Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR)


http://www.waimr.uwa.edu.au

Dr Archa Fox

Archa Fox

Phone: +61 8 9224 0368
Email: archa.fox@waimr.uwa.edu.au

Dr Archa Fox runs a research group investigating 'gene expression' - a fundamental process in which the information in genes is translated into proteins, the building blocks of the cell. The control of gene expression is essential to all cellular processes and many diseases such as cancer and metabolic disorders are associated with aberrant gene expression. Specifically, the Fox lab focuses on the role of nuclear organization and non-coding RNA in the control of gene expression in normal and cancer cells.

Archa completed her PhD under the direction of Professor Merlin Crossley at the University of Sydney, working on the interaction between two transcription factors, GATA-1 and FOG-1. Briefly, this work involved identifying the interaction interface between these two molecules, a finding that was subsequently critical for pinpointing the molecular basis of specific haematopoietic conditions.

For her post-doctoral studies, she moved to the University of Dundee, Scotland, to carry out research with Professor Angus Lamond, a world leader in the field of nuclear organisation. Here she was part of a project describing the human nucleolar proteome, the first large-scale proteomic analysis of a sub-nuclear organelle. Arising from this, she discovered a novel sub-nuclear structure, 'paraspeckles' that forms the basis of her current research.

In 2006 Archa joined WAIMR to set up her own lab, supported by an NH&MRC Howard Florey Fellowship. She is currently studying paraspeckles as a model system for exploring the ways in which the organisation of the cell nucleus directly affects the control of gene expression.

Qualifications

1996BSc (Hons, first class) - Molecular Genetics, University of New South Wales, Australia
2000PhD - Biochemistry, University of Sydney, Australia

Research Interests

  • The role of nuclear organization and non-coding RNA in the control of gene expression
  • Changes in nuclear organization associated with cancer and in development
  • Structure/function analysis of sub-nuclear bodies
  • Techniques: fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology, cell biology, proteomics

Scientific Involvement

  • Board Member for Lorne Genome Inc. - 2010 to present.
  • Co-Chair of 'RNA Processing' Symposium at OZBIO2010 - 2010.
  • Member of the Organising Committee for Lorne Genome Conference - 2009 to present.
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Lorne Genome Conference - 2008 to 2009.
  • Member of Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - 2006 to present.
  • Member of Australian Society for Medical Research - 2009 to present.
  • Member of the British Biochemical Society - 1999 to 2006.

Major Grants Awarded

2006-2007Government of WA Department of Health New Investigator Research Infrastructure Award. $10,000. CI Archa Fox.
2007-2009NH&MRC Project Grant. Identifying target molecules regulated by nuclear retention in cancer and development. $256,750. CI Archa Fox.
2007UWA Research Grant. Purification and characterisation of subnuclear bodies. $21,250. CI Archa Fox.
2008-2010NH&MRC Project Grant. A structural and functional basis for the regulation of gene expression by nuclear retention of RNA. $342,000. CIA Charles Bond, CIB Archa Fox.
2008Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation Research Grant. The role of novel noncoding RNAs in the development and regulation of the mammalian nervous system. $13,000 and a Research Assistant for 6 months. CIA Archa Fox, CIB John Mattick.
2009Ada Bartholomew Research Foundation Research Grant. The role of novel non-coding rnas in the development and regulation of the mammalian nervous system. $30,000. CI Archa Fox.
2010Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation Research Grant. Investigating changes in nuclar organisation in hematopoietic cells. $15,000 and a 0.5FTE Research Assistant. CI Archa Fox.

Top 10 Publications

  1. Fox AH, Lamond AI. 2010. "Paraspeckles" in The Nucleus. Ed. Tom Misteli and David Spector. Cold Spring Harbour Perspectives. In press, accepted for publication 11/03/2010.
  2. Bond CS, Fox AH. 2009. Paraspeckles: Nuclear bodies built on long noncoding RNA. Journal of Cell Biology 186(5):637-44. [NCBI PubMed Entry]
  3. Clemson CM, Hutchinson JN, Sara SA, Ensminger AW, Fox AH, Chess A, Lawrence JB. 2009. An Architectural Role for a Nuclear Noncoding RNA: NEAT1 RNA Is Essential for the Structure of Paraspeckles. Molecular Cell 33(6):717-26. [NCBI PubMed Entry]
  4. Graham D, Hanson AR, Croft AJ, Fox AH, Clarke CL. 2009. Nuclear matrix binding is critical for progesterone receptor movement into nuclear foci. The FASEB Journal 23(2):546-56. [NCBI PubMed Entry]
  5. Fox AH, Bond CS, Lamond AI. 2005. P54nrb forms a heterodimer with PSP1 that localises to paraspeckles in a RNA-dependent manner. Molecular Biology of the Cell 16(11):5304-15. [NCBI PubMed Entry] [IF 7.45]
  6. Lam YW, Fox AH, Leung AKL, Andersen JS, Mann M, Lamond AI. 2004. "Proteomics of the nucleolus" in The Nucleolus. Ed. Mark Olson. New York, Klewer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 302-328.
  7. Andersen JS, Lyon CE, Fox AH, Leung AKL, Lam YW, Steen H, Mann M, Lamond AI. 2002. Directed proteomic analysis of the human nucleolus. Current Biology 12(1):1-11. [NCBI PubMed Entry] [IF 11.9]
  8. Fox AH, Lam YW, Leung AKL, Lyon CE, Andersen JS, Mann M, Lamond AI. 2002. Paraspeckles: a novel nuclear domain. Current Biology 12(1):13-25. [NCBI PubMed Entry] [IF 11.9]
  9. Fox AH, Liew C, Holmes M, Kowalski K, Mackay J, Crossley M. 1999. Transcriptional cofactors of the FOG-family interact with GATA-proteins by means of multiple zinc fingers. The EMBO Journal 18(10):2812-22. [NCBI PubMed Entry] [IF 10.45]
  10. Fox AH, Kowalski K, King GF, Mackay JP, Crossley M. 1998. Key residues characteristic of GATA N-fingers are recognized by FOG. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 273(50):33595-603. [NCBI PubMed Entry] [IF 3.0]