Profile

Career

Research

Overview

I have a long-standing interest in RNA biology and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. A particular focus is RNA silencing, which is a conserved mechanism of gene regulation in eukaryotes and is involved in controlling endogenous gene expression and defence against invasive nucleic acids such as viruses. Interestingly RNA silencing can promote epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone modification and one idea is that these pathways contribute to phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change. Currently my lab is using a combination of molecular and genetic approaches to investigating the connection between RNA silencing and DNA methylation and its wider significance.

Discoveries

NRPD1a and NRPD1b are required for maintenance of post-transcriptional RNA silencing.
Impairment of virus-induced gene silencing occurs in plants defective for the RDR6 RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase

Current projects

Investigating RNA-directed DNA methylation. (Funding body: BBSRC PhD studentship)

Transgenerational Stress Responses (Funding body: NERC PhD studentship)

Targeting the RNA silencing machinery: influence of location in the genome. (Funding body: BBSRC PhD studentship)

Novel mutations in the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. (Funding body: Gatsby Charitable Foundation)

Research group(s)

Available PhD research projects

Investigating RNA Silencing and Epigenetic Change (for 2012 - 13)

RNA silencing is a conserved mechanism of regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. Mutants defective in RNA silencing show developmental abnormalities and enhanced accumulation of invasive nucleic acids such as viruses and transposable elements. RNA silencing is associated with epigenetic changes such alterations in DNA methylation and histone modifications. This project aims to build on previous work in the lab and will investigate (i) factors affecting RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) (ii) the heritability of RdDM and (iii) whether RNA-directed epigenetic change is influenced by the environment. The model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana will be used together with techniques of molecular biology and genetics.

Publications

Selected publications

Louise Jones, Teresa Keining, Andrew Eamens and Fabián Vaistij (2006) Virus-Induced Gene Silencing of Argonaute Genes in Nicotiana benthamiana Demonstrates That Extensive Systemic Silencing Requires Argonaute1-Like and Argonaute4-Like Genes. Plant Physiology 141: 598-606

Andrew Eamens, Fabián Vaistij and Louise Jones (2008) NRPD1a and NRPD1b are required to maintain post-transcriptional RNA silencing and RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis Plant J. 55: 596

Fabián Vaistij and Louise Jones (2009) Compromised Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in RDR6-deficient plants. Plant Physiol. 149: 1399-1407

Fabian Vaistij, Luisa Elias, Gilu George and Louise Jones. (2010) Suppression of microRNA accumulation via RNA interference in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol. Biol. 73: 391-397