Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
@mcf-uom.bsky.social
We are the Division of Molecular and Cellular Function Division at the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester.
We perform discovery research to provide insight into crucial cellular processes.
We perform discovery research to provide insight into crucial cellular processes.
Two positions (research assistant and PhD student), great science and the cake!
Check @buckleylab.bsky.social thread for more info:
👇
Check @buckleylab.bsky.social thread for more info:
👇
2 positions up for grabs in the Buckley lab - join us for some fun with optogenetics, zebrafish, neural tubes, biomechanics and cake
November 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Two positions (research assistant and PhD student), great science and the cake!
Check @buckleylab.bsky.social thread for more info:
👇
Check @buckleylab.bsky.social thread for more info:
👇
Structural biologists!
Our division has an opening for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer—apply now!
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Our division has an opening for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer—apply now!
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Structural Biology:Oxford Road
The purpose of this post is to undertake high quality research and also excellent teaching. Hence, the ability to enhance teaching activities within our UG/PG programmes will also be expected.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Structural biologists!
Our division has an opening for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer—apply now!
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Our division has an opening for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer—apply now!
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
New preprint from MCF:
Kerrie Marie and collaborators reveal dynamic patterns of lineage state switching correlated with melanoma tumor evolution, offering insights into potential new therapeutic targets.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Kerrie Marie and collaborators reveal dynamic patterns of lineage state switching correlated with melanoma tumor evolution, offering insights into potential new therapeutic targets.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Transitory Schwann Cell Precursor and hybrid states underpin melanoma therapy resistance and metastasis
Melanoma plasticity, driven by phenotype state switching, underlies clinically relevant traits such as metastasis and therapy resistance. As melanoma progression is thought to recapitulate aspects of ...
www.biorxiv.org
July 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
New preprint from MCF:
Kerrie Marie and collaborators reveal dynamic patterns of lineage state switching correlated with melanoma tumor evolution, offering insights into potential new therapeutic targets.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Kerrie Marie and collaborators reveal dynamic patterns of lineage state switching correlated with melanoma tumor evolution, offering insights into potential new therapeutic targets.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We are excited to announce that Professor Graham Pavitt, Chair in Molecular Biology, has been appointed as our new Head of Division!
Join us in welcoming Graham to his new role—we look forward to the exciting times ahead!
research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/g...
Join us in welcoming Graham to his new role—we look forward to the exciting times ahead!
research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/g...
Graham Pavitt
research.manchester.ac.uk
July 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
We are excited to announce that Professor Graham Pavitt, Chair in Molecular Biology, has been appointed as our new Head of Division!
Join us in welcoming Graham to his new role—we look forward to the exciting times ahead!
research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/g...
Join us in welcoming Graham to his new role—we look forward to the exciting times ahead!
research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/g...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
In our study @elife.bsky.social we uncover the mechanism of mPPase inhibition. Over 20x structures to date are in a symmetric form. We use EPR(PELDOR/DEER) and reveal asymmetric binding at the active site while maintaining symmetric conformation at periplasmic site
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
July 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In our study @elife.bsky.social we uncover the mechanism of mPPase inhibition. Over 20x structures to date are in a symmetric form. We use EPR(PELDOR/DEER) and reveal asymmetric binding at the active site while maintaining symmetric conformation at periplasmic site
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Yesterday I attended the #graduation of my #firstPhD student Katie Lowles. What a moment! No longer her PI but still feeling very proud @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social
(Oh and I also attended my first ever #GRCCollagen...it was awesome even though I had to leave early!)
(Oh and I also attended my first ever #GRCCollagen...it was awesome even though I had to leave early!)
