Nick Gilbert Research Group

Chromatin Structure and Genome Integrity

Professor Nick Gilbert

Group Leader

Contact details

Research in a Nutshell 

In mammalian cells DNA is wrapped around proteins to form chromatin. This protects DNA from damage and regulates gene transcription. Our lab is studying the protein and epigenetic factors that modify DNA and chromatin structure influencing gene expression and genome stability. 

A key goal of our research is to understand how changes in chromatin structure affect gene expression and genome stability in disease. These studies will help us to understand this process and develop future drugs to treat diseases like cancer.

Nick Gilbert Research Group 2022

People

NameRole
Professor Nick GilbertGroup Leader
Jon StocksPhD student
James DingPostdoctoral Scientist
Waad AlbawardiPhD student
Rafal CzapiewskiPostdoctoral Scientist
Catherine NaughtonSenior Postdoctoral Scientist
Patrick KearnsClinical PhD Student
Elena LazarovaPhD Student
Tasnim Alamgir HussainPhD student

Key Publications

  1. SAF-A Regulates Interphase Chromosome Structure through Oligomerization with Chromatin-Associated RNAs (22 pages) 15 Jun 2017 in Cell, vol. 169, pp. 1214-1227.e1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.029 Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)
  2. Gene structure heterogeneity drives transcription noise within human chromosomes Michael Chiang, Chris A. Brackley, Catherine Naughton, Ryu-Suke Nozawa, Cleis Battaglia, Davide Marenduzzo, Nick Gilbert bioRxiv 2022.06.09.495447; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.09.495447
  3. Human centromere formation activates transcription and opens chromatin fibre structure Catherine Naughton, Covadonga Huidobro, Claudia R. Catacchio, Adam Buckle, Graeme R. Grimes, Ryu  Suke Nozawa, Stefania Purgato, Mariano Rocchi, Nick Gilbert bioRxiv 2021.08.01.454615; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.01.454615
  4. Marenda M, Lazarova E, Gilbert N. The role of SAF-A/hnRNP U in regulating chromatin structure. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2022 Feb;72:38-44. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.10.008. Epub 2021 Nov 22. PMID: 34823151.
  5. Boteva L, Nozawa RS, Naughton C, Samejima K, Earnshaw WC, Gilbert N. Common Fragile Sites Are Characterized by Faulty Condensin Loading after Replication Stress. Cell Rep. 2020 Sep 22;32(12):108177. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108177. PMID: 32966795; PMCID: PMC7511797.

Full publication list can be found on Research Explorer: Nick Gilbert — University of Edinburgh Research Explorer

Collaborations

  • Professor Mark Bradley, University of Edinburgh
  • Professor Davide Marenduzzo, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Ian Adams, HGU

Partners and Funders

  • MRC
  • Wellcome
  • BBSRC
  • LifeArc
  • Medical Research Scotland
  • RESAS

 

Scientific Themes

Chromatin, DNA, Transcription, Genome Stability

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