A5085500169- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- RNA modifications and cancer
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- RNA regulation and disease
- Metal complexes synthesis and properties
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Magnetism in coordination complexes
- Crystal structures of chemical compounds
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Academic Publishing and Open Access
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Heat shock proteins research
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Genetic factors in colorectal cancer
University of East Anglia
2020-2025
Norwich Research Park
2023
The Gurdon Institute
2013-2021
Wellcome Trust
2013-2021
University of Cambridge
2013-2021
University of Dundee
2013
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2008
Ankara University
2005-2007
Third World Newsreel
1997
Acoustical Society of America
1997
Small RNAs play a crucial role in genome defense against transposable elements and guide Argonaute proteins to nascent RNA transcripts induce co-transcriptional gene silencing. However, the molecular basis of this process remains unknown. Here, we identify conserved helicase Aquarius/EMB-4 as direct essential link between small pathways transcriptional machinery Caenorhabditis elegans. Aquarius physically interacts with germline HRDE-1. is required initiate small-RNA-induced heritable HRDE-1...
ABSTRACT The developmental theory of ageing proposes that age‐specific decline in the force natural selection results suboptimal levels gene expression adulthood, leading to functional senescence. This explicitly predicts optimising adulthood can ameliorate senescence and improve fitness. Reduced insulin/IGF‐1 signalling (rIIS) extends reproductive lifespan Caenorhabditis elegans at cost reduced reproduction. Here, we show adulthood‐only rIIS improves late‐life reproduction without any...
Functional characterisation of the compact genome model organism Caenorhabditis elegans remains incomplete despite its sequencing 20 years ago. The last decade research has seen a tremendous increase in number non-coding RNAs identified various organisms. While we have mechanistic understandings small RNA pathways, long represent diverse class active transcripts whose function less well characterised. By analysing hundreds published transcriptome datasets, annotated 3392 potential lncRNAs...
Methylation of carbon-5 cytosines (m
Abstract pre-mRNA splicing is a critical feature of eukaryotic gene expression. Both cis- and trans-splicing rely on accurately recognising splice site sequences by spliceosomal U snRNAs associated proteins. Spliceosomal carry multiple RNA modifications with the potential to affect different stages splicing. Here, we show that conserved U6 snRNA m6A methyltransferase METT-10 required for accurate efficient C. elegans pre-mRNAs. The absence in METTL16 humans primarily leads alternative at 5′...
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are genome-encoded small that regulate germ cell development and maintain germline integrity in many animals.Mature piRNAs engage Piwi Argonaute proteins to silence complementary transcripts, including transposable elements endogenous genes.piRNA biogenesis mechanisms diverse remain poorly understood.Here, we identify the RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) core subunit RPB-9 as required for piRNA-mediated silencing nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.We show rpb-9...
More than a hundred distinct modified nucleosides have been identified in RNA, but little is known about their distribution across different organisms, dynamic nature and response to cellular environmental stress. Mass-spectrometry-based methods at the forefront of identifying quantifying nucleosides. However, they often require synthetic reference standards, which do not exist case many nucleosides, this therefore impedes analysis. Here we use metabolic labelling approach achieve rapid...
Abstract Membraneless organelles are sites for RNA biology including small non-coding (ncRNA) mediated gene silencing. How ncRNAs utilise phase separated environments their function is unclear. We investigated how the PIWI-interacting (piRNA) pathway engages with membraneless organelle P granule in Caenorhabditis elegans . Proteomic analysis of PIWI protein PRG-1 reveals an interaction constitutive DEPS-1. DEPS-1 not required piRNA biogenesis but piRNA-dependent silencing: deps-1 mutants...
Messenger RNA translation is regulated by RNA-binding proteins and small non-coding RNAs called microRNAs. Even though we know the majority of microRNAs that regulate messenger expression, evidence interactions between two remain elusive. The role protein GLD-1 as a translational repressor well studied during Caenorhabditis elegans germline development maintenance. Possible functions somatic mechanism how acts are not known. Its human homologue, quaking (QKI), essential for embryonic...
Abstract The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in C. elegans has had a major impact on scientific research, led to the rapid development RNAi tools and inspired RNA-based therapeutics. Astonishingly, nematodes, planaria many insects take up double-stranded (dsRNA) from their environment elicit RNAi; biological function this mechanism is unclear. Recently, E. coli OxyS non-coding was shown regulate gene expression when offered as food. This surprising given that unlikely encounter nature....
