Dr Rebecca Jones

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Supervisor Profile

Research Interests

My research group focuses upon DNA replication, replication stress and replication-associated DNA damage. The aim of our work is to understand how these processes take place within the context of the nucleus in healthy cells and in ageing-related disease such as cancer and progeroid syndromes.

I have experience of working with a wide range of techniques for studying the dynamics of DNA replication. Such techniques include immunofluorescence microscopy, chromatin isolation, DNA fibres, replication foci formation, alkaline gel electrophoresis, affinity chromatography and cell viability assays.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, organised, student-centred.

Provision of Training

In the beginning, I will provide all the necessary training and support required for you to develop independence. As you become more independent, you can work to your own schedule and I will also encourage you to partake in suitable professional development training.

Progression Monitoring and Management

In Y1, we will arrange a suitable time each week in which we can meet to discuss your progress and create monthly action-plans. Regular scheduled meetings will ensure that you feel supported throughout your PhD, you have dedicated time to ask questions and problems can be quickly resolved.

Communication

Aside from the weekly one-to-one meetings, the group will communicate through email and a WhatsApp group chat for general communication, so I would expect these to be checked regularly within working hours. You will be responsible for managing your work/life balance but if you have any issues that impact your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations then I will be more than happy to talk about them.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per month

These meetings will be mainly face to face, and I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

How do healthy cells age - a worm’s tale of exploration into the decline of DNA replication and the structure of the nuclear membrane

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

How do healthy cells age - a worm’s tale of exploration into the decline of DNA replication and the structure of the nuclear membrane

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Zita Balklava

University of Registration: Aston University

BBSRC Research Themes: Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing)

Project Outline

Staged within the nucleus of the cell, DNA replication is the fundamental process for cell division and occurs within the majority of the trillions of cells we have in the body. As healthy cells age, DNA replication fidelity and efficiency decreases, while the integrity of the nuclear membrane also deteriorates [1-3]. Such changes have never been studied together however and so the aim of this project is to characterise both events in the ageing process, to determine which occurs first - defects in DNA replication or breakdown of the nuclear membrane? The knowledge gained from this project will help us to better understand the ageing process and the connections that exist between DNA replication machinery and the nuclear membrane, which are important in many ageing-related diseases such as cancer and Progeria.

In order to ensure that all of the DNA is fully duplicated in a precise manner, DNA replication is performed through a number of highly regulated steps [4]. In higher eukaryotic cells, onset of DNA replication requires formation of an intact nuclear membrane, which surrounds the chromatin and concentrates replication factors within the nucleus. Components of the nuclear membrane have also been found to directly interact with DNA replication machinery however, and to affect many aspects of the process.

In order to study and characterise mechanisms of ageing within the lab, we need a model system, which ages in a relatively short time and which mimics humans as much as possible. This project will thus make use of the C. elegans (nematode worm) model organism, which ages within two-three weeks and which comprises complex organ systems.

This project will combine my expertise in working on DNA replication (>10 years) with that of Dr Zita Balklava, who has >10 years’ worth of experience in working with C. elegans. The first aim of the project is to monitor the health of DNA replication and the structure of the nuclear membrane over the life span of the worms. For this, we will employ western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy techniques with antibodies against known essential components, such as the MCM2-7 helicase complex (DNA replication) and Lamin 1 (nuclear membrane).

Secondly, we will make use of a commercially available C. elegans strain, which expresses GFP-tagged Lamin 1 (LMN-1) and determine the localisation and strength of signal for this protein within cells as the worms age, as well as interactors of this protein throughout the life span using mass spectrometry.

Finally, with support from the AIME cohort, we will extract nuclei from cells at different stages of the life span and perform biochemical and biophysical assays to determine the size, shape and composition of the nucleus and nuclear membrane. These results will help us to characterise how and when fundamental aspects of cell biology decline with age, thus deepening our understanding of the ageing process.

References

1. Pathak, R.U., M. Soujanya, and R.K. Mishra, Deterioration of nuclear morphology and architecture: A hallmark of senescence and aging. Ageing Research Reviews, 2021. 67: p. 101264.

2. D'Angelo, M.A., et al., Age-Dependent Deterioration of Nuclear Pore Complexes Causes a Loss of Nuclear Integrity in Postmitotic Cells. Cell, 2009. 136(2): p. 284-295.

3. Flach, J., et al., Replication stress is a potent driver of functional decline in ageing haematopoietic stem cells. Nature, 2014. 512(7513): p. 198-202.

4. Jones, R.M. and E. Petermann, Replication fork dynamics and the DNA damage response. Biochem J, 2012. 443(1): p. 13-26.

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Investigating the links between DNA replication origins and nuclear envelope assembly