. doi: 10.1039/c6dt00133e

Journal - Research Article

Zadehvakili, B., McNeill, S. M., Fawcett, J. P., & Giles, G. I. (2016). The design of redox active thiol peroxidase mimics: Dihydrolipoic acid recognition correlates with cytotoxicity and prooxidant action. Biochemical Pharmacology, 104, 19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.01.012

Journal - Research Article

Lo, W. K. C., Huff, G. S., Preston, D., McMorran, D. A., Giles, G. I., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2015). A dinuclear platinum(II) N4Py complex: An unexpected coordination mode for N4Py. Inorganic Chemistry, 54(14), 6671-6673. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b01032

Journal - Research Article

McNeill, S. M., Preston, D., Lewis, J. E. M., Robert, A., Knerr-Rupp, K., Graham, D. O., Wright, J. R., Giles, G. I., & Crowley, J. D. (2015). Biologically active [Pd2L4]4+ quadruply-stranded helicates: Stability and cytotoxicity. Dalton Transactions, 44, 11129-11136. doi: 10.1039/c5dt01259g

Journal - Research Article

Kumari, S., Sammut, I. A., & Giles, G. I. (2014). The design of nitric oxide donor drugs: S-nitrosothiol tDodSNO is a superior photoactivated donor in comparison to GSNO and SNAP. European Journal of Pharmacology, 737, 168-176. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.05.012

Journal - Research Article

Aitken, J. B., Shearer, E. L., Giles, N. M., Lai, B., Vogt, B., Reboucas, J. S., … Giles, G. I. (2013). Intracellular targeting and pharmacological activity of the superoxide dismutase mimics MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ regulated by their porphyrin ring substituents. Inorganic Chemistry, 52(8), 4121-4123. doi: 10.1021/ic300700g

Journal - Research Article

Aitken, J. B., Lay, P. A., Duong, T. T. H., Aran, R., Witting, P. K., Harris, H. H., … Giles, G. I. (2012). Synchrotron radiation induced X-ray emission studies of the antioxidant mechanism of the organoselenium drug ebselen. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 17(4), 589-598. doi: 10.1007/s00775-012-0879-y

Journal - Research Article

Ang, A. D., Konigstorfer, A., Giles, G. I., & Bhatia, M. (2012). Measuring free tissue sulfide. Advances in Biological Chemistry, 2(4), 360-365. doi: 10.4236/abc.2012.24044

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Kumari, S., Gang, B. P., Yuen, C. W. W., Billaud, E. M. F., & Giles, G. I. (2012). The molecular design of S-nitrosothiols as photodynamic agents for controlled nitric oxide release. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 80(3), 471-478. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2012.01420.x

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Kumari, S., Stamm, R., Patel, S., & Giles, G. I. (2012). A hydrogen peroxide electrode assay to measure thiol peroxidase activity for organoselenium and organotellurium drugs. Analytical Biochemistry, 429(2), 103-107. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2012.07.013

Journal - Research Article

Stadler, N., Heeneman, S., Vöö, S., Stanley, N., Giles, G. I., Gang, B. P., … Davies, M. J. (2012). Reduced metal ion concentrations in atherosclerotic plaques from subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis, 222(2), 512-518. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.03.015

Journal - Research Article

Zadehvakili, B., Fawcett, J. P., & Giles, G. I. (2012). Synthesis, structure activity relationship studies and antioxidant activity evaluation of some organochalcogen catalysts as novel GPx mimics. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 53(Suppl. 1), S99. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.206

Journal - Research Article

Singh, A., Guidry, L., Narasimhulu, K. V., Mai, D., Trombley, J., Redding, K. E., Giles, G. I., … Steyn, A. J. C. (2007). Mycobacterium tuberculosis WhiB3 responds to O2 and nitric oxide via its [4Fe-4S] cluster and is essential for nutrient starvation survival. PNAS, 104(28), 11562-11567. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0700490104

Journal - Research Article

Giles, G. I. (2006). The redox regulation of thiol dependent signaling pathways in cancer. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 12, 4427-4443.

