Professor Stuart Wilson

School of Biosciences

Roper Chair in Genetics

Stuart Wilson
Profile picture of Stuart Wilson
stuart.wilson@sheffield.ac.uk
Profile
  • 2019- present: Roper Chair in Genetics
  • 2008 - 2019: Professor, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield
  • 2008: Reader, Dept of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield
  • 2003 - 2007: Senior Lecturer, Dept of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield
  • 1999 - 2003: Lecturer Dept. of Biomolecular Sciences, UMIST
  • 1996 - 1999: Weir Junior Research Fellow, University College Oxford
  • 1995 - 1999: Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, Biochemistry Dept, Oxford University
  • 1991 - 1995: Post-doctoral fellow, Biochemistry Department, University College London
  • 1987 - 1991: PhD student, Biochemistry Department, University College London
  • 1984 - 1987: Degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biophysics Department, King's College London
Research interests

My laboratory studies human gene expression and how defects in this process lead to various diseases including motor neuron disease and neurodevelopmental disorders. The group have a long-standing interest in how RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression with a particular interest in how mRNA is processed in the nucleus and subsequently transported to the cytoplasm. We use a wide range of technologies to study these processes including CRISPR engineering of human cells including stem cells, proteomics and next generation DNA sequencing methods to globally analyse gene expression at multiple levels including chromatin organisation, transcription and RNA processing. We also work closely with industrial partners to develop improved expression systems for biopharmaceuticals and most recently we have been developing strategies for improved therapeutic mRNAs. We are also working on a project to develop gene therapy approaches for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders such as hnRNPU syndrome. I am also the Director and Founder of the Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids (SInFoNiA) () which is the home for nucleic acids focussed research at the University of Sheffield.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Viphakone N, Sudbery I, Griffith L, Heath CG, Sims D & Wilson SA (2019) . Molecular Cell, 75(2), 310-323.e8.
  • Viphakone N, Hautbergue GM, Walsh M, Chang C-T, Holland A, Folco EG, Reed R & Wilson SA (2012) . Nat Commun, 3, 1006.
  • Cruz-Migoni A, Hautbergue GM, Artymiuk PJ, Baker PJ, Bokori-Brown M, Chang C-T, Dickman MJ, Essex-Lopresti A, Harding SV, Mahadi NM , Marshall LE et al (2011) . Science, 334(6057), 821-824.
  • Dufu K, Livingstone MJ, Seebacher J, Gygi SP, Wilson SA & Reed R (2010) . Genes and Development, 24(18), 2043-2053.
  • Hung M-L, Hautbergue GM, Snijders APL, Dickman MJ & Wilson SA (2010) . Nucleic Acids Res, 38(10), 3351-3361.
  • Hautbergue GM, Hung M-L, Walsh MJ, Snijders APL, Chang C-T, Jones R, Ponting CP, Dickman MJ & Wilson SA (2009) . Curr Biol, 19(22), 1918-1924.
  • Hautbergue GM, Hung M-L, Golovanov AP, Lian L-Y & Wilson SA (2008) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105(13), 5154-5159.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Riley JJ, Alexandru-Crivac CN, Bryce-Smith S, Wilson SA & Sudbery IM (2025) . Nucleic Acids Research, 53(14), gkaf700.