July 17, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Super excited to host Dr Kerrie L Marie @mcf-uom.bsky.social today @liigh-unam.bsky.social! She talked to us about the embryonic pathways that are co-opted by #melanoma cells, a great talk with lots of questions 🤓
March 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Super excited to host Dr Kerrie L Marie @mcf-uom.bsky.social today @liigh-unam.bsky.social! She talked to us about the embryonic pathways that are co-opted by #melanoma cells, a great talk with lots of questions 🤓
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
We're ready for #BritishScienceWeek @ManchesterMuseum! All about #secretion, #ECMatrix assembly, from cells to #zebrafish! @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
March 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We're ready for #BritishScienceWeek @ManchesterMuseum! All about #secretion, #ECMatrix assembly, from cells to #zebrafish! @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Fantastic postdoc opportunities available @fbmh-uom.bsky.social!
💡 Please get in touch if you're interested in using biomaterials, cell biology, 'omics technologies and data science to investigate cell adhesion networks and gene expression in cancer
#science #research #jobs #careers
💡 Please get in touch if you're interested in using biomaterials, cell biology, 'omics technologies and data science to investigate cell adhesion networks and gene expression in cancer
#science #research #jobs #careers
Early-career fellowships at the University of Manchester!
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowships | Biology, Medicine and Health | University of Manchester
Find out about and apply for a Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowship.
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk
March 5, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Fantastic postdoc opportunities available @fbmh-uom.bsky.social!
💡 Please get in touch if you're interested in using biomaterials, cell biology, 'omics technologies and data science to investigate cell adhesion networks and gene expression in cancer
#science #research #jobs #careers
💡 Please get in touch if you're interested in using biomaterials, cell biology, 'omics technologies and data science to investigate cell adhesion networks and gene expression in cancer
#science #research #jobs #careers
Our researchers leb by @hilaryashe.bsky.social show the versatility of the SunTag system by providing proof-of-principle data for new avenues of exploration, quantitation and visualisation of protein synthesis.
@biologists.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
@biologists.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Exploiting the SunTag system to study the developmental regulation of mRNA translation
The ability to quantitatively study mRNA translation using SunTag imaging is transforming our understanding of the translation process. Here, we expand the SunTag method to study new aspects of transl...
journals.biologists.com
March 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Our researchers leb by @hilaryashe.bsky.social show the versatility of the SunTag system by providing proof-of-principle data for new avenues of exploration, quantitation and visualisation of protein synthesis.
@biologists.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
@biologists.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Our new paper describes how SunTag imaging of mRNA translation can be used to study ribosome pausing in development. We also adapt the system to study translation of a secreted protein. Work done in collaboration with @mrattray.bsky.social and @markashe.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1242/jcs....
doi.org/10.1242/jcs....
Exploiting the SunTag system to study the developmental regulation of mRNA translation
The ability to quantitatively study mRNA translation using SunTag imaging is transforming our understanding of the translation process. Here, we expand the SunTag method to study new aspects of transl...
doi.org
March 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Our new paper describes how SunTag imaging of mRNA translation can be used to study ribosome pausing in development. We also adapt the system to study translation of a secreted protein. Work done in collaboration with @mrattray.bsky.social and @markashe.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1242/jcs....
doi.org/10.1242/jcs....
A new day, a new preprint!
@tranejoan.bsky.social lab demonstrated that macrophages promote collagen deposition in fibroblasts by inducing circadian rhythms, with M2-derived PDGFA playing a key role in this process.
Read here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@tranejoan.bsky.social lab demonstrated that macrophages promote collagen deposition in fibroblasts by inducing circadian rhythms, with M2-derived PDGFA playing a key role in this process.
Read here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Macrophages promote collagen deposition through circadian regulation of fibroblasts
Collagen deposition in fibroblasts, the primary collagen-producing cells, is regulated by both macrophages and the circadian rhythm, although how these regulatory processes interact with one another i...
www.biorxiv.org
March 5, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A new day, a new preprint!
@tranejoan.bsky.social lab demonstrated that macrophages promote collagen deposition in fibroblasts by inducing circadian rhythms, with M2-derived PDGFA playing a key role in this process.
Read here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@tranejoan.bsky.social lab demonstrated that macrophages promote collagen deposition in fibroblasts by inducing circadian rhythms, with M2-derived PDGFA playing a key role in this process.
