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BBB seminar: John E. Hesketh

Delivering the message: mRNA targeting by signals in 3' untranslated regions

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John E. Hesketh
School of Cellular and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Delivery of proteins to their site of function is vital for many cell and developmental processes. It is increasingly being realised that one mechanism to achieve this in cells from yeast to mammals is localisation of mRNAs to specific subcellular locations to provide local protein synthesis. I will discuss the role of 3' untranslated regions in this mechanism, specifically in relation to association of mRNAs with the cytoskeleton and localisation in the perinuclear cytoplasm. I will show our evidence that 3' untranslated regions can be multifunctional regulatory regions and discuss the nature of the localisation signal.

John E. Hesketh


Dr. John E. Hesketh is Professor in Mammalian Molecular Biology. His key interest is in intracellular trafficking and how protein synthesis is organised spatially in mammalian cells. A current field of activity is post-transcriptional control of gene expression at the level of mRNA localisation where he is studying 3´ untranslated regions (3´UTRs), particularly with respect to their role in mRNA targeting and translational stability. He also has a major interest in nutrient-gene interaction where he is studying the effects of nutrients on gene expression and the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on nutrient requirements and susceptibility to disease.

Homepage: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/camb/staff/profile/j.e.hesketh