Elaine Dunleavy

Dr Elaine Dunleavy
Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry
Dep. Programme Director BSc Genetics & Genomics
SFI President of Ireland Young Researcher Award
elaine.dunleavy@universityofgalway.ie
Ábhair Spéise
- Sonrú agus feidhmn na ceintrimíre sa gheirmlíne
- Bitheolaíocht ar cheintrimírí speirme
- Scaradh na gcrómasóm le linn méóise agus forbartha tosaigh
Achoimre ar Thaighde
We aim to understand germ cell development in the reproductive tissues, the testis and ovary. Germ cells undergo specialised cell divisions, such as meiosis, to ultimately give rise to gametes (eggs and sperm). Defects in egg and sperm development lead to reduced fertility or sterility. Understanding germ cell division and development is critical, as this information can impact on the diagnosis and treatment of human or animal infertility.


Located on each chromosome within the cell nucleus, the centromere plays a key role in cell division. It is the site where the kinetochore assembles to ensure proper chromosome segregation. Rather than DNA sequence, the histone variant CENP-A specifies centromere identity and function in an epigenetic manner.

A key question in the laboratory is to understand how CENP-A is targeted to and reproducibly incorporated at centromeres in the germ line. We focus on germline stem cells, on spermatocytes undergoing meiosis and on developing sperm.
We use the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the cow Bos taurus as model developmental systems, combing genetics, high-resolution cell biology and biochemical approaches.
Eochairfhocail
Ceintrimír, CENP-A, Miotóis, Méóis, Gaschealla na Geirmlíne, Speirmitigineas, Speirmigineas, Drosophila melanogaster, Bos tarus
Croítheichníochtaí Taighde
- Láimhsiú Fíocháin
- Imdhíonfhluaraiseacht
- Hibridiú Fluaraiseachta In Situ
- Micreascóipeacht
Baill an Ghrúpa
- Dr Miriam Stiavnicka (Post-Doc)
- Dr Dina Malkeyeva (Post-Doc)
- Federica Modafferi (PhD)
- Rachel Keegan (PhD)
- Ben O’Gorman (PhD)
- Anna Ní Nualláin (PhD)
Foilseacháin Roghnaithe
- CENP-C functions in centromere assembly, the maintenance of CENP-A asymmetry and epigenetic age in Drosophila germline stem cells
- Asymmetric assembly of centromeres epigenetically regulates cell fate
- ATP synthase F1 subunits recruited to centromeres by CENP-A are required for male meiosis
Foilseacháin is Déanaí
Nascanna Áisiúil
Téigh i dTeagmháil!
elaine.dunleavy@universityofgalway.ie