Dr. Graham Chakafana
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Location: Turner Hall, Room 328
Phone: 757.727.5249
Email: graham.chakafana@hamptonu.edu
Expertise: Protein Structure and Function, Drug Discovery

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medicine, Stanford University, 2022
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medicine, University of Cape Town, 2021
• Ph.D. Protein Biochemistry, University of Venda, 2020
• M.Sc. Microbiology (Distinction), National University of Science and Technology, 2015
• B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, 2011

Courses Taught

• Advanced Biochemistry
• Biophysical Chemistry
• Elementary Biochemistry
• Research Topics in Chemistry

Research Interests and Expertise
Dr. Graham Chakafana’s research explores the proteomic foundations of infectious and cardiovascular diseases with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets that advance treatment options.

Infectious Diseases: Dr. Chakafana’s lab investigates the structural and functional properties of druggable proteins across a range of infectious diseases including Plasmodium sp that are responsible for malaria. His lab utilizes biophysical and biochemical methods to characterize putative druggable proteins from infectious agents. By targeting essential proteins in pathogens, his research seeks to disrupt critical pathways necessary for their survival, offering potential for selective therapeutic interventions that minimize harm to human cells.

Cardiovascular Disease: In his cardiovascular research, Dr. Chakafana focuses on the proteomic and genetic determinants of hypertensive heart disease and Chagas disease, particularly within minority populations, to better understand the molecular drivers of these conditions and identify effective interventions.

Links to My Research
Google Scholar Profile

 

 

Selected Publications

1. Ternary structure of Plasmodium vivax N-myristoyl transferase (PvNMT) with myristoyl-CoA and inhibitor IMP-0001173. Acta Crystallographica F. 2024. C. Bolling, A. Mendez, S. Taylor, S. Makumire, A Reers, R. Zigweid, S. Subramanian, D. M. Dranow, B. Staker, T. E. Edwards, E W. Tate, A. S. Bellg, P. J. Myler, O. A. Asojo, and G. Chakafana*
2. Proteome profiling in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy according to ethnicity a biomarker study on the EORP cohort.European Heart Journal, 45. 2024. Kodogo, V., Viljoen, C., Chakafana, G., Hoevelmann, J., Jackson, A., Al-Farhan, H., Goland, S., Tromp, J., Van Der Meer, P., Karaye, K. and Kryczka, K
3. Clinical presentation, risk factors and six-month outcomes in Ugandan women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: prospective case-control study.European Heart Journal, 45. J Nabbaale, K Sliwa, E Okelo, A N Annettee and G Chakafana
4. Structure of Plasmodium vivax N-myristoyl transferase with inhibitor IMP-1088 – exploring an NMT inhibitor for antimalarial therapy. ACTA Cryst. 2025. A. Mendez, C. Bolling, S. Taylor, S. Makumire, A. Reers, R. Zigweid, S. Subramanian, D.M. Dranow, B. Staker, T.E. Edwards, E.W.Tate, A.S. Bell, P.J. Myler, O.A. Asojo and G. Chakafana*
5. Structures of Brucella ovisleucine-, isoleucine-, valine-, threonine- and alanine-binding protein reveal a conformationally flexible peptide-binding cavity. Acta Crystallographica F. 2024. G. Chakafana*,R. Boswell, A. Chandler, K A. Jackson, S. Neblett, T. Postal, S. Subramanian, J. Abendroth, P J. Myler and O A. Asojo*
6. Biophysical and functional characterization of an essential nucleoside diphosphate kinase from Trypanosoma brucei. 2024. P. Makori, N. Poolsawat, F. Payne, M. Gatling, C. Greer, D. Hayes, A. Jefferson, M. Maxwell, C. Smith, J. Watson, L. Williams, J. Barkley, C. Pepper, T. Zininga, O. Pooe, L. Zuma, S. Subramanian, P. J Myler, O Asojo, G. Chakafana* [In Preparation]                                                        *(student mentees shown in blue)                                                                                  
7. Swapping the linkers of canonical Hsp70 and Hsp110 chaperones compromises both self-association and client selection. Heliyon. 2024 Chakafana, G., Middlemiss, C.J., Zininga, T. and Shonhai, A
8. Insertion of GGMP repeat residues of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-1 in the lid of DnaK adversely impacts client recognition. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 255. 2024. Dongola, T.H., Chakafana, G., Middlemiss, C., Mafethe, O., Mokoena, F., Zininga, T. and Shonhai, A

Book Chapter

1. Functionalized nanobody-based delivery systems for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic applications. 2023. G V. Kumar, A. Manicum, T. Makwikwi, G. Chakafana, E. Agwamba, D. R. Katerere.

Professional Honors and Awards

• Princeton University, Visiting Faculty Research Partnership, 2023, 2024
• National Crystallization Center Meritorious User Award, 2023
• UCT Faculty of Health Sciences Best Publication Award, 2021
• NUST University Book Prize (Best MSc Student, Biochemistry), 2015
• Vice Chancellor’s Award (Best MSc Student, Applied Microbiology), 2015
• ZOE Manufacturer’s Prize (Best MSc Student, Faculty of Science), 2015

Professional Affiliations

• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• Virginia Academy of Science
• American Chemical Society

Editorial Board Positions

• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
• Associate Editor, Acta Crystallographica