麻豆传媒

RESEARCH CAREER

Professor of Bacterial Genetics (2018-present)

Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow (2017-2022)

Royal Society University Research Fellow (2009-2017)

Postdoctoral Fellow (2004-2009) - Jeff Errington, FRS

Graduate Fellow (1998-2003) - Richard Gourse, PhD

Undergraduate Scholar (1994-1998) - Robert Simons, PhD

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Genetics (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA)

B.S. Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (University of California-Los Angeles, USA)

HONORS AND AWARDS

Wellcome Trust Discovery Award (2023-2030)

Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2017-2022)

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2009-2017)

Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005-2007)

European Molecular Biology Organization Postdoctoral Fellowship (2004)

USA National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship (2004; declined)

UW-Madison Genetics Department Outstanding Graduate Student Award (2003)

National Institutes of Health Genetics Training Fellowship (1998-2001)

Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Fellowship (1996, 1997)

University of California Regents Scholarship (1994-1998)

BACTERIAL DNA REPLICATION INITIATION

The Murray Lab studies bacterial DNA replication initiation in the model organism Bacillus subtilis. Using a combination of genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, we are investigating the architecture of the bacterial chromosome origin, the essential activities of replication initiation proteins and the coordination of DNA synthesis with cell growth. One of the key tools we have developed is an inducible artificial chromosome origin that allows us to bypass normally essential endogenous replication initiation factors. We are keen to explore the utility of more sophisticated synthetic replication systems, both for fundamental understanding of DNA replication and for exploitation in biotechnology. We are also utilizing our expertise to search for novel antibiotics that target DNA replication proteins.

RESEARCH TEAM

Stepan Fenyk - Postdoc

Aurélie Guyet - Postdoc

Frederic Schramm - Postdoc

Kathy Stratton - Postdoc

FUNDING

Wellcome Trust

OPPORTUNITIES

Interested individuals should have a strong background in bacterial genetics, molecular biological, biochemistry, and/or high-throughput screening, and should have a demonstrated record of high productivity in peer-reviewed literature. Applicants should send a CV, along with two reference letters, directly to heath.murray@newcastle.ac.uk.

