Professor Jason King

School of Biosciences

Professor

Jason King
Profile picture of Jason King
Jason.King@Sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5116
Profile
  • 2015 - present Royal Society University Research Fellow
  • 2013 - present Advanced Vice-Chancellors Fellow, University of Sheffield
  • 2007 - 2013 Post-doctoral fellow. CR-UK Beatson Institute. Advisor: Prof. Robert Insall
  • 2003 - 2007 PhD. Cardiff University. Advisor: Prof Adrian Harwood.
  • 2000 - 2001 MPhil(res) University of Birmingham
  • 1996 - 1999 BSc Medical Biochemistry, University of Birmingham
Research interests

The main focus of the laboratory is to understand how cells perform – the bulk capture of extracellular fluid. This plays important and distinct roles in diverse cell types such as macrophages, dendritic cells and neurons, by allowing cells to sample their environment and regulating membrane turnover. However macropinocytosis also allows cancer cells to scavenge the extracellular nutrients required to support their growth, and provides a route for pathogens and prions to enter host cells.

The diverse importance of macropinocytosis has only recently become clear, and both the formation and maturation of macropinosomes is poorly understood. My laboratory is thus trying to answer two fundamental questions:

  1. How do cells generate the cup-shaped protrusions required to entrap extracellular fluid?

  2. How are macropinosomes and phagosomes processed after internalisation?

Autophagy and lysosomal degradation pathways

Macroautophagy is a critical process used by cells to recycle nutrients to survive starvation, but also for protein and organelle homeostasis, cellular remodelling, and protection from pathogens and mis-folded proteins. Our primary aim is to understand the underlying mechanisms of autophagic degradation, how specific targets are recruited to autophagosomes, and how this integrates into the larger cellular context.

