 Richard Hughes
My research is focused in the broad area
of chemical diversity, more specifically on the function
of biosynthetic enzymes required for the synthesis of defence-related
natural products in plants. My technical expertise is primarily
in the heterologous expression of plant proteins and enzymes
using various expression systems and on protein biochemistry,
bioinformatics and enzymology.
I joined the Osbourn lab in January 2007,
where my research is focused on the heterologous expression
and functional analysis of enzymes required for the synthesis
of defence-related compounds (avenacins) in oats. The
recombinant proteins will also be used to raise antibodies
for co-immunolocalisation studies in the plant. I also have
a special interest in the characterisation of membrane-associated
cytochrome P450 enzymes and have worked extensively with
CYP74 enzymes that are required for plant oxylipin metabolism.
My objective is to probe metabolic
pathways through characterisation of the enzymes (including
their substrate and product specificities) at each step in
the pathway and, more broadly, to use information derived
from protein structure, function and interaction to understand
the role and mechanism of action of the specific protein
or enzyme in the plant.
In addition to my work in the Osbourn
group, I also collaborate with, or provide training and technical
support to, a number of other research groups at JIC who
are probing gene function in plants through the production
and analysis of recombinant proteins expressed in vitro or in
planta. I also work with other academic research groups
within and outside the U.K. through collaborations that have
been established for the characterisation of recombinant
proteins produced at JIC.
Funding
Grant in aid to the John Innes Centre from the BBSRC.
Recent Publications and Patents:
- Domenico, S., Tsesmetzis, N., Di Sansebastiano, G. P., Hughes, R. K., Casey, R. and Santino, A. (2007) Subcellular localisation of Medicago truncatula9/13 hydroperoxide lyase reveals a new localisation pattern and activation mechanism for CYP74C enzymes. BMC Plant Biology 7: 58
- Belfield, E. J., Hughes, R. K., Tsesmetzis,
N., Naldrett, M. J. and Casey, R. (2007) Nucl.
Acids Res. 35, 1322-1332
- Hughes,
R. K., Belfield, E. J., Casey, R. (2006) Biochem.
Soc. Trans. 34, 1223-1227
- Hughes,
R. K., Belfield, E. J., Ashton, R., Fairhurst, S. A.,
Göbel, C., Feussner, I. and Casey, R. (2006) FEBS
Lett. 580, 4189-4195
- Hughes,
R. K., Belfield, E. J., Muthusamay, M., Khan, A., Rowe,
A., Harding, S. E., Fairhurst, S. A., Bornemann, S., Ashton,
R., Thorneley, R. N. F. and Casey, R. (2006) Biochem.
J. 395, 641-652
- Khan,
A., Hughes, R. K., Belfield, E. J., Casey, R., Rowe,
A. J. and Harding, S. E. (2006) Prog.
Colloid Polymer Sci. 131, 116-120
- Mita,
G., Quarta, A., Fasano, P., Paolis, A. D., Sansebastiano,
G. P. D., Perrotta, C., Iannacone, R., Belfield, E., Hughes,
R., Casey, R. and Santino, A. (2005) J.
Exp. Bot. 56, 2321-2333 + Front
Cover
- Durand,
A., Hughes, R., Roussel, A., Flatman, R., Henrissat,
B. and Juge, N. (2005) FEBS
J. 272, 1745-1755 [See also FEBS
J. 272, 3227]
- Casey, R. and Hughes, R. K. (2004) Food
Biotech. 18, 135-170
- Santino,
A. Iannacone, R., Hughes, R. Casey, R. and Mita,
G. (2004) Plant
Sci. 168, 699-706
Patents: A novel process enabling the long-term storage of industrially important HPL and AOS enzymes - 06.408 UK Patent filed October 2006
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