Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression

Dr Amandine Bastide

Investigator Scientist

MRC Toxicology Unit
Hodgkin Building
PO Box 138
University of Leicester
Lancaster Road, Leicester
LE1 9HN, UK

Tel: +44 (0)116 252 5198/5578
Email: Send Email

Academic Career

2008- Joined Professor Willis' group in Nottingham, to work on a project funded by the BBSRC.

2008 PhD "Study of translational regulation of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A isoforms" in the team of Pr. H. Prats, INSERM U858, University of Toulouse (France)

Current Project

Investigation of Translational Regulation during Cold-Shock

In recent years a growing number of reports investigated the use of reduced temperature cultivation (cold-shock) to enhance production of recombinant protein, Previous studies have suggested that there are several mechanisms by which cold-shock induced changes in gene expression including a general reduction in transcription and translation, inhibition of RNA degradation, increasing transcription of specific target genes and increasing translation of specific mRNA .

In this context, the aim of the project is to enhance global and mRNA specific translation for improved recombinant protein expression in in vitro cultured mammalian cells.

The objectives of my project are : 1) Profiling of total cellular mRNA and polysomal mRNA during cold-shock; 2) Ribonomics analysis of mRNA interacting directly with the cold-shock protein CIRP; 3) Identification of regulatory regions in mRNA that enhance translation upon cold-shock and 4) Design of vectors and optimisation of cells conditions that enhance protein production during cold shock.