Staff Profiles

Prof Brian McStay

BA, PhD

Contact Details

Personal Professor In Biochemistry
Centre for Chromosome Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Bioresearch Building
University of Galway
T: Ext. 2423
E: brian.mcstay@universityofgalway.ie

Biography

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2024)	'Monoallelically expressed noncoding RNAs form nucleolar territories on NOR-containing chromosomes and regulate rRNA expression' Hao, Qinyu and Liu, Minxue and Daulatabad, Swapna Vidhur and Gaffari, Saba and Song, You Jin and Srivastava, Rajneesh and Bhaskar, Shivang and Moitra, Anurupa and Mangan, Hazel and Tseng, Elizabeth and Gilmore, Rachel B and Frier, Susan M and Chen, Xin and Wang, Chengliang and Huang, Sui and Chamberlain, Stormy and Jin, Hong and Korlach, Jonas and McStay, Brian and Sinha, Saurabh and Janga, Sarath Chandra and Prasanth, Supriya G and Prasanth, Kannanganattu V (2024) 'Monoallelically expressed noncoding RNAs form nucleolar territories on NOR-containing chromosomes and regulate rRNA expression'. eLife, 13 [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	'Human pangenome supports analysis of complex genomic regions' Massarat, A.,Gymrek, M.,McStay, B.,Jonsson, H. (2023) 'Human pangenome supports analysis of complex genomic regions'. Nature, 617 (79607960):256-258 [Details]
	(2019)	'Nucleolar DNA Double-Strand Break Responses Underpinning rDNA Genomic Stability' van Sluis M;McStay B; (2019) 'Nucleolar DNA Double-Strand Break Responses Underpinning rDNA Genomic Stability'. Trends In Genetics, 35 (10) [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	'The p-Arms of Human Acrocentric Chromosomes Play by a Different Set of Rules' McStay, Brian (2023) 'The p-Arms of Human Acrocentric Chromosomes Play by a Different Set of Rules'. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 24 (1) [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	'Transitions in the framework of condensate biology' Seydoux, G.,Zhang, M.,Forman-Kay, J. D.,McStay, B.,Liu, K. F.,Li, P. (2023) 'Transitions in the framework of condensate biology'. Molecular Cell, 83 (77):1016-1021 [Details]
	(2022)	'The dual nature of the nucleolus' Tartakoff, A.,DiMario, P.,Hurt, E.,McStay, B.,Panse, V. G.,Tollervey, D. (2022) 'The dual nature of the nucleolus'. Genes & Development, 36 (13-1413-14):765-769 [Details]
	(2021)	'Human nucleoli comprise multiple constrained territories, tethered to individual chromosomes' Mangan, H.,McStay, B. (2021) 'Human nucleoli comprise multiple constrained territories, tethered to individual chromosomes'. Genes & Development, [Details]
	(2020)	'NORs on human acrocentric chromosome p-arms are active by default and can associate with nucleoli independently of rDNA' van Sluis M;van Vuuren C;Mangan H;McStay B; (2020) 'NORs on human acrocentric chromosome p-arms are active by default and can associate with nucleoli independently of rDNA'. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America, 117 (19) [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Nucleolar DNA Double-Strand Break Responses Underpinning rDNA Genomic Stability' van Sluis, M;McStay, B (2019) 'Nucleolar DNA Double-Strand Break Responses Underpinning rDNA Genomic Stability'. Trends In Genetics, 35 :743-753 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Resolution of human ribosomal DNA occurs in anaphase, dependent on tankyrase 1, condensin II, and topoisomerase II alpha' Daniloski, Z,Bisht, KK,McStay, B,Smith, S (2019) 'Resolution of human ribosomal DNA occurs in anaphase, dependent on tankyrase 1, condensin II, and topoisomerase II alpha'. Genes & Development, 33 :276-281 [DOI] [Details]
	(2017)	'Integrating the genomic architecture of human nucleolar organizer regions with the biophysical properties of nucleoli' Mangan, H;Gailin, MO;McStay, B (2017) 'Integrating the genomic architecture of human nucleolar organizer regions with the biophysical properties of nucleoli'. Febs Journal, 284 :3977-3985 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'Nucleolar organizer regions: genomic 'dark matter' requiring illumination' McStay, B (2016) 'Nucleolar organizer regions: genomic 'dark matter' requiring illumination'. Genes & Development, 30 :1598-1610 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Human NORs, comprising rDNA arrays and functionally conserved distal elements, are located within dynamic chromosomal regions' van Sluis, M;Gailin, MO;McCarter, JGW;Mangan, H;Grob, A;McStay, B (2019) 'Human NORs, comprising rDNA arrays and functionally conserved distal elements, are located within dynamic chromosomal regions'. Genes & Development, 33 :1688-1701 [DOI] [Details]
