Prof. Robin Allshire FRSE, FRS

Professor of Chromosome Biology

Research Focus

Epigenetic regulation of specialised chromatin states and their role in mediating accurate chromosome segregation through the formation of pericentromeric heterochormatin, CENP-A chromatin and kinetochore assembly in fission yeast.

Scientific Activities

Centromere-kinetochore structure, function and plasticity over evolutionary time. Establishment and inheritance of distinct chromatin states (heterochromatin and CENP-A chromatin) by epigenetic processes through cell division. Role of RNAi and non-coding RNAs in transcriptional regulation.

Significant Publications

Ard, R., and Allshire, R. C. (2016) Transcription-coupled changes to chromatin underpin gene silencing by transcriptional interference. Nucleic Acids Res. Sept 8. Sep 8. pii: gkw801

Audergon, P. N. C. B., Catania, S., Kagansky, A., Tong, P., Shukla, M., Pidoux, A. L., and Allshire, R. C. (2015) Restricted epigenetic inheritance of H3K9 methylation. Science 348, 132–135.

Buscaino, A., Lejeune, E., Audergon, P., Hamilton, G., Pidoux, A., and Allshire, R.C. (2013). Distinct roles for Sir2 and RNAi in centromeric heterochromatin nucleation, spreading and maintenance. EMBO J. 32, 1250-1264

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Collaborators