Dr Greg Davis - Extended Research Profile

Current research projects

DNA damage repair in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans:

DNA damage repair contributes to genomic stability in all eukaryotes. Although present in all cell types, these mechanisms are highly stringent in germ cells and errors associated with germ cell DNA damage repair have been implicated in numerous diseased states. While the pathways that contribute to nuclear organisation and chromosomal segregation are well characterised, the recruitment and maintenance of these repair mechanisms is largely unknown. This project will explore several genes that are required for chromosomal integrity and determine how they contribute to genome maintenance.

Germline specific small non-coding RNAs:

Small non-coding RNAs are short stretches of RNA which are associated with regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level (e.g., microRNAs), but also guard the genome against viruses, pseudogenes and cryptic loci. This project will utilise the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to explore how specific subgroups of small RNAs contribute to the development of germ cells. This requires analysis of the mechanisms that control stem cell quiescence through to the early stages of embryogenesis.

Research publications

DAWSON, J.A., METHVEN-KELLEY, C.M., DAVIS, G.M., (2017). atz-1 influences meiosis to maintain germline chromosomal stability in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Biology International (in press).

DAVIS, G.M., LOW, W.Y., BOAG, P,R., (2017). Exploring potential germline associated roles of the TRIM-NHL protein NHL-2 through RNAi screening. G3 (in press).

DAVIS, G.M., HASS, M., POCOCK, R., (2015). MicroRNAs: not ‘fine-tuners’ but key regulators of neuronal development and function. Frontiers in Neurology, 6: 245.

SIMPSON, K.J., DAVIS, G.M., BOAG, P.R., (2011). Functional genomic approaches using high throughput RNAi screening in C. elegans and mammalian cells. New Biotechnology 15;29(4):459-70.

Laboratory members

Taylin Gourley (honours)

Joe Dawson (undergraduate)