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Department of Physiology and Complex Traits Group McGill University Life Sciences Complex (Bellini) Room 368 3649 Promenade Sir William Osler Montréal, Québec H3G 0B1 514-398-5567 anastasia.nijnik [at] mcgill.ca Ana Nijnik and her research team, based at the Bellini Life Sciences Complex and the Department of Physiology of McGill University, are recruiting M.Sc. and Ph.D. level graduate students. Projects are available in the areas of hematopoietic stem cell biology, blood cell differentiation, innate and B cell mediated immunity, and the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression. |
Research Area: Molecular & Cell Biology
Research Description: Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Functions, Lymphocyte Differentiation, and Immune Response by Histone Deubiquitinase MYSM1.
My research team investigates the process of blood and immune cell differentiation from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Specifically, we are addressing the role of chromatin interacting deubiquitinase MYSM1 in the stem cells and progenitor cells of the bone marrow, and its molecular mechanisms of action in the regulation by gene expression and DNA damage response signalling. These studies have potential implications for human bone marrow failure syndromes and hematological malignancies. The research program uses novel transgenic mouse and stem cell models. My other research interests include the immunomodulatory properties of natural and synthetic host-defense peptides and potential activities of this class of compounds on the bone marrow.
Education:
Postdoctoral Training - Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK – 2010-2011
Postdoctoral Training - University of British Columbia, BC, Canada – 2006-2011
D.Phil. (Doctorate) - University of Oxford, UK – 2002-2006
M.Biochem. (B.Sc. equivalent) - University of Oxford, UK – 1998-2002
Selected Publications:
Belle JI, Langlais D, Petrov J, Pardo M, Jones RG, Gros P, Nijnik A. p53 mediates loss of hematopoietic stem cell function and lymphopenia in Mysm1 deficiency. Blood 2015; 125(15):2344-8.
Nijnik A, Clare S, Hale C, Raisen C, McIntyre RE, Yusa K, Everitt AR, Mottram L, Podrini C, Lucas M, Estabel J, Goulding D, Adams N, Ramirez-Solis R, White JK, Adams DJ, Hancock RE, Dougan G. The Critical Role of Histone H2A-deubiquitinase MYSM1 in Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Differentiation. Blood 2012; 119:1370-9.
Nijnik A, Dawson S, Crockford T, Woodbine L, Visetnoi S, Bennett S, Jones M, Turner GD, Jeggo PA, Bell JI, Goodnow CC, Cornall RJ. Impaired Lymphocyte Development, Class-Switching and Increased Malignancy in a Model of the DNA Ligase-IV Syndrome. J Clin Invest. 2009;119(6):1696-705.
Nijnik A, Woodbine L, Marchetti C, Dawson S, Lambe T, Liu C, Rodrigues NP, Crockford TL, Cabuy E, Vindigni A, Enver T, Bell JI, Slijepcevic P, Goodnow CC, Jeggo PA, Cornall RJ. DNA repair is limiting for hematopoietic stem cells during ageing. Nature 2007;447(7145):686-90.