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Health Science staff profile

 

Dr Adele Woolley

PositionSenior Lecturer
DepartmentDepartment of Pathology (DSM)
QualificationsBPhEd BSc PGDipSci PhD(Otago)
Research summaryMolecular mechanisms underlying cancer, with a particular focus on aberrant expression of developmental pathways in cancer progression
Teaching
  • MICN 201
  • MICN 301
  • PHTY 315
  • PHCY 353
  • PATH 201
  • PATH 302
Memberships
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Australian Neuroscience Society
  • Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Federation of University Women
  • Dunedin Company of Physiologists
  • Neural Systems Theme, University of Otago
  • Development Theme, University of Otago
  • TEMTIA (Society of Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition)
  • Research committee (Pathology)
  • Teaching committee (Pathology)
  • Space committee (Pathology)

Research

The main focus of my research is the investigation into the role of the oncoprotein YB-1 in cancer, with a particular focus on breast cancer. As a developmental biologist I am particularly interested in aberrations in developmental pathways underpinning cell cycle regulation in relation to cancer progression. Specific threads of research contributing to these investigations specifically investigate the role of YB-1 in the regulation of:

  • phosphatases such as DUSP4
  • specific miRNAs (in a tissue dependent manner)
  • the p53-binding protein (PACT-1)
  • EMT

Techniques used in these investigations include:

  • cell culture
  • gene knockdown and overexpression
  • quantitative RT-PCR
  • protein analysisby western blot
  • Microscopy; brightfield, immunofluorescent, confocal, correlative

Model systems used are:

  • Human cancer cell lines
  • Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

I have a number of other research interests including the role of BRCA1 in ovarian cancer and genes regulating invasiveness in melanoma.

Publications

Roth, I., Campbell, H., Rubio, C., Vennin, C., Wilson, M., Wiles, A., Williams, G., Woolley, A., … Fleming, N., Baird, M., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2016). The Δ133p53 isoform and its mouse analogue Δ122p53 promote invasion and metastasis involving pro-inflammatory molecules interleukin-6 and CCL2. Oncogene, 35, 4981-4989. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.45

Lasham, A., Mehta, S. Y., Fitzgerald, S. J., Woolley, A. G., Hearn, J. I., Hurley, D. G., Ruza, I., Algie, M., … Braithwaite, A. W., & Print, C. G. (2016). A novel EGR-1 dependent mechanism for YB-1 modulation of paclitaxel response in a triple negative breast cancer cell line. International Journal of Cancer, 139(5), 1157-1170. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30137

Fleming, J. S., Ruza, I., Thompson, B. A., Lee, K.-F., & Woolley, A. G. (2015). Effects of BRCA1 knockdown on CYP19a1/aromatase and steroid receptor expression in ovarian and tubal cells. Journal of Molecular & Genetic Medicine, 9(4), 185. doi: 10.4172/1747-0862.1000185

Lasham, A., Print, C. G., Woolley, A. G., Dunn, S. E., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2013). YB-1: Oncoprotein, prognostic marker and therapeutic target? Biochemical Journal, 449, 11-23. doi: 10.1042/bj20121323

Awasthi, A., Woolley, A. G., Lecomte, F. J., Hung, N., Baguley, B. C., Wilbanks, S. M., Jeffs, A. R., & Tyndall, J. D. A. (2013). Variable expression of GLIPR1 correlates with invasive potential in melanoma cells. Frontiers in Oncology, 3, 225. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00225

Journal - Research Article

Roth, I., Campbell, H., Rubio, C., Vennin, C., Wilson, M., Wiles, A., Williams, G., Woolley, A., … Fleming, N., Baird, M., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2016). The Δ133p53 isoform and its mouse analogue Δ122p53 promote invasion and metastasis involving pro-inflammatory molecules interleukin-6 and CCL2. Oncogene, 35, 4981-4989. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.45

Lasham, A., Mehta, S. Y., Fitzgerald, S. J., Woolley, A. G., Hearn, J. I., Hurley, D. G., Ruza, I., Algie, M., … Braithwaite, A. W., & Print, C. G. (2016). A novel EGR-1 dependent mechanism for YB-1 modulation of paclitaxel response in a triple negative breast cancer cell line. International Journal of Cancer, 139(5), 1157-1170. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30137

Fleming, J. S., Ruza, I., Thompson, B. A., Lee, K.-F., & Woolley, A. G. (2015). Effects of BRCA1 knockdown on CYP19a1/aromatase and steroid receptor expression in ovarian and tubal cells. Journal of Molecular & Genetic Medicine, 9(4), 185. doi: 10.4172/1747-0862.1000185

Lasham, A., Print, C. G., Woolley, A. G., Dunn, S. E., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2013). YB-1: Oncoprotein, prognostic marker and therapeutic target? Biochemical Journal, 449, 11-23. doi: 10.1042/bj20121323

Awasthi, A., Woolley, A. G., Lecomte, F. J., Hung, N., Baguley, B. C., Wilbanks, S. M., Jeffs, A. R., & Tyndall, J. D. A. (2013). Variable expression of GLIPR1 correlates with invasive potential in melanoma cells. Frontiers in Oncology, 3, 225. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00225

Lasham, A., Samuel, W., Cao, H., Patel, R., Mehta, R., Stern, J. L., … Woolley, A. G., … Black, M. A., Shelling, A. N., Print, C. G., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2012). YB-1, the E2F Pathway, and regulation of tumor cell growth. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 104(2), 133-146. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr512

Woolley, A. G., Algie, M., Samuel, W., Harfoot, R., Wiles, A., Hung, N. A., … Royds, J. A., Perez, D., Yoon, H.-S., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2011). Prognostic association of YB-1 expression in breast cancers: A matter of antibody. PLoS ONE, 6(6), e20603. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020603

Sheard, P. W., Bewick, G. S., Woolley, A. G., Shaw, J., Fisher, L., Fong, S. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2010). Investigation of neuromuscular abnormalities in neurotrophin-3-deficient mice. European Journal of Neuroscience, 31(1), 29-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07032.x

Cohen, S. B., Ma, W., Valova, V. A., Algie, M., Harfoot, R., Woolley, A. G., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2010). Genotoxic stress-induced nuclear localization of oncoprotein YB-1 in the absence of proteolytic processing. Oncogene, 29, 403-410. doi: 10.1038/onc.2009.321

Jeffs, A. R., Glover, A. C., Slobbe, L. J., Wang, L., He, S., Hazlett, J. A., Awasthi, A., Woolley, A. G., … Print, C. G., … Eccles, M. R. (2009). A gene expression signature of invasive potential in metastatic melanoma cells. PLoS ONE, 4(12), e8461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008461

Woolley, A. G., Tait, K. J., Hurren, B. J., Fisher, L., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2008). Developmental loss of NT-3 in vivo results in reduced levels of myelin-specific proteins, a reduced extent of myelination and increased apoptosis of Schwann cells. GLIA, 56(3), 306-317. doi: 10.1002/glia.20614

Woolley, A. G., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2005). Neurotrophin-3 null mutant mice display a postnatal motor neuropathy. European Journal of Neuroscience, 21, 2100-2110.

Woolley, A., Sheard, P. W., Dodds, K. G., & Duxson, M. J. (1999). Alpha motoneurons are present in normal numbers but with reduced soma size in neurotrophin-3 knockout mice. Neuroscience Letters, 272, 107-110.

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