Professor Heath Murray

Background

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)

Research

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.

Teaching

BGM1002 - DNA Structure, Function, and Replication

BMG2056 - DNA Replication & Recombination

CMB3000 - Undergraduate Research project

MMB8016 - Control of DNA Replication in Bacteria

Publications

• Articles

  • Winterhalter C, Pelliciari S, Stevens D, Fenyk S, Marchand E, Cronin N, Soultanas P, Costa T, Ilangovan A, Murray H. The DNA replication initiation protein DnaD recognises a specific strand of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome origin. 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. The bacterial replication origin BUS promotes nucleobase capture. Nature Communications 2023, 14(1), 8339.
  • Winterhalter C, Stevens D, Fenyk S, Pelliciari S, Marchand E, Soultanas P, Ilangovan A, Murray H. SirA inhibits the essential DnaA:DnaD interaction to block helicase recruitment during Bacillus subtilis sporulation. Nucleic Acids Research 2023, 51(9), 4302-4321.
  • Taylor K, Woods S, Johns A, Murray H. Intrinsic responsible innovation in a synthetic biology research project. New Genetics and Society 2023, 42(1), e2232684.
  • Koh A, Strahl H, Murray H. Regulation of DNA replication initiation by ParA is independent of parS location in Bacillus subtilis. Microbiology 2022, 168(10), 001259.
  • Roberts DM, Anchimiukb A, Kloostermana TG, Murray H, Wu LJ, Gruber S, Errington J. Chromosome remodelling by SMC/Condensin in B. subtilis is regulated by Soj/ParA during growth and sporulation. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences 2022, 119(41), e2204042119.
  • Pelliciari S, Dong M-J, Gao F, Murray H. Evidence for a chromosome origin unwinding system broadly conserved in bacteria. 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. CcrZ is a pneumococcal spatiotemporal cell cycle regulator that interacts with FtsZ and controls DNA replication by modulating the activity of DnaA. Nature Microbiology 2021, 6, 1175-1187.
  • Richardson TT, Stevens D, Pelliciari S, Harran O, Sperlea T, Murray H. Identification of a basal system for unwinding a bacterial chromosome origin. 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. DNA replication initiation in Bacillus subtilis: structural and functional characterization of the essential DnaA-DnaD interaction. 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. Crystal structure of NucB, a biofilm-degrading endonuclease. 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. The structural basis for dynamic DNA binding and bridging interactions which condense the bacterial centromere. 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. How members of the human gut microbiota overcome the sulfation problem posed by glycosaminoglycans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2017, 114(27), 7037-7042.
  • Richardson TT, Harran O, Murray H. The bacterial DnaA-trio replication origin element specifies ssDNA initiator binding. Nature 2016, 534(7607), 412-416.
  • Du WL, Dubarry N, Passot F, Kamgoue A, Murray H, Lane D, Pasta F. Orderly replication and segregation of the four replicons of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315. 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. Bacterial partition complexes segregate within the volume of the nucleoid. 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. Condensin- and replication-mediated bacterial chromosome folding and origin condensation revealed by Hi-C and super-resolution imaging. Molecular Cell 2015, 59(4), 588-602.
  • Jameson KH, Rostami N, Fogg MJ, Turkenburg JP, Grahl A, Murray H, Wilkinson AJ. Structure and interactions of the Bacillus subtilis sporulation inhibitor of DNA replication, SirA, with domain I of DnaA. Molecular Microbiology 2014, 93(5), 975-991.
  • Murray H, Koh A. Multiple Regulatory Systems Coordinate DNA Replication with Cell Growth in Bacillus subtilis. PLoS Genetics 2014, 10(10), e1004731.
  • Scholefield G, Murray H. YabA and DnaD inhibit helix assembly of the DNA replication initiation protein DnaA. Molecular Microbiology 2013, 90(1), 147-159.
  • Boonstra M, de Jong IG, Scholefield G, Murray H, Kuipers OP, Veening JW. Spo0A regulates chromosome copy number during sporulation by directly binding to the origin of replication in Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Microbiology 2013, 87(4), 925-938.
  • Scholefield G, Errington J, Murray H. Soj/ParA stalls DNA replication by inhibiting helix formation of the initiator protein DnaA. EMBO Journal 2012, 31(6), 1542-1555.
  • Scholefield G, Whiting R, Errington J, Murray H. Spo0J regulates the oligomeric state of Soj to trigger its switch from an activator to an inhibitor of DNA replication initiation. Molecular Microbiology 2011, 79(4), 1089-1100.
  • Veening JW, Murray H, Errington J. A mechanism for cell cycle regulation of sporulation initiation in Bacillus subtilis. Genes & Development 2009, 23(16), 1959-1970.
  • Engl C, Jovanovic G, Lloyd LJ, Murray H, Spitaler M, Ying LM, Errington J, Buck M. In vivo localizations of membrane stress controllers Escherichia coli. Molecular Microbiology 2009, 73(3), 382-396.
  • Murray HD, Errington J. Dynamic Control of the DNA Replication Initiation Protein DnaA by Soj/ParA. Cell 2008, 135(1), 74-84.
  • Murray H, Ferreira H, Errington J. The bacterial chromosome segregation protein Spo0J spreads along DNA from parS nucleation sites. Molecular Microbiology 2006, 61(5), 1352-1361.
  • Errington J, Murray H, Wu LJ. Diversity and redundancy in bacterial chromosome segregation mechanisms. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2005, 360(1455), 497-505.
  • Murray HD, Gourse RL. Unique roles of the rrn P2 rRNA promoters in Escherichia coli. Molecular Microbiology 2004, 52(5), 1375-1387.
  • Murray H, Appleman JA, Gourse RL. Regulation of the Escherichia coli rrnB P2 promoter. Journal of Bacteriology 2003, 185(1), 28-34.
  • Schneider DA, Murray H, Gourse RL. Measuring control of transcription initiation by changing concentrations of nucleotides and their derivatives. Methods in Enzymology 2003, 370, 606-617.
  • Murray HD, Schneider DA, Gourse RL. Control of rRNA Expression by Small Molecules Is Dynamic and Nonredundant. Molecular Cell 2003, 12(1), 125-134.
  • Stokes NR, Murray HD, Subramaniam C, Gourse RL, Louis P, Bartlett W, Miller S, Booth IR. A role for mechanosensitive channels in survival of stationary phase: Regulation of channel expression by RpoS. 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. Visualising the replisome, chromosome breaks, and replication restart in Bacillus subtilis. 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. Replication of the Bacillus subtilis Chromosome. In: Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press, 2017, pp.1-34.
  • Koh A, Murray H. Probing chromosome dynamics in Bacillus subtilis. 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. The organization and architecture of Bacillus subtilis chromosome revealed by super-resolution microscopy and HiC. In: 2014 ASCB/IFCB Meeting. 2014, Philadelphia, PA: American Society for Cell Biology.

• Reviews

  • Murray H. Connecting chromosome replication with cell growth in bacteria. Current Opinion in Microbiology 2016, 34, 13-17.
  • Scholefield G, Veening JW, Murray H. DnaA and ORC: more than DNA replication initiators. Trends in Cell Biology 2011, 21(3), 188-194.

• Software

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