Suman De

School of Medicine and Population Health

Research Fellow

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

Suman De
Profile picture of Suman De
s.de@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 21 59107
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)

Full contact details

Suman De
School of Medicine and Population Health
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Research interests

Identification and characterisation of protein complexes, aggregates and post-translational modifications in human is essential for understanding the underlying mechanism of a range of neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In all these diseases, physiological form of proteins such as amyloid-β, α-synuclein, Tar DNA binding protein-43, under specific conditions, aggregate into a range of soluble complexes, and ultimately polymerising into insoluble fibrils to deposit in the specific parts of the central nervous system. These diseases associated proteins can potentially aggregate into many different forms, consisting of different numbers of peptides, with multiple possible post-translational modifications and co-aggregating species. Since the structural and compositional heterogeneities of these protein aggregate correlate with the disease type and severity, determination of specific molecular details of individual pathogenic aggregates is of vital importance. 

In our group, we develop and apply novel imaging-based biophysical methodologies to identify and characterise these disease-associated protein aggregates at the single-molecule level with the goal of identifying the structural determinants of their pathogenicity, determining the primary molecular events that trigger their formation and finally, finding the right molecular approach to prevent their formation, block their neurotoxic effects or enhance their clearance. Single-molecule characterisation of these individual aggregates is crucial, especially in a scenario where toxicity may arise from a specific type of species, conformation, or pathways. By studying aggregation and propagation of disease-relevant proteins at the highest level of sensitivity, we aim to understand molecular mechanism underpinning various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Current ProjectS

  1. Interaction of Amyloid-β and Apolipoprotein in Alzhimer’s disease
  2. Protein-aggregate membrane interaction in health and disease
  3. Misfolded and aggregated conformational strains in Neurodegenerative Diseases
  4. Identificaton and charecterisation of protein aggregates in human biofluids and post-mortem tissue 
Publications

