Associate Professor Richard Newcomb
Lecturer
Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour
Associate Professor of Evolutionary Genetics
School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Team Leader
Molecular Sensing Lab, Food Innovation
The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research
Private Bag 92169 (mail)
120 Mt Albert Road, Mt Albert (courier)
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/
Principal Investigator
The Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution http://www.allanwilsoncentre.ac.nz/
Associate Investigator
The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery
http://www.mauricewilkinscentre.org/
phone: +64-9-9257127
fax: +64-9-9257001
email: Richard.Newcomb@plantandfood.co.nz
Richard is employed for 80% by The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (Plant &Food Research) and 20% by the University of Auckland within the School of Biological Sciences.
Research Interests
Our team is interested in the molecular basis of chemical sensing. Based at Plant & Food Research in Mt Albert, Auckland, we have skills in receptor pharmacology, molecular genetics, evolutionary bioinformatics, protein biochemistry and structural biology. Animals possess a large array of odorant receptors that they use to detect a multitude of odours through the integration of multiple receptor activation signals. Other non-volatile compounds such as sugars and bitter compounds are detected through a smaller set of taste receptors. By understanding the mechanisms and evolution of these biological chemical sensing systems, we aim to develop solutions for the food, insect pest control and biosensing industries.
Applications to conduct Honours, Masters and PhDs within the lab are welcome.
Human olfaction and taste
The Plant & Food Research gastronomics programme applies knowledge of human genomic variation underpinning chemosensory ability to the food and beverage industry. We are using SNP array technology to identify genetic variation associated with differences in the ability to smell and taste various food-related compounds. Different variants of odorant receptors are subsequently tested using cell assays for their ability to detect different compounds. Whether such differences in sensory acuity explain food preference and consumption differences within and between different demographic groupings remains the big question for this research field. For this work we collaborate with members of Plant & Food Research’s Sensory and Consumer Science Team and the Centre for Genomics and Proteomics within the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland.
Newcomb, R.D., McRae, J., Ingram, J., Elborough, K., Jaeger, S.R. (2010) Genetic variation in flavour and taste perception: An emerging science to guide new product development. In: Consumer–driven innovation in food and personal care products. SR Jaeger & H MacFie (eds) Woodhead Publishing, Oxford (in press).
Jaeger, S.R., McRae, J.F., Salzman, Y., Williams, L., Newcomb, R.D. (2010) A preliminary investigation into a genetic basis for cis-3-hexen-1-ol odour perception. Food Quality and Preference 21: 121-131.
Insect chemosensory reception
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Insects have an incredibly sensitive and, for some compounds, a highly selective sense of smell. The recent sequencing of many insect genomes has revealed large families of chemosensory receptors, while biochemical and functional assays in surrogate cell systems have revealed that, distinct from other animal groups, insect chemosensory receptors function as ion channels. We are developing technologies to enable the exploitation of these receptors in a biosensing device or cybernose. Further application of our knowledge of insect chemosensory receptors involves the development of new insect control and behaviour-modifying compounds through screening candidates in cell assays against recombinant protein targets. This programme, led out of Plant & Food Research, is conducted in collaboration with researchers within the School of Biological Sciences and the BioEngineering Institute at the University of Auckland, AgResearch, Monash University and the CSIRO. |
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Hamiaux, C., Stanley D., Baker, E.N., Newcomb, R.D. (2009) The crystal structure of Epiphyas postvittana Takeout 1 with bound surrogate ubiquinone supports a role as ligand carriers for Takeout proteins in insects. Journal of Biological Chemistry 284: 3496-3503.
Smart, R., Kiely, A., Beale, M., Vargas, E., Carraher, C., Kralicek, A.V., Christie, D.L., Newcomb, R.D. and Warr, C.G. (2008) Drosophila odorant receptors are novel seven transmembrane domain proteins that can signal independently of heterotrimeric G proteins. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 38: 770-780.
Kiely, A., Authier, A., Warr, C.G., Kralicek, A.K., and Newcomb, R.D. (2007) Functional analysis of a Drosophila melanogaster odorant receptor expressed in Sf9 cells. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 159: 189-194.
Molecular evolution
| We are interested in the molecular bases of biological innovation and
speciation, predominantly using insects as models. Of particular focus
is the conundrum of how mating systems diverge, when this requires both
male and female parts of the mating system to co-evolve. For this
question we are dissecting the molecular bases of sex pheromone
production and reception systems in a group of New Zealand endemic
leafroller moths. This work is conducted in collaboration with members
of the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution. |
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Hartley, C.J., Newcomb, R.D., Russell, R.J., Yong, C.G., Stevens, J.R., Yeates, D.K., La Salle, J., and Oakeshott, J.G. (2006) Amplification of DNA from preserved specimens shows blowflies were pre-adapted for the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. 103: 8757-8762.
Newcomb, R.D., Gleeson, D.M., Russell, R.J., and Oakeshott, J.G. (2005) Multiple mutations and gene duplications conferring organophosphorus insecticide resistance have been selected at the Rop-1 locus of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. Journal of Molecular Evolution 60: 207-220.
Art+Science collaboration
We are fortunate to be collaborating with Raewyn Turner, a practicing multidisciplinary artist. The initial focus of the collaboration is on the human plume and the multitude of chemical communications between all living beings. We recently ran an interactive theatre/laboratory in central Auckland called Crossing Wires.
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