A5090977575- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
2015-2024
University of Cambridge
2023
Medical Research Council
2004-2020
MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
2019
University of Dundee
2019
Cancer Research UK
2019
Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute
2019
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology
2014
MRC Human Immunology Unit
2004-2011
John Radcliffe Hospital
2004-2011
If a trial is to be well designed, and the conclusions drawn from it valid, thorough understanding of benefits pitfalls basic statistical principles required. When setting up trial, appropriate sample-size calculation vital. initial calculations are inaccurate, results will unreliable. The principle intent-to-treat in comparative trials examined. Randomization as method selecting patients treatment essential ensure that groups equalized terms avoiding biased allocation mix within groups....
S ummary . A simple test is described for the detection of unstable haemoglobins by addition haemolysate to an isopropanol/buffer solution at 37°C. Over 200 normal haemolysates have been tested giving no precipitation up 30 min incubation whilst six samples containing haemoglobin gave a precipitate within 5 min, which was flocculent 20 min. As well as being and effective screening test, procedure suitable purification further studies but suffers from limitations, probably in common with heat...
Macropinocytosis is a fundamental mechanism that allows cells to take up extracellular liquid into large vesicles. It critically depends on the formation of ring protrusive actin beneath plasma membrane, which develops macropinocytic cup. We show cups in Dictyostelium are organised around coincident intense patches PIP3, active Ras and Rac. These signalling invariably associated with SCAR/WAVE at their periphery, as all examined structures based PIP3 patches, including phagocytic basal...
ABSTRACT We have isolated cDNA clones derived from three mRNA sequences which are inducible by DIF, the putative stalk-specific morphogen of Dictyostelium. The selectively expressed in cells on stalk cell pathway differentiation and we compared them with previously characterized prestalk-enriched sequences. find these latter without a dependence much less highly enriched prestalk over prespore earlier during development than DIF-inducible propose two distinct mechanisms whereby may become...
Abstract Background The social amoebae (Dictyostelia) are a diverse group of Amoebozoa that achieve multicellularity by aggregation and undergo morphogenesis into fruiting bodies with terminally differentiated spores stalk cells. There four groups dictyostelids, the most derived being contains model species Dictyostelium discoideum . Results We have produced draft genome sequence another dictyostelid, purpureum , compare it to D. genome. assembly (8.41 × coverage) comprises 799 scaffolds...
A rapid, mild method for isolating nuclear membranes from isolated rat liver nuclei is described. The employs a double digestion of with low level DNAase I at approximately 0.1 mM Mg 2+ and slightly alkaline pH, to release the membranes. Electron microscopy shows excellent preservation membrane morphology. Large fragments consisting ribosomes adhering outer layer are produced. layers connected pores, which have distinct annular subunits occasional central granules. Contamination by other...
The heterotetrameric AP and F-COPI complexes help to define the cellular map of modern eukaryotes. To search for related machinery, we developed a structure-based bioinformatics tool, identified core subunits TSET, 'missing link' between APs COPI. Studies in Dictyostelium indicate that TSET is heterohexamer, with two associated scaffolding proteins. non-essential Dictyostelium, but may act plasma membrane turnover, essentially identical recently described TPLATE complex, TPC. However,...
Cells use phagocytosis and macropinocytosis to internalise bulk material, which in phagotrophic organisms supplies the nutrients necessary for growth. Wildtype Dictyostelium amoebae feed on bacteria, but decades laboratory work has relied axenic mutants that can also grow liquid media. We used forward genetics identify causative gene underlying this phenotype. This encodes RasGAP Neurofibromin (NF1). Loss of NF1 enables growth by increasing fluid uptake. Mutants form outsized macropinosomes...
Class-1 PI3-kinases are major regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, whose precise contributions to chemotaxis, phagocytosis and macropinocytosis remain unresolved. We used systematic genetic ablation examine this question in growing Dictyostelium cells. Mass spectroscopy shows that a quintuple mutant lacking entire genomic complement class-1 retains only 10% wild-type PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels. Chemotaxis folate bacteria proceed normally but is abolished. In context show specialized functions,...