Abstract Plant-parasitic nematodes are a continuing threat to food security, causing an estimated 100 billion USD in crop losses each year. The most problematic the obligate sedentary endoparasites (primarily root knot and cyst nematodes). Progress understanding their biology is held back by lack of tools for functional genetics: forward genetics largely restricted studies natural variation populations reverse entirely reliant on RNA interference. There expectation that development genetic...
SN1-type alkylating agents, like N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), are potent mutagens. Exposure to agents gives rise O6-alkylguanine, a modified base that is recognized by DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins but not repairable, resulting in replication fork stalling cell death. We used somatic mutation detection assay study the vivo effects of alkylation damage on lethality frequency developing zebrafish embryos. Consistent with damage-sensing role MMR system,...
Abstract pre-mRNA splicing is a critical feature of eukaryotic gene expression. Many eukaryotes use cis-splicing to remove intronic sequences from pre-mRNAs. In addition cis-splicing, many organisms trans-splicing replace the 5′ ends mRNAs with non-coding spliced-leader RNA. Both cis- and rely on accurately recognising splice site by spliceosomal U snRNAs associated proteins. Spliceosomal carry multiple RNA modifications potential affect different stages splicing. Here, we show that m6A...
The timely and accurate dissemination of scientific discoveries is utmost importance so that knowledge can be advanced applied to benefit the public. Scientists communicate amongst themselves at conferences, via journal articles, and, increasingly in life sciences, preprint manuscripts which have not been subject peer review. Journalists translate new research into a language public understand, relying on both work presented forums interviews with experts. Critically, scientists journalists...
Abstract Plant-parasitic nematodes are a continuing threat to food security, causing an estimated 100 billion USD in crop losses each year. The most problematic the obligate sedentary endoparasites (primarily root knot and cyst nematodes). Progress understanding their biology is held back by lack of tools for functional genetics: forward genetics largely restricted studies natural variation populations, reverse entirely reliant on RNA interference. There expectation that development genetic...
SUMMARY Small RNAs (sRNAs) play an ancient role in genome defence against transposable elements. In animals, plants and fungi small guide Argonaute proteins to nascent RNA transcripts induce co-transcriptional gene silencing. animals the link between pathways transcriptional machinery remains unclear. Here we show that Caenorhabditis elegans germline HRDE-1 physically interacts with conserved helicase Aquarius/EMB-4. We demonstrate Aquarius/EMB-4 activity is required initiate RNA-induced are...
ABSTRACT Methylation of carbon-5 cytosines (m 5 C) is a post-transcriptional nucleotide modification RNA found in all kingdoms life. While individual m C-methyltransferases have been studied, the impact global cytosine-5 methylome on development, homeostasis and stress remains unknown. Here, using Caenorhabditis elegans , we generated first organism devoid C RNA, demonstrating that this non-essential. We determined localisation enzymatic specificity sites vivo showed animals are sensitive to...
The structure of the title compound, [NiZnI 2 (C 17 H 16 N O )(C 7 9 N) ], consists doubly oxygen-bridged heteronuclear dimeric complexes. compound is interest because magnetic superexchange interactions that occur between metal ions. Ni atom has an irregular octahedral environment involving two and atoms from bis(salicylidene)-1,3-propanediaminate ligand in equatorial plane 3,5-dimethylpyridine groups apical positions. coordination around Zn distorted tetrahedral, with average Zn-O distance...
Abstract Background Functional characterisation of the compact genome model organism Caenorhabditis elegans remains incomplete despite its sequencing twenty years ago. The last decade research has seen a tremendous increase in number non-coding RNAs identified various organisms. While we have mechanistic understandings small RNA pathways, long represent diverse class active transcripts whose function less well characterised. Results By analysing hundreds published transcriptome datasets,...
Summary Membraneless organelles are platforms for many aspects of RNA biology including small non-coding (ncRNA) mediated gene silencing. How ncRNAs utilise phase separated environments their function is unclear. To address this question, we investigated how the PIWI-interacting (piRNA) pathway engages with membraneless organelle P granule in Caenorhabditis elegans . Proteomic analysis PIWI protein PRG-1 revealed an interaction constitutive DEPS-1. Furthermore identified a novel motif on...
The timely and accurate dissemination of scientific discoveries is utmost importance so that knowledge can be advanced applied to benefit the public. Scientists communicate amongst themselves at conferences, via journal articles, and, increasingly in life sciences, preprint manuscripts which have not been subject peer review. Journalists translate new research into a language public understand, relying on both work presented forums interviews with experts. Critically, scientists journalists...