BGM1002 - DNA Structure, Function, and Replication

BMG2056 - DNA Replication & Recombination

CMB3000 - Undergraduate Research project

MMB8016 - Control of DNA Replication in Bacteria

• Articles

  • Winterhalter C, Stratton KJ, Fenyk S, Murray H. . Nature Communications 2025, 16, 11633.
  • Gaimster H, Stevens D, Grimshaw J, Hubbard J, Mickiewicz K, Murray H, Winterhalter C. . Microbiology 2025, 171(11), 001633.
  • Winterhalter C, Pelliciari S, Stevens D, Fenyk S, Marchand E, Cronin N, Soultanas P, Costa T, Ilangovan A, Murray H. . Nucleic Acids Research 2023, 51(9), 4322-4340.
  • Pelliciari S, Bodet-Lefevre S, Fenyk S, Stevens D, Winterhalter C, Schramm FD, Pintar S, Burnham DR, Merces G, Richardson TT, Tashiro Y, Hubbard J, Yardimci H, Ilangovan A, Murray H. . Nature Communications 2023, 14(1), 8339.
  • Winterhalter C, Stevens D, Fenyk S, Pelliciari S, Marchand E, Soultanas P, Ilangovan A, Murray H. . Nucleic Acids Research 2023, 51(9), 4302-4321.
  • Taylor K, Woods S, Johns A, Murray H. . New Genetics and Society 2023, 42(1), e2232684.
  • Koh A, Strahl H, Murray H. . Microbiology 2022, 168(10), 001259.
  • Roberts DM, Anchimiukb A, Kloostermana TG, Murray H, Wu LJ, Gruber S, Errington J. . Proceedings National Academy of Sciences 2022, 119(41), e2204042119.
  • Pelliciari S, Dong M-J, Gao F, Murray H. . Nucleic Acids Research 2021, 49(13), 7525-7536.
  • Gallay C, Sanselicio S, Anderson ME, Soh YM, Liu X, Stamas GA, Pelliciari S, van Raaphorst R, Denereaz J, Kjos M, Murray H, Gruber S, Grossman AD, Veening JW. . Nature Microbiology 2021, 6, 1175-1187.
  • Richardson TT, Stevens D, Pelliciari S, Harran O, Sperlea T, Murray H. . The EMBO Journal 2019, 38(15), e101649.
  • Martin E, Williams HEL, Pitoulias M, Stevens D, Winterhalter C, Craggs TD, Murray H, Searle MS, Soultanas P. . Nucleic Acids Research 2019, 47(4), 2101-2112.
  • Basle A, Hewitt L, Koh A, Lamb HK, Thompson P, Burgess JG, Hall MJ, Hawkins AR, Murray H, Lewis RJ. . Nucleic Acids Research 2018, 46(1), 473-484.
  • Fisher GLM, Pastrana CL, Higman VA, Koh A, Taylor JA, Butterer A, Craggs TD, Sobott F, Murray H, Crump MP, Moreno-Herrero F, Dillingham MS. . eLife 2017, 6, e28086.
  • Cartmell A, Lowe EC, Baslé A, Firbank SJ, Ndeh DA, Murray H, Terrapon N, Lombard V, Henrissat B, Turnbull JE, Czjzek M, Gilbert HJ, Bolam DN. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2017, 114(27), 7037-7042.
  • Richardson TT, Harran O, Murray H. . Nature 2016, 534(7607), 412-416.
  • Du WL, Dubarry N, Passot F, Kamgoue A, Murray H, Lane D, Pasta F. . PLOS Genetics 2016, 12(7), e1006172.
  • LeGall A, Cattoni DI, Guilhas B, Mathieu-Demazière C, Oudjedi L, Fiche JB, Rech J, Abrahamsson S, Murray H, Bouet JY, Nollmann M. . Nature Communications 2016, 7, 12107.
  • Marbouty M, LeGall A, Cattoni DI, Cournac A, Koh A, Fiche JB, Mozziconacci J, Murray H, Koszul R, Nollmann M. . Molecular Cell 2015, 59(4), 588-602.
  • Jameson KH, Rostami N, Fogg MJ, Turkenburg JP, Grahl A, Murray H, Wilkinson AJ. . Molecular Microbiology 2014, 93(5), 975-991.
  • Murray H, Koh A. . PLoS Genetics 2014, 10(10), e1004731.
  • Scholefield G, Murray H. . Molecular Microbiology 2013, 90(1), 147-159.
  • Boonstra M, de Jong IG, Scholefield G, Murray H, Kuipers OP, Veening JW. . Molecular Microbiology 2013, 87(4), 925-938.
  • Scholefield G, Errington J, Murray H. . EMBO Journal 2012, 31(6), 1542-1555.
  • Scholefield G, Whiting R, Errington J, Murray H. . Molecular Microbiology 2011, 79(4), 1089-1100.
  • Veening JW, Murray H, Errington J. . Genes & Development 2009, 23(16), 1959-1970.
  • Engl C, Jovanovic G, Lloyd LJ, Murray H, Spitaler M, Ying LM, Errington J, Buck M. . Molecular Microbiology 2009, 73(3), 382-396.
  • Murray HD, Errington J. . Cell 2008, 135(1), 74-84.
  • Murray H, Ferreira H, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2006, 61(5), 1352-1361.
  • Errington J, Murray H, Wu LJ. . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2005, 360(1455), 497-505.
  • Murray HD, Gourse RL. . Molecular Microbiology 2004, 52(5), 1375-1387.
  • Murray H, Appleman JA, Gourse RL. . Journal of Bacteriology 2003, 185(1), 28-34.
  • Schneider DA, Murray H, Gourse RL. . Methods in Enzymology 2003, 370, 606-617.
  • Murray HD, Schneider DA, Gourse RL. . Molecular Cell 2003, 12(1), 125-134.
  • Stokes NR, Murray HD, Subramaniam C, Gourse RL, Louis P, Bartlett W, Miller S, Booth IR. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United states of America 2003, 100(26), 15959-15964.

• Book Chapters

  • Gaimster H, Winterhalter C, Koh A, Murray H. . In: Leake M, ed. Chromosome Architecture. Berlin: Springer Nature, 2022, pp.263-276.
  • Murray H, Richardson TT, Noirot-Gros M-F, Polard P, Noirot P. . In: Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press, 2017, pp.1-34.
  • Koh A, Murray H. . In: Methods in Molecular Biology. Springer, 2016, pp.91-108.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Le Gall A, Marbouty M, Cattoni D, Cournac A, Koh S, Murray H, Mozziconacci J, Koszul R, Nollmann M. . In: 2014 ASCB/IFCB Meeting. 2014, Philadelphia, PA: American Society for Cell Biology.

• Reviews

  • Murray H. . Current Opinion in Microbiology 2016, 34, 13-17.
  • Scholefield G, Veening JW, Murray H. . Trends in Cell Biology 2011, 21(3), 188-194.

• Software

  • Winterhalter C, Murray H. . [program]. Geneva: Zenodo, 2021.