  • Hodgson AKO, Baxandall L, Aiyedun D, Li A, Au PYB, Bain JM, Gillentine MA, Goel H, Kline AD, Ricupero CL , Sánchez‐Carpintero R et al (2025) . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 197(6).
  • Siachisumo C, Luzzi S, Aldalaqan S, Hysenaj G, Dalgliesh C, Cheung K, Gazzara MR, Yonchev ID, James K, Kheirollahi Chadegani M , Ehrmann IE et al (2024) . eLife, 12.
  • Siachisumo C, Luzzi S, Aldalaqan S, Hysenaj G, Dalgliesh C, Cheung K, Gazzara MR, Yonchev ID, James K, Kheirollahi Chadegani M , Ehrmann IE et al (2024) . eLife, 12.
  • Baquero-Pérez B, Yonchev ID, Delgado-Tejedor A, Medina R, Puig-Torrents M, Sudbery I, Begik O, Wilson SA, Novoa EM & Díez J (2024) . Nature Communications, 15(1).
  • Koffa MD, Clements JB, Izaurralde E, Wadd S, Wilson SA, Mattaj IW & Kuersten S (2023) . The EMBO Journal, 42(14).
  • Manners O, Baquero-Perez B, Mottram TJ, Yonchev ID, Trevelyan CJ, Harper KL, Menezes S, Patterson MR, Macdonald A, Wilson SA , Aspden JL et al (2023) . Viruses, 15(6).
  • Baquero-Perez B, Antanaviciute A, Yonchev ID, Carr IM, Wilson SA & Whitehouse A (2019) . eLife, 8.
  • Viphakone N, Sudbery I, Griffith L, Heath CG, Sims D & Wilson SA (2019) . Molecular Cell, 75(2), 310-323.e8.
  • Lesbirel S & Wilson SA (2019) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1862(3), 319-328.
  • Lesbirel S, Viphakone N, Parker M, Parker J, Heath C, Sudbery I & Wilson SA (2018) . Scientific Reports, 8(1).
  • Heath CG, Viphakone N & Wilson SA (2016) . Biochemical Journal, 473(19), 2911-2935.
  • Cumberbatch MGK, Viphakone N, Livingstone M, Heath PR, Dickman M, Catto JWF & Wilson SA (2015) . European Urology Supplements, 14(2), e227-e227b.
  • Pang KH, Cumberbatch MG, Wilson SA & Catto JWF (2015) . European Urology Supplements, 14(2), e527-e527a.
  • Snijders AP, Hautbergue GM, Bloom A, Williamson JC, Minshull TC, Phillips HL, Mihaylov SR, Gjerde DT, Hornby DP, Wilson SA , Hurd PJ et al (2015) . RNA, 21(3), 347-359.
  • Viphakone N, Cumberbatch MG, Livingstone MJ, Heath PR, Dickman MJ, Catto JW & Wilson SA (2015) . Nucleic Acids Research, 43(4), 2353-2366.
  • Caballero-Lima D, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Sudbery PE (2014) . Molecular Microbiology, 94(4), 828-842.
  • Cooper-Knock J, Walsh MJ, Higginbottom A, Robin Highley J, Dickman MJ, Edbauer D, Ince PG, Wharton SB, Wilson SA, Kirby J , Hautbergue GM et al (2014) . Brain, 137(Pt 7), 2040-2051.
  • Cooper-Knock J, Walsh M, Higginbottom A, Highley JR, Bury J, Dickman M, Rattray M, Heath P, Wyles M, Ince P , Wharton S et al (2014) . Neurology, 82(10_supplement).
  • Cooper-Knock J, Walsh M, Higginbottom A, Highley JR, Bury J, Dickman M, Rattray M, Heath P, Wyles M, Ince P , Wharton S et al (2014) . Neurology, 82(10_supplement).
  • Tunnicliffe RB, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA, Kalra P & Golovanov AP (2014) . PLoS Pathog, 10(2), e1003907.
  • Teng I-F & Wilson SA (2013) . PLoS One, 8(6), e67676.
  • Chang C-T, Hautbergue GM, Walsh MJ, Viphakone N, van Dijk TB, Philipsen S & Wilson SA (2013) . EMBO J, 32(3), 473-486.
  • Viphakone N, Hautbergue GM, Walsh M, Chang C-T, Holland A, Folco EG, Reed R & Wilson SA (2012) . Nat Commun, 3, 1006.
  • Hautbergue GM & Wilson SA (2012) . Biochem Soc Trans, 40(4), 842-845.
  • Knuckles P, Vogt MA, Lugert S, Milo M, Chong MMW, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA, Littman DR & Taylor V (2012) . Nat Neurosci, 15(7), 962-969.
