Volpi group
Research Overview
The Molecular Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core is a multi-purpose facility that aims to provide research groups at the WTCHG with a comprehensive and cost-effective fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and chromosomal analysis service, and general support with the execution and the analysis of various cytological techniques, including immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization for the detection of mRNA in tissue (RNA-ISH).
The Core also provides investigators at the WTCHG with access to brightfield, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, advice on the use of the available imaging facilities and technical support. Follow this Molecular Cytogenetics and Microscopy link to visit the Core web site for further information, including cost recovery charges.
In terms of collaborative research, the laboratory is involved in numerous Centre-based gene mapping projects and investigations of genome architecture and gene expression, applying FISH in all its guises for the verification of chromosomal location of clones/probes, for the identification of chromosomal anomalies and analysis of candidate regions on chromosomes from patients or individuals who manifest some of the clinical symptoms of a specific disease, for the characterisation of transgenic loci and integration sites of transfected genes, for the verification of cell lines authenticity and assessment of their chromosome content and gene copy number prior to molecular investigations, and for the analysis of copy number variation (CNV). More broadly, the Core serves as a general reference source within the Medical Division, providing advice and collaboration for research projects employing immunofluorescence cytological techniques.
The research carried out by Dr. Volpi's team revolves around the study of chromosome structure and function. More particularly, the research interests of the group reside in a specific area of chromosome biology that is the functional organisation of chromosomes in the cell nucleus, with the focus on understanding how disruption of the intra-nuclear organisation of chromatin and chromosomes - interfering with the regulation of gene expression - contributes to human disorders.
Selected Publications
BENDALL, J. K., RINZE, R., ADLAM, D., TATHAM, A. L., DE BONO, J., WILSON, N., VOLPI, E. & CHANNON, K. M. (2007) Endothelial Nox2 overexpression potentiates vascular oxidative stress and hemodynamic response to angiotensin II: studies in endothelial-targeted Nox2 transgenic mice. Circ Res, 100, 1016-25.
BOWL, M. R., NESBIT, M. A., HARDING, B., LEVY, E., JEFFERSON, A., VOLPI, E., RIZZOTI, K., LOVELL-BADGE, R., SCHLESSINGER, D., WHYTE, M. P. & THAKKER, R. V. (2005) An interstitial deletion-insertion involving chromosomes 2p25.3 and Xq27.1, near SOX3, causes X-linked recessive hypoparathyroidism. J Clin Invest, 115, 2822-31.
LAUN, K., COGGILL, P., PALMER, S., SIMS, S., NING, Z., RAGOUSSIS, J., VOLPI, E., WILSON, N., BECK, S., ZIEGLER, A. & VOLZ, A. (2006) The leukocyte receptor complex in chicken is characterized by massive expansion and diversification of immunoglobulin-like Loci. PLoS Genet, 2, e73.
MORALLI, D., CHAN, D. Y., JEFFERSON, A., VOLPI, E. V. & MONACO, Z. L. (2009) HAC stability in murine cells is influenced by nuclear localization and chromatin organization. BMC Cell Biol, 10, 18.
NEWBURY, D. F., WARBURTON, P. C., WILSON, N., BACCHELLI, E., CARONE, S., LAMB, J. A., MAESTRINI, E., VOLPI, E. V., MOHAMMED, S., BAIRD, G. & MONACO, A. P. (2009) Mapping of partially overlapping de novo deletions across an autism susceptibility region (AUTS5) in two unrelated individuals affected by developmental delays with communication impairment. Am J Med Genet A, 149A, 588-97.
SYKES, N. H., TOMA, C., WILSON, N., VOLPI, E. V., SOUSA, I., PAGNAMENTA, A. T., TANCREDI, R., BATTAGLIA, A., MAESTRINI, E., BAILEY, A. J. & MONACO, A. P. (2009) Copy number variation and association analysis of SHANK3 as a candidate gene for autism in the IMGSAC collection. Eur J Hum Genet.
VOLPI, E. V. & BRIDGER, J. M. (2008) FISH glossary: an overview of the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. Biotechniques, 45, 385-6, 388, 390 passim.
WILSON, N. D., ROSS, L. J., CLOSE, J., MOTT, R., CROW, T. J. & VOLPI, E. V. (2007) Replication profile of PCDH11X and PCDH11Y, a gene pair located in the non-pseudoautosomal homologous region Xq21.3/Yp11.2. Chromosome Res, 15, 485-98.
WILSON, N. D., ROSS, L. J., CROW, T. J. & VOLPI, E. V. (2006) PCDH11 is X/Y homologous in Homo sapiens but not in Gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes. Cytogenet Genome Res, 114, 137-9.
YALCIN, B., FULLERTON, J., MILLER, S., KEAYS, D. A., BRADY, S., BHOMRA, A., JEFFERSON, A., VOLPI, E., COPLEY, R. R., FLINT, J. & MOTT, R. (2004) Unexpected complexity in the haplotypes of commonly used inbred strains of laboratory mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 101, 9734-9.
Funding Sources
The Wellcome Trust.
Research Areas
Chromosome Biology, Molecular Cytogenetics.
Keywords
Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH), chromosome, gene mapping, molecular cytogenetics, genome architecture, live cell imaging, confocal fluorescence and wide-field microscopy.