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Biological and Chemical Sciences

Dr Andrew Flaus

BSc, PhD.

 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Andrew Flaus is a lecturer in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the University of Galway in Ireland. He is an active researcher in the fields of chromosome biology and protein structure-function. He is also an enthusiastic teacher in biotechnology and biochemistry with strong academic interests in internationalisation and teaching technologies. 

  • 2006 to present: Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and BSc Biotechnology programme, University of Galway. 
  • 2015-2023: Vice Dean for Internationalisation in College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway. 
  • 2009-2015: Programme Director for BSc Biotechnology, University of Galway. 
  • 1999-2006: Postdoctoral researcher with Dr Tom Owen-Hughes, Division of Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland. 
  • 1996-1998: Postdoctoral researcher with Prof Tim Richmond, Institut f. Molekularbiologie u. Biophysik, ETH (Swiss Federal Inst of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland. 
  • 1990-1995: PhD student with Prof Tim Richmond, Institut f. Molekularbiologie u. Biophysik, ETH (Swiss Federal Inst of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland. 
  • 1986-1990: BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Genetics, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (honours research with Drs Gill Norris and Chris Moore).

Research Interests

Dynamic structure and function of nucleosomes, the basic building blocks of chromosomes. Mechanism of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling enzymes. Biochemical techniques for probing protein-DNA interactions. Bioinformatic analysis of chromatin components. Protein stucture/function.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Hydrozoan sperm-specific SPKK motif-containing histone H2B variants stabilise chromatin with limited compaction'
Torok, A.,Browne, M. J. G.,Vilar, J. C.,Patwal, I.,DuBuc, T. Q.,Febrimarsa,,Atcheson, E.,Frank, U.,Gornik, S. G.,Flaus, A. (2023) 'Hydrozoan sperm-specific SPKK motif-containing histone H2B variants stabilise chromatin with limited compaction'. Developmentdevelopment, 150 (11) [Details]
(2022) 'GNOSIS: an R Shiny app supporting cancer genomics survival analysis with cBioPortal'
King L, Flaus A, Coughlan S. Holian E, Golden A. lan, Simone and Holian, Emma and Golden, Aaron (2022) 'GNOSIS: an R Shiny app supporting cancer genomics survival analysis with cBioPortal'. HRB Open Research, 5 (8):1-11 [Details]
(2022) 'Two Distinct Superoxidase Dismutases (SOD) Secreted by the Helminth Parasite Fasciola hepatica Play Roles in Defence against Metabolic and Host Immune Cell-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) during Growth and Development'
Calvani, N. E. D., De Marco Verissimo, C., Jewhurst, H. L., Cwiklinski, K., Flaus, A., & Dalton, J. P. (2022) 'Two Distinct Superoxidase Dismutases (SOD) Secreted by the Helminth Parasite Fasciola hepatica Play Roles in Defence against Metabolic and Host Immune Cell-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) during Growth and Development'. Antioxidants, 11 (10) [Details]
(2022) 'Production of a functionally active recombinant SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) 3C-like protease and a soluble inactive 3C-like protease-RBD chimeric in a prokaryotic expression system'
De Marco Verissimo, C., López Corrales, J., Dorey, A. L., Cwiklinski, K., Lalor, R., Calvani, N. E. D., Jewhurst, H. L., Flaus, A., Doyle, S., & Dalton, J. P. (2022) 'Production of a functionally active recombinant SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) 3C-like protease and a soluble inactive 3C-like protease-RBD chimeric in a prokaryotic expression system'. Epidemiology And Infection, 150 (e128) [Details]
(2021) 'Cryo-EM structure of the nucleosome core particle containing Giardia lamblia histones'
Sato, S., Takizawa, Y., Hoshikawa, F., Dacher, M., Tanaka, H., Tachiwana, H., Kujirai, T., Iikura, Y., Ho, C. H., Adachi, N., Patwal, I., Flaus, A., & Kurumizaka, H. (2021) 'Cryo-EM structure of the nucleosome core particle containing Giardia lamblia histones'. Nucleic Acids Research, 49 (15):8934-8946 [Details]
(2021) 'Survival outcomes are associated with genomic instability in luminal breast cancers'
King, L; Flaus, A; Holian, E; Golden, A (2021) 'Survival outcomes are associated with genomic instability in luminal breast cancers'. Plos One, [Details]
(2021) 'Histone isoforms and the oncohistone code'