  • Phelan MM, Goult BT, Clayton JC, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Lian L-Y (2012) . Nucleic Acids Res, 40(7), 3232-3244.
  • Cruz-Migoni A, Hautbergue GM, Artymiuk PJ, Baker PJ, Bokori-Brown M, Chang C-T, Dickman MJ, Essex-Lopresti A, Harding SV, Mahadi NM , Marshall LE et al (2011) . Science, 334(6057), 821-824.
  • Jackson BR, Boyne JR, Noerenberg M, Taylor A, Hautbergue GM, Walsh MJ, Wheat R, Blackbourn DJ, Wilson SA & Whitehouse A (2011) . PLoS Pathog, 7(7), e1002138.
  • Van Hateren NJ, Das RM, Hautbergue GM, Borycki A-G, Placzek M & Wilson SA (2011) . Development, 138(10), 1893-1902.
  • Tunnicliffe RB, Hautbergue GM, Kalra P, Jackson BR, Whitehouse A, Wilson SA & Golovanov AP (2011) . PLoS Pathog, 7(1), e1001244.
  • Clayton JC, Phelan M, Goult BT, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Lian L-Y (2011) . Biomol NMR Assign, 5(1), 7-10.
  • Dufu K, Livingstone MJ, Seebacher J, Gygi SP, Wilson SA & Reed R (2010) . Genes and Development, 24(18), 2043-2053.
  • Hung M-L, Hautbergue GM, Snijders APL, Dickman MJ & Wilson SA (2010) . Nucleic Acids Res, 38(10), 3351-3361.
  • Walsh MJ, Hautbergue GM & Wilson SA (2010) . Biochem Soc Trans, 38(Pt 1), 232-236.
  • Clayton JC, Phelan M, Goult BT, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Lian L-Y (2010) The 1H, 13C and 15N backbone and side-chain assignment of the RRM domain of SC35, a regulator of pre-mRNA splicing. Biomolecular NMR Assignments, 1-4.
  • Lambeth LS, Van Hateren NJ, Wilson SA & Nair V (2010) . BMC MOL BIOL, 11.
  • Snijders APL, Hung M-L, Wilson SA & Dickman MJ (2010) . J Am Soc Mass Spectrom, 21(1), 88-96.
  • Hautbergue GM, Hung M-L, Walsh MJ, Snijders APL, Chang C-T, Jones R, Ponting CP, Dickman MJ & Wilson SA (2009) . Curr Biol, 19(22), 1918-1924.
  • Wright D, Ferjentsik Z, Chong SW, Qiu XH, Jiang YJ, Malapert P, Pourquie O, Van Hateren N, Wilson SA, Franco C , Gerhardt H et al (2009) . DEV DYNAM, 238(12), 3043-3055.
  • Hautbergue GM, Hung M-L, Golovanov AP, Lian L-Y & Wilson SA (2008) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105(13), 5154-5159.
  • Tang CW, Maya-Mendoza A, Martin C, Zeng K, Chen SB, Feret D, Wilson SA & Jackson DA (2008) . J CELL SCI, 121(7), 1014-1024.
  • Shiau CE, Lwigale PY, Das RM, Wilson SA & Bronner-Fraser M (2008) . NAT NEUROSCI, 11(3), 269-276.
  • Tintaru AM, Hautbergue GM, Hounslow AM, Hung M-L, Lian L-Y, Craven CJ & Wilson SA (2007) . EMBO Rep, 8(8), 756-762.
  • Smith TG, Van Hateren N, Tickle C & Wilson SA (2007) . INT J DEV BIOL, 51(2), 173-176.
  • Tintaru AM, Hautbergue GM, Hounslow AM, Lian L-Y, Wilson SA & Craven CJ (2007) . J Biomol NMR, 38(2), 193.
  • Manning L, Ohyama K, Saeger B, Hatano O, Wilson SA, Logan M & Placzek M (2006) . Dev Cell, 11(6), 873-885.
  • Hargous Y, Hautbergue GM, Tintaru AM, Skrisovska L, Golovanov AP, Stevenin J, Lian L-Y, Wilson SA & Allain FH-T (2006) . EMBO J, 25(21), 5126-5137.
  • Golovanov AP, Hautbergue GM, Tintaru AM, Lian L-Y & Wilson SA (2006) . RNA, 12(11), 1933-1948.
  • Golovanov AP, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Lian L-Y (2006) . J Biomol NMR, 36 Suppl 1, 41.
  • Das RM, Van Hateren NJ, Howell GR, Farrell ER, Bangs FK, Porteous VC, Manning EM, McGrew MJ, Ohyama K, Sacco MA , Halley PA et al (2006) . Dev Biol, 294(2), 554-563.
  • Williams BJL, Boyne JR, Goodwin DJ, Roaden L, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Whitehouse A (2005) . Biochem J, 387(Pt 2), 295-308.
  • Genome Sequencing Consortium IC (2005) . Nature, 433(7027), 777-777.
