Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago

🎉🥳Congratulations to Brittany Drummond (Mace Lab) and Caleb Trimble (Kenny Lab) on their recent PhD thesis submissions, tau kē!

Department of Biochemistry Seminar
Tuesday 4 August, 12pm, Rm BIG13
Baeli Spedding-Devereux, PhD candidate, Department of Biochemistry
Investigating the regulation of the plant male germline transcription factor, DUO1

Latest publication with a contribution from Otago Biochemistry.
Single-cell RNA sequencing of circulating tumour cells in colorectal cancer

Single-cell RNA sequencing of circulating tumour cells in colorectal cancer - Molecular Biology Reports Background Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are key mediators of metastasis and exhibit marked phenotypic plasticity driven by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Traditional marker-based CTC isolation approaches rely on epithelial marker expression, which may fail to capture mesenchymal and....

Latest publication from Otago Biochemistry.
Strømme syndrome: the clinical and molecular spectrum associated with variants in CENPF

Strømme syndrome: the clinical and molecular spectrum associated with variants in CENPF - European Journal of Human Genetics Strømme syndrome (MIM 243605) or a form of syndromic microcephaly have both been reported to be caused by biallelic variants in CENPF. The common features associated with CENPF variants are microcephaly, jejunal atresia and eye abnormalities, but additional case reports have indicated more variable...

Latest publication with a contribution from Otago Biochemistry.
Structural studies and functional engineering of NanX: an anhydro-sialic acid transporter from Escherichia coli

FEBS Press Biophysical characterisation shows that NanX, a membrane transport protein from the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), forms both monomers and dimers after purification. AlphaFold modelling and sub...

Latest publication from Otago Biochemistry.
Dual inhibition of respiratory complexes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in bacterial killing

Dual inhibition of respiratory complexes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in bacterial killing | Microbiology Spectrum New drugs and combination therapies are urgently needed to treat infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Drugs that target the mycobacterial respiratory chain, particularly when used in combination, have emerged as an exciting new avenue for addressing antibiotic resistance. However, functi...

Latest publication from Otago Biochemistry.
From nurse bee to queen egg: RNA-seq analysis of Apis mellifera eggs shows dietary protein-dependent gene regulation

From nurse bee to queen egg: RNA-seq analysis of Apis mellifera eggs shows dietary protein-dependent gene regulation - BMC Genomics Honeybees, Apis mellifera, play a vital role as pollinators in global agricultural ecosystems. Nutrition, particularly dietary protein content, profoundly impacts honeybee health and reproduction. Yet, the molecular mechanisms connecting diet composition and gene expression in honeybee eggs remain u...

Latest publication with a contribution from Otago Biochemistry.
Voices across Asia and Oceania: Biochemistry across borders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096800042600143X

Unique partnership anchors life-saving research
The power of human connection lies at the heart of the partnership between US-based non-profit No Stomach For Cancer and Otago Biochemistry’s Cancer Genetics Laboratory

Unique partnership anchors life-saving research The power of human connection lies at the heart of the partnership between US-based non-profit No Stomach For Cancer and the University of Otago’s Cancer Genetics Laboratory in New Zealand.

Journal Club – Friday 31 July, 12pm, Rm BIG13
Michael Dunnet: The DNA Behind DNA Methylation. Rosenski, J., Sabag, O., Marcus, E. et al. The genetic basis for DNA methylation variation across tissues and development. Nat Commun 17, 5194 (2026).

The genetic basis for DNA methylation variation across tissues and development - Nature Communications Genetic influences on DNA methylation across development are poorly understood. Here, the authors map sequence‑dependent methylation in mouse and human, identifying developmental windows and 33,574 human regions where SNPs control allele‑specific methylation linked to regulatory and disease loci...