	(2017)	'Nucleolar reorganization in response to rDNA damage' van Sluis, M,McStay, B (2017) 'Nucleolar reorganization in response to rDNA damage'. Current Opinion In Cell Biology, 46 :81-86 [DOI] [Details]
	(2015)	'A localized nucleolar DNA damage response facilitates recruitment of the homology-directed repair machinery independent of cell cycle stage' van Sluis, M; McStay, B (2015) 'A localized nucleolar DNA damage response facilitates recruitment of the homology-directed repair machinery independent of cell cycle stage'. Genes & Development, 29 :1151-1163 [DOI] [Details]
	(2014)	'Construction of synthetic nucleoli and what it tells us about propagation of sub-nuclear domains through cell division' Alice Grob, Brian McStay (2014) 'Construction of synthetic nucleoli and what it tells us about propagation of sub-nuclear domains through cell division'. Cell Cycle, 13 (16):2501-2508 [Details]
	(2014)	'Construction of synthetic nucleoli in human cells reveals how a major functional nuclear domain is formed and propagated through cell division' Grob, A,Colleran, C,McStay, B (2014) 'Construction of synthetic nucleoli in human cells reveals how a major functional nuclear domain is formed and propagated through cell division'. Genes & Development, 28 :220-230 [DOI] [Details]
	(2014)	'Ribosome biogenesis: Achilles heel of cancer?' van Sluis M, McStay B (2014) 'Ribosome biogenesis: Achilles heel of cancer?'. Gene, 5 (5-6):152-153 [Details]
	(2013)	'Structure-function analysis of Hmo1 unveils an ancestral organization of HMG-Box factors involved in ribosomal DNA transcription from yeast to human' Albert B, Colleran C, LÃ©ger-Silvestre I, Berger AB, Dez C, Normand C, Perez-Fernandez J, McStay B, Gadal O (2013) 'Structure-function analysis of Hmo1 unveils an ancestral organization of HMG-Box factors involved in ribosomal DNA transcription from yeast to human'. Nucleic Acids Research, 41 (22):10135-10149 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'The shared genomic architecture of human nucleolar organizer regions' Floutsakou, I,Agrawal, S,Nguyen, TT,Seoighe, C,Ganley, ARD,McStay, B (2013) 'The shared genomic architecture of human nucleolar organizer regions'. Genome Research, 23 :2003-2012 [DOI] [Details]
	(2012)	'NOL11, Implicated in the Pathogenesis of North American Indian Childhood Cirrhosis, Is Required for Pre-rRNA Transcription and Processing' Freed, EF,Prieto, JL,McCann, KL,McStay, B,Baserga, SJ (2012) 'NOL11, Implicated in the Pathogenesis of North American Indian Childhood Cirrhosis, Is Required for Pre-rRNA Transcription and Processing'. Plos Genetics, 8 [DOI] [Details]
	(2011)	'Replication timing of pseudo-NORs' Smirnov, E,Cmarko, D,Kovacik, L,Hagen, GM,Popov, A,Raska, O,Prieto, JL,Ryabchenko, B,Arnim, F,McStay, B,Raska, I (2011) 'Replication timing of pseudo-NORs'. Journal Of Structural Biology, 173 :213-218 [DOI] [Details]
	(2009)	'A novel SSU processome assembly intermediate that contains the U3 snoRNP, nucleolin, RRP5 and DBP4' Turner AJ, Knox AA, Prieto JL, McStay B, Watkins NJ (2009) 'A novel SSU processome assembly intermediate that contains the U3 snoRNP, nucleolin, RRP5 and DBP4'. Mol Cell Biol, 29 (11):3007-3017 [Details]
	(2008)	'Involvement of SIRT7 in resumption of rDNA transcription at the exit from mitosis' Grob A., Roussel P., Wright J.E., McStay B., Hernandez-Verdun D. and Sirri V. (2008) 'Involvement of SIRT7 in resumption of rDNA transcription at the exit from mitosis'. J.Cell Sci, [Details]
	(2008)	'The epigenetic regulation of ribosomal gene expression' McStay B, Grummt I (2008) 'The epigenetic regulation of ribosomal gene expression'. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, 24 :131-157 [Details]
