Hannah Bridges
Dr Hannah R. Bridges is a biochemist and structural biologist focussing on the structure, function and dysfunction of mitochondrial respiratory complex I.
Biography
Dr. Hannah Bridges studied Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham, before moving to the University of Cambridge for her PhD. There, she studied with Prof Judy Hirst at the Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU, which was named the Dunn Human Nutrition Unit at that time) looking into using fungal species as model organisms to study mitochondrial respiratory complex I. Hannah stayed at the MBU for a short postdoctoral position, followed by an MRC Career Development Fellowship. She now holds a position at the MBU as an Investigator Scientist in the group of Prof Judy Hirst where she uses single particle cryo-electron microscopy and complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques to understand respiratory complex I, alongside her voluntary role as a wellbeing advocate.
Research Interests
Dr Hannah Bridges is currently researching aspects of drug-protein interactions and disease mutations in complex I. She is most interested in improving understanding of on- and off-target drug effects on complex I, as well as the basis of complex-I linked disease, with the hope that her work will contribute to the development of more effective and safer therapeutics. She has particular expertise in single particle cryo-electron microscopy, protein purification, enzyme kinetics, mammalian tissue culture and respirometry.
Selected Publications
Bridges HR, Blaza JN, Yin Z, Chung I, Pollak MN, Hirst J (2023)
Structural basis of mammalian respiratory complex I inhibition by medicinal biguanides.
Science 379(6630):351-357.
Bridges HR, Fedor JG, Blaza JN, Di Luca A, Jussupow A, Jarman OD, Wright JJ, Agip AA, Gamiz-Hernandez AP, Roessler MM, Kaila VRI, Hirst J (2020)
Structure of inhibitor-bound mammalian complex I.
Nat Commun 11(1):5261
Bridges HR, Jones AJ, Pollak MN, Hirst J (2014)
Effects of metformin and other biguanides on oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria.
Biochem J 462(3):475-87