Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

Teaching and supervision of students within the lab.

Qualifications

Bsc Hons in Neuroscience from Edinburgh University.
PhD entitled ‘The molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration – the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations’.

Research Interests

My primary research interest is investigating mitochondrial and protein degradation within neurons with ageing and in neurodegenerative disease. The main focus of my research is studying the turnover of proteins within the neurons of the substantia nigra and the role of autophagy in the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations within these cells.

Current Work

Correlating alpha synuclein positive Lewy bodies and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Up regulation of autophagy and mitochondrial DNA mutations.
Targeting of mitochondrial to autophagosomes through membrane potential changes.
Paternal mitochondrial degradation

• Reeve AK, Park TK, Jaros E, Campbell GR, Lax NZ, Hepplewhite PD, Krishnan KJ, Elson JL, Morris CM, McKeith IG, Turnbull DM. Relationship Between Mitochondria and α-Synuclein: A Study of Single Substantia Nigra Neurons. Archives of Neurology 2012, 69(3), 385-393.
• Lax NZ, Hepplewhite PD, Reeve AK, Nesbitt V, McFarland R, Jaros E, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM. Cerebellar Ataxia in Patients With Mitochondrial DNA Disease: A Molecular Clinicopathological Study. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 2012, 71(2), 148-161.
• Lax NZ, Campbell GR, Reeve AK, Ohno N, Zambonin J, Blakely EL, Taylor RW, Bonilla E, Tanji K, DiMauro S, Jaros E, Lassmann H, Turnbull DM, Mahad DJ. Loss of Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein in Kearns-Sayre Syndrome. Archives of Neurology 2012, 69(4), 490-499.
• Lax NZ, Whittaker RG, Hepplewhite PD, Reeve AK, Blakely EL, Jaros E, Ince PG, Taylor RW, Fawcett PR, Turnbull DM. Sensory neuronopathy in patients harbouring recessive polymerase γ mutations. Brain 2012, 135(1), 62-71.
• Campbell GR, Ziabreva I, Reeve AK, Krishnan KJ, Reynolds R, Howell O, Lassmann H, Turnbull DM, Mahad DJ. Mitochondrial DNA Deletions and Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis. Annals of Neurology 2011, 69(3), 481-492.
• Lax NZ, Turnbull DM, Reeve AK. Mitochondrial mutations: newly discovered players in neuronal degeneration. Neuroscientist 2011, 17(6), 645-648.
• Betts-Henderson J, Jaros E, Krishnan KJ, Perry RH, Reeve AK, Schaefer AM, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM. Alpha-synuclein pathology and Parkinsonism associated with POLG1 mutations and multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2009, 35(1), 120-124.
• Reeve AK, Krishnan KJ, Elson JL, Morris CM, Bender A, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM. Nature of Mitochondrial DNA Deletions in Substantia Nigra Neurons. American Journal of Human Genetics 2008, 82(1), 228-235.
• Krishnan KJ, Reeve AK, Samuels DC, Chinnery PF, Blackwood JK, Taylor RW, Wanrooij S, Spelbrink JN, Lightowlers RN, Turnbull DM. What causes mitochondrial DNA deletions in human cells?. Nature Genetics 2008, 40(3), 275-279.
• Bender A, Krishnan KJ, Morris CM, Taylor GA, Reeve AK, Perry RH, Jaros E, Hersheson JS, Betts J, Klopstock T, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM. High levels of mitochondrial DNA deletions in substantia nigra neurons in aging and Parkinson disease. Nature Genetics 2006, 38(5), 515-517.
• Campbell GR, Kraytsberg Y, Krishnan KJ, Ohno N, Ziabreva I, Reeve A, Trapp BD, Newcombe J, Reynolds R, Lassmann H, Khrapko K, Turnbull DM, Mahad DJ. Clonally expanded mitochondrial DNA deletions within the choroid plexus in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathologica 2012, 124(2), 209-220.
• Lax NZ, Pienaar IS, Reeve AK, Hepplewhite PD, Jaros E, Taylor RW, Kalaria RN, Turnbull DM. Microangiopathy in the cerebellum of patients with mitochondrial DNA disease. Brain 2012, 135(6), 1736-1750.