Professor Jon R Sayers

FRSB

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Functional Genomics

Professor Jon Sayers
Profile picture of Professor Jon Sayers
j.r.sayers@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9552
The Medical School

Full contact details

Professor Jon R Sayers
School of Medicine and Population Health
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

For enquiries please contact - SMPH-West-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk

I teach graduate classes in biochemistry, protein/DNA sequence analysis, protein engineering of novel therapeutics and structure-based drug discovery.

I studied Chemistry (University of Birmingham, B.Sc. 1983) where I went on to gain a Ph.D. (1986) in the Nucleic Acids Group. Thesis title; Synthesis of Nucleoside Analogues. In 1986 I joined Fritz Eckstein’s group (Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, to study restriction endonuclease-DNA interactions and helped develop a commercial system for site-directed mutagenesis (the 'phosphorothioate approach').

I also became interested in flap endonucleases, or 5'-3' exonucleases. In 1991 I moved to a Lectureship in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK, where I established a research group working on various aspects of molecular recognition. I moved to Sheffield in 1995, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1997, to a Readership in 1999 and a personal chair in 2006.

I have developed an interest in proteins secreted by Gram negative bacterial pathogens and how they interact with the host. We use a wide range of molecular and cell biological and biophysical techniques to unravel the detail of such interactions aided by close collaboration with structural biologists in Sheffield and the United States. I was elected as a Fellow of the  in 2013.

In 2001 I become a director and co-founder of Asterion Ltd., a biotech spin-off company (see Asterion Ltd.) and founded DeFENition Ltd in 2016 to develop inhibitors of essential bacterial enzymes as candidate antimicrobial agents. The latter builds on over thirty years of experience in mechanistic enzymology of flap endonucleases.

I have written an article for "The Biochemist" describing the trials and tribulations of an academic involved in the setting up of a spin-out company. It can be found under the Publications, All publications tab below.

COVID-19

My laboratory responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by manufacturing large quantities of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein (both and ) for use in diagnostics. We have made these proteins cheaply available via the University's website. 

Research interests

The group is involved in four main areas:

  • Structure-based drug design to generate new antimicrobial agents
  • Molecular mechanisms involved in protein:DNA interactions
  • Microbial proteases, pathogenesis and the host response
  • Biotechnology for biomedical research and drug development

Ongoing topics include the following:

A novel  discovered in a 5'-3' exonuclease could explain how this class of essential replicative enzymes digest their nucleic acids substrates by a . These enzymes are involved in replication of the lagging strand during DNA synthesis and in repair of DNA damage. Some members possess structure-specific endonuclease activity as well as exonuclease and RNase H activities. We have shown that a member of this important class of enzymes contains a novel DNA-binding motif, the helical arch (see above picture of the T5 exonuclease). We are using site-directed mutagenesis, crystallography and kinetic studies to determine how these complicated enzymes function. We have cloned and expressed a number of exonucleases from bacteria including the human pathogen Haemophilus influenzae. Early mechanistic work has been funded by the BBSRC, The Wellcome Trust. Translational research in this area has been funded by Innovate UK, The Department of Health and Social Welfare and .

Protein-DNA Recognition

Many important biological processes such as gene expression are regulated by proteins binding to specific DNA sequences. We are studying novel DNA-binding proteins from viruses and pathogenic bacteria. We have chosen proteins with no sequence homologues in the databases. Such proteins are thus unique and studying how they recognize their target sequences should provide new insights into molecular recognition processes.

We discovered a strong link between high levels of IgA1 protease production and pathogenesis in  and  two meningitis-causing organisms. The protease attacks IgA1, a major component of the mucosal immune system. This work has been funded by The Meningitis Research Foundation, Colin Beattie Memorial Fund and the Medical Research Council.