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All publications

Journal articles

  • Urbanek A, Garland E, Prescott E, King M, Olerinyova A, Wareing H, Georgieva N, Bradshaw E, Tzokov S, Knight A , Tartakovskii A et al (2025) . Advanced Science, 12(9).
  • Bell SM, Wareing H, Capriglia F, Hughes R, Barnes K, Hamshaw A, Adair L, Shaw A, Olejnik A, De S , New E et al (2025) . Molecular Psychiatry, 30(4), 1369-1382.
  • Xia Z, Prescott EE, Urbanek A, Wareing HE, King MC, Olerinyova A, Dakin H, Leah T, Barnes KA, Matuszyk MM , Dimou E et al (2024) . Nature Communications, 15.
  • Bell SM, Wareing H, Hamshaw A, De S, New E, Shaw P, De Marco M, Venneri A, Blackburn DJ, Ferraiuolo L & Mortiboys H (2023) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(S13).
  • Choi ML, Chappard A, Singh BP, Maclachlan C, Rodrigues M, Fedotova EI, Berezhnov AV, De S, Peddie CJ, Athauda D , Virdi GS et al (2022) . Nature Neuroscience, 25(11), 1582-1582.
  • Emin D, Zhang YP, Lobanova E, Miller A, Li X, Xia Z, Dakin H, Sideris DI, Lam JYL, Ranasinghe RT , Kouli A et al (2022) . Nature Communications, 13(1).
  • Choi ML, Chappard A, Singh BP, Maclachlan C, Rodrigues M, Fedotova EI, Berezhnov AV, De S, Peddie CJ, Athauda D , Virdi GS et al (2022) . Nature Neuroscience, 25, 1134-1148.
  • Rodrigues M, Bhattacharjee P, Brinkmalm A, Do DT, Pearson CM, De S, Ponjavic A, Varela JA, Kulenkampff K, Baudrexel I , Emin D et al (2022) . Nature Chemistry, 14(9), 1045-1053.
  • Meng JX, Zhang Y, Saman D, Haider AM, De S, Sang JC, Brown K, Jiang K, Humphrey J, Julian L , Hidari E et al (2022) . Nature Communications, 13.
  • Jannasch A, Szilagyi SA, Burmeister M, Davis QT, Hermsdorf GL, De S & Schäffer E (2021) . Journal of Microscopy, 285(1), 40-51.
  • Sideris DI, Danial JSH, Emin D, Ruggeri FS, Xia Z, Zhang YP, Lobanova E, Dakin H, De S, Miller A , Sang JC et al (2021) . Brain Communications, 3(3).
  • Vilalta A, Zhou Y, Sevalle J, Griffin JK, Satoh K, Allendorf DH, De S, Puigdellívol M, Bruzas A, Burguillos MA , Dodd RB et al (2021) . Journal of Biological Chemistry, 296, 100631-100631.
  • Angelova PR, Choi ML, Berezhnov AV, Horrocks MH, Hughes CD, De S, Rodrigues M, Yapom R, Little D, Dolt KS , Kunath T et al (2021) . Cell Death & Differentiation, 28(5), 1755-1755.
  • Vilalta A, Zhou Y, Sevalle J, Griffin JK, Satoh K, Allendorf DH, De S, Puigdellívol M, Bruzas A, Burguillos MA , Dodd RB et al (2020) .
  • Flagmeier P, De S, Michaels TCT, Yang X, Dear AJ, Emanuelsson C, Vendruscolo M, Linse S, Klenerman D, Knowles TPJ & Dobson CM (2020) . Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 27(10), 886-891.
  • Angelova PR, Choi ML, Berezhnov AV, Horrocks MH, Hughes CD, De S, Rodrigues M, Yapom R, Little D, Dolt KS , Kunath T et al (2020) . Cell Death & Differentiation, 27(10), 2781-2796.
  • Whiten DR, Brownjohn PW, Moore S, De S, Strano A, Zuo Y, Haneklaus M, Klenerman D & Livesey FJ (2020) . Brain Communications, 2(2).
  • Angelova PR, Choi ML, Berezhnov AV, Horrocks MH, Hughes CD, De S, Rodrigues M, Yapom R, Little D, Dolt KS , Kunath T et al (2020) . Cell Death & Differentiation, 27(9), 2747-2747.
  • Sanderson JB, De S, Jiang H, Rovere M, Jin M, Zaccagnini L, Hays Watson A, De Boni L, Lagomarsino VN, Young-Pearse TL , Liu X et al (2020) . Brain Communications, 2(1).
  • Choi ML, Horrocks MH, Rodrigues M, De S, Tosatto L, Zhang W, Virdi G, Klenerman D, Abramov AY & Gandhi S (2020) . Biophysical Journal, 118(3), 217a-217a.
  • De S & Klenerman D (2019) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, 1867(10), 870-878.
  • De S, Whiten DR, Ruggeri FS, Hughes C, Rodrigues M, Sideris DI, Taylor CG, Aprile FA, Muyldermans S, Knowles TPJ , Vendruscolo M et al (2019) . Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 7(1).
  • De S, Whiten DR, Hughes C & Klenerman D (2019) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 15(7S_Part_17).
  • Sang JC, Lee J-E, Dear AJ, De S, Meisl G, Thackray AM, Bujdoso R, Knowles TPJ & Klenerman D (2019) . Chemical Science, 10(17), 4588-4597.
  • De S, Wirthensohn DC, Flagmeier P, Hughes C, Aprile FA, Ruggeri FS, Whiten DR, Emin D, Xia Z, Varela JA , Sormanni P et al (2019) . Nature Communications, 10(1), ---.
