Staff Profile

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 (Newcastle 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. Reinforcing the links between teaching and research: evaluation of a scheme to employ undergraduate students as laboratory assistants. Bioscience Education 2008, 12.
  • Cortes ML, Garcia-Escudero V, Hughes M, Izquierdo M. Cyanide bystander effect of the linamarase/linamarin killer-suicide gene therapy system. Journal of Gene Medicine 2002, 4(4), 407-414.
  • Keresztessy Z, Brown K, Dunn MA, Hughes MA. Identification of essential active-site residues in the cyanogenic β-glucosidase (linamarase) from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) by site-directed mutagenesis. Biochemical Journal 2001, 353(2), 199-205.
  • Kerestessy Z, Brown K, Dunn MA, Hughes MA. Identification of essential active-site residues in the cyanogenic b-glucosidase (linamarase) from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) by site-directed mutagenesis. Biochemical Journal 2001, 353(2), 199-205.
  • Brown APC, Dunn MA, Goddard NJ, Hughes MA. Identification of a novel low-temperature-response element in the promoter of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L) gene blt101.1. Planta 2001, 213(5), 770-780.
  • Suhandono S, Hughes J, Brown K, Hughes MA. Expression and structure of an elongation factor-1α gene (MeEF1) from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). 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. Homology modelling and molecular dynamics aided analysis of ligand complexes demonstrates functional properties of lipid-transfer proteins encoded by the barley low-temperature-inducible gene family, blt4. Plant Journal 1998, 14(5), 523-533.
  • Hughes J, Keresztessy Z, Brown K, Suhandono S, Hughes MA. Genomic organization and structure of α-hydroxynitrile lyase in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). 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. Co-purification from Escherichia coli of a plant beta-glucosidase-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and the bacterial chaperonin GroEL. 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. Investigation of the active site of the cyanogenic beta-D-glucosidase (linamarase) from Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava). II. Identification of Glu-198 as an active site carboxylate group with acid catalytic function. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1994, 315(2), 323-330.
  • Keresztessy Z, Kiss L, Hughes MA. Investigation of the active site of the cyanogenic beta-D-glucosidase (linamarase) from Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava). I. Evidence for an essential carboxylate and a reactive histidine residue in a single catalytic center. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1994, 314, 142-152.

• Book Chapter

  • Dunn MA, O'Brien G, Brown APC, Vural S, Hughes MA. Resistance to abiotic freezing stress in cereals. 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. Resistance to abiotic freezing stress in cereals. Advances in Botanical Research 2001, 34, 237-261.