  • Hubbard SJ, Grafham DV, Beattie KJ, Overton IM, McLaren SR, Croning MDR, Boardman PE, Bonfield JK, Burnside J, Davies RM , Farrell ER et al (2005) . GENOME RES, 15(1), 174-183.
  • Hillier LW, Miller W, Birney E, Warren W, Hardison RC, Ponting CP, Bork P, Burt DW, Groenen MAM, Delany ME , Dodgson JB et al (2004) . NATURE, 432(7018), 695-716.
  • Wong GKS, Liu B, Wang J, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang ZJ, Meng QS, Zhou J, Li DW, Zhang JJ , Ni PX et al (2004) . NATURE, 432(7018), 717-722.
  • Golovanov AP, Hautbergue GM, Wilson SA & Lian L-Y (2004) . J Am Chem Soc, 126(29), 8933-8939.
  • Brown WRA, Hubbard SJ, Tickle C & Wilson SA (2003) The chicken as a model for large-scale analysis of vertebrate gene function. NAT REV GENET, 4(2), 87-98.
  • Boardman PE, Sanz-Ezquerro J, Overton IM, Burt DW, Bosch E, Fong WT, Tickle C, Brown WRA, Wilson SA & Hubbard SJ (2002) . Curr Biol, 12(22), 1965-1969.
  • Wilson HL, Wilson SA, Surprenant A & North RA (2002) . J Biol Chem, 277(37), 34017-34023.
  • Koffa MD, Clements JB, Izaurralde E, Wadd S, Wilson SA, Mattaj IW & Kuersten S (2001) Herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein provides viral mRNAs with access to the cellular mRNA export pathway. EMBO J, 20(20), 5769-5778.
  • Yoon S, Kingsman SM, Kingsman AJ, Wilson SA & Mitrophanous KA (2000) . J Gen Virol, 81(Pt 9), 2189-2194.
  • O'Hara BP, Wilson SA, Lee AW, Roe SM, Siligardi G, Drew RE & Pearl LH (2000) . Protein Eng, 13(2), 129-132.
  • Wilson SA, Sieiro-Vazquez C, Edwards NJ, Iourin O, Byles ED, Kotsopoulou E, Adamson CS, Kingsman SM, Kingsman AJ & Martin-Rendon E (1999) Cloning and characterization of hIF2, a human homologue of bacterial translation initiation factor 2, and its interaction with HIV-1 matrix.. Biochem J, 342 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1), 97-103.
  • WILSON SA, SIEIRO-VAZQUEZ C, EDWARDS NJ, IOURIN O, BYLES ED, KOTSOPOULOU E, ADAMSON CS, KINGSMAN SM, KINGSMAN AJ & MARTIN-RENDON E (1999) . Biochemical Journal, 342(1), 97-103.
  • Wilson SA, Brown EC, Kingsman AJ & Kingsman SM (1998) . Nucleic Acids Res, 26(15), 3460-3467.
  • Chamberlain D, O'Hara BP, Wilson SA, Pearl LH & Perkins SJ (1997) . Biochemistry, 36(26), 8020-8029.
  • Martin‐Rendon E, Marfany G, Wilson S, Ferguson DJP, Kingsman SM & Kingsman AJ (1996) . Molecular Microbiology, 22(4), 667-679.
  • Wilson SA, Wachira SJM, Norman RA, Pearl LH & Drew RE (1996) . EMBO Journal, 15(21), 5907-5916.
  • WILSON SA, WILLIAMS RJ, PEARL LH & DREW RE (1995) IDENTIFICATION OF 2 NEW GENES IN THE PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA AMIDASE OPERON, ENCODING AN ATPASE (AMIB) AND A PUTATIVE INTEGRAL MEMBRANE-PROTEIN (AMIS). J BIOL CHEM, 270(32), 18818-18824.
  • Wilson SA & Drew RE (1995) . Journal of Bacteriology, 177(11), 3052-3057.
  • Pearl L, O'Hara B, Drew R & Wilson S (1994) . The EMBO Journal, 13(24), 5810-5817.
  • O'Hara BP, Wilson SA, Wyborn NW, Jones CW & Pearl LH (1994) . Protein & Peptide Letters, 1(3), 202-205.
  • Wilson SA, Wachira SJ, Drew RE, Jones D & Pearl LH (1993) . The EMBO Journal, 12(9), 3637-3642.
  • Wilson SA, Chayen NE, Hemmings AM, Drew RE & Pearl LH (1991) . Journal of Molecular Biology, 222(4), 869-871.
  • Wilson S & Drew R (1991) . Journal of Bacteriology, 173(16), 4914-4921.
  • Viphakone N, Hautbergue GM, Walsh M, Chang C-T, Holland A, Folco EG, Reed R & Wilson SA () . Nature Communications, 4(1).

