About
A brief description of who you are and what you do.
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Research
Research interests
- DNA Interactions
- Triplex DNA
- Quadruplex DNA
- DNA Structure
- Footprinting
Current research
My research concerns the sequence specific recognition of DNA by small molecules, oligonucleotides and proteins, and the formation of unusual DNA structures (triplexes and quadruplexes). Compounds that bind to DNA in a sequence specific fashion have potential for artificially controlling gene expression and may be used as anticancer or antiviral agents. Several DNA binding antibiotics are currently used in cancer chemotherapy, and we are seeking to understand the molecular mechanisms by which they bind to DNA with a view to designing new agents with improved selectivity. In all our studies we make extensive use of the footprinting technique, using both natural and synthetic DNA fragments, and have developed this assay as a powerful tool for measuring the specificity, stability and kinetics of ligand-DNA interactions. This has been used to determine the sequence selectivity of several DNA-binding small molecules.
For the past 20 years my work has focussed on triple helix formation as a means for targeting specific DNA sequences. Together with Professor Tom Brown (Oxford, Chemistry) I have developed several nucleotide analogues, which are designed to form stable triplexes under physiological conditions. Using a combination of these we demonstrated the first example of four base-pair recognition of a DNA sequence by a triplex-forming oligonucleotide at pH 7. In order to facilitate our studies on the stability of triplexes, quadruplexes and small-molecule-DNA complexes we developed a high throughput fluorescence assay for determining DNA melting profiles.
DNA quadruplexes can be formed by G-rich DNA sequences, and these may play a role in telomere structure or controlling gene expression. We have studied their biophysical properties studies, examining their stability, structure, and competition with DNA duplexes.
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Research groups
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Research interests
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Current research
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Research projects
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Publications
Pagination
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Supervision
Current PhD Students
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Teaching
Module coordinator
BIOL2049
BIOL3073
Contributor
BIOL1024
BIOL1030
BIOL2010
BIOL3013
BIOL3018
BIOL3027
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Courses and modules
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External roles and responsibilities
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Biography
Career History
2000-present: Professor of Biochemistry. 黑料社, UK.
2012-2013: Acting Head of Biological Science. 黑料社, UK.
1994-2000: Reader. Division of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, 黑料社, UK.
1992-1994: Senior Lecturer. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, 黑料社, UK.
1989-1994: Lister Institute Research Fellow.
1987-1991: Lecturer. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, 黑料社, UK.
1982-1986: Research Fellow. Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, UK.
1980-1986: Research Associate. Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, UK.
Academic Qualifications
1980: PhD (Pharmacology). University of Cambridge, UK.
1978: MPhil (Pharmacology). University of Cambridge, UK.
1977: MA Natural Sciences (Biochemistry). University of Cambridge, UK.
Professional Contributions
Former Editor and Senior Executive Editor. (2000-2021)
Former Director of , Cambridge (2015-2021)
Former Chair
Editor
Professional Memberships
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
American Chemical Society
British Biophysical Society
Biochemical Society
Member of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine
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Prizes
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