We are carrying out hit-to-lead programmes targeting the Flap EndoNucleases (FENs), members of the 5'-3' / 5' nuclease family which process the branched DNA structures (5′ flaps) arising during DNA replication. FENs are found as independent globular proteins in eukaryotes including parasites, and as part of DNA polymerase I in bacteria. Knockouts of genes encoding FEN enzymes have proved lethal in all organisms tested to date. We use a combination of structural studies (X ray and NMR), in silico screening and structure-based drug design to develop specific inhibitors which may one day be developed into new drugs for treating bacterial and parasite infections.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Brudenell EL, Pohare MB, Zafred D, Phipps J, Hornsby HR, Darby JF, Dai J, Liggett E, Cain KM, Barran PE , de Silva TI et al (2024) . Biochemical Journal, 481(11), 669-682.
  • Wong IN, Sayers JR & Sanders CM (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Wilkinson IR, Pradhananga SL, Speak R, Artymiuk PJ, Sayers JR & Ross RJ (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6, 35072-35072.
  • AlMalki F, Flemming C, Zhang J, Feng M, Sedelnikova S, Ceska T, Rafferty J, Sayers JR & Artymiuk P (2016) . Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 23, 640-646.
  • Tomlinson CG, Syson K, Sengerová B, Atack JM, Sayers JR, Swanson L, Tainer JA, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2011) . J Biol Chem, 286(35), 30878-30887.
  • Ferrandis E, Pradhananga SL, Touvay C, Kinoshita C, Wilkinson IR, Stafford K, Wu Z, Strasburger CJ, Sayers JR, Artymiuk PJ & Ross RJ (2010) . Clin Sci (Lond), 119(11), 483-491.
  • Allen LM, Hodskinson MRG & Sayers JR (2009) . Biochem J, 418(2), 285-292.
  • Wilkinson IR, Ferrandis E, Artymiuk PJ, Teillot M, Soulard C, Touvay C, Pradhananga SL, Justice S, Wu Z, Leung KC , Strasburger CJ et al (2007) . Nat Med, 13(9), 1108-1113.
  • Vitovski S, Phillips JS, Sayers J & Croucher PI (2007) . J Biol Chem, 282(43), 31601-31609.
  • Hodskinson MRG, Allen LM, Thomson DP & Sayers JR (2007) . Nucleic Acids Res, 35(12), 4094-4102.
  • Smith P, Fallon RE, Mangan NE, Walsh CM, Saraiva M, Sayers JR, McKenzie ANJ, Alcami A & Fallon PG (2005) Schistosoma mansoni secretes a chemokine binding protein with antiinflammatory activity. J EXP MED, 202(10), 1319-1325.
  • Feng M, Patel D, Dervan JJ, Ceska T, Suck D, Haq I & Sayers JR (2004) . Nat Struct Mol Biol, 11(5), 450-456.
  • Tock MR, Frary E, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (2003) . EMBO J, 22(5), 995-1004.
  • Dervan JJ, Feng M, Patel D, Grasby JA, Artymiuk PJ, Ceska TA & Sayers JR (2002) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 99(13), 8542-8547.
  • Vitovski S, Dunkin KT, Howard AJ & Sayers JR (2002) . JAMA, 287(13), 1699-1705.
  • Garforth SJ, Ceska TA, Suck D & Sayers JR (1999) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 96(1), 38-43.
  • Smith MCM, Burns N, Sayers JR, Sorrell JA, Casjens SR & Hendrix RW (1998) Bacteriophage collagen. SCIENCE, 279(5358), 1834-1834.
  • Ceska TA, Sayers JR, Stier G & Suck D (1996) A helical arch allowing single-stranded DNA to thread through T5 5'-exonuclease. NATURE, 382(6586), 90-93.