	(2008)	'Pseudo-NORs: a novel model for studying nucleoli' Prieto JL, McStay B. (2008) 'Pseudo-NORs: a novel model for studying nucleoli'. BBA Molecular Cell Research, 1783 :2116-2123 [Details]
	(2007)	'Factors linking transcription and processing of pre-rRNA in human cells are recruited to nucleolar organiser region chromatin independent of transcription' Prieto, J.L. and McStay B (2007) 'Factors linking transcription and processing of pre-rRNA in human cells are recruited to nucleolar organiser region chromatin independent of transcription'. Genes and Development, 21 :2041-2054 [Details]
	(2006)	'Nucleolar dominance: a model for rRNA gene silencing' McStay, B. (2006) 'Nucleolar dominance: a model for rRNA gene silencing'. Genes and Development, 20 :1207-1214 [Details]
	(2006)	'A role for UBF in organising ribosomal gene chromatin' Wright, J.E., Mais, C., Prieto, J.L. and McStay B (2006) 'A role for UBF in organising ribosomal gene chromatin'. Biochem Soc Symp, 73 :77-84 [Details]
	(2006)	'Nucleolar protein Upstream Binding Factor is sequestered into adenovirus DNA replication centres during infection without affecting RNA polymerase I location or ablating rRNA synthesis' F. J. Lawrence, B. McStay and D. A. Matthews (2006) 'Nucleolar protein Upstream Binding Factor is sequestered into adenovirus DNA replication centres during infection without affecting RNA polymerase I location or ablating rRNA synthesis'. J. Cell. Sci, 119 :2621-2631 [Details]
	(2005)	'Nucleolar biogenesis; the first small steps' Prieto, J.L. and McStay B (2005) 'Nucleolar biogenesis; the first small steps'. Biochemical Society Transactions, 33 (6):1441-1443 [Details]
	(2005)	'UBF Binding Site Arrays Form Pseudo-NORs and Sequester the RNA Pol I Transcription Machinery' Mais, C., Wright, J.E., Prieto, J.L., Raggett, S.L. and McStay B. (2005) 'UBF Binding Site Arrays Form Pseudo-NORs and Sequester the RNA Pol I Transcription Machinery'. Genes and Development, 19 :50-64 [Details]
	(2002)	'UBF binding in vivo is not restricted to regulatory sequences within the vertebrate rDNA repeat' Audrey C. O'Sullivan, Gareth J. Sullivan and Brian McStay (2002) 'UBF binding in vivo is not restricted to regulatory sequences within the vertebrate rDNA repeat'. Mol.Cell.Bio, 22 :657-668 [Details]
	(2002)	'On the formation of amplified nucleoli during early Xenopus oogenesis' Mais C, McStay B, Scheer U. (2002) 'On the formation of amplified nucleoli during early Xenopus oogenesis'. J Struct Biol, 140 :214-226 [Details]
	(2001)	'Human acrocentric chromosomes with transcriptionally silent nucleolar organiser regions can associate with heterologous nucleoli' Sullivan, G.J. Bridger, J.M., Cuthbert, A.P., Newbold, R.. Bickmore, W.A. and McStay. (2001) 'Human acrocentric chromosomes with transcriptionally silent nucleolar organiser regions can associate with heterologous nucleoli'. EMBO Journal, 20 :2867-2877 [Details]
	(1997)	'Association of the nucleolar transcription factor UBF with the transcriptionally inactive rRNA genes of pronuclei and early Xenopus embryos' Bell, P., Mais, C., McStay, B. and Scheer, U. (1997) 'Association of the nucleolar transcription factor UBF with the transcriptionally inactive rRNA genes of pronuclei and early Xenopus embryos'. J.Cell Science, 110 :2053-2063 [Details]
	(1997)	'The Xenopus RNA polymerase I transcription factor, UBF, has a role in transcriptional enhancement distinct from that at the promoter' McStay, B., Sullivan, G.J. and Cairns C. (1997) 'The Xenopus RNA polymerase I transcription factor, UBF, has a role in transcriptional enhancement distinct from that at the promoter'. EMBO Journal, 16 :396-405 [Details]
	(1996)	'Upstream Binding Factor stabilizes Rib1, the TATA-binding-protein-containing RNA Polymerase I transcription factor, by multiple protein interactions in a DNA-independent manner' Bodeker, M., Cairns,C and McStay,B. (1996) 'Upstream Binding Factor stabilizes Rib1, the TATA-binding-protein-containing RNA Polymerase I transcription factor, by multiple protein interactions in a DNA-independent manner'. Mol. Cell. Biol, 16 :5572-5578 [Details]
