Research in the MacNeill lab is primarily focused on using molecular genetic tools to probe protein structure, function and regulation in various microbial model systems. In addition to molecular genetic methods, we use biochemistry, structural biology and bioinformatics.
In the past our work was focused on dissecting the enzymes and mechanisms of DNA replication and genome stability in the eukaryotic fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the halophilic euryarchaeon Haloferax volcanii. We have also studied the activity of the highly diverged DNA ligase enzymes encoded by crAss-like bacteriophages and the function of selected carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in haloarchaea. We have also worked on the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei and the non-human infectious kinetoplastid model organism Crithidia fasciculata and have contributed to analysis of the mitosome in microsporidia.
Presently, the main focus of the lab is the biology of bacteriophage T5. We are studying the structure and function of the unique split DNA ligase encoded by T5 and the SciA endonuclease responsible for the single-stranded DNA nicks in the packaged phage genome, as well as mechanisms of host cell lysis. Future work will expand the cell lysis work into a broader range of coliphage. In addition to the phage work, we are also completing work on the structure and function of eukaryotic DNA polymerase delta using the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum as a model.
These pages provide details of ongoing projects in the lab, lists of publications and lab members, details of how to apply to join the lab, and some useful links. Click on the topics above to access the desired information.
Research in the lab is currently funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In recent years the lab has been funded by the Leverhulme Trust, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, EASTBIO, the Wellcome Trust through its Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF), the University of St Andrews through its Knowledge Exchange and Impact (KIE) Fund, SULSA, the Medical Research Council and the USAF OSR. Recent PhD students have been supported by Chinese Scholarship Council, Medical Research Council Industrial CASE, SULSA-MSD and Science without Borders scholarships.