All publications

Journal articles

  • do Aido-Machado R, Baxter NJ, Rowe ML, Pohare MB, Vitovski S, Sayers JR & Waltho JP (2025) . Biomolecular NMR Assignments, 19(2), 235-243.
  • Jagne YJ, Jobe D, Darboe A, Danso M, Barratt N, Gomez M, Wenlock R, Jarju S, Sylva EL, Touray AF , Toure F et al (2025) . Communications Medicine, 5(1).
  • O’Dea F, Seargeant AJ, Hurcum J, do Aido-Machado R, Rowe ML, Baxter NJ, Waltho JP, Sayers JR & Williamson MP (2025) . Journal of Biomolecular NMR, 79(3), 155-162.
  • Tardajos Ayllon B, Bowden N, Souilhol C, Darwish H, Tian S, Duckworth C, Pritchard DM, Xu S, Sayers J, Francis S , Serbanovic-Canic J et al (2025) . Cardiovascular Research, 121(5), 748-759.
  • Brudenell EL, Pohare MB, Zafred D, Phipps J, Hornsby HR, Darby JF, Dai J, Liggett E, Cain KM, Barran PE , de Silva TI et al (2024) . Biochemical Journal, 481(11), 669-682.
  • Jarju S, Wenlock RD, Danso M, Jobe D, Jagne YJ, Darboe A, Kumado M, Jallow Y, Touray M, Ceesay EA , Gaye H et al (2024) . Nature Communications, 15(1).
  • Williams DM, Hornsby HR, Shehata OM, Brown R, Gallis M, Meardon N, Newman TAH, Plowright M, Zafred D, Shun-Shion ASM , Hodder AJ et al (2023) . iScience, 26(7).
  • Hull RC, Wright RCT, Sayers JR, Sutton JAF, Rzaska J, Foster SJ, Brockhurst MA & Condliffe AM (2022) . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 66(12).
  • Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L , Wood S et al (2022) . Wellcome Open Research, 6.
  • Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L , Wood S et al (2022) . Wellcome Open Research, 6.
  • Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L , Wood S et al (2021) . Wellcome Open Research, 6.
  • Chinnaiya K, Lawson MA, Thomas S, Haider M-T, Down J, Chantry AD, Hughes D, Green A, Sayers JR, Snowden JA & Zeidler MP (2017) . Haematologica, 102, e336-e339.
  • El-Faham MH, Wheatcroft-Francklow KJ, Price HP, Sayers JR & Doenhoff MJ (2017) . Parasitology.
  • Wong IN, Sayers JR & Sanders CM (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Wilkinson IR, Pradhananga SL, Speak R, Artymiuk PJ, Sayers JR & Ross RJ (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6, 35072-35072.
  • AlMalki F, Flemming C, Zhang J, Feng M, Sedelnikova S, Ceska T, Rafferty J, Sayers JR & Artymiuk P (2016) . Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 23, 640-646.
  • Wilkinson I, Pradhananga S, Sayers J, Artymiuk P, Phipps M & Ross R (2014) . Growth Hormone & IGF Research, 24, S14-S15.
  • Anstey-Gilbert CS, Hemsworth GR, Flemming CS, Hodskinson MRG, Zhang J, Sedelnikova SE, Stillman TJ, Sayers JR & Artymiuk PJ (2013) . Nucleic Acids Research.
  • Wong IN, Sayers JR & Sanders CM (2013) . Nucleic Acids Res, 41(8), 4587-4600.
  • Pradhananga SL, Wilkinson IR, Ferrandis E, Artymiuk PJ, Sayers JR & Ross RJ (2013) , 227-235.
  • Guesdon F, Kaabi Y, Riley AH, Wilkinson IR, Gray C, James DC, Artymiuk PJ, Sayers JR & Ross RJ (2012) . Biosci Rep, 32(6), 653-660.
  • Wilkinson IR, Bielohuby M, Parry H, Thorpe A, Pradhananga S, Sayers JR, Artymiuk PJ, Bidlingmaier M & Ross RJ (2012) . Growth Hormone & IGF Research, 22, S6-S7.
  • Bielohuby M, Pradhananga S, Wilkinson IR, Sayers JR, Artymiuk PJ, Ross RJM & Bidlingmaier M (2012) . Growth Hormone & IGF Research, 22, S63-S63.
  • Pradhananga S & Sayers JR (2012) . Biochemist, 34(1), 10-15.
  • Tomlinson CG, Syson K, Sengerová B, Atack JM, Sayers JR, Swanson L, Tainer JA, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2011) . J Biol Chem, 286(35), 30878-30887.
  • Xie P & Sayers JR (2011) . Plos One, 6(1).
  • Sengerová B, Tomlinson C, Atack JM, Williams R, Sayers JR, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2010) . Biochemistry, 49(37), 8085-8093.
