Newcastle University

Qualifications

1998: B.SC (Hons) Biochemistry.
Newcastle University

2001: Ph.D Molecular Biology
Urology Research Group
School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences
Newcastle University

Previous Positions

2001- 2006: Post-Doctoral Research Associate.
Urology Research Group,
Northern Institute For Cancer Research,
Newcastle University.
Funded by the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR)

Memberships

British Association for Cancer Research (BACR)

Endocrine Society

Honours and Awards

British Association for Cancer Research Young Translational Scientist Award 2006

Research Interests

1. Mechanisms of Androgen Receptor (AR) Regulation in Prostate Cancer
2. Epigenetics and Transcription of AR and Estrogen Receptor (ER)

Current Work

Histone methyltransferases (HMTs), histone acetyltranferases (HATs) and the enzymes that reverse the effects of these proteins play a fundamental role in regulating transcription. My group are currently deciphering the roles of the HMT SET9 and histone demethylase enzyme JMJD2B in AR and ER regulation in prostate and breast cancer development.

We are also assessing interplay between SET9 and members of the HAT and histone deacetylase (HDAC) families in an attempt to establish ordered mechanisms of co-regulator function during AR-mediated transcription that could provide novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer treatment.

The group is currently collaborating with AstraZeneca to decipher the molecular function of a novel series of prostate cancer treatments currently in Phase I clinical trials

Postgraduate Supervision

1 Marie-Curie-funded Ph.D student
1 Masters of Research (MRes) student.

Esteem Indicators

Invited Speaker:

1. Institute of Medical Technology Research Day 2006, University of Tampere, Finland.

2. National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) 2006, International Conference Centre, Birmingham.

3. Androgens 2006, University of Cambridge.

Funding

Cancer Research UK: Funding one PhD student (2010-2014) and one post-doctoral research scientist (August 2011-2014)

Medical Research Council: Funding one post-doctoral research associate (2008-2011)

• Brooke GN, Culley RL, Dart DA, Mann DJ, Gaughan L, McCracken SR, Robson CN, Spencer-Dene B, Gamble SC, Powell SM, Wait R, Waxman J, Walker MM, Bevan CL. FUS/TLS Is a Novel Mediator of Androgen-Dependent Cell-Cycle Progression and Prostate Cancer Growth. Cancer Research 2011, 71(3), 914-924.
• Gaughan L, Stockley J, Wang N, McCracken S, Truemann A, Armstrong K, Shaheen F, Watt K, McEwan I, Wang C, Pestell RG, Robson CN. Regulation of the androgen receptor by SET9-mediated methylation. Nucleic Acids Research 2011, 39(4), 1266-1279.
• Shaheen FS, Znojek P, Fisher A, Webster M, Plummer R, Gaughan L, Smith GCM, Leung HY, Curtin NJ, Robson CN. Targeting the DNA Double Strand Break Repair Machinery in Prostate Cancer. PLoS One 2011, 6(5), e20311.
• Rajan P, Gaughan L, Dalgliesh C, El-Sherif A, Robson CN, Leung HY, Elliott DJ. Regulation of gene expression by the RNA-binding protein Sam68 in cancer. Biochemical Society Transactions 2008, 36(3), 505-507.
• Clark EL, Coulson AC, Dalgliesh C, Rajan P, Nicol SM, Fleming S, Heer R, Gaughan L, Leung HY, Elliott DJ, Fuller-Pace FV, Robson CN. The RNA helicase p68 is a novel androgen receptor coactivator involved in splicing and is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Cancer Research 2008, 68(19), 7938-7946.
• Rajan P, Gaughan L, Dalgliesh C, El-Sherif A, Robson CN, Leung HY, Elliott DJ. The RNA-binding and adaptor protein Sam68 modulates signal-dependent splicing and transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor. Journal of Pathology 2008, 215(1), 67-77.
• Logan, I. R., Gaughan, L., McCracken, S. R. C., Sapountzi, V., Leung, H. Y., Robson, C. N. Human PIRH2 enhances androgen receptor signaling through inhibition of histone deacetylase 1 and is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2006, 26(17), 6502-6510.
• Awasthi, S., Sharma, A., Wong, K., Zhang, J., Matlock, E., Rogers, L., Motloch, P., Takemoto, S., Taguchi, H., Cole, M., Lüscher, B., Dittrich, O., Tagami, H., Nakatani, Y., McGee, M., Girard, A., Gaughan, L., Robson, C. N., Monnat, R., Harrod, R. A human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 enhancer of Myc transforming potential stabilizes Myc-TIP60 transcriptional interactions. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2005, 25(14), 6178-6198.
• Mills, I., Gaughan, L., Robson, C. N., Ross, T., McCracken, S. R. C., Kelly, J., Neal, D. E. Huntingtin interacting protein 1 modulates the transcriptional activity of nuclear hormone receptors. Journal of Cell Biology 2005, 170(2), 191-200.
• Gaughan, L., Logan, I. R., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Regulation of androgen receptor and histone deacetylase 1 by Mdm2-mediated ubiquitylation. Nucleic Acids Research 2005, 33(1), 13-26.
• Logan, I. R., Sapountzi, V., Gaughan, L., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Control of human PIRH2 protein stability: Involvement of TIP60 and the proteasome. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2004, 279(12), 11696-11704.
• Halkidou, K., Gaughan, L., Cook, S., Leung, H. Y., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Upregulation and nuclear recruitment of HDACI in hormone refractory prostate cancer. The Prostate 2004, 59(2), 177-189.
• Gaughan, L., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. The role of Mdm2 in androgen receptor regulation. European Urology Supplements 2003, 2(6), 58-58.
• Gaughan, L., Logan, I. R., Cook, S., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Tip60 and histone deacetylase 1 regulate androgen receptor activity through changes to the acetylation status of the receptor. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2002, 277(29), 25904-25913.
• Gaughan, L., Brady, M. E., Cook, S., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Tip60 is a co-activator specific for class I nuclear hormone receptors. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2001, 276(50), 46841-46848.
• Ozanne, D. M., Brady, M. E., Cook, S., Gaughan, L., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Androgen receptor nuclear translocation is facilitated by the f-actin cross-linking protein filamin. Molecular Endocrinology 2000, 14(10), 1618-1626.
• Brady, M. E., Ozanne, D. M., Gaughan, L., Waite, I. S., Cook, S., Neal, D. E., Robson, C. N. Tip60 is a nuclear hormone receptor coactivator. Journal of Biological Chemistry 1999, 274(25), 17599-17604.