full report - UCT - Research Report 2011

Department of
molecular anD cell
BioloGy
heAd of depArtment – AssoCiAte professor
vernon Coyne
depArtmentAl profile
The Department has interests and expertise in diverse
areas of biology. The problem of desiccation in plants
is being tackled by a combination of physiological and
molecular approaches. Plant biotechnology research is
focused on developing virus-resistant and drought-tolerant
crops, “biopharming” (the expression of pharmaceuticallyimportant
proteins in plants) and the molecular basis
of nickel hyperaccumulation in plants. Plant defence
responses are studied in both model and crop plants.
Circadian rhythms and their role in plant development
and responses, as well as sports performance in humans,
are studied. Eukaryotic gene expression projects include
the role of chromatin modifications in regulating the
rhythms of gene expression and gene expression during
neuronal differentiation and stress. Basic mechanisms
underlying the regulation of gene expression are studied
in human cells and in Plasmodium, with a view to pinpoint
Plasmodium-specific mechanisms that can be exploited to
develop novel anti-malarial drugs. In addition, the actions
of mammalian hormones, synthetic contraceptives and
steroid receptors are being investigated with a view
to understanding mechanisms, integration of signalling
pathways and role in HIV pathogenesis. Research on
viral pathogenesis also includes protein structure-function
studies of the envelope protein and its role in HIV
transmission. Evolutionary biology projects focus on
mechanisms that shape both genomic and populationlevel
diversity, as well as evolution of limb development in
bats. Molecular virology studies focus on the expression of
antigens from viruses in plants and in insect cells for use
as human and animal vaccines, on the genetic diversity
and molecular biology of single-stranded DNA viruses of
plants and animals, and papillomaviruses of primates and
humans. Structural studies are being carried out by electron
microscopy and x-ray crystallography on a number of
proteins, including glutamine synthetase and members
of the nitrilase superfamily, to obtain insights necessary
for rational drug and industrial enzyme design. Research
in marine biotechnology includes genetic and proteomic
studies of the immune response of the abalone (Haliotis
midae) and the stress and disease response systems of
the commercially important seaweed Gracilaria gracilis.
In addition, probiotics are being developed to improve the
growth rate and disease resistance of farmed abalone.
Research in microbiology includes molecular-genetic
investigations of industrially and medically important
anaerobic bacteria such as Corynebacterium, Bacteroides
faCUlTy of sCIeNCe
fragilis, Bifidobacterium and the fibre-degrading bacteria
in the ostrich gut. The taxonomy of antibiotic-producing
actinobacteria is being investigated. The Department
also runs an analytical facility (amino acid analysis, DNA
sequencing, DNA synthesis, DNA microarrays and protein
identification). The instrumentation in the facility consists
of HPLCs, a GC MS/MS and LC-ESI QTOF and MALDI
instruments for mass spectrometry.
reseArCh hiGhliGhts
awards
Professor Jill Farrant won a 2011/12 L’Oréal-UNESCO Award
in Life Sciences (http://www.uct.ac.za/mondaypaper/
archives/?id=8876).
Professor Farrant was also elected as a Fellow of TWAS, the
academy of sciences for the developing world (previously
the Third World Academy of Sciences; http://twas.ictp.it/).
Professor Ed Rybicki became a UCT Fellow (http://www.
uct.ac.za/mondaypaper/archives/?id=8867).
Dr Rob Ingle won a Young Researcher Award from the UCT
College of Fellows (http://www.uct.ac.za/mondaypaper/
archives/?id=8868).
nrf a-rated staff
Professor Ed Rybicki obtained an A rating in the 2011
round of NRF rating re-evaluations (http://www.uct.ac.za/
mondaypaper/?id=8896). Professor Jill Farrant also holds
an NRF A rating.
depArtmentAl stAtistiCs
permanent and long-term contract staff
professors 4
Associate professors 3
senior lecturers 2
lecturers 6
research staff 10
technical support staff 7
Administrative and Clerical staff 5
total 37
Honorary staff
honorary professors 2
total 2
531