  • Weiffert T, Meisl G, Flagmeier P, De S, Dunning CJR, Frohm B, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Portelius E, Klenerman D , Dobson CM et al (2019) . ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE, 10(5), 2374-2384.
  • Lee J-E, Sang JC, Rodrigues M, Carr AR, Horrocks MH, De S, Bongiovanni MN, Flagmeier P, Dobson CM, Wales DJ , Lee SF et al (2018) . Nano Letters, 18(12), 7494-7501.
  • Iljina M, Dear AJ, Garcia GA, De S, Tosatto L, Flagmeier P, Whiten DR, Michaels TCT, Frenkel D, Dobson CM , Knowles TPJ et al (2018) . ACS Nano, 12(11), 10855-10866.
  • Whiten DR, Zuo Y, Calo L, Choi M-L, De S, Flagmeier P, Wirthensohn DC, Kundel F, Ranasinghe RT, Sanchez SE , Athauda D et al (2018) . ChemBioChem, 19(19), 2033-2038.
  • Whiten DR, Zuo Y, Calo L, Choi M, De S, Flagmeier P, Wirthensohn DC, Kundel F, Ranasinghe RT, Sanchez SE , Athauda D et al (2018) . ChemBioChem, 19(19), 2001-2001.
  • De S & Klenerman D (2018) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 14(7S_Part_3).
  • Whiten DR, Brownjohn PW, Moore S, De S, Zuo Y, Livesey R & Klenerman D (2018) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 14(7S_Part_13).
  • Whiten DR, Cox D, Horrocks MH, Taylor CG, De S, Flagmeier P, Tosatto L, Kumita JR, Ecroyd H, Dobson CM , Klenerman D et al (2018) . Cell Reports, 23(12), 3492-3500.
  • Varela JA, Rodrigues M, De S, Flagmeier P, Gandhi S, Dobson CM, Klenerman D & Lee SF (2018) . Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 57(18), 4886-4890.
  • Varela JA, Rodrigues M, De S, Flagmeier P, Gandhi S, Dobson CM, Klenerman D & Lee SF (2018) . Angewandte Chemie, 130(18), 4980-4984.
  • Kundel F, De S, Flagmeier P, Horrocks MH, Kjaergaard M, Shammas SL, Jackson SE, Dobson CM & Klenerman D (2018) . ACS Chemical Biology, 13(3), 636-646.
  • Drews A, De S, Flagmeier P, Wirthensohn DC, Chen W-H, Whiten DR, Rodrigues M, Vincke C, Muyldermans S, Paterson RW , Slattery CF et al (2017) . Cell Reports, 21(11), 3310-3316.
  • Schellhaus AK, Moreno-Andrés D, Chugh M, Yokoyama H, Moschopoulou A, De S, Bono F, Hipp K, Schäffer E & Antonin W (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7(1).
  • De S (2017) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 13(7S_Part_20).
  • Flagmeier P, De S, Wirthensohn DC, Lee SF, Vincke C, Muyldermans S, Knowles TPJ, Gandhi S, Dobson CM & Klenerman D (2017) . Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(27), 7750-7754.
  • Flagmeier P, De S, Wirthensohn DC, Lee SF, Vincke C, Muyldermans S, Knowles TPJ, Gandhi S, Dobson CM & Klenerman D (2017) . Angewandte Chemie, 129(27), 7858-7862.
  • Irfanullah M, Sharma DK, Chulliyil R, Layek A, De S & Chowdhury A (2017) . Chemical Physics Letters, 667, 247-253.
  • Bhattacharya S, Sharma DK, De S, Mahato J & Chowdhury A (2016) . The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 120(48), 12404-12415.
  • Bhattacharya S, Dey A & Chowdhury A (2014) . The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118(19), 5240-5249.
  • Bhattacharya S, Sharma DK, Saurabh S, De S, Sain A, Nandi A & Chowdhury A (2013) . The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 117(25), 7771-7782.
  • De S, Layek A, Bhattacharya S, Kumar Das D, Kadir A, Bhattacharya A, Dhar S & Chowdhury A (2012) . Applied Physics Letters, 101(12).
  • De S, Kumar Das D, Layek A, Raja A, Kumar Singh M, Bhattacharya A, Dhar S & Chowdhury A (2011) . Applied Physics Letters, 99(25).
  • De S, Layek A, Raja A, Kadir A, Gokhale MR, Bhattacharya A, Dhar S & Chowdhury A (2011) . Advanced Functional Materials, 21(20), 3827-3827.
  • De S, Layek A, Raja A, Kadir A, Gokhale MR, Bhattacharya A, Dhar S & Chowdhury A (2011) . Advanced Functional Materials, 21(20), 3828-3835.
  • Ghosh A, Bhasker HP, Mukherjee A, Kundu T, Singh BP, Dhar S, De S & Chowdhury A (2011) . Journal of Applied Physics, 110(3).
  • Layek A, De S, Thorat R & Chowdhury A (2011) . The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2(11), 1241-1247.
  • Sharma DK, Irfanullah M, Basu SK, Madhu S, De S, Jadhav S, Ravikanth M & Chowdhury A () . Methods and Applications in Fluorescence, 5(1), 014003-014003.
  • Hazarika A, Layek A, De S, Nag A, Debnath S, Mahadevan P, Chowdhury A & Sarma DD () . Physical Review Letters, 110(26).