Book chapters

  • Wilson SA, Van Hateren NJ & jones RS (2009) In Nakamura H (Ed.), Electroporation and Sonoporation in Developmental Biology (pp. 295-314). Springer Verlag
  • Wilson SA, van hateren NJ & das RM (2009) RNAi in chicken embryos In Doran DT & Helliwell C (Ed.), RNA interference: methods for plants and animals (pp. 183-204). CABI Publishing

Conference proceedings

  • Ohyama K, Wilson S, Briscoe J & Placzek M (2009) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S210-S210)

Preprints

  • Riley JJ, Alexandru-Crivac CN, Bryce-Smith S, Wilson SA & Sudbery IM (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Baquero-Perez B, Yonchev ID, Delgado-Tejedor A, Medina R, Puig-Torrents M, Sudbery I, Begik O, Wilson SA, Maria Novoa E & Díez J (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Siachisumo C, Luzzi S, Aldalaqan S, Hysenaj G, Dalgliesh C, Cheung K, Gazzara MR, Yonchev ID, James K, Kheirollahi Chadegani M , Ehrmann I et al (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Manners O, Baquero-Perez B, Mottram TJ, Yonchev ID, Trevelyan CJ, Patterson MR, Macdonald A, Wilson SA, Aspden JL & Whitehouse A (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Graduate students

  • Joshua Zilate (2020-2024) BBSRC CASE student with Astrazeneca – development of improved biopharmaceutical expression systems for CHO cells.  

email: jzilate1@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Mikayla Fernholz (2021-2025) BBSRC CASE student with Astrazeneca – development of improved biopharmaceutical expression systems for CHO cells. 

email: mfernholz1@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Ashleigh Whelan (2022-2026) BBSRC – Analysis of the role of RNA binding proteins in the DNA damage response. 

email: agwhelan1@sheffield.ac.uk

Research staff

  • Dr Ang Li (2022-2025) BBSRC project on the role of RNA binding proteins in genome architecture and gene expression. 

email: ali15@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Chiara Galloni (2021-2025) MRC project on synthetic mRNA untranslated regions.

email: c.galloni@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Charlotte Vandermeulen (2021-2025) MRC project on synthetic mRNA untranslated regions.

email: c.vandermeulen@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr Daniel Williams (2023-2024) Lifearc project on the development of gene therapy approaches for the treatment of hnRNPU syndrome.

email: Daniel.willaims@sheffield.ac.uk

  • Dr AN Other – new BBSRC funded post to be advertised shortly…. 

Laboratory Manager

  • Vicky Porteous-Medley 

email: v.porteous@sheffield.ac.uk

Teaching activities
  • MBB325 The world of RNA (Module Coordinator)
  • MBB363 Genetics data handling
  • MBB361 Third year literature reviews
  • MBB380 Third year research projects
  • MBB402 Advanced literature review
  • MBB403/404 Advanced research projects

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