  • Ferrandis E, Pradhananga SL, Touvay C, Kinoshita C, Wilkinson IR, Stafford K, Wu Z, Strasburger CJ, Sayers JR, Artymiuk PJ & Ross RJ (2010) . Clin Sci (Lond), 119(11), 483-491.
  • Allen LM, Hodskinson MRG & Sayers JR (2009) . Biochem J, 418(2), 285-292.
  • Syson K, Tomlinson C, Chapados BR, Sayers JR, Tainer JA, Williams NH & Grasby JA (2008) . J Biol Chem, 283(42), 28741-28746.
  • Sayers J (2008) . Biochemist, 30(2), 8-12.
  • Wilkinson IR, Ferrandis E, Artymiuk PJ, Teillot M, Soulard C, Touvay C, Pradhananga SL, Justice S, Wu Z, Leung KC , Strasburger CJ et al (2007) . Nat Med, 13(9), 1108-1113.
  • Vitovski S, Phillips JS, Sayers J & Croucher PI (2007) . J Biol Chem, 282(43), 31601-31609.
  • Hodskinson MRG, Allen LM, Thomson DP & Sayers JR (2007) . Nucleic Acids Res, 35(12), 4094-4102.
  • Williams R, Sengerová B, Osborne S, Syson K, Ault S, Kilgour A, Chapados BR, Tainer JA, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (2007) . J Mol Biol, 371(1), 34-48.
  • Vitovski S & Sayers JR (2007) . Infect Immun, 75(6), 2875-2885.
  • Smith P, Fallon RE, Mangan NE, Walsh CM, Saraiva M, Sayers JR, McKenzie ANJ, Alcami A & Fallon PG (2005) Schistosoma mansoni secretes a chemokine binding protein with antiinflammatory activity. J EXP MED, 202(10), 1319-1325.
  • Parsons HK, Vitovski S & Sayers JR (2004) . Biochem Soc Trans, 32(Pt 6), 1130-1132.
  • Smith P, Walsh CM, Mangan NE, Fallon RE, Sayers JR, McKenzie ANJ & Fallon PG (2004) Schistosoma mansoni worms induce anergy of T cells via selective up-regulation of programmed death ligand 1 on macrophages. J IMMUNOL, 173(2), 1240-1248.
  • Feng M, Patel D, Dervan JJ, Ceska T, Suck D, Haq I & Sayers JR (2004) . Nat Struct Mol Biol, 11(5), 450-456.
  • Tock MR, Frary E, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (2003) . EMBO J, 22(5), 995-1004.
  • Dervan JJ, Feng M, Patel D, Grasby JA, Artymiuk PJ, Ceska TA & Sayers JR (2002) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 99(13), 8542-8547.
  • Vitovski S, Dunkin KT, Howard AJ & Sayers JR (2002) . JAMA, 287(13), 1699-1705.
  • Patel D, Tock MR, Frary E, Feng M, Pickering TJ, Grasby JA & Sayers JR (2002) . J Mol Biol, 320(5), 1025-1035.
  • Sayers JR (2001) . Trends Biotechnol, 19(11), 429-430.
  • Patel D, Vitovski S, Senior HJ, Edge MD, Hockney RC, Dempsey MJ & Sayers JR (2001) . Biochem J, 357(Pt 3), 779-785.
  • PATEL D, VITOVSKI S, SENIOR HJ, EDGE MD, HOCKNEY RC, DEMPSEY MJ & SAYERS JR (2001) . Biochemical Journal, 357(3), 779-785.
  • Garforth SJ, Patel D, Feng M & Sayers JR (2001) . Nucleic Acids Res, 29(13), 2772-2779.
  • Sayers JR & Patel D (2001) . Trends Biochem Sci, 26(3), 149-150.
  • Feng M, Hag I, Dervan J, Patel D, Allen L & Sayers J (2001) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(1), A30-A30.
  • Patel D, Garforth SJ, Pickering TJ, Grasby JA & Sayers JR (2001) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(1), A30-A30.
  • Dervan JJ, Allen LM & Sayers JR (2001) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(1), A30-A30.
  • Kiss-Toth E, Dower SK & Sayers JR (2001) . Anal Biochem, 288(2), 230-232.
  • Pickering TJ, Garforth S, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (1999) . J Biol Chem, 274(25), 17711-17717.
  • Dervan JJ & Sayers JR (1999) . Biochemical Society Transactions, 27(3), A127-A127.
  • Pickering TJ, Garforth SJ, Thorpe SJ, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (1999) . Nucleic Acids Res, 27(3), 730-735.
  • Vitovski S, Read RC & Sayers JR (1999) . FASEB J, 13(2), 331-337.
  • Garforth SJ, Ceska TA, Suck D & Sayers JR (1999) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 96(1), 38-43.
  • Ceska TA & Sayers JR (1998) Structure-specific DNA cleavage by 5 ' nucleases. TRENDS BIOCHEM SCI, 23(9), 331-336.
