Research Biographies

back to contents

PROFESSOR WENDY BICKMORE

Chromosomes and Gene Expression

Head of Chromosomes and Gene Expression


Professor Wendy Bickmore

Contact Details

E-mail address: wendy.bickmore@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 332 2471 (extension 2304)
Fax: +44 (0)131 467 8456
Address: Medical Research Council
Human Genetics Unit
Western General Hospital
Crewe Road
Edinburgh EH4 2XU
Research Programme: Spatial Organisation of the Human Genome

 

Research Areas

Despite its immense length, the linear sequence map of the human genome is an incomplete description of our genetic information. This is because information on genome function and gene regulation is also encoded in the way that the DNA sequence is folded up with proteins within chromosomes and within the nucleus. Our work to understand the three-dimensional folding of the genome, and how this controls how our genome functions, falls into three parts:

 

Spatial organisation of the genome
Nuclear re-organisation during development
Mutating genes encoding chromosomal and nuclear proteins

 

Key/Selected Publications

  • Boyle S, Rodesch MJ, Halvensleben HA, Jeddeloh JA, Bickmore WA: Fluorescence in situ hybridization with high-complexity repeat-free oligonucleotide probes generated by massively parallel synthesis Chromosome Res 19:901-909, 2011. PubMed Abstract
  • Eskeland R, Leeb M, Grimes GR, Kress C, Boyle S, Sproul D, Gilbert N, Fan Y, Skoultchi AI, Wutz A, Bickmore WA: Ring1B compacts chromatin structure and represses gene expression independent of histone ubiquitination. Mol Cell 38:452-464, 2010. PubMed Abstract
  • Finlan, L.E.; Sproul, D.; Thomson, I.; Boyle, S.; Kerr, E.; Perry, P.; Ylstra, B.; Chubb, J.R. and Bickmore, W.A. Recruitment to the nuclear periphery can alter expression of genes in human cells. PLoS Genet 4(3):e1000039, 2008 PubMed Abstract
  • Morey, C.; Da Silva, N.R.; Kmita, M.; Duboule, D. and Bickmore, W.A. Ectopic nuclear reorganisation driven by a Hoxb1 transgene transposed into Hoxd. J Cell Sci 121(Pt 5):571-577, 2008 PubMed Abstract
  • Morey C, Da Silva NR, Perry P and Bickmore WA Nuclear re-organisation and chromatin decondensation are conserved, but distinct, mechanisms linked to Hox gene activation. Develop. 134:909-919, 2007 PubMed Abstract
  • Chambeyron, S. and Bickmore, W.A. Chromatin decondensation and nuclear reorganization of the HoxB locus upon induction of transcription. Genes Dev 18:1119-1130, 2004 PubMed Abstract
  • Gilbert, N.; Boyle, S.; Fiegler, H.; Woodfine, K.; Carter, N.P. and Bickmore, W.A. Chromatin architecture of the human genome; gene-rich domains are enriched in open chromatin fibers.
    Cell 118:555-566, 2004 PubMed Abstract

Recent Publications

  • Dostie J, Bickmore WA: Chromosome organization in the nucleus - charting new territory across the Hi-Cs. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2012. PubMed Abstract
  • Wood AJ, Bickmore WA: A condensed view of chromatin during T cell development. EMBO J 30(2):235-236, 2011. PubMed Abstract
  • Eskeland R, Freyer E, Leeb M, Wutz A, Bickmore WA: Histone Acetylation and the Maintenance of Chromatin Compaction by Polycomb Repressive Complexes. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 2011.

    PubMed Abstract

  • Williamson, I.; Hill, R.E. and Bickmore, W.A. Enhancers: from developmental genetics to the genetics of common human disease. Dev Cell 21(1):17-19, 2011 PubMed Abstract
  • Harewood, L.; Schutz, F.; Boyle, S.; Perry, P.; Delorenzi, M.; Bickmore, W.A. and Reymond, A. The effect of translocation-induced nuclear reorganization on gene expression. Genome Res, 20:554-564, 2010 PubMed Abstract
  • Kocanova, S.; Kerr, E.A.; Rafique, S.; Boyle, S.; Katz, E.; Caze-Subra, S.; Bickmore, W.A. and Bystricky, K. Activation of estrogen-responsive genes does not require their nuclear co-localization. PLoS Genet. 6(4):e1000922, 2010 PubMed Abstract
  • Briers, S.; Crawford, C.; Bickmore, W.A. and Sutherland, H.G. KRAB zinc-finger proteins localise to novel KAP1-containing foci that are adjacent to PML nuclear bodies. J Cell Sci 122:937-946, 2009 Pubmed Abstract
  • Deniaud, E. and Bickmore, W.A. Transcription and the nuclear periphery: edge of darkness?
    Curr Opin Genet Dev 19(2):187-191, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Morey, C.; Kress, C. and Bickmore, W.A. Lack of bystander activation shows that localization exterior to chromosome territories is not sufficient to up-regulate gene expression.
    Genome Res     19(7):1184-1194, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Sutherland, H. and Bickmore, W.A. Transcription factories: gene expression in unions?
    Nat.Rev.Genet.     10(7):457-466, 2009 PubMed Abstract