Our primary experimental system is the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. This allows us to use powerful molecular techniques to dissect autophagy in a simple model system. In addition, as Dictyostelium exclusively use phagocytosis and macropinocytosis to take up nutrients, they are an excellent model for phagocytic immune cells and allow us to circumvent the experimental limitations of macrophages and neutrophils. We are therefore currently exploiting this system to understand immune cell interactions with a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Full publication details at: 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Rizalar FS, Lucht MT, Petzoldt A, Kong S, Sun J, Vines JH, Telugu NS, Diecke S, Kaas T, Bullmann T , Schmied C et al (2023) . Science, 382(6667), 223-230.
  • Buckley CM, Pots H, Gueho A, Vines JH, Munn CJ, Phillips BA, Gilsbach B, Traynor D, Nikolaev A, Soldati T , Parnell AJ et al (2020) . Current Biology, 30.
  • Buckley CM, Heath VL, Guého A, Bosmani C, Knobloch P, Sikakana P, Personnic N, Dove SK, Michell RH, Meier R , Hilbi H et al (2019) . PLoS Pathogens, 15(2).
  • López-Jiménez AT, Cardenal-Muñoz E, Leuba F, Gerstenmaier L, Barisch C, Hagedorn M, King JS & Soldati T (2018) . PLoS Pathogens, 14(12).
  • Cardenal-Muñoz E, Arafah S, López-Jiménez AT, Kicka S, Falaise A, Bach F, Schaad O, King JS, Hagedorn M & Soldati T (2017) . PLoS Pathogens, 13(4).
  • Buckley CM, Gopaldass N, Bosmani C, Johnston SA, Soldati T, Insall RH & King JS (2016) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 113(40), E5906-E5915.
  • Gerstenmaier L, Pilla R, Herrmann L, Herrmann H, Prado M, Villafano GJ, Kolonko M, Reimer R, Soldati T, King JS & Hagedorn M (2015) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(7), E687-E692.
  • King JS, Gueho A, Hagedorn M, Gopaldass N, Leuba F, Soldati T & Insall RH (2013) . Molecular Biology of the Cell, 24(17), 2714-2726.
  • King JS, Veltman DM & Insall RH (2011) . AUTOPHAGY, 7(12), 1490-1499.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Muir CF, Reyes-Aldasoro CC, Prajsnar TK, Michno BJ, Cholewa-Waclaw J, Ho YX, Bernut A, Loynes CA, Elworthy S, Bowden KA , Cadby AJ et al (2025) . Disease Models & Mechanisms, 18(9).
  • Tyler JJ, Davidson A, Poxon ME, Llanses Martinez M, Hume P, King JS & Koronakis V (2025) . Journal of Cell Science, 138(12).
  • Pain E, Snowden S, Oddy J, Shinhmar S, Alhammad YMA, King JS, Müller-Taubenberger A & Williams RSB (2024) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(36).
  • Kay RR, Lutton JE, King JS & Bretschneider T (2024) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 52(4), 1785-1794.
  • Rizalar FS, Lucht MT, Petzoldt A, Kong S, Sun J, Vines JH, Telugu NS, Diecke S, Kaas T, Bullmann T , Schmied C et al (2023) . Science, 382(6667), 223-230.
  • Njovu IK, Nalumaga PP, Ampaire L, Nuwagira E, Mwesigye J, Musinguzi B, Kassaza K, Taseera K, Kiguli Mukasa J, Bazira J , Iramiot JS et al (2023) . JMIR Research Protocols, 12.
  • Vines JH, Maib H, Buckley CM, Gueho A, Zhu Z, Soldati T, Murray DH & King JS (2023) . Journal of Cell Biology, 222(9).
  • Lutton JE, Coker HLE, Paschke P, Munn CJ, King JS, Bretschneider T & Kay RR (2023) . Current Biology, 33(15), 3083-3096.e6.
  • Starling GP, Phillips BA, Ganesh S & King JS (2023) . Molecular Biology of the Cell, 34(3).
  • Kay RR, Lutton J, Coker H, Paschke P, King JS & Bretschneider T (2022) , 41-59.
  • Itabangi H, Sephton-Clark PCS, Tamayo DP, Zhou X, Starling GP, Mahamoud Z, Insua I, Probert M, Correia J, Moynihan PJ , Gebremariam T et al (2022) . Current Biology, 32(5), 1115-1130.e6.
  • Williams RSB, Chubb JR, Insall R, King JS, Pears CJ, Thompson E & Weijer CJ (2021) . Cells, 10(11).
  • King JS (2021) . Journal of Cell Biology, 220(9).
  • Klionsky DJ, Abdel-Aziz AK, Abdelfatah S, Abdellatif M, Abdoli A, Abel S, Abeliovich H, Abildgaard MH, Abudu YP, Acevedo-Arozena A , Adamopoulos IE et al (2021) . Autophagy, 17(1), 1-382.
  • King JS, Humphreys D, Rohn JL, Unnikrishnan M, Gutierrez MG & Mostowy S (2020) . Cellular Microbiology, 22(11).
  • Buckley CM, Pots H, Gueho A, Vines JH, Munn CJ, Phillips BA, Gilsbach B, Traynor D, Nikolaev A, Soldati T , Parnell AJ et al (2020) . Current Biology, 30.
  • King JS & Smythe E (2020) . Science, 367(6475), 246-247.
  • Vines JH & King JS (2019) . The International Journal of Developmental Biology, 63(8-9-10), 461-471.
  • Buckley CM, Pots H, Gueho A, Phillips BA, Gilsbach B, Traynor D, Nikolaev A, Soldati T, Parnell AJ, Kortholt A & King JS (2019) .
  • Rohn JL, Mostowy S, King JS, Unnikrishnan M & Gutierrez MG (2019) . Cellular Microbiology, 21(9).
  • King J (2019) . Cellular Microbiology, 21(6).
  • Sharma D, Otto G, Warren EC, Beesley P, King JS & Williams RSB (2019) . Autophagy, 15(8), 1407-1418.
  • Buckley CM, Heath VL, Guého A, Bosmani C, Knobloch P, Sikakana P, Personnic N, Dove SK, Michell RH, Meier R , Hilbi H et al (2019) . PLoS Pathogens, 15(2).
  • King JS & Kay RR (2019) . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 374(1765).
  • Swanson JA & King JS (2019) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 374(1765), 20180146-20180146.
  • López-Jiménez AT, Cardenal-Muñoz E, Leuba F, Gerstenmaier L, Barisch C, Hagedorn M, King JS & Soldati T (2018) . PLoS Pathogens, 14(12).
  • Watkins RA, Andrews A, Wynn C, Barisch C, King JS & Johnston SA (2018) . Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8.
  • Watkins RA, King JS & Johnston SA (2017) . Microorganisms, 5(4).
  • Domínguez-Martín E, Cardenal-Muñoz E, King JS, Soldati T, Coria R & Escalante R (2017) . Cells, 6(3).
  • Buckley CM & King JS (2017) . FEBS Journal , 284(22), 3778-3790.
  • Thomason PA, King JS & Insall RH (2017) . Journal of Cell Science, 130(10), 1785-1795.
  • Cardenal-Muñoz E, Arafah S, López-Jiménez AT, Kicka S, Falaise A, Bach F, Schaad O, King JS, Hagedorn M & Soldati T (2017) . PLoS Pathogens, 13(4).
  • Mesquita A, Cardenal-Muñoz E, Dominguez E, Muñoz-Braceras S, Nuñez-Corcuera B, Phillips BA, Tábara LC, Xiong Q, Coria R, Eichinger L , Golstein P et al (2016) . Autophagy, 13(1), 24-40.
  • Buckley CM, Gopaldass N, Bosmani C, Johnston SA, Soldati T, Insall RH & King JS (2016) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 113(40), E5906-E5915.
  • (2016) . Autophagy, 12(2), 443-443.
  • Klionsky DJ, Abdelmohsen K, Abe A, Abedin MJ, Abeliovich H, Acevedo Arozena A, Adachi H, Adams CM, Adams PD, Adeli K , Adhihetty PJ et al (2016) . Autophagy, 12(1), 1-222.
  • Gerstenmaier L, Pilla R, Herrmann L, Herrmann H, Prado M, Villafano GJ, Kolonko M, Reimer R, Soldati T, King JS & Hagedorn M (2015) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(7), E687-E692.
  • Urushihara H, Kuwayama H, Fukuhara K, Itoh T, Kagoshima H, Shin-I T, Toyoda A, Ohishi K, Taniguchi T, Noguchi H , Kuroki Y et al (2015) . BMC Genomics, 16.
  • Calvo‐Garrido J, King JS, Muñoz‐Braceras S & Escalante R (2014) . Traffic, 15(11), 1235-1246.
  • Davidson AJ, King JS & Insall RH (2013) . Biotechniques, 55(1), 39-41.
  • King JS, Gueho A, Hagedorn M, Gopaldass N, Leuba F, Soldati T & Insall RH (2013) . Molecular Biology of the Cell, 24(17), 2714-2726.
  • Park L, Thomason PA, Zech T, King JS, Veltman DM, Carnell M, Ura S, Machesky LM & Insall RH (2013) . Developmental Cell, 24(2), 169-181.
  • King JS (2012) . AUTOPHAGY, 8(7), 1159-1162.
  • Klionsky DJ, Abdalla FC, Abeliovich H, Abraham RT, Acevedo-Arozena A, Adeli K, Agholme L, Agnello M, Agostinis P, Aguirre-Ghiso JA , Ahn HJU et al (2012) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy. Autophagy, 8(4), 445-544.
  • King JS (2012) . Trends in Molecular Medicine, 18(10), 583-588.
  • Veltman DM, King JS, Machesky LM & Insall RH (2012) . J Cell Biol, 198(4), 501-508.
  • King JS, Veltman DM & Insall RH (2011) . AUTOPHAGY, 7(12), 1490-1499.
  • King J, Keim M, Teo R, Weening KE, Kapur M, McQuillan K, Ryves J, Rogers B, Dalton E, Williams RSB & Harwood AJ (2010) . PLOS ONE, 5(6).
  • King JS, Veltman DM, Georgiou M, Baum B & Insall RH (2010) . JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE, 123(13), 2246-2255.
  • Teo R, King J, Dalton E, Ryves J, Williams RSB & Harwood AJ (2009) . BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS, 37, 1110-1114.
  • King JS & Insall RH (2009) . TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY, 19(10), 523-530.
  • King JS, Teo R, Ryves J, Reddy JV, Peters O, Orabi B, Hoeller O, Williams RSB & Harwood AJ (2009) . DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS, 2(5-6), 306-312.
  • King JS & Insall RH (2008) . CURRENT BIOLOGY, 18(18), R864-R866.
  • Cho J, King JS, Qian X, Harwood AJ & Shears SB (2008) . PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 105(16), 5998-6003.
  • Kortholt A, King JS, Keizer-Gunnink I, Harwood AJ & Van Haastert PJM (2007) . MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, 18(12), 4772-4779.
  • Zaki M, King J, Futterer K & Insall RH (2007) . BMC GENETICS, 8.
  • King J & Insall RH (2003) . BMC GENETICS, 4.
  • Ho CC, Keller A, Odell JA & Ottewill RH (1993) . Colloid & Polymer Science, 271(5), 469-479.