Flaus, A., Downs, J. A., & Owen-Hughes, T. (2021) 'Histone isoforms and the oncohistone code'. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 67 :61-66 [Details]
(2019) 'Functional transcription promoters at DNA double-strand breaks mediate RNA-driven phase separation of damage-response factors'
Pessina, F;Giavazzi, F;Yin, YD;Gioia, U;Vitelli, V;Galbiati, A;Barozzi, S;Garre, M;Oldani, A;Flaus, A;Cerbino, R;Parazzoli, D;Rothenberg, E;di Fagagna, FD (2019) 'Functional transcription promoters at DNA double-strand breaks mediate RNA-driven phase separation of damage-response factors'. Nature Cell Biology, 21 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Viral proteins as a potential driver of histone depletion in dinoflagellates'
Irwin, NAT,Martin, BJE,Young, BP,Browne, MJG,Flaus, A,Loewen, CJR,Keeling, PJ,Howe, LJ (2018) 'Viral proteins as a potential driver of histone depletion in dinoflagellates'. Nature Communications, 9 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Histone H2AX Y142 phosphorylation is a low abundance modification'
Hatimy, AA,Browne, MJG,Flaus, A,Sweet, SMM (2015) 'Histone H2AX Y142 phosphorylation is a low abundance modification'. Int J Mass Spectrom, 391 :139-145 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Life at the mesoscale: the self-organised cytoplasm and nucleoplasm'
Sear, RP,Pagonabarraga, I,Flaus, A (2015) 'Life at the mesoscale: the self-organised cytoplasm and nucleoplasm'. Bmc Biophysics, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'A chromatin-independent role of Polycomb-like 1 to stabilize p53 and promote cellular quiescence'
Brien, GL,Healy, E,Jerman, E,Conway, E,Fadda, E,O'Donovan, D,Krivtsov, AV,Rice, AM,Kearney, CJ,Flaus, A,McDade, SS,Martin, SJ,McLysaght, A,O'Connell, DJ,Armstrong, SA,Bracken, AP (2015) 'A chromatin-independent role of Polycomb-like 1 to stabilize p53 and promote cellular quiescence'. Genes & Development, 29 :2231-2243 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Principles and practice of nucleosome positioning in vitro'
Flaus, A (2011) 'Principles and practice of nucleosome positioning in vitro'. Frontiers In Life Science, 5 :5-27 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: The means to the end'
Flaus, A., Owen-Hughes, T. (2011) 'Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: The means to the end'. FEBS Journal, 278 (19):3579-3595 [Details]
(2010) 'Structure and function of histone H2AX'
Pinto, DM, Flaus, A. (2010) 'Structure and function of histone H2AX'. Subcellular Biochemistry, 50 :55-78 [Details]
(2010) 'Structure and Function of Histone H2AX'
Pinto, DMS;Flaus, A (2010) 'Structure and Function of Histone H2AX'. Endotoxins: Structure, Function And Recognition, 50 :55-78 [DOI] [Details]
(2009) 'Nucleosomes can invade DNA territories occupied by their neighbours'
Engeholm M, de Jager M, Flaus A, Brenk R, van Noort J, Owen-Hughes T. (2009) 'Nucleosomes can invade DNA territories occupied by their neighbours'. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 16 (2):151-158 [Details]
(2007) 'Histone tails and the H3 alphaN helix regulate nucleosome mobility and stability'
Ferreira H, Somers J, Webster R, Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2007) 'Histone tails and the H3 alphaN helix regulate nucleosome mobility and stability'. Mol Cell Biol, 11 :4037-4048 [Details]
(2007) 'Histone modifications influence the action of Snf2 family remodelling enzymes by different mechanisms'
Ferreira H, Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2007) 'Histone modifications influence the action of Snf2 family remodelling enzymes by different mechanisms'. J Mol Biol, 374 (3):563-579 [Details]
(2006) 'Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response'
Costelloe T, Fitzgerald J, Murphy NJ, Flaus A, Lowndes NF (2006) 'Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response'. Experimental Cell Research, 312 (14):2677-2686 [DOI] [Details]
(2006) 'Nucleosome dynamics'
Stockdale C, Bruno M, Ferreira H, Garcia-Wilson E, Wiechens N, Engeholm M, Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2006) 'Nucleosome dynamics'. Biochem Soc Symp, 73 :109-119 [Details]
(2006) 'Analysis of nucleosome repositioning by yeast ISWI and Chd1 chromatin remodeling complexes'
Stockdale C, Flaus A, Ferreira H, Owen-Hughes T. (2006) 'Analysis of nucleosome repositioning by yeast ISWI and Chd1 chromatin remodeling complexes'. J Biol Chem, 281 (24):16279-16288 [Details]
(2006) 'Snf2 family ATPases and DExx box helicases: differences and unifying concepts from high-resolution crystal structures'
Duerr, H, Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T, Hopfner KP. (2006) 'Snf2 family ATPases and DExx box helicases: differences and unifying concepts from high-resolution crystal structures'. Nucleic Acids Res, 34 (15):4160-4167 [Details]