  • Smith MCM, Burns N, Sayers JR, Sorrell JA, Casjens SR, Hendrix RW & Engel J (1998) Bacteriophage collagen [5] (multiple letters). Science, 279(5358), 1834.
  • Smith MCM, Burns N, Sayers JR, Sorrell JA, Casjens SR & Hendrix RW (1998) Bacteriophage collagen. SCIENCE, 279(5358), 1834-1834.
  • Sayers JR & Artymiuk PJ (1998) . Nat Struct Biol, 5(8), 668-670.
  • Artymiuk PJ, Ceska TA, Suck D & Sayers JR (1997) . Nucleic Acids Res, 25(21), 4224-4229.
  • Garforth SJ & Sayers JR (1997) . Nucleic Acids Res, 25(19), 3801-3807.
  • Darani HY, Curtis RH, McNeice C, Price HP, Sayers JR & Doenhoff MJ (1997) . Parasitology, 115 ( Pt 3), 237-247.
  • Price HP, Doenhoff MJ & Sayers JR (1997) Cloning, heterologous expression and antigenicity of a schistosome cercarial protease. PARASITOLOGY, 114, 447-453.
  • Sayers JR, Evans D & Thomson JB (1996) . Anal Biochem, 241(2), 186-189.
  • Ceska TA, Sayers JR, Stier G & Suck D (1996) A helical arch allowing single-stranded DNA to thread through T5 5'-exonuclease. NATURE, 382(6586), 90-93.
  • Sayers JR, Price HP, Fallon PG & Doenhoff MJ (1996) . PARASITOLOGY TODAY, 12(3), 124-125.
  • Sayers JR (1996) . Methods Enzymol, 275, 227-238.
  • SAYERS JR, PRICE HP, FALLON PG & DOENHOFF MJ (1995) AGA/AGG CODON USAGE IN PARASITES - IMPLICATIONS FOR GENE-EXPRESSION IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI. PARASITOL TODAY, 11(9), 345-346.
  • Williams PA & Sayers JR (1994) . Biodegradation, 5(3-4), 195-217.
  • Sayers JR (1994) . J Theor Biol, 170(4), 415-421.
  • Reddy BR, Shaw LE, Sayers JR & Williams PA (1994) . Microbiology (Reading), 140 ( Pt 9), 2305-2307.
  • OLSEN DB, SAYERS JR & ECKSTEIN F (1993) SITE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS OF SINGLE-STRANDED AND DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA BY PHOSPHOROTHIOATE APPROACH. METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, 217, 189-217.
  • Ceska TA, Sayers JR, Eckstein F & Suck D (1993) . J Mol Biol, 233(1), 179-182.
  • ASSINDER SJ, DEMARCO P, SAYERS JR, SHAW LE, WINSON MK & WILLIAMS PA (1992) . NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH, 20(20), 5476-5476.
  • SAYERS JR, KREKEL C & ECKSTEIN F (1992) RAPID HIGH-EFFICIENCY SITE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS BY THE PHOSPHOROTHIOATE APPROACH. BIOTECHNIQUES, 13(4), 592-596.
  • Sayers JR & Olsen DB (1992) . Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 2(7), 1023-1029.
  • SAYERS JR & ECKSTEIN F (1991) . NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH, 19(15), 4127-4132.
  • Sayers JR & Eckstein F (1990) Properties of overexpressed phage T5 D15 exonuclease. Similarities with Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I 5'-3' exonuclease.. J Biol Chem, 265(30), 18311-18317.
  • Olsen DB, Kotzorek G, Sayers JR & Eckstein F (1990) Inhibition of the restriction endonuclease BanII using modified DNA substrates. Determination of phosphate residues critical for the formation of an active enzyme-DNA complex.. J Biol Chem, 265(24), 14389-14394.
  • Sayers JR, Olsen DB & Eckstein F (1989) . Nucleic Acids Res, 17(22), 9495.
  • Sayers JR, Schmidt W & Eckstein F (1988) . Nucleosides and Nucleotides, 7(5-6), 625-628.
  • Jones AS, Sayers JR, Walker RT & De Clercq E (1988) . J Med Chem, 31(1), 268-271.
  • Sayers JR, Schmidt W & Eckstein F (1988) . Nucleic Acids Res, 16(3), 791-802.
  • Sayers JR, Schmidt W, Wendler A & Eckstein F (1988) . Nucleic Acids Res, 16(3), 803-814.
  • Ashwell M, Jones AS, Kumar A, Sayers JR, Walker RT, Sakuma T & De Clercq E (1987) . Tetrahedron, 43(20), 4601-4608.
  • Wilkinson I, Phipps M, Sayers J, Artymiuk P & Ross R () . Endocrine Abstracts.
  • Wilkinson I, Cawley P, Bielohuby M, Sayers J, Artymiuk P, Bidlingmaier M & Ross R () . Endocrine Abstracts, 1-1.
  • Sayers JR () . Biochemical Journal, c1-c1.