Read here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Our lab's #1st manuscript from our #1st #PhD Katie is on #bioRxiv! Check it out 👇🏻
#macrophage regulation of fibroblast #collagen #circadian rhythm. #ImmunoECMatrix w/ @profandrewmac.bsky.social @tracyh9494.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#macrophage regulation of fibroblast #collagen #circadian rhythm. #ImmunoECMatrix w/ @profandrewmac.bsky.social @tracyh9494.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Macrophages promote collagen deposition through circadian regulation of fibroblasts
Collagen deposition in fibroblasts, the primary collagen-producing cells, is regulated by both macrophages and the circadian rhythm, although how these regulatory processes interact with one another i...
www.biorxiv.org
March 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Our lab's #1st manuscript from our #1st #PhD Katie is on #bioRxiv! Check it out 👇🏻
#macrophage regulation of fibroblast #collagen #circadian rhythm. #ImmunoECMatrix w/ @profandrewmac.bsky.social @tracyh9494.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#macrophage regulation of fibroblast #collagen #circadian rhythm. #ImmunoECMatrix w/ @profandrewmac.bsky.social @tracyh9494.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Exciting PhD opportunity available in my lab for the students from Black heritage background. Apply soon. 🤞🤞🤞
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Non-Clinical PhD Opportunity
📅 Deadline: 4 April
🔗 crukcentre.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Non-Clinical PhD Opportunity
📅 Deadline: 4 April
🔗 crukcentre.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...
Research Opportunities - Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre
Explore the range of postgraduate cancer research opportunities available in Manchester.
crukcentre.manchester.ac.uk
March 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Exciting PhD opportunity available in my lab for the students from Black heritage background. Apply soon. 🤞🤞🤞
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Non-Clinical PhD Opportunity
📅 Deadline: 4 April
🔗 crukcentre.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social
CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Non-Clinical PhD Opportunity
📅 Deadline: 4 April
🔗 crukcentre.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...
Early-career fellowships at the University of Manchester!
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowships | Biology, Medicine and Health | University of Manchester
Find out about and apply for a Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowship.
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk
March 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Early-career fellowships at the University of Manchester!
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
To celebrate 200 years of The University of Manchester, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health offers a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to support exceptional early-career researchers:
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
A fantastic postdoc opportunity available for talented PhD graduates to work in our CRUK funded PhD project.
jobs.manchester.ac.uk/internal/Job...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
jobs.manchester.ac.uk/internal/Job...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
March 4, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A fantastic postdoc opportunity available for talented PhD graduates to work in our CRUK funded PhD project.
jobs.manchester.ac.uk/internal/Job...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
jobs.manchester.ac.uk/internal/Job...
@mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcrcellmatrix.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
New preprint!
@sankarinagarajan.bsky.social and colleagues employed machine learning approaches to identify critical gene pathways and transcription factor networks in breast cancer
@sankarinagarajan.bsky.social and colleagues employed machine learning approaches to identify critical gene pathways and transcription factor networks in breast cancer
Our lab's very first manuscript is out in BioRxiv. Hope this would be interesting for breast cancer scientists: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... @mcf-uom.bsky.social @mcr-breastcentre.bsky.social @mcrcnews.bsky.social @official-uom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social
Subtype-specific enhancer RNAs define transcriptional regulators and prognosis in breast cancers
Gene expression is tightly controlled by DNA elements called enhancers by associating with lineage-specific transcription factors. These enhancers transcribe non-coding RNAs (called enhancer RNAs or e...
www.biorxiv.org
March 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
New preprint!
@sankarinagarajan.bsky.social and colleagues employed machine learning approaches to identify critical gene pathways and transcription factor networks in breast cancer
@sankarinagarajan.bsky.social and colleagues employed machine learning approaches to identify critical gene pathways and transcription factor networks in breast cancer
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Is there more to defining the eve stripes in the Drosophila embryo than just transcriptional regulation? We provide evidence that spatially regulated mRNA decay is also important.
