Prof Nic Jones

Nic Jones

Cell Regulation Group
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research
Manchester

How do cells react to stress?

Professor Nic Jones is Director of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester and became Cancer Research UK's Chief Scientist in February 2011. He leads the Cell Regulation Group who study how cells respond to sudden changes in their surroundings, known as 'environmental stress'. Professor Jones also directs the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, building on the world-class research already going on in the city.

Stress Responses

Cell stress can be caused by external things like radiation, but also certain conditions within the body such as inflammation. This environmental stress can cause considerable damage to cells and their DNA and therefore contribute to cancer development.

Professor Jones and his team are using yeast cells to study the stress response. This may seem unusual but many of the key proteins and pathways found in yeast are almost identical in humans. The team are particularly interested in the 'MAP kinase' proteins, which are activated in response to stress in both yeast and human cells.

The scientists are investigating how signals from MAP kinase proteins switch genes on and off and how this can protect the cell from damage. In particular, they are focusing on a group of proteins that stick directly to the DNA to control the activity of many genes that affect the cell's behaviour.

In recent years, Professor Jones has carried out pioneering work on the DNA-binding protein ATF2 and continues to research its role in human cancer.

The Manchester Cancer Research Centre

In 2006, the Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Cancer Research UK, the Paterson Institute and the University of Manchester, came together to create the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC). Professor Jones is Director of this new collaboration and together with all those involved, he aims to establish the MCRC as one of the world's leading cancer research centres by 2015.

By bringing together leading scientists and doctors, the centre will ensure that scientific discoveries are rapidly turned into tangible benefits for cancer patients including new drugs and new ways of diagnosing the disease.

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