{"id":5170,"date":"2023-01-13T19:39:35","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T19:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/science\/?page_id=5170"},"modified":"2023-01-13T19:40:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T19:40:20","slug":"5170-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/home.hamptonu.edu\/science\/5170-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr. Graham Chakafana\u202fAssistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry 
Location:\u202fTurner Hall\u202f318 
Phone:\u202f757.727.5249 
E-mail:\u202fgraham.chakafana@hamptonu.edu<\/a> 
Expertise:\u202fprotein structure and function, drug discovery <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bio: <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education:<\/strong> 
Postdoctoral Fellowship- Medicine, 2022 Stanford University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postdoctoral Fellowship- Medicine, 2021 University of Cape Town  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PhD Protein Biochemistry, 2020 University of Venda  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSc Microbiology (Distinction), 2015 National University of Science and Technology <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BSc (Hons) Biotechnology, 2011 Chinhoyi University of Technology <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemistry Courses taught:<\/strong> 
Biochemistry, Biophysical chemistry, Research topics in Chemistry <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Interests and Expertise:<\/strong> 
My research generally focuses on the structure and functions of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in malaria and cardiac disease with the goal of targeting select Hsps towards drug development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Links to my Research<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=S162EeUAAAAJ&hl=en\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Selected Publications<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Characterisation of a novel linker segment of the Plasmodium falciparum <\/em>cytosol localised Hsp110 chaperone. 2021. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. <\/em>G. Chakafana, P. T. Mudau, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • E. coli<\/em>-based complementation assay and biochemical analyses reveal an essential role of the GGMP motif of Plasmodium falciparum <\/em>Hsp70-1 chaperone. 2021. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. <\/em>S. Makumire, T. Dongola, G. Chakafana, L. Tshikonwane, C.T. Chauke, T. Maharaj, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Heat shock proteins: potential modulators and candidate biomarkers of peripartum cardiomyopathy. 2021. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine<\/em>. G. Chakafana, T. F. Spracklen, S. Kamuli, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai, N. A. B. Ntusi, K Sliwa  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • The role of non-canonical Hsp70s (Hsp110\/Grp170) in cancer. 2021. Cells<\/em>. G. Chakafana, A. Shonhai  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Interplay of COVID19 and cardiovascular diseases in Africa: an observational screenshot. 2020. Clinical Research in Cardiology<\/em>. G. Chakafana, D. Mutithu, J. Hovelmann, N. A. B. Ntusi, K. Sliwa  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Plasmodium falciparum <\/em>R2TP complex: drivers of parasite Hsp90s. 2019. Biophysical Reviews<\/em>. T. V. Seraphim, G. Chakafana, A. Shonhai, W. A. Houry  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Elucidating the common and unique features of P. falciparum <\/em>and human Hsp70s. 2019. Biophysical Reviews<\/em>. G. Chakafana, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The link that binds: the linker of Hsp70 as a helm of protein function. 2019. Biomolecules. <\/em>G. Chakafana, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Professional Honors and Awards<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • UCT, Department of Medicine Fund recipient (2021)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • UCT, Faculty of Health Sciences best publication award (2021)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • UCT, University Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • NRF (National Research Foundation-RSA) Doctoral Study Scholarship (2017)  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • DFG (German Research Foundation) Germany-Africa Infectiology initiative award for PhD study (2016)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • NUST University Book Prize (Best MSc student-Biochemistry Dept, 2015)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Vice Chancellor\u2019s Award (Best MSc student-Applied Microbiology, 2015)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • ZOE Manufacturer\u2019s Prize (Best MSc student-Faculty of Science, 2015)  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Professional Affiliations:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • ASBMB (American Association and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • ESC (European Society of Cardiology)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • AHA (American Heart Association)  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Virginia Academy of Science  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • American Chemical Society  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Journal Editorial Boards:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Associate Editor, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences <\/em> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Dr. Graham Chakafana\u202fAssistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry Location:\u202fTurner Hall\u202f318 Phone:\u202f757.727.5249 E-mail:\u202fgraham.chakafana@hamptonu.edu Expertise:\u202fprotein structure and function, drug discovery  Bio:   Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship- Medicine, 2022 Stanford University  Postdoctoral Fellowship- Medicine, 2021 University of Cape Town   PhD Protein Biochemistry, 2020 University of Venda   MSc Microbiology (Distinction), 2015 National University of Science and Technology  BSc (Hons) Biotechnology, 2011 Chinhoyi University of Technology  Chemistry Courses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5170","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty - 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