Nice new paper from Jennifer Love and @hilaryashe.bsky.social lab members shows how mRNA decay is spatially and temporally regulated, ramping up at the edges of stripes in early drosophila embryos, with mRNAs increasingly localising to P-bodies for degradation www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
February 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Is there more to defining the eve stripes in the Drosophila embryo than just transcriptional regulation? We provide evidence that spatially regulated mRNA decay is also important.
New paper by @pliotasgroup.bsky.social !
In our recent article we show the YbiO mechanosensitive channel can achieve pore openings of 3nS under membrane tension equalling the largest known gated-pore MscL and we also solve a cryo- EM structure of a YbiO in a sub-open state. Great effort by @lane-b.bsky.social www.cell.com/structure/fu...
The mechanosensitive channel YbiO has a conductance equivalent to the largest gated-pore
Lane et al. demonstrate that the mechanosensitive channel YbiO can achieve conductances
equivalent to the largest gated-pore in nature when subjected to membrane tension.
Single-channel analysis shows...
www.cell.com
February 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
New paper by @pliotasgroup.bsky.social !
Welcome to Bluesky @pliotasgroup.bsky.social !
January 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Welcome to Bluesky @pliotasgroup.bsky.social !
Paper alert!
Pliotas Group reviewed pulsed dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy applications and highlighted emerging strategies for future studies
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pliotas Group reviewed pulsed dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy applications and highlighted emerging strategies for future studies
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Enabling structural biological electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in membrane proteins through spin labelling
Pulsed dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (PDS), combined with site-directed spin-labelling, represents a powerful tool for the inve…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 18, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Paper alert!
Pliotas Group reviewed pulsed dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy applications and highlighted emerging strategies for future studies
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pliotas Group reviewed pulsed dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy applications and highlighted emerging strategies for future studies
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester
Very glad to see this study finally out (and mentioned on bsky already!)- it's been a huge #collaboration across different groups🙏🏻
Fibroblasts recycles (in a #circadian manner) #collagen to make new fibrils, which is enhanced in #fibrosis.
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@elife.bsky.social
Fibroblasts recycles (in a #circadian manner) #collagen to make new fibrils, which is enhanced in #fibrosis.
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@elife.bsky.social
Endocytic recycling is central to circadian collagen fibrillogenesis and disrupted in fibrosis
Secretion and fibrillogenesis of collagen-I are separately controlled molecular pathways in the fibroblast, where surprisingly endocytic recycling is required for fibril formation and is increased in ...
doi.org
January 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Very glad to see this study finally out (and mentioned on bsky already!)- it's been a huge #collaboration across different groups🙏🏻
Fibroblasts recycles (in a #circadian manner) #collagen to make new fibrils, which is enhanced in #fibrosis.
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@elife.bsky.social
Fibroblasts recycles (in a #circadian manner) #collagen to make new fibrils, which is enhanced in #fibrosis.
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@elife.bsky.social
Paper alert!
A collaborative study led by @tranejoan.bsky.social shows that circadian-regulated endocytic recycling is central to homeostatic assembly of collagen fibrils and is disrupted in diseases.
Published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
A collaborative study led by @tranejoan.bsky.social shows that circadian-regulated endocytic recycling is central to homeostatic assembly of collagen fibrils and is disrupted in diseases.
Published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
Endocytic recycling is central to circadian collagen fibrillogenesis and disrupted in fibrosis
Secretion and fibrillogenesis of collagen-I are separately controlled molecular pathways in the fibroblast, where surprisingly endocytic recycling is required for fibril formation and is increased in ...
doi.org
January 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Paper alert!
A collaborative study led by @tranejoan.bsky.social shows that circadian-regulated endocytic recycling is central to homeostatic assembly of collagen fibrils and is disrupted in diseases.
Published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
A collaborative study led by @tranejoan.bsky.social shows that circadian-regulated endocytic recycling is central to homeostatic assembly of collagen fibrils and is disrupted in diseases.
Published in @elife.bsky.social
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...