	(1995)	'Identification and cDNA cloning of a xenopus nucleolar phosphoprotein xNopp180, that is the homolog of the rat nucleolar protein Nopp140' Cairns, C. and McStay, B. (1995) 'Identification and cDNA cloning of a xenopus nucleolar phosphoprotein xNopp180, that is the homolog of the rat nucleolar protein Nopp140'. J. Cell Science, 108 :3339-3347 [Details]
	(1995)	'UBF an architectural element for RNA polymerase I promoters' Reeder, R.H., Pikaard, C.S. and McStay, B. (1995) 'UBF an architectural element for RNA polymerase I promoters'. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, 9 :251-263 [Details]
	(1995)	'HMG box 4 is the principal determinant of species psecificity in the RNA polymerase I transcription factor UBF' Cairns, C. and McStay, B. (1995) 'HMG box 4 is the principal determinant of species psecificity in the RNA polymerase I transcription factor UBF'. Nuc. Acids Res, 22 :4583-4590 [Details]
	(1994)	'xUBF, an RNA polymerase I transcription factor, crosslinks DNA' Hu,C.H., McStay B.M. and Reeder, R.H. (1994) 'xUBF, an RNA polymerase I transcription factor, crosslinks DNA'. Mol. Cell. Biol, 14 :2871-2882 [Details]
	(1993)	'Efficient expression of a protein coding gene under the control of an RNA polymerase I promoter' Palmer, T., Miller, A.D., Reeder, R.H. and McStay, B.M. (1993) 'Efficient expression of a protein coding gene under the control of an RNA polymerase I promoter'. Nucleic Acids Res, 21 :3451-3457 [Details]
	(1991)	'xUBF contains a novel dimerization domain essential for RNA polymerase I transcription' McStay, B., Frazier, M. W. and Reeder, R.H. (1991) 'xUBF contains a novel dimerization domain essential for RNA polymerase I transcription'. Genes and Development, 5 :1957-1968 [Details]
	(1991)	'xUBF and Rib I are both required for formation of a stable RNA polymerase I promoterv complex in X.laevis' McStay, B., Hu C. H., Pikaard, C.S. and Reeder, R.H. (1991) 'xUBF and Rib I are both required for formation of a stable RNA polymerase I promoterv complex in X.laevis'. EMBO journal, 10 :2297-2303 [Details]
	(1990)	'A DNA-binding protein is required for termination of transcription in Xenopus laevis' McStay, B. and Reeder, R.H. (1990) 'A DNA-binding protein is required for termination of transcription in Xenopus laevis'. Mol.Cell.Biol, 10 :2793-2800 [Details]
	(1990)	'An RNA polymerase I termination site can stimulate the adjacent ribosomal gene promoter by two distinct mechanisms in Xenopus laevis' McStay, B. and Reeder, R.H. (1990) 'An RNA polymerase I termination site can stimulate the adjacent ribosomal gene promoter by two distinct mechanisms in Xenopus laevis'. Genes and Devolpment, 4 :1240-1252 [Details]
	(1989)	'The Xenopus ribosomal gene enhancers bind an essential polymerase I transcription factor' Pikaard, C.S., McStay, B.M., Schultz, M.C., Bell, S.P. and Reeder, R.H. (1989) 'The Xenopus ribosomal gene enhancers bind an essential polymerase I transcription factor'. Genes and Development, 3 :1779-1788 [Details]
	(1987)	'Processing and termination of RNA polymerase I transcripts' Reeder, R.H., Labhart, P.L. and Mc Stay, B. (1987) 'Processing and termination of RNA polymerase I transcripts'. BioEssays, 6 :108-112 [Details]
	(1987)	'Linker scanner mutagenesis of the Xenopus laevis ribosomal gene promoter' Reeder, R.H., Pennock, D., McStay, B., Roan, J., Tolentino, E. and Walker, P. (1987) 'Linker scanner mutagenesis of the Xenopus laevis ribosomal gene promoter'. Nucl. Acids Res, 15 :7429-7441 [Details]
	(1986)	'A termination site for Xenopus RNA polymerase I also acts as an element of an adjacent promoter' McStay, B. and Reeder, R.H. (1986) 'A termination site for Xenopus RNA polymerase I also acts as an element of an adjacent promoter'. Cell, 47 :913-920 [Details]
	(1983)	'The origin of the rRNA precursor from X.borealis analysed in vivo and in vitro' McStay, B. and Bird, A.P. (1983) 'The origin of the rRNA precursor from X.borealis analysed in vivo and in vitro'. Nucl. Acids Res, 11 :8167-8181 [Details]
	(1983)	'DNaseI Hypersensitive sites at promoter like sequences in the spacer of X.laevis and X. Borealis' LaVolpe, A., Taggart, M.,McStay, B., and Bird, A.P. (1983) 'DNaseI Hypersensitive sites at promoter like sequences in the spacer of X.laevis and X. Borealis'. Nucl. Acids Res, 11 :5361-5380 [Details]