Book chapters

  • Sayers JR (2006) Bacteriophage T5 In Calendar R (Ed.), The Bacteriophages (pp. 268-276). Oxford University Press
  • Sayers JR & Eckstein F (1997) Phosphorothioate-based site-directed mutageneis In Creighton TE (Ed.), Protein function (pp. 279-295). Oxford University Press, USA
  • Sayers JR & Eckstein F (1991) Phosphorothioate-based site directed mutagenesis In McPherson MJ (Ed.), Directed mutagenesis (pp. 49-59). Oxford University Press, USA
  • Sayers JR & Eckstein F (1988) Phosphorothioate-based oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis In Setlow JK (Ed.), Genetic Engineering (pp. 109-122). Plenum Pub Corp

Conference proceedings

  • Ferrandis E, Pradhananga SL, Touvay C, Kinoshita C, Wilkinson IR, Stafford K, Wu Z, Strasburger CJ, Sayers JR, Artymiuk PJ & Ross RJ (2010) Immunogenicity, Toxicology, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Growth Hormone Ligand-Receptor Fusions.. ENDOCRINE REVIEWS, Vol. 31(3)
  • Kostidis K, Thackray P, Bardhan KD, Potter CW & Sayers JR (2007) ComH: Isolation, purification and characterisation of a unique H pylori protein. GUT, Vol. 56 (pp A55-A55)
  • Kostidis K, Bardhan KD, Potter CW & Sayers JR (2007) Comh:: Isolation, purification and characterisation of a unique H-pylori protein. GASTROENTEROLOGY, Vol. 132(4) (pp A212-A213)
  • Kostidis K, Thackray P, Bardhan KD, Potter CW & Sayers JR (2005) ComH: Purification of a unique H pylori protein. GUT, Vol. 54 (pp A86-A86)
  • Pickering TJ, Garforth SJ, Sayers JR & Grasby JA (1999) Mechanistic studies of a 5 ' nuclease from T5 bacteriophage. CHEMISTRY OF NUCLEIC ACID COMPONENTS, Vol. 2 (pp 161-167)
  • Sayers JR, Sheffield AGW & Yorks S (1999) Isolation of a novel TNF regulating protein.. ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM, Vol. 42(9) (pp S201-S201)
  • OLSEN DB, SAYERS JR, KOTZOREK G & ECKSTEIN F (1991) . NUCLEOSIDES & NUCLEOTIDES, Vol. 10(1-3) (pp 665-667)
  • OLSEN DB & SAYERS JR (1991) PHOSPHOROTHIOATE BASED MUTAGENESIS OF SINGLE AND DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA VECTORS. SITE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS AND PROTEIN ENGINEERING (pp 171-179)
  • ECKSTEIN F, NAKAMAYE K & SAYERS J (1987) PHOSPHOROTHIOATE-DNA FOR OLIGONUCLEOTIDE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS. BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY HOPPE-SEYLER, Vol. 368(9) (pp 1036-1036)