Journal - Research Article

Griguer, C. E., Oliva, C. R., Kelley, E. E., Giles, G. I., Lancaster, Jr, J. R., & Gillespie, G. Y. (2006). Xanthine oxidase-dependent regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor in cancer cells. Cancer Research, 66(4), 2257-2263. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-3364

Journal - Research Article

Kelley, E. E., Hock, T., Khoo, N. K. H., Richardson, G. R., Johnson, K. K., Powell, P. C., Giles, G. I., … Tarpey, M. M. (2006). Moderate hypoxia induces xanthine oxidoreductase activity in arterial endothelial cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 40(6), 952-959. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2005.11.008

Journal - Research Article

Fry, F. H., Holme, A. L., Giles, N. M., Giles, G. I., Collins, C., Holt, K., … Jacob, C. (2005). Multifunctional redox catalysts as selective enhancers of oxidative stress. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 3(14), 2579-2587. doi: 10.1039/b502197a

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Giles, G. I., & Jacob, C. (2003). Multiple roles of cysteine in biocatalysis. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications, (1), 1-4. doi: 10.1016/S0006-291X(02)02770-5

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Giles, G. I., Holley, J. E., Gutowski, N. J., & Jacob, C. (2003). Targeting oxidative stress-related diseases: Organochalcogen catalysts as redox sensitizers. Biochemical Pharmacology, 66(10), 2021-2028. doi: 10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00544-6

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Gutowski, N. J., Giles, G. I., & Jacob, C. (2003). Redox catalysts as sensitisers towards oxidative stress. FEBS Letters, 535, 179-182. doi: 10.1016/S0014-5793(02)03890-5

Journal - Research Article

Giles, N. M., Watts, A. B., Giles, G. I., Fry, F. H., Littlechild, J. A., & Jacob, C. (2003). Metal and redox modulation of cysteine protein function. Chemistry & Biology, 10(8), 677-693. doi: 10.1016/S1074-5521(03)00174-1

Journal - Research Article

Jacob, C., Giles, G. I., Giles, N. M., & Sies, H. (2003). Sulfur and selenium: The role of oxidation state in protein structure and function. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 42(39), 4742-4758. doi: 10.1002/anie.200300573

Journal - Research Article

Giles, G. I., Tasker, K. M., Collins, C., Giles, N. M., O'Rourke, E., & Jacob, C. (2002). Reactive sulphur species: An in vitro investigation of the oxidation properties of disulphide S-oxides. Biochemical Journal, 364, 579-585.

Journal - Research Article

Alimoradi, H., Greish, K., Gamble, A. B., & Giles, G. I. (2019). Controlled delivery of nitric oxide for cancer therapy. Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, 7(4), 279-303. doi: 10.2174/2211738507666190429111306

Journal - Research Other

Alimoradi, H., Barzegar-Fallah, A., Sammut, I. A., Griesh, K., & Giles, G. I. (2018). Data characterizing the biophysical and nitric oxide release properties of the tDodSNO: Styrene maleic anhydride nanoparticle SMA-tDodSNO [Data article]. Data in Brief, 21, 1771-1775. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.10.149

Journal - Research Other

Zadehvakili, B., Giles, N. M., Fawcett, J. P., & Giles, G. I. (2016). Data on the catalytic mechanism of thiol peroxidase mimics [Data article]. Data in Brief, 8, 207-210. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.05.037

Journal - Research Other

Giles, G. I., Giles, N. M., Collins, C. A., Holt, K., Fry, F. H., Lowden, P. A. S., … Jacob, C. (2003). Electrochemical, in vitro and cell culture analysis of integrated redox catalysts: Implications for cancer therapy. Chemical Communications, 2030-2031. doi: 10.1039/b302877a

Journal - Research Other

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