Book Chapters

	Year	Publication
	(2016)	'The Relationship Between Human Nucleolar Organizer Regions and Nucleoli, Probed by 3D-ImmunoFISH' van Sluis, M;van Vuuren, C;McStay, B (2016) 'The Relationship Between Human Nucleolar Organizer Regions and Nucleoli, Probed by 3D-ImmunoFISH' In: The Nucleolus. :3-14 TOTOWA: HUMANA PRESS INC. [DOI] [Details]
	(2011)	'UBF an Essential Player in Maintenance of Active NORs and Nucleolar Formation' Grob, A,Colleran, C,McStay, B,Olson, MOJ (2011) 'UBF an Essential Player in Maintenance of Active NORs and Nucleolar Formation' In: The Nucleolus. :83-103 New York: Springer. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

	Year	Publication
	(2013)	*NOL11, implicated in the pathogenesis of North American Indian Childhood Cirrhosis, is required for pre-rRNA transcription and processing* Baserga, S,Freed, E,Prieto, JL,McCann, K,McStay, B (2013) FASEB JOURNAL NOL11, implicated in the pathogenesis of North American Indian Childhood Cirrhosis, is required for pre-rRNA transcription and processing [Details]
	(2011)	*DISCOVERY OF A NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDHOOD CIRRHOSIS-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN THAT IS REQUIRED FOR PRE-RRNA TRANSCRIPTION AND PROCESSING* Freed, EF,Prieto, JL,McStay, B,Baserga, SJ (2011) HEPATOLOGY DISCOVERY OF A NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDHOOD CIRRHOSIS-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN THAT IS REQUIRED FOR PRE-RRNA TRANSCRIPTION AND PROCESSING , pp.411-411 [Details]

ANET/COS

	Year	Publication
	(2023)	Topological stress triggers difficult-to-repair DNA lesions in ribosomal DNA with ensuing formation of PML-nucleolar compartment. Terezie Hornofova and Alexandra Urbancokova and Josef Novak and Sarka Salajkova and Sona Stemberkova Hubackova and Alena Uvizl and Brian McStay and Zdenek Hodny and Jiri Bartek and Pavla Vasicova (2023) Topological stress triggers difficult-to-repair DNA lesions in ribosomal DNA with ensuing formation of PML-nucleolar compartment. ANET/COS [DOI] [Details]
	(2002)	Oddpols united: new insights into transcription by RNA polymerases I and III. McStay B, Paule M, Schultz MC, Willis I, Pikaard CS (2002) Oddpols united: new insights into transcription by RNA polymerases I and III. ANET/COS [Details]