Book chapters

  • Jannasch A, Abdosamadi MK, Ramaiya A, De S, Ferro V, Sonnberger A & Schäffer E (2017) , Methods in Molecular Biology (pp. 137-155). Springer New York

Conference proceedings

  • Garland E, Urbanek A & De S (2025) Examining Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) Isoform Interactions Within Alzheimer's Disease Plaque Pathology. NEUROPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Vol. 51

Preprints

  • De S, Prescott E, Wei J, Garland E, Urbanek A, Capriglia F, Molenkamp W, Rhodes D, Heywood L, Schwartzentruber A , Stephen E et al (2025) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Prescott EE, Wei J, Garland EF, Urbanek A, Capriglia F, Molenkamp WH, Rhodes DP, Heywood L, Schwartzentruber A, Stephen E , Hughes R et al (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Urbanek A, Garland EF, Prescott EE, King MC, Olerinyova A, Wareing HE, Georgieva N, Bradshaw EL, Tzokov SB, Knight A , Tartakovskii AI et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Bell SM, Wareing H, Hamshaw A, De S, New E, Shaw PJ, De Marco M, Venneri A, Blackburn DJ, Ferraiuolo L & Mortiboys H (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Xia Z, Prescott E, Wareing H, Matuszyk M, Dakin H, Dimou E, Hidari E, Zhang Y, Lam J, Danial J , Leah T et al (2022) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Choi ML, Chappard A, Singh BP, Maclachlan C, Rodrigues M, Fedotova E, Berezhnov AV, De S, Peddie C, Athauda D , Virdi GS et al (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Xia Z, Prescott EE, Wareing HE, Matuszyk MM, Dakin H, Dimou E, Zuo E, Zhang YP, Lam JYL, Danial JSH , Leah T et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Klenerman D, Meng J, Zhang Y, Saman D, De S, Sang J, Jiang K, Humphrey J, Julian L, Hidari E , Floto RA et al (2021) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Rodrigues M, Bhattacharjee P, Brinkmalm A, Do D, Pearson C, De S, Ponjavic A, Varela J, Ruggeri F, Baudrexel I , Lee J et al (2020) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Szilagyi SA, Burmeister M, Davis QT, Hermsdorf GL, De S, Schäffer E & Jannasch A (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • De S, Whiten DR, Ruggeri FS, Hughes C, Rodrigues M, Sideris DI, Taylor CG, Aprile FA, Muyldermans S, Knowles TPJ , Vendruscolo M et al (2019) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hazarika A, Layek A, De S, Nag A, Debnath S, Mahadevan P, Chowdhury A & Sarma DD (2013) , arXiv.
Grants

2022-2026: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship

2021-2023: AMS Springboard Award

2019: Pilot Grant funded by Dementia Research Institute UK

2019: Pilot Grant funded Alzheimer’s Research UK

2016: Marie Curie Individual Fellowship funded by European Union

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