(2006) 'Identification of multiple distinct Snf2 subfamilies with conserved structural motifs'
Flaus A, Martin DM, Barton GJ, Owen-Hughes T. (2006) 'Identification of multiple distinct Snf2 subfamilies with conserved structural motifs'. Nucleic Acids Res, 34 (10):2887-2905 [Details]
(2006) 'Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response'
Costelloe T, Fitzgerald J, Murphy NJ, Flaus, A & Lowndes, NF (2006) 'Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response'. Exp Cell Res, 312 :2677-2686 [Details]
(2004) 'Sin mutations alter inherent nucleosome mobility'
Flaus A, Rencurel C, Ferreira H, Wiechens N, Owen-Hughes T. ( (2004) 'Sin mutations alter inherent nucleosome mobility'. EMBO J, 23 (2):343-353 [Details]
(2004) 'Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: farewell to the tuna-can octamer?'
Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2004) 'Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: farewell to the tuna-can octamer?'. Curr Opin Genet Dev, 14 (2):165-173 [Details]
(2004) 'Site-specific attachment of reporter compounds to recombinant histones'
Bruno M, Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2004) 'Site-specific attachment of reporter compounds to recombinant histones'. Methods Enzymol, 375 :211-228 [Details]
(2003) 'Dynamic properties of nucleosomes during thermal and ATP-driven mobilization'
Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2003) 'Dynamic properties of nucleosomes during thermal and ATP-driven mobilization'. Mol Cell Biol, 23 (21):7767-7779 [Details]
(2003) 'Histone H2A/H2B dimer exchange by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities'
Bruno M, Flaus A, Stockdale C, Rencurel C, Ferreira H, Owen-Hughes T. (2003) 'Histone H2A/H2B dimer exchange by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities'. Mol Cell, 12 (6):1599-1606 [Details]
(2003) 'Evidence for DNA translocation by the ISWI chromatin-remodeling enzyme'
Whitehouse I, Stockdale C, Flaus A, Szczelkun MD, Owen-Hughes T. (2003) 'Evidence for DNA translocation by the ISWI chromatin-remodeling enzyme'. Mol Cell Biol, 23 (6):1935-1945 [Details]
(2003) 'Mechanisms for nucleosome mobilization'
Flaus A, Owen-Hughes T. (2003) 'Mechanisms for nucleosome mobilization'. Biopolymers, 68 (4):563-578 [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Histone sequence variation in divergent eukaryotes facilitates diversity in chromatin packaging'
Patwal, Indu and Trinh, Hien and Golden, Aaron and Flaus, Andrew (2021) 'Histone sequence variation in divergent eukaryotes facilitates diversity in chromatin packaging' bioRxiv, . [DOI] [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2014) British Society for Cell Biology Spring meeting 2014,
Dodson H, Eykelenboom J, Pinto D, Doran J and Flaus A (2014) BSCB Spring 2014. [Conference Paper], British Society for Cell Biology Spring meeting 2014, Warwick , 16-MAR-14 - 19-MAR-14. [Details]

Editorial

  Year Publication
(2019) The Face of Chromatin Variants.
Flaus, A,Owen-Hughes, T (2019) The Face of Chromatin Variants. Editorial [DOI] [Details]
(2017) Unlocking the nucleosome.
Flaus, A;Owen-Hughes, T (2017) Unlocking the nucleosome. WASHINGTON: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE Editorial [DOI] [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2011) Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: the means to the end.
Flaus, A,Owen-Hughes, T (2011) Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling: the means to the end. Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2006) Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response.
Costelloe, T,FitzGerald, J,Murphy, NJ,Flaus, A,Lowndes, NF (2006) Chromatin modulation and the DNA damage response. Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2010 NUI Galway President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching NUI Galway

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Biochemical Society, Irish Area Section Local Ambassador /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Internationalisation, College of Science and Engineering Vice Dean for Internationalisation /

Other Activities

  Description

Programme Director for BSc Biotechnology, 2009-2015 Coordinator of BSc Biotechnology years 1-2, 2015-present

Teaching Interests

  • Use of innovative technologies to enhance teaching and support student learning
  • Introducing novel international dimensions into student learning experiences
  • Development of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives such as refugee integration
  • Integration of employment-relevant perspectives and skills for graduates