Book chapters

  • King J & Insall R (2006) (pp. 125-135).

Preprints

  • Tyler JJ, Davidson A, Poxon ME, Martinez ML, Hume P, King JS & Koronakis V (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Muir CF, Reyes-Aldasoro CC, Ellett FE, Prajsnar TK, Ho YX, Bernut A, Loynes CA, Elworthy S, Bowden KA, Cadbury AJ , Prince LR et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Lutton JE, Coker HLE, Paschke P, Munn CJ, King JS, Bretschneider T & Kay RR (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Vines JH, Buckley CM & King JS (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Starling GP, Philips BA, Ganesh S & King JS (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Itabangi H, Sephton-Clark PCS, Zhou X, Starling GP, Mahamoud Z, Insua I, Probert M, Correia J, Moynihan PJ, Gebremariam T , Gu Y et al (2019) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Buckley CM, Heath VL, Guého A, Bosmani C, Knobloch P, Sikakana P, Personnic N, Dove SK, Michell RH, Meier R , Hilbi H et al (2018) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Grants
  • BBSRC
  • Royal Society
Teaching activities

I give lectures at both Level 2 (BMS242) and 3 (BMS376) on autophagy in health and disease, as well as support level 3 and 4, practical and dissertation modules.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Vice-Chair Gordon Research Seminar on Autophagy in Stress, Development and Disease 2012
  • Vice Chancellor’s Advanced Fellow
  • Associate editor BMC Cell Biology
  • Society for General Microbiology, Eukaryotic Division committee member
  • Dictybase Scientific advisory board member
Opportunities

We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on FindAPhD.com

For further information and details of other projects on offer, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.

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