麻豆传媒

Roles and Responsibilities

Director of Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences 2004-2005

Head of School of Biomedical Sciences 2002-2005

Qualifications

BSc (Reading) PhD (麻豆传媒 upon Tyne)

Research Interests

Molecular biology of frost tolerance in cereals.

Cyanogenesis in the tropical root crop, cassava, and white clover.

1. Cyanide production in plants focusing on cyanogenesis in the tropical crop, Manihot esculenta Crantz. (cassava). This is a study of the enzymes involved in cyanoglucoside degradation during cyanogenesis. The work includes analyses of the control of expression of the genes encoding two enzymes (an α-glucosidase and an α-hydroxynitrile lyase) together with investigations of the relationship between the structure and function of the enzymes. This work involves a number of collaborations including Dr Z. Keresztessy from Debrecen, Hungary and Dr Marta Izquierdo, Madrid, Spain.

Sample publication:

Z. Kerestessy, K. Brown, M.A. Dunn, and M.A. Hughes. Production in Saccaromyces cerevisiae of the cyanogenic α-glucosidase from Manihot esculenta Crantz and identification of essential active-site residues by site-directed mutagenesis. Biochem. J. 353: 199-205 (2001).

2. Molecular studies of frost acclimation in the cereal crop, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), have identified components in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. The biochemical function of the proteins encoded by two low-temperature-responsive genes has also been investigated.

Sample publication:

A.P.C. Brown, M.A. Dunn, N.J. Goddard and M.A. Hughes. Identification of a novel low temperature response element in the promoter of the barley gene blt101.1. Planta 213: 770-780 (2001).

Funding

BBSRC, NERC

• Articles

  • Hughes M, Brown K, Calvert JE. . Bioscience Education 2008, 12.
  • Cortes ML, Garcia-Escudero V, Hughes M, Izquierdo M. . Journal of Gene Medicine 2002, 4(4), 407-414.
  • Keresztessy Z, Brown K, Dunn MA, Hughes MA. . Biochemical Journal 2001, 353(2), 199-205.
  • Kerestessy Z, Brown K, Dunn MA, Hughes MA. . Biochemical Journal 2001, 353(2), 199-205.
  • Brown APC, Dunn MA, Goddard NJ, Hughes MA. . Planta 2001, 213(5), 770-780.
  • Suhandono S, Hughes J, Brown K, Hughes MA. . Euphytica 2001, 120(1), 49-58.
  • P. O'Hara, P. G. Ayres, M. A. Hughes, M. A. Dunn and R. J. Smith. The influence of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei) on the accumulation of transcripts from low- temperature-responsive genes in barley. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 1998, 52, 353-369.
  • R. S. Pearce, C. E. Houlston, K. M. Atherton, J. E. Rixon, P. Harrison, M. A. Hughes and M. A. Dunn. Localization of expression of three cold-induced genes, blt101, blt4.9, and blt14, in different tissues of the crown and developing leaves of cold-acclimated cultivated barley. Plant Physiology 1998, 117, 787-795.
  • M. A. Dunn, A. J. White, S. Vural and M. A. Hughes. Identification of promoter elements in a low-temperature- responsive gene (blt4.9) from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plant Molecular Biology 1998, 38, 551-564.
  • Keresztessy Z, Hughes MA. . Plant Journal 1998, 14(5), 523-533.
  • Hughes J, Keresztessy Z, Brown K, Suhandono S, Hughes MA. . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1998, 356(2), 107-116.
  • Hughes M.A., Hughes J., Brown K. and Liddle S. Recent advances in molecular and biochemical studies of cyanogenesis in cassava genome. African J Root Tuber Crops 2 1997, In press.
  • J. Hughes, J. H. Lakey and M. A. Hughes. Production and characterization of a plant alpha-hydroxynitrile lyase in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 1997, 53, 332-338.
  • J. R. Phillips, M. A. Dunn and M. A. Hughes. mRNA stability and localisation of the low-temperature- responsive barley gene family blt14. Plant Molecular Biology 1997, 33, 1013-1023.
  • Liddle S., Hughes J. and Hughes M.A. Analysis of a cassava root specific beta-glucosidase promoter. African J Root Tuber Crops 2 1997, In press.
  • M. A. Hughes and M. A. Dunn. The molecular biology of plant acclimation to low temperature. Journal of Experimental Botany 1996, 47, 291-305.
  • R. S. Pearce, M. A. Dunn, J. E. Rixon, P. Harrison and M. A. Hughes. Expression of cold-inducible genes and frost hardiness in the crown meristem of young barley (Hordeum vulgare L cv Igri) plants grown in different environments. Plant Cell and Environment 1996, 19, 275-290.
  • Keresztessy Z, Hughes J, Kiss L, Hughes MA. . Biochemical Journal 1996, 314, 41-47.
  • M. A. Dunn, K. Brown, R. Lightowlers and M. A. Hughes. A low-temperature-responsive gene from barley encodes a protein with single-stranded nucleic acid-binding activity which is phosphorylated in vitro. Plant Molecular Biology 1996, 30, 947-959.
  • Keresztessy Z, Kiss L, Hughes MA. . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1994, 315(2), 323-330.
  • Keresztessy Z, Kiss L, Hughes MA. . Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1994, 314, 142-152.

• Book Chapter

  • Dunn MA, O'Brien G, Brown APC, Vural S, Hughes MA. . In: Shewry, P.R., Lazzeri, P.A., Edwards, K.J, ed. Biotechnology of Cereals. London: Academic Press, 2001, pp.237-261.

• Review

  • Dunn MA, O'Brien G, Brown APC, Vural S, Hughes MA. . Advances in Botanical Research 2001, 34, 237-261.