Patents

  • Sayers JR & Ross R (2009) Modified growth hormone fusion polypeptides. US7524649 B2 (USA). Appl. 28 Apr 2009.
  • Ross RJ, Sayers J & Artymiuk P (2009) MODIFIED GROWTH HORMONE POLYPEPTIDES. WO/2009/047474 Appl. 16 Apr 2009.
  • Ross RJ, Sayers J & Artymiuk P (2009) GROWTH HORMONE FUSION PROTEINS. WO/2009/013461 Appl. 29 Jan 2009.
  • Hulley P, Russell G & Croucher P (2006) . Appl. 01 Dec 2006.
  • Ross R, Artymiuk P & Sayers J () Growth hormone fusion proteins. 8,470,559 (USA). Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
  • Sayers JR, Ross R & Artymiuk P () Cytokine polypeptides and antibodies containing a signal sequence for the attachment of glycosylphosphatidylinositol. US 7,625,998 (USA). Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
  • Sayers JR & Duff GW () Designer proteases. US6,383,775 (USA). Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
  • Sayers JR, Ross R & Artymiuk P () Fusion protein comprising growth hormone and growth hormone receptor. 7,446,183 Appl. 01 Jan 1970.

Preprints

  • JAGNE YJ, Jobe D, Darboe A, Danso M, Barratt N, Gomez M, Wenlock R, Jarju S, Sylva E, Touray AF , Toure F et al (2024) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Verma V, Brudenell EL, Cussons S, Phipps J, Kong SC, Sayers JR & Hobbs JK (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Brudenell EL, Pohare MB, Zafred D, Phipps J, Hornsby HR, Darby J, Dai J, Liggett E, Cain K, Barran PE , de Silva TI et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Williams DM, Hornsby H, Shehata OM, Brown R, Gallis M, Meardon N, Newman TAH, Plowright M, Zafred D, Shun-Shion ASM , Hodder AJ et al (2023) , Elsevier BV.
  • Jarju S, Wenlock R, Danso M, Jobe D, Jagne YJ, Darboe A, Kumado M, Jallow Y, Touray M, Ceesay E , Gaye H et al (2023) , Elsevier BV.
  • Williams DM, Hornsby H, Shehata OM, Brown R, Zafred D, Shun-Shion ASM, Hodder AJ, Bliss D, Metcalfe A, Edgar JR , Gordon DE et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hodgson D, Colton H, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L , Wood S et al () .
Teaching interests

I teach graduate-level biochemistry, molecular & structural biology, bioinformatics and biotechnology in relation to biomedical research and drug discovery.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Director, , 2001 - 2009.
  • Trustee, Biochemical Society Pension Scheme, 2008 - 2017
  • Honorary Treasurer and Trustee of the , 2008-2012.
  • Director of Portland Press, 2008-2012.
  • Editorial board member of , 2007 - 2015.
  • Founding Director, .

Granted patents:

  • Ross R, Artymiuk P, Sayers J. Growth hormone fusion proteins. 2013, Granted US Patent No. 8,470,559.
    (PLEASE NOTE although this has the same title and author as patent no. 8,293,709 which was already included, it is a separate patent granted in 2013).
  • Ross R, Artymiuk P, Sayers J.  Growth hormone fusion proteins. 2012, Granted US Patent No. 8,293,709.
  • Artymiuk, P, Ross R, Sayers J. Modified growth hormone polypeptides 2012, Granted US Patent No. 8,273,552.
  • Ross R, Artymiuk P, Sayers J. Fusion protein comprising growth hormone and growth hormone receptor. 2012 Granted US Patent No. 8,173,782.
  • Ross R, Sayers J, Artymiuk P.  Modified growth hormone fusion polypeptides, 2009, Granted US Patent No. 7524649.
  • Ross R, Sayers J, Artymiuk P.  Cytokine polypeptides and antibodies containing a signal sequence for the attachment of glycosylphosphatidylinositol, 2009, Granted US Patent No. 7625998.
  • Ross R, Artymiuk P, Sayers J. Fusion protein comprising growth hormone and growth hormone receptor. 2008 Granted US Patent No. 7,446,183.
  • Duff, G.W., Sayers, J.R., Vitovski, S. Designer proteases. 2002